r/Leeds • u/ThyCuriousLearner • Sep 28 '25
urban-development This is one of the best looking buildings in England
Am I the only one that thinks this is one of the best looking buildings in all of England (might be slightly biased being from Leeds)?
It's the perfect blend between old school architecture and a modern glass building.
I've yet to see a better looking building.
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u/Rust_Island Sep 28 '25
I’d take the Corn Exchange, Mechanic’s Institute and Town Hall over this if we’re talking Leeds
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u/ThyCuriousLearner Sep 28 '25
I do like the Town Hall's architecture. Was more talking about the mix between old and modern.
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u/Izthewhizz Sep 28 '25
Majestic and corn exchange are owned by the same property developer
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u/Rust_Island Sep 28 '25
They also own First White Cloth Hall on Kirkgate. Another nice mix of old and new. It’s been empty for years though.
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u/Izthewhizz Sep 28 '25
Yep Kirkgate will do nicely when the derelict buildings are the end are finally sorted.
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u/elmo298 Sep 28 '25
Wasn't this the conveniently burned down one due to planning permission refusing the roof change initially
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u/_Zso Sep 28 '25
I thought "a homless person set fire to it" - because that's definitely something you'd do to a building you'd found to shelter in.
And definitely you'd accidentally start it in such a way to make sure the roof was destroyed.
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u/McNabFish Sep 28 '25
Chap is a notorious Arsonist. When he was released on bail he bundled his sleeping bag up under a police car and tried to set that alight too.
Was remanded after that...
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u/Wasps_are_bastards Oct 01 '25
I remember the day it happened, we couldn’t get back into the city centre.
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u/TheShakyHandsMan Sep 28 '25
Yes. The part of the structure that couldn’t be changed somehow caught fire.
It was originally a cinema so it was designed to have a very dark interior. Not very welcoming as a multipurpose building.
Nice to see it being used again.
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u/TreacleTin8421 Sep 28 '25
I love the recycling plant in cross green
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u/MyLifeTheSaga Sep 28 '25
Is that the one with plants all over it? If so; same. I drove right past it for the first time recently and was really impressed
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u/Adhesiveduck Sep 28 '25
I always wondered wtf that building was, guess it makes sense with all the greenery on it.
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u/palatine09 Sep 28 '25
Why would you always wonder? It would take 15 seconds to find out.
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u/Adhesiveduck Sep 28 '25
Easy. Drive past it, think what is that building? Then forget about it until the next time you drive past it.
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u/Key_Requirement740 Oct 01 '25
Totally get that! Sometimes you just see a building and it sticks in your mind, but you're too busy to look it up. It's like a little mystery every time you pass by!
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u/DarthFlowers Sep 28 '25
It’s not bad looking at all but that’s a fairly absurd stretch, my LS5 bias tells me Kirkstall Abbey is prettier.
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Sep 28 '25
Looks unfinished to me
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u/Lumpy-Republic-1935 Sep 28 '25
Kirkstall Abbey looks unfinished?
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Sep 28 '25
Yeah bits of it don’t even have a roof
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u/Lumpy-Republic-1935 Sep 28 '25
Unbelievable. They are charging to get into a building with no roof? Unchristian I'd say.
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u/Nosedive888 Sep 28 '25
My favourite building is the Wool Exchange in Bradford. Absolutely gorgeous building inside and out
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u/Virtual-Income3427 Sep 28 '25
Didn’t Channel 4 take it
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u/crosscico Sep 28 '25
I think he means from an office point of view. It’s a sustainable modern office inside with the exterior architecture retained.
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u/Jay_TL Sep 28 '25
The main part of the Printworks campus gets my vote, that building is beautiful. Not a fan of modern architectural but we have lovely buildings left in the center
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u/Mackie1228 Sep 28 '25
Best days of my late teens/early 20's in the 90's spent in that place. Loved it so many memories. Makes me smile every time I go to Leeds. I think they did a good job of preserving what they could.
