IT’S official – the Radisson SAS Waterfront Hotel is the ugliest building in the British Isles.
The hotel building has won the Carbuncle Cup 2008, which is voted for by hundreds of readers of the architecture website Building Design. The hotel was nominated by Jerseyman Alan Holmes and quickly became a front-runner for the award, attracting derogatory comments from far and wide.
On the website yesterday it was announced: ‘The Radisson SAS Waterfront Hotel in Jersey by EPR Architects has won BD’s Carbuncle Cup 2008. The Jersey hotel is the least impressive building of the year.
‘The Carbuncle – announced on the eve of the Stirling Prize for the best in contemporary British architecture – is voted for by hundreds of BD readers and is the profession’s choice of least impressive building of the year.
There was clear water between the Radisson, with 29 per cent of the votes, and its nearest challenger, B-Central Apartments in Bournemouth by Trinity Architecture, with 19 per cent.
On the website page, London-based EPR Architects managing director Stuart Lowther said he was ‘extremely disappointed’ by the result.
Article posted on 11th October, 2008 - 9.59am
26 Article Comments
I think its is unfair to call this wonderful building ugliest building in the British Isles.
You people do not know how well you are off.
Whilst I can appreciate that Stuart Lowther is ‘extremely disappointed’ by the result I can only reiterate the feelings of many people by saying that I am “extremely disappointed” with the exterior appearance of the building. Stuart can take some comfort with the fact that EPR didn’t design the exterior and it is a shame that they will be associated with this rather than the more impressive interior which most people will never see.
Is there a similar award for Outstanding Leadership and Political Excellence?
Totally disagree with the fact that the Radisson Hotel is the ugliest building in the British Isles, the London Gherkin is by far the ugliest building ever, and could be followed closely by the “Shard of Glass” when it is finished.
You’re right Bridget - it is unfair to call the building the ugliest in the British Isles - more like the ugliest in Europe! It’s dreadful. It certainly has no magic to stir man’s blood (Burnham).
I wonder if this award, so well deserved, will appear on the architect’s CV? Mind you with the whole development in front of them the judge’s would have spoiled for choice.
Don’t hold your breath, the newly planned Jersey incinator is set to become the most ugly eyesore in the British Isles.
Well after the triumph of the Radission SAS, I can’t wait to see the new financial quarter when its finished … glittering brightly like a crown of architectural gems amongst the fabulous beauty of jersey’s waterfront development.
My self and my husband stayed in this hotel just last week and it is wonderful, we had the best stay of our lives here, so do not judge a hotel by its cover its the inside that counts,
I concur with the comment on the BD website that suggests that the withered bronze tree in front of the Radisson looks as if it has died of shame!
I completely agree this building (or as we call it the Lego brick!) Is one of the worst buildings in the british isles which is a real shame as inside it is quite well designed
Well done to receive this award. Such a shame it does not come with a free demolition kit. I find it unbeleivable that the authorities should have allowed such a monstrosity to grace our shores.It is badly sighteed and does nothing to promote the fact that we are now living in the 21st century. I reckon more like the bad 60s architecture all over again
I think I must be one of the few people who actually like the building. Ok, from the Esplanade it looks rather hideous, but from the Elizabeth Marina it looks pretty good.
At least we should take comfort in the fact that by the time the waterfront is actually finished some of the buildings will be ready to be rebuilt and regenerated. Is it too early to call for the regeneration of the waterfront before it has even been finished? Maybe time travel will soon be a reality and we can go back and change the priginal madcap decision to do the whole reclamation. We still have the old sea wall so could we not just bull dose the whole thing. It serves no real purpose and I don’t think it would even inconvenience anyone much! I try and look a the positives, but the Radisson really is hideous and out of scale, but no doubt when the other out of scale buildings are finished I guess they can all look out of scale together. Hopefully the reclaimed land will not be stable and it can all sink back into the sand! Three cheers for the architect. Whoops - I don’t mean the architect who nows swaers blond they had nothing to do with it. Why don’t they give me the ‘credit’ and I will gladly take the fee and use it to demolish it. x
I have to agree with the result, as a gateway building to any visitor arriving via water to Jersey what does it state about the island? You have to question the Planning department on the decision to allow this to be built…
“Once in a lifetime opportunity to create something special so we must be very careful.” That was how the waterfront was described and we have ended up with a complete dogs dinner.
A road that cuts the whole place off, an ugly cinema, a Hotel described as Britains worst carbuncle. an upturned boat and a leisure pool that we can’t afford to operate properly.
Maybe we should be looking at Philip Ozouf for comment, after all he was in charge of planning when this was agreed, so this is an award he has won on behalf of us all!
It is bad but won’t stand out as much once the rest of the waterfront is developed. The whole site can then be voted as the worst in the UK !
The point here is that we had one of the most admired waterfronts to put whatever we want on it and they put an Hotel! In the UK or abroad they dont build Hotels on thier waterfronts they build retail units, cafes etc, Somewhere for the public to enjoy the beautiful view.
Every day i get up in the morning, roll up my blinds and look over the beautiful bay of st. aubins to see that hideous orange wreck. I don’t even get up sometimes just so i don’t have to see that poor excuse for an airport hotel. I believe that a more sensible and attractive option would be to build a giant concrete wall covered in grafiti all around it to block it out.
Of course Bridget (first comment) would like it, she’s on the radio phone-in every other day harping on about what beautiful birds seagulls are. Could it be considered a virtue, being able to see the beauty in even the most hideous of things?
Obviosuly you can’t see either the Radisson or the seagull problem from her home in La Rocque so it’s a slightly blinkered view, madam! You’d soon change your tune on both of the above if you ventured into St Helier!
Yes the Radisson is awful and has further ruined our once-attractive skyline
As a visitor, the cinema is pretty hideous looking, and I agree that the Radisson is just gross (where’s the architecture really?) but the upturned boat looks fine, probably because it’s mostly wood so at least has an element of ‘natural’ about it, as opposed to gaudy orange.
The Radisson could of course compete with the one they built in Glasgow which I thought was hideous till the Jersey one came along!
Mind you your planning department seem keen on boxiness and also keen on forgetting that 50% of their job title is ‘planning’ if the constant road cones and horrendous noise are anything to go by.
I agree with Mark G, abroad is all luvly cafes, and restaurants, a great seafood restaurant would have been great here, so people could enjoy the beautiful views and enjoy their food at the same time..the architects need their a…s kicked..a hotel is fine but somewhere else would have been more appropriate yes..Jersey is full of Hotels in and around the Island..
Not good timing for the Carbuncle Kid.. just when he was trying desperately to keep his job…
Where are those spin doctors when you need them Philip?
Go on Mr Ozouf mention this in your manifesto, you certainly have the people of Jersey in your best interests!!!! You will certainly go down in Jersey folklore as the “blot on the landscape minister”
P.S. I bet it looks better if you Google Earth Ha Ha Ha!!
Phil, you can have my vote………….. NOT
The good news is that the States Planning Department are carrying out a survey on what people think of them and the process!
Go to the States website, select Planning from the left hand side, scroll down and you can take part in the survey online… it’s extremely quick!