tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41272260137876339262024-03-14T18:16:11.296+00:00Nemesis RepublicEach social formation, through each of its material activities, exerts its influence upon the civic whole; and each of its ideas and ideals wins also its place and power - Patrick GeddesNemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-31540940241772171022012-06-28T19:04:00.000+01:002012-06-28T19:05:00.581+01:00UNESCO puts Liverpool on the WHS in danger list<a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/890">http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/890</a><br />
<br />
<br />
It's a long way from having WHS status stripped from it and is a good move IMHO.<br />
<br />
More soon <br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-34333247932310463602012-03-28T14:57:00.006+01:002012-03-29T11:05:14.860+01:00National Planning Policy Framework 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYxVR0wh1Rl2mtsyfJxmFgZ4IqfdPIduNOlFfHROp2eaM4tRAjLz-Tb73qXPC95v12BOuWU_f9VEVFZVU7_9C-KW-e-knq2CaUZ42XaOfSqwsI1Wg1LJC37FsTw_rc-7yBM8YFMnMVS58/s1600/NPPF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYxVR0wh1Rl2mtsyfJxmFgZ4IqfdPIduNOlFfHROp2eaM4tRAjLz-Tb73qXPC95v12BOuWU_f9VEVFZVU7_9C-KW-e-knq2CaUZ42XaOfSqwsI1Wg1LJC37FsTw_rc-7yBM8YFMnMVS58/s320/NPPF.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This was published yesterday, takes effect immediately.<br />
<br />
In general, there seems to be a collective sigh of relief from bodies such as the National Trust which had campaigned vigorously against what was initially seen as a 'developers' charter'.<br />
<br />
How it will work out in reality we will have to wait and see.<br />
<br />
I'll add further links* but for the moment:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2115939.pdf"><strong>http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2115939.pdf</strong></a><br />
<br />
There is the doc.<br />
<br />
Here is a link to <strong>English Heritage's Commentary</strong> on the National Planning Policy Framework:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/ehcommsinfo/nppf"><strong>https://sites.google.com/site/ehcommsinfo/nppf</strong></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>*Heritage Alliance</strong> response to #NPPF<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/tag/national-planning-policy-framework/">http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/tag/national-planning-policy-framework/</a></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Guardian:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2012/mar/27/reaction-nppf-publication-greg-clark?newsfeed=true"><strong>http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2012/mar/27/reaction-nppf-publication-greg-clark?newsfeed=true</strong></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Tim Stansfield Planning Blog:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://timstansfeld.planningresource.co.uk/2012/03/28/national-planning-policy-framework-pass-or-fail/"><strong>http://timstansfeld.planningresource.co.uk/2012/03/28/national-planning-policy-framework-pass-or-fail/</strong></a>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-25061603537126180632012-03-26T11:09:00.005+01:002012-03-30T10:50:16.127+01:00Bohemian Rhapsody... by Donald Trump?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo_Ji6ObNpnRtqOLvznMYbEyMTCxKFtJoxporPnKX4STkCD7TOPCc34okiajQKzqX5iKxRPxZIrAs4bq7Cf2QBwiFasYS8gzK58he1C2j7jpGv-lkgn6hQnLzXE8d1kZwUfh_D7BKFMUp/s1600/Trump+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo_Ji6ObNpnRtqOLvznMYbEyMTCxKFtJoxporPnKX4STkCD7TOPCc34okiajQKzqX5iKxRPxZIrAs4bq7Cf2QBwiFasYS8gzK58he1C2j7jpGv-lkgn6hQnLzXE8d1kZwUfh_D7BKFMUp/s320/Trump+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks to <strong>@PuppetTrump</strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> I've blogged in the past (<em>see footnotes</em>) about the horrors Donald Trump and his ego are inflicting on Scotland with his 'golf resort'. His destruction of a SSSI, the bulldozing of a piece of wild Aberdeenshire coastline and his bullying of local families in an attempt to move them from their homes and land have been documented by film maker Anthony Baxter @AntBaxter in his multi-award winning movie <em><strong>You've Been Trumped.</strong></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.youvebeentrumped.com/youvebeentrumped.com/TAKE_ACTION.html"><strong>http://www.youvebeentrumped.com/youvebeentrumped.com/TAKE_ACTION.html</strong></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/p_UfuTNcke4" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/d5DOtbRYXck" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