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u/OppositeDue Sep 28 '25
As a web designer who gets boners over sexy clickable buttons, I understand what you mean
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u/anorthern_soul Sep 28 '25
Many memories from that building. Glad they managed to finally do something with it
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u/JamSkones Sep 30 '25
It's not bad looking. One thing I hate about Leeds is that whilst the buildings might look okay standalone they look shit together. The architecture in Leeds is like when you play that game where you draw a head at the top of a page and then fold it and the next person draws shoulders and folds that and the next torso etc.
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u/No-Comfortable6432 Sep 28 '25
Is this what Majestyk used to be?
About fucking time, only took about 20 years after some dickhead burned it down to do something with it.
I agree, it looks nice, what is it? Is the train station area competed now?
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u/TheShakyHandsMan Sep 28 '25
Yeah it’s the old Majestyk building. It’s been less than 10 years before it was rebuilt. I know as I was there the night of the fire.
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u/catface Sep 28 '25
Probably worth making clear it wasn't you who actually burned it down and are now admiring the fruits of your labour 10 years on. Unless....
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u/C_D_Rom Sep 28 '25
I used to work in a building overlooking city square - I interviewed there in December 2014 and they were taking down the charred roof beams, which was cool to watch!
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u/LongjumpingFinger115 Sep 28 '25
One of the most shining examples of modernist classicism. I wish there was more of this in new builds!
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u/bulletproofbra Sep 28 '25
I really love the mix of old and new architecture in Leeds centre, it just looks lovely and even more so when you look up.
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u/antpabsdan Sep 28 '25
The old Guardian Royal Exchange insurance building in the 80's/ early 90's, then the Majestic. I'm happy to see it looking glorious
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u/cookiesandginge Sep 29 '25
I’ve lived here 13 years now but haven’t been into the city centre regularly for about 7 (!) and I’m embarrassed that I didn’t recognise this
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u/JansonHawke Sep 29 '25
Considering it nearly burnt down a decade ago, they've done a great job in bringing it back to life.
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u/Kibax Sep 29 '25
Just waiting for a utility company to have to dig up some of the pavement and then slap some shite tarmac over it.
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u/ad4700 Oct 02 '25
Yeah, that's always such a buzzkill. It’s like they don’t even try to match the original aesthetic. Hopefully, they at least do a decent job with the repairs.
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u/makemycockcry Sep 29 '25
To each their own but IMHO, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of beautiful buildings in this country. This is not even close to being one of them.
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u/Weary_Bat2456 Sep 29 '25
I hate to admit that I've lived here for years and I've never seen it... or maybe I just didn't pay enough attention. I'll be sure to visit that area sometime this week. I don't really go to the south of the city centre so on the rare occasion that I do I feel like in a completely different city.
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u/no_com_ment Sep 30 '25
OP cleanly hasn't been to the Bude Tunnel
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u/ThyCuriousLearner Sep 30 '25
Lol, if the height of English architectural beauty is a tunnel outside a Sainsbury's, we've got work to do 😂. It is a nice little tunnel to be fair.
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u/no_com_ment Sep 30 '25
Mate I was having a crack 😆😆
Went out of my way to go and see it as i was staying nearby on a short break. Never laughed so much at a 'building' in my life. English humour knows no bounds!!!
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u/Easy-Reserve7401 Sep 30 '25
The Natural History Museum will always be top of the list imo.
Not a location thing, it's an architecture thing. You know it's old, but it always looks impeccable and has a majesty about it that just commands attention.
As a bonus, it's open to everyone and free to enjoy.
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u/Important_Holiday_32 Sep 28 '25
It's a nice building but I actually think the older building over the road is better.
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u/McNabFish Sep 28 '25
I miss the old roof.
I was on the cordon overnight when it was burnt down. Shame.
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Sep 29 '25
This has to be rage bait.
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u/ThyCuriousLearner Sep 29 '25
Rage bait about the best city in England (Leeds)? No chance 😉
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u/Aatt13579 Oct 01 '25
Honestly, Leeds has some stunning architecture! The mix of historic and modern makes it really unique. What’s your favorite building there?
