SEEN FROM THE ARNDALE CENTRE CAR PARK the Royal Exchange tower remains unaltered in a changing skyline. To the right is No 1 Deansgate with its sloping roof. Beyond it, under construction on the Salford side of the River Irwell is the Edge apartment complex by Countryside Properties, also with a sloping roof.

EWM says: Modern architecture appears to be very trend-driven. First Urbis and No1 Deansgate have sloping roofs, now everyone seems to want to have one!

NEW CATHEDRAL ST was created as part of the reconstruction of the bomb-damaged area near Corporation Street. The new M&S building is on the right, facing the Shambles West retail development with its high-tech 'squashed cylinder' style corner towers. The new Harvey Nichols store is at the end of Cathedral Street on the left.

EWM says: Everywhere I look these days there are terra-cotta tiles, which in my opinion are not much better than the much-maligned yellow tiles of the Arndale Centre. They often sit unevenly, don't weather well and introduce a new element of uniformity to the cityscape.

THE MURKY RIVER IRWELL is portrayed here in the style of a photograph from the turn of the century. In fact this shot was taken in 1997, not long before the construction of the Urbis Centre which now rises above Chetham's School beyond the former Exchange Station bridge. To the left are the old GPO offices, shortly to be converted into the Tempus apartment complex. A new residential tower will appear off to the left, and the old building will refurbished, retaining its original features.

EWM says: It's reassuring and gratifying to see our city's Victorian buildings, even the less famous ones, being cherished and restored by sensitive developers. Unfortunately not all developers are as sensitive and foresighted as this.

THE NEW HACIENDA APARTMENT COMPLEX by Crosby Homes rises up above the railway viaduct from Oxford Rd Station, with the Ropeworks development on the left, and part of GMEX straight ahead.

EWM says: The irregular roof section of the Hacienda development looks as if it has been pushed up higher than originally planned. The Ropeworks development shows a much more design-conscious approach to its upper sections.

THE HACIENDA RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT is being marketed using the extraordinary brand value of Manchester's most famous night club, which closed in 1997. In 2002 developers Crosby Homes unexpectedly destroyed the famous salmon-coloured facade (lower left), apparently so they could build higher and gain more value from this highly prized piece of Manchester real estate.

EWM says: The Hacienda building appears to have undergone several design changes, and the finished building has all the grace and elegance of a giant car transporter vessel. Many club-goers (and presumably property purchasers), were saddened by the destruction of the original Hacienda facade, the public face of one of Manchester's most hallowed spots. Like the farmer in Ireland who built his barn on a stone circle used by the fairies, will the developers live to regret what they have done to this legendary location?

All photos and articles © Aidan O'Rourke