Hull has a great deal of beautiful architecture, from the ancient Holy Trinity Church to the masterpiece that is The Deep, but it also has its fair share of ugly buildings as well.
As work continues apace today to dismantle the Laxthorpe tower block on Orchard Park, we asked Mail readers to tell us which buildings they'd like to pull down.
Of course, beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder, but here are ten of the best suggestions.• Which are the best buildings in Hull? Tell us your favourites and we'll print the "ten best buildings" in the Mail next week.
The ten worst buildings in Hull1) Kingston House![kingstonhouse]()
Dating from the 1960s, the building was hailed as the bold new face of Hull and originally intended to be part of an even bigger complex in Bond Street.
Designed by modernist London-based architects Fry, Drew and Partners, it opened in 1967 and was intended to be complemented by a new shopping centre, a seven-storey hotel, a conference centre and a multi-storey car park.
Earlier this year, plans were unveiled to demolish the 13-storey tower block and an adjoining four-storey office building.
2) Hull Royal Infirmary![hri]()
Back in February, health bosses revealed the tower block will only last another 20 years, despite millions of pounds being spent on recladding the exterior. One thing's for sure, the city's skyline would look a lot different without it.
This picture from the Mail's People's Gallery was taken in 1969 and shows the infirmary in the distance with maisonettes, now demolished, in the foreground.
3) Travelodge, corner of Freetown Way and Ferensway![travelodge]()
Famous Canadian architect Frank Gehry made headlines this week when he told journalists that "98 per cent of everything that is built and designed today is pure s**t". One dreads to think what he would make of this £5m budget hotel on the edge of Hull city centre.
To be fair to Travelodge, it's a functional building first and foremost, undoubtedly smartens up the corner of Freetown Way and has the added advantage of blocking out the view of an even uglier multi-storey car park. Still, it's unlikely to find its way on to too many postcards.
4) Multi-storey car parks Speaking of multi-storey car parks, there's more than one in the city centre that's past its sell-by date, including this example in George Street dating from 1965, also pictured during its construction.![georgestreet]()
![georgest2]()
5) Netto/Asda supermarket, Beverley Road Back in the day, Netto got plenty of praise for its bargains, but it didn't win many plaudits for the design of this store, now Asda, in Beverley Road.![netto]()
As the Mail's own Angus Young described it on its opening in 2002, "I still can't quite get my head around how the front of the building, complete with large fake bricked-up windows, got past planners. It easily wins my Carbuncle of the Month award."![asda]()
6) Lord Line building, St Andrew's Dock![lordline]()
A controversial choice because to many people it is symbolic of Hull's fishing industry, but few would argue something needs to be done with the Lord Line building sooner rather than later.
Back in 2005, it was even chosen in a poll for Channel 4's Demolition programme as one of the nation's most-hated buildings.
One reader even suggested demolishing the building but retaining the massive "Lord Line" sign as the centrepiece of a new development on the dock.
7) Endike primary school In terms of external views at least, Hull's new schools have divided people straight down the middle, and none more so than the radical-looking Endike Primary.![endikeprimary]()
The £6m school undoubtedly has fantastic features, including interactive white boards, an amphitheatre, a slide connecting the first and second floor of the three-tier building and roof-top xylophones. But that hasn't stop detractors claiming it looks like something from Disneyland, or even Legoland.
Other candidates suggested by readers include Archbishop Sentamu Academy and Thomas Ferens Academy.
8) Beverley Road building cloaked in scaffolding In February this year, the Mail revealed how cash-strapped Hull City Council has spent £200,000 propping up a building it doesn't even own. The empty, privately owned property stands in Beverley Road, close to the city centre, and has been cloaked in scaffolding for three years.![scaffolding]()
The council initially got involved after concerns were raised about the potential of the building collapsing because of its poor internal condition.
Four years ago, English Heritage classed the Beverley Road Conservation Area as being "at risk" because of the deteriorating condition of many empty and derelict buildings along the route. The council has since been bidding for funding to revitalise the street.
9) Hull School of Art and Design![artdesign]()
More than one person suggested the Hull College tower block as a candidate for worst building in Hull, but we've plumped for the Hull School of Art and Design building.
It's modern enough on the inside, but ironically in need of art and design on the outside.
10) New York Hotel Well, it had to get a mention, didn't it? The New York Hotel in Anlaby Road has long been towards the top of the list when it comes to Hull buildings we've most wanted to tear down.![newyorkhotel]()
And the good news is, it is not long for this world. Contractors have started preparatory work ahead of the empty, privately-owned building being pulled down, and demolition is due to begin next month.• Tell us your favourite buildings by emailing news@mailnewsmedia, or via Twitter or Facebook.