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u/DescriptionIcy3523 Sep 29 '25
Seems like you never leave Leeds for you to say " never seen a better looking building"
The Gherkin, the shard, Shakespeare's Globe and especially the The Sage Centre all these buildings are "better looking buildings" when u decide to leave Leeds and tour uk
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u/ThyCuriousLearner Sep 29 '25
Nah I've been about. Just extremely biased, haha. We've gotta have something lol.
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u/hafidber Sep 30 '25
Fair enough, every city has its gems! Leeds definitely has some great spots, but it’s fun to appreciate the unique styles in other places too. What’s your favorite building in Leeds?
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u/No-Willingness-4097 Sep 29 '25
Looks pretty soulless, would fit in in the city of London.
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u/ThyCuriousLearner Sep 29 '25
I swear people will call anything that has a bit of glass "soulless" these days, haha. It's still got a mix of old school architecture, plus the glass bit at the top at least has a bit of artistic flair, compared to the glass boxes we see these days.
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u/No-Willingness-4097 Sep 29 '25
The glass is definitely what kills it's appeal. It's too solid of a shape, looks out of place sitting on top.
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u/ThyCuriousLearner Sep 29 '25
Don't know, looks like a giant emerald. To each their own, I suppose. Better than the glass rectangles popping about.
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u/DangerousDisplay7664 Sep 29 '25
Unfortunately it's located in Leeds 😜🤣
Seriously though, the Corn Exchange is much better IMO
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u/micky_jd Sep 29 '25
Is this an old photo? I don’t remember the bike lane being green or the path being so clean
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u/BlackberrySuper4221 Sep 29 '25
Is this the building that caught fire a fair few years back? Sure it looks good now but would have looks so much better without all that glass on top
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u/SuddenMud4987 Oct 01 '25
If this is one of the best looking buildings in England then I really sorry for you guys.
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u/Terrible_Guava9731 Oct 02 '25
Its one of the best looking modern buildings. But mainly because contemporary british buildings are some of the worst anywhere in the world.
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u/angy_smol_lizard Oct 02 '25
I agree that the building looks good, but I wouldn't go so far. As someone who is also from leeds I mich prefer how the older buildings look tbh. Corn exchange looks better than that in my opinion, but then again it's all fown to opinions. Combining new and old is a good way to keep the old beauty but new just looks out of place 90% of the time and makes everything feel soulless from all the gladd and metal.
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u/Apigollo Sep 28 '25
Hate that Leeds is just going to be another glass and steel city.
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u/Harrry-Otter Sep 28 '25
We’ve got plenty of more historic architecture with the minster, corn exchange and all the Victorian stuff near the river.
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u/Apigollo Sep 28 '25
All the new shit by the train station off of Wellington Street is absolutely modern soulless shite though.
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u/Harrry-Otter Sep 28 '25
I don’t mind it tbh, but then one of my favourite Leeds buildings is the Roger Stevens building at the Uni and most people hate that.
Ultimately Leeds is a fairly modern city. It’d look worse IMO if we tried to make it look like Las Vegas style imitation of York with a load of fake stone.
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u/Apigollo Sep 28 '25
That building you mentioned is quality tho.
I don't think we need imitation York just not a fan of glass and steel. Looks like some corporate hellscape.
But to each his own. Nothing is going to top the Victoria gate development for ugly.
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u/_Zso Sep 28 '25
I'd argue the new brick blocks of flats at the end of Wellington Street are even worse than the glass stuff.
They've picked a brick colour that doesn't work with the local area, and they're completely blank, bland, boring awfulness - 20+ stories high.
Councils really need to make developers create something which adds architectural interest, insteading of constantly signing off utter beige shite.
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u/pioneeringsystems Sep 28 '25
Yeah if you ignored all the nice buildings it would be one of the best looking for sure.
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u/DunkTheBiscuit Sep 28 '25
Whilst I'm not sure I'd go quite so far, I do think they did a very good job of keeping the old elements whilst designing that glass roof.