The organisation leading the campaign against Donald Trump <strong>@TrippingUpTrump</strong> is online here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trippinguptrump.com/"><strong>http://www.trippinguptrump.com/</strong></a><br />
<br />
All you need to know is there.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Tripping Up Trump (TUT)</strong> has established itself as the popular movement against the use of compulsory purchase for private profit. TUT's campaign has stood alongside the people and protected environment threatened by Donald Trump’s development in Aberdeenshire.</em><br />
<div id="content-area"><div class="node node-type-page" id="node-1"><div class="node-inner"><div class="content"><br />
<em>The TUT campaign has been key to Donald Trump's retreat from the use of compulsory purchase orders.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Th</em><em>e threat of forced evictions was deliberately held over the heads of the Menie families for nearly two years. Donald Trump's track record shows he cannot be trusted to behave reasonably towards his neighbours or act responsibly towards the environment. He has bullied and mislead from the start.</em><br />
<em>TUT is committed to supporting the rights of the families at Menie and will highlight and seek to stop any further bullying or other wrongs by the Trump Organisation in Scotland.</em><br />
<br />
<em>We need your support. Please spread the word and join this important campaign.</em><br />
<a href="http://www.trippinguptrump.com/enter-the-bunker"><em>Enter The Bunker here</em></a><em>.</em><br />
<a href="http://www.trippinguptrump.com/get-involved"><em>Join our membership here</em></a><em>.</em><br />
<br />
Yesterday, the latest in the campaign against Trump was launched, and let's hope this goes viral! Brian May has granted permission for a remake of Queen's <strong><em>Bohemian Rhapsody</em></strong>, and here it is (<em>oh no it</em> <em>isn't any longer... see below for location....)</em> starring none other than The Donald, The Hair and his Great Doones of Scotland. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vapVBPKfkQs" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Brilliant. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
UPDATE March 30th:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/69567">Hazel Cameron</a> posted an announcement 16 hours ago <br />
<div class="activity-content">The video has caused such a sensation – over 20,000 views in 3 days – that Youtube have been forced to take it down. We’re fighting this – but meanwhile here it is again on the vimeo site</div><br />
<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/Bohemian-Rhapsody-Donald-Trump-style?c=activity">http://www.indiegogo.com/Bohemian-Rhapsody-Donald-Trump-style?c=activity</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/39416777">http://vimeo.com/39416777</a><br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/39416777?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/39416777">Donald Trump does Bohemian Rhapsody</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6075735">Hazel Cameron</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />
<strong>Nem</strong><br />
<br />
#oneofmenie<br />
<br />
UPDATES:<br />
<br />
The Daily Mail now has a long article and the words:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120947/Donald-Trump-mocked-Aberdeenshire-golf-course-opponents-Bohemian-Rhapsody-parody.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120947/Donald-Trump-mocked-Aberdeenshire-golf-course-opponents-Bohemian-Rhapsody-parody.html</a><br />
<br />
though I had it here first :0)<br />
<br />
A report in @UrbanRealm with useful links. <br />
<a href="http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3428/Trump_puppet_satirises_Menie_golf_estate.html">http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3428/Trump_puppet_satirises_Menie_golf_estate.html</a><br />
<br />
Past blogs:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/trump-wants-it-all.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/trump-wants-it-all.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/more-trump.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/more-trump.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/scotland-brave-trump-and-trams.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/scotland-brave-trump-and-trams.html</a></div></div></div></div>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-66477584531544191982011-03-25T15:31:00.000+00:002011-03-25T15:31:25.142+00:00architecturamblingI have a new blog<br />
<br />