The ten worst buildings in Hull1) Kingston House
Dating from the 1960s, the building was hailed as the bold new face of Hull and originally intended to be part of an even bigger complex in Bond Street.
Designed by modernist London-based architects Fry, Drew and Partners, it opened in 1967 and was intended to be complemented by a new shopping centre, a seven-storey hotel, a conference centre and a multi-storey car park.
Earlier this year, plans were unveiled to demolish the 13-storey tower block and an adjoining four-storey office building.2) Hull Royal Infirmary
Back in February, health bosses revealed the tower block will only last another 20 years, despite millions of pounds being spent on recladding the exterior. One thing's for sure, the city's skyline would look a lot different without it.
This picture from the Mail's People's Gallery was taken in 1969 and shows the infirmary in the distance with maisonettes, now demolished, in the foreground.3) Travelodge, corner of Freetown Way and Ferensway
Famous Canadian architect Frank Gehry made headlines this week when he told journalists that "98 per cent of everything that is built and designed today is pure s**t". One dreads to think what he would make of this £5m budget hotel on the edge of Hull city centre.
To be fair to Travelodge, it's a functional building first and foremost, undoubtedly smartens up the corner of Freetown Way and has the added advantage of blocking out the view of an even uglier multi-storey car park. Still, it's unlikely to find its way on to too many postcards.4) Multi-storey car parks Speaking of multi-storey car parks, there's more than one in the city centre that's past its sell-by date, including this example in George Street dating from 1965, also pictured during its construction.
5) Netto/Asda supermarket, Beverley Road Back in the day, Netto got plenty of praise for its bargains, but it didn't win many plaudits for the design of this store, now Asda, in Beverley Road.
As the Mail's own Angus Young described it on its opening in 2002, "I still can't quite get my head around how the front of the building, complete with large fake bricked-up windows, got past planners. It easily wins my Carbuncle of the Month award."
6) Lord Line building, St Andrew's Dock
A controversial choice because to many people it is symbolic of Hull's fishing industry, but few would argue something needs to be done with the Lord Line building sooner rather than later.
Back in 2005, it was even chosen in a poll for Channel 4's Demolition programme as one of the nation's most-hated buildings.
One reader even suggested demolishing the building but retaining the massive "Lord Line" sign as the centrepiece of a new development on the dock.@hulldailymail I will start then ... The lord line building, get it developed or get it pulled down .... Hull's no1 eyesore
— Jimmy Chu (@jimmychu1) October 25, 20147) Endike primary school In terms of external views at least, Hull's new schools have divided people straight down the middle, and none more so than the radical-looking Endike Primary.
The £6m school undoubtedly has fantastic features, including interactive white boards, an amphitheatre, a slide connecting the first and second floor of the three-tier building and roof-top xylophones. But that hasn't stop detractors claiming it looks like something from Disneyland, or even Legoland.
Other candidates suggested by readers include Archbishop Sentamu Academy and Thomas Ferens Academy.@hulldailymail no contest. pic.twitter.com/j5Soxh2Glh
— Lindsay (@lindsymack) October 25, 20148) Beverley Road building cloaked in scaffolding In February this year, the Mail revealed how cash-strapped Hull City Council has spent £200,000 propping up a building it doesn't even own. The empty, privately owned property stands in Beverley Road, close to the city centre, and has been cloaked in scaffolding for three years.
The council initially got involved after concerns were raised about the potential of the building collapsing because of its poor internal condition.
Four years ago, English Heritage classed the Beverley Road Conservation Area as being "at risk" because of the deteriorating condition of many empty and derelict buildings along the route. The council has since been bidding for funding to revitalise the street.9) Hull School of Art and Design
More than one person suggested the Hull College tower block as a candidate for worst building in Hull, but we've plumped for the Hull School of Art and Design building.
It's modern enough on the inside, but ironically in need of art and design on the outside.@hulldailymail Not particularly modern but everything that was wrong with the 60's architecture #hullcollege#eyesorepic.twitter.com/G8PHadaGjI
— Ray Fraser (@rayfrase01) October 25, 201410) New York Hotel Well, it had to get a mention, didn't it? The New York Hotel in Anlaby Road has long been towards the top of the list when it comes to Hull buildings we've most wanted to tear down.
And the good news is, it is not long for this world. Contractors have started preparatory work ahead of the empty, privately-owned building being pulled down, and demolition is due to begin next month.• Tell us your favourite buildings by emailing news@mailnewsmedia, or via Twitter or Facebook.