Credit: Architecture in MotionToday's blog is a link to another site, as I think it interesting reading:
So far, many new so-called 'eco-houses' have either been 'Grand Designs Specials' and outside the realms of what many can afford, or interesting but possibly considered too whacky a concept by Joe Public.
This looks worth following to see how it all pans out, and if mass housebuilders will take up the challenge.
Bolgar and May say the choice of design, building systems and materials are derived from principles of simplicity and learning. They also favour learning from the past, believing that there’s a logic to why elements are designed a certain way.
“This arrangement learns from several hundred years of simple urban house transformation and ownership,” says Bolgar. He adds that its generous width will make any future conversion easier.
“The house is designed to be simple, robust, and easy to patch and repair by non-specialists, which is important given that it’s increasingly difficult to predict what future economies and technologies will look like.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere there's a campaign and a petition to try to prevent any proposed demolition of what some may consider an architectural gem by Erno Goldfinger, others an eyesore in need of removal:
A petition calling for the council to scrap any redevelopment plans and create a conservation area around the social housing has already attracted more than 300 signatures including those of Alan Powers, chair of the Twentieth Century Society, and James Dunnett, head of modern architecture heritage group Docomomo.
Dunnett said: “There are only two housing estates by Goldfinger — around Trellick and around Balfron [tower] — and we should recognise them for what they are and protect them.”
Council tenant Angie Fletcher, who was among the first tenants to move into the estate, said: “It takes a lifetime to build up a community like this. They’d have to carry me out in a box — there’s no way I’m going easily.
“These houses are structurally sound and could last another 1,000 years. We don’t need knocking down and replacing.”
And Aisha Mohammad, president of the residents’ association, said: “If there was a way we could buy this estate, we would buy it and run it ourselves. It’s the perfect example of a sustainable community.”
Petition:
Note, however, that the Trellick Tower used to illustrate the BD article is not actually under threat!
Nem
PS Biff's bike ref (see comments)
I think it a Pashley?
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2 comments:
Nice bicycle.
Is that a Pashley Princess I ask?
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