<a href="http://architecturambling.blogspot.com/">http://architecturambling.blogspot.com/</a> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz1vzZ9zVy11LxjY6_MC7jZDWKvpUvz2kgi2K42Vu2aKGrgcSh1qhh0RAIcfoKwC_vC_Y6NGbrRQ44IaXWidooMOqBYCCHgkfcvi6BhyphenhyphenQgkpuow46QtHbVlrVHZ7YkpRrTlRKCnvNxPYH/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz1vzZ9zVy11LxjY6_MC7jZDWKvpUvz2kgi2K42Vu2aKGrgcSh1qhh0RAIcfoKwC_vC_Y6NGbrRQ44IaXWidooMOqBYCCHgkfcvi6BhyphenhyphenQgkpuow46QtHbVlrVHZ7YkpRrTlRKCnvNxPYH/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><em>Greenwich Market</em><br />
<br />
<br />
where I waffle on about stuff I like. Well, I can as it's mine. Designed to be news and not daunting reading! Anything interesting do send, e-mail in profile, comments ping into my e-mail, or send me a Tweet. <br />
<br />
I haven't abandoned this one, will update soon, and archibollocks is still over there in the links at the right too... see ya on Twitter! <br />
<br />
Have a nice day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBVLyJ7ij4xIyzuH3L-YJy5ACzic3wjMuhLKPNmORLeS11Sbbv4TeqyAPV_Y7jy9c4m-RRZYziC6f-V62_wmrQa2pNqZTCrkNQ1V4NnL76-PfWWfC5BYs1Ox8fER841hScTJzRP8WKKHB/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBVLyJ7ij4xIyzuH3L-YJy5ACzic3wjMuhLKPNmORLeS11Sbbv4TeqyAPV_Y7jy9c4m-RRZYziC6f-V62_wmrQa2pNqZTCrkNQ1V4NnL76-PfWWfC5BYs1Ox8fER841hScTJzRP8WKKHB/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><em>Leadenhall Market.</em> <br />
<br />
<br />
Love<br />
<br />
NemNemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-3790199255568827002011-01-13T16:40:00.001+00:002011-01-13T20:45:25.223+00:00Shadowplay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEI742EwmUpDjVFUMCcEN-QqM5xsr31T9TKcy0oeCbo1nP8waubleIV8XUuuPgVg5piMkgaau0xcIaJkXSYBvyr90T6Tbt5yZ_gC6muiGwq65k85F28UasKfLulI9XYL6PpLbh_QLkWs1/s1600/nospheratu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEI742EwmUpDjVFUMCcEN-QqM5xsr31T9TKcy0oeCbo1nP8waubleIV8XUuuPgVg5piMkgaau0xcIaJkXSYBvyr90T6Tbt5yZ_gC6muiGwq65k85F28UasKfLulI9XYL6PpLbh_QLkWs1/s320/nospheratu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.draculas.info/dictionary/definition_of_nospheratu-16/"><em>http://www.draculas.info/dictionary/definition_of_nospheratu-16/</em></a><br />
<br />
If every book needs an opening para which hooks the reader in, then every blog requires a striking picture. I thought that posted above abundantly 'fit for purpose'. <br />
<br />
When viewing the videos below I had a niggling feeling of familiarity; then it came to me.<br />
<br />
There of COURSE any resemblance ends as I couldn't POSSIBLY compare the movie of architect Malcolm Fraser giving a lecture to council members and planners of Edinburgh with the 1922 movie Nosferatu (although the latter possibly had higher production values) and naturally I have not increased the household supplies of garlic to any significant extent. No sireee. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfRItiC2bbS07JqPL6BUHM19uZa_P7egwVlB1QhKSL4smSWaZ4L7zp4jXptDN4lgv4pJBEXfsCU92hFPYxhvsnCLZC5iVj81Pq93LGfcpOZyZjLkxNPO7ry33OpDukD_Qsuo7fENraEq5/s1600/garlic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfRItiC2bbS07JqPL6BUHM19uZa_P7egwVlB1QhKSL4smSWaZ4L7zp4jXptDN4lgv4pJBEXfsCU92hFPYxhvsnCLZC5iVj81Pq93LGfcpOZyZjLkxNPO7ry33OpDukD_Qsuo7fENraEq5/s320/garlic.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><em>Image courtesy of </em><a href="http://www.sporeflections.wordpress.com/"><em>www.sporeflections.wordpress.com</em></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Thought these needed wider publicity as in the main a great deal of what Malcolm says I agree with (and vice versa?) and mostly have touched on (see selection below*) in this 'ere blog before:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>the madness of VAT inequality on zero rated new build v repair/re-use, which attracts the full 20% ;</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>the infuriating barminess and loss of industrial & transport heritage of the permission given for demolition of the Cat B listed Madelvic factory in Granton by the City of Edinburgh Council, which could & should have been re-used;</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>sustainability not always about high tech solutions which are complex, off putting for many, and may not recoup the outlay; see Scottish Housing Expo posts, also the MFA 'people's choice' winning house design (you read it here first...). Sustainable design should be big on re-use of what we have, excellent insulation, natural ventilation, and use of sustainable materials (another plug for timber & zinc); </li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>architects should be designing for the 21st century without recourse to slavish copies of the past, with sensitivity to context;</li>
