Manchester rebuilds

[...]The city's ugliest buildings are to be named and shamed in a new award scheme - the Feeble Ideas and Bad Architecture awards, or FIBAs.

And the Deansgate tower is among the early nominations after being put forward in the "great lost opportunities" category.

The awards will give anyone with a computer the chance to vote, for everything from the least-inspiring offices in the city to the poorest flats, and even the worst attempt at a balcony.

The Next store, on Corporation Street, No 1 Piccadilly and Archway, in Greenheys Lane West have been nominated in the commercial buildings category.

A secret panel has come up with nominations in each of eight categories, but voters are also being encouraged to nominate their least-favourite buildings. Other categories include worst metal street feature and the judges' special nomination.

The FIBAs launch has been timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the IRA bomb blast.

Michael, 39, said he wanted people to think about whether the opportunity the bomb created had been exploited properly. He said: "There seems to be a lot of disappointment in the built environment and people don't get to have a say in it, because it's all tied with big developers and big money.

"The intention is to encourage healthy critical debate and give a small amount of empowerment back to the public. It's not just having a go, it's encouraging people to demand more from their architects and cities."

Voting is either at www.urbis.org.uk or via printed forms available from tomorrow at Urbis, Manchester Central Library, Arts Council England North West on Bridge Street, Manchester Visitor Information Centre on Lloyd Street, and the Oklahoma Cafe on Thomas Street.[...]