I have mixed feelings about this project for most of the reasons already stated. One thing I question in some of the criticism is the automatic reverance ascribed to buildings or districts of pre-modern vintage. I believe in respectfully preserving them as best, and least tackily, as possible. However, I don't know that every historically designated structure needs a 100 or 200 metre restraining order against new structures that are visibly taller, more massive or in some way architecturally threatening or distracting.
With it's clean, fluid lines, transparent facades and nicely nuanced details, angles and offsets this proposal does, as the name suggests, bring a "clear spirit" to the area. (Holy shit, a project name that actually means something!) It has funcitonal integrity like the industrial buildings had when they were utilized for their built purpose. My main misgiving is that the new podium doesn't have any transitional elements to soften its' edge a little bit before giving way to the glass towers--i.e. some tasteful brick or stone materials a la the Mckinsey building in Victoria College. I also think that setbacks to the towers would be a lot nicer, but I guess Aa doesn't do setbacks. Overall, I think this project can work, but it needs serious finessing if it wants to temper the criticism.