</ul><br />
...and no doubt other stuff besides (RMJM, and er.. RMJM... oh and Mr Duany...) <br />
<br />
<br />
The Whitecross development, winner of the recent government Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative competition, which Malcolm Fraser Architects won, against stiff opposition, was the reason for this lecture, though Malcolm clearly took the opportunity of a captive audience for a wee rant (I mean that in a good way) about a number of issues.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=415&parentid=251">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=415&parentid=251</a><br />
<br />
I hope those attending listened. <br />
<br />
So here it is! <strong>Malcolm Fraser: The Movie</strong> (in three parts, so you can have an ice cream AND a popcorn break):<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pwpZBLH2XjQ?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pwpZBLH2XjQ?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A4blWCKQlrg?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A4blWCKQlrg?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9oaOUNCkXPY?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9oaOUNCkXPY?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
*Here's that staircase scene from 1922:<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SXNMEVdUEyI?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SXNMEVdUEyI?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Most of the movie is here:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcyzubFvBsA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcyzubFvBsA</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy! <br />
<br />
<strong>Nem </strong><br />
<br />
*<br />
<a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/05/angry-men-crap-housing-our-cash-vat.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/05/angry-men-crap-housing-our-cash-vat.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/01/seeing-red.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/01/seeing-red.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/04/dont-destroy-madelvic-factory.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/04/dont-destroy-madelvic-factory.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/08/scottish-housing-expo-2010-inverness.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/08/scottish-housing-expo-2010-inverness.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/10/sustainable-housing-sustainable.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/10/sustainable-housing-sustainable.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-new-towns-new-old-towns.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-new-towns-new-old-towns.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/09/duanyising-britain.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/09/duanyising-britain.html</a>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-80631860547802271832011-01-07T16:50:00.002+00:002011-01-08T01:05:51.464+00:00All the King's Horses... Emily Davison Blues<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/siZ1rcIECdk?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/siZ1rcIECdk?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<em>Warning: this video has music which you might wish to mute and shows a scene of a shocking nature.</em><br />
<br />
I have been neglecting blogging and have so much to catch up with, the demise of the terrible RMJM Gazprom Tower in St Petersburg and the scrapping of Pathfinder mass demolitions in England included.<br />
<br />
Too much to do too little time. So a brief post on fighting for good causes and ways of doing it.<br />
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Yes the TV news has been full of 'rioting students' and shock horror about a cracked Royal window on a Rolls Royce; I think the real truth about the 2010 student fees demonstrations and the way they were handled in the media is now emerging so I won't go there in depth. They did, however, involve a police charge of horses into demonstrators 'kettled' in Parliament Square, only one of the many strange ways in which demonstrators were treated. Let's not forget, amongst all the media coverage of 'rioting students' and inaccurate claims by Cameron the majority of those protesting were doing so lawfully and relatively peacefully. <br />
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As for the much -hyped attack on the horseless carriage containing the Prince of Wales & his wife, here's Laurie Penny @PennyRed on that subject in the Guardian yesterday:<br />
