Alternative Visions of Cardiff That Could Have Radically Changed the City
Explore the fascinating projects that could have transformed Cardiff’s landscape but never came to fruition
Cardiff, Wales, Architecture, Urban Development, Culture
Cardiff: This city is always changing, right? New buildings pop up, and it feels like there’s always something happening. But did you know there were some wild ideas that never made it off the drawing board?
Like, back in the day, they thought about having driverless taxis zipping around Cardiff. Can you imagine? They even tested them on a track in 2002! But it just didn’t take off. Instead, we’re getting a tramway that’s set to connect the city center to Cardiff Bay by 2028.
And then there was this super-casino idea. Cardiff wanted to be the first in the UK to have one, right on the waterfront. It would’ve had a massive viewing tower and created a bunch of jobs. But, of course, there were worries about gambling addiction, and the whole plan fell through.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the Dolffin Quay project. It was supposed to bring new homes and shops to Cardiff Bay, but locals weren’t having it. They wanted to keep their green space, and thousands signed a petition against it.
There was even a plan for Wales’ tallest building, which was supposed to be finished ages ago. But due to market issues, it’s still on hold. They did put some drainage in, but who knows when it’ll actually get built?
And speaking of tall buildings, there was a hotel planned that would’ve been the tallest in Wales, but that got scrapped too. Instead, we have some apartments there now.
Then there was this idea for a giant Union Jack flag on a government building. It caused a huge uproar, and thankfully, they decided against it. People were really not into that idea.
Another quirky plan was to put a glass roof on the historic Coal Exchange Hotel. It was supposed to give a great view, but folks didn’t like it, so that idea got tossed out.
And let’s talk about the Wales Millennium Centre. Before it was built, there was a plan for an opera house designed by the famous Zaha Hadid. It was a big deal, but it didn’t get the support it needed. The design ended up being used in China instead!
Lastly, there was a plan for a Roman Catholic cathedral where the Capitol Tower now stands. It would’ve been a beautiful addition, but financial issues meant it never happened.
So, Cardiff has had its fair share of ambitious ideas that just didn’t pan out. It’s interesting to think about how different the city could have looked!