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<strong>A hypocritical frenzy over the Camilla 'attack'</strong><br />
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The real violence against protesters such as Alfie Meadows is apparently nothing next to Camilla's light poke in the ribs<br />
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<em>While children are having their heads broken outside the seat of government, moral knicker-wetting over the Duchess of Cornwall getting a light poke in the ribs is pure hypocrisy. After CCTV footage of protesters attacking a defenceless Rolls Royce at the tuition fees demonstration was released this week, conservative commentators have exercised themselves to the point of frenzy over the "violence" of the scene, forgetting that the royals in the Roller weren't hurt, merely inconvenienced.</em><br />
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<em>Unlike Charles and Camilla, many young people really were brutalised at that protest, in Parliament Square by baton-wielding police. Among them, 20-year-old student Alfie Meadows was left with bleeding on his brain after receiving a baton blow on the head from an officer of the law, but his injury, unlike Camilla's gentle nudging, has not caused a national outcry.</em><br />
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<em>Meadows nearly died on 9 December, but David Cameron has not condemned this assault as "shocking and regrettable", nor called for the police officers involved to face the consequences of their actions. That night, as a barely elected government approved the effective privatisation of the British university system, thousands of students and school pupils were kettled for hours in the freezing cold, some hospitalised with broken bones and head injuries after being charged by police horses.</em><br />
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Read on :<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/06/camilla-attack-protesters-alfie-meadows">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/06/camilla-attack-protesters-alfie-meadows</a><br />
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So I thought I'd blog a reminder that so many fought in this country throughout centuries for 'ordinary' people to gain the right to vote; yet even when that became general for men, women were not considered as equal partners in this and were told not to bother their pretty little heads.<br />
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Did they stay at home with their embroidery? They did not. They formed together and campaigned for women's suffrage. They became the suffragettes.<br />
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Here's a potted history of the WSUP<br />
<h3><em>By the end of the 19th century, two thirds of adult men could vote in parliamentary elections. Women, along with prisoners, those living in mental institutions and the poorest men, were not entitled to vote.</em></h3><a href="http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Learning/Learningonline/features/wc/world_city_5.htm">http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Learning/Learningonline/features/wc/world_city_5.htm</a><br />
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Did they campaign peacefully? No they did not. They organised and demonstrated and even damaged with the slogan 'Deeds Not Words' as the guiding principle. They were slapped in prison and force fed and generally made a bloody nuisance of themselves. Yes there are those who say that all this wasn't what made a difference but really? Does scaring the metaphorical shit out of politicians not have some effect? I hope it does. <br />
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And so we come to Emily Wilding Davison, see video above, who gave her life for The Gude Cause*. Whether she intended to simply stop the king's horse or her intention was to sacrifice her life we will never really know, although certain evidence points in the direction of intending to gain publicity not die, but her heroism still brings a lump in the throat.<br />
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Her injuries were terrible; she lay in dreadful pain in hospital and eventually died from them.<br />
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She is buried in Morpeth Churchyard Northumberland, and her headstone has 'Deeds Not words' inscribed on it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5OPsdoJKFfbniGGh36aat7GaD0KZPneDqp8BJblIAvW6u1jzqwVU5bzZIjzIjxmxB604Jcjjmv5KlhQDa9iBpPdy5nFNgNsIFTgq6XyVlZpNPI3xFqzA0I4XX6XJmg7u68FMo-0S2tuH/s1600/anmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5OPsdoJKFfbniGGh36aat7GaD0KZPneDqp8BJblIAvW6u1jzqwVU5bzZIjzIjxmxB604Jcjjmv5KlhQDa9iBpPdy5nFNgNsIFTgq6XyVlZpNPI3xFqzA0I4XX6XJmg7u68FMo-0S2tuH/s1600/anmer.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/03/uk_politics_suffragette_struggle/html/4.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/03/uk_politics_suffragette_struggle/html/4.stm</a><br />
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<em>1913 Derby - Anmer and Emily Davison. The caption on the newspaper report at the time says: 'A remarkable picture, showing Anmer rolling over [jockey Herbert] Jones and Emily Davison in the act of falling.' </em><br />
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The funeral was organised by the WSPU with 6000 women marchers, then brass bands played Chopin’s Funeral March. There was also a banner showing Joan of Arc, and three laurel wreaths placed on her coffin with the words “She died for Women”. <strong>One protester threw a brick at the coffin.</strong> The cortege moved on to King’s Cross Station and thence to Morpeth for burial in the family grave. <br />
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<a href="http://awalkinhistory.blogspot.com/2008/04/wednesday-2nd-april-2008.html">http://awalkinhistory.blogspot.com/2008/04/wednesday-2nd-april-2008.html</a><br />
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That's a link with architecture and history, an interesting walk round places in London connected with the suffragettes. <br />
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<em>St. George, Bloomsbury. It was here that the funeral of Emily Davison was held on Saturday 14th June 1913. She was a famous suffragette who threw herself in front of the King’s horse, Anmer on 4th June 1913. The service was held here because the Reverend Baumgarten was the only person prepared to officiate at the service.</em><br />
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<em><br />
</em><br />
And this is today and it is Nick Clegg's birthday. Today students and other protestors with a different view of a future they want than that of this government are converging on London to 'celebrate' his selling out of so many promises made before the election and his joining with the Tories to make the ConDem government. Chief amongst his betrayals is the scandalous reneging on the LibDem promise before the election that there would be no increase in tuition fees for higher education. It seems that even when we have universal suffrage, we cannot rely on those voted in to power to act with integrity and stand by pre-election promises. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj185LxdwQHbYLWXyVZ7c818NGUkiG-pbXWl0r1zvgodZxDKR6WdHalUCyhnGrwrlGDG-2GnhRPxJyjnphnMQSGSJlqWzIctfi7iPHMgME3fRoK7UAduhHEKFCd82feudmzQ4n-tMP-Qmfw/s1600/nick-clegg-tuition-fees-pledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj185LxdwQHbYLWXyVZ7c818NGUkiG-pbXWl0r1zvgodZxDKR6WdHalUCyhnGrwrlGDG-2GnhRPxJyjnphnMQSGSJlqWzIctfi7iPHMgME3fRoK7UAduhHEKFCd82feudmzQ4n-tMP-Qmfw/s320/nick-clegg-tuition-fees-pledge.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
Here is what the comments describe as 'a magisterial dissection' of the Browne Report on fees and the effect of cuts for higher education in the London Review of Books by Stefan Collini, professor of English at Cambridge:<br />
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A brief quote to give the flavour<br />
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<em>The scale of the report’s dismantling of the public character of higher education is breathtaking, and yet, from another point of view, scarcely surprising. Though described as ‘an independent review’, it was never likely to issue in a set of recommendations so out of tune with current government thinking that they would simply be ignored. The coalition is at the moment using the whipped-up frenzy about the deficit in the public finances as a cover for a recognisably ideological assault on all forms of public provision. There was little chance that this report would make proposals that were not congruent with the form given to this assault by the Comprehensive Spending Review. It has, as expected, proposed a huge reduction, amounting to de facto abolition, of the block grant for teaching (full details are awaited). Some representatives of British universities, appalled and terrified by the consequences of the massive cuts proposed in the spending review, appear to be pinning their hopes on Browne as the only way of getting any money into higher education. These are certainly desperate times, but perhaps the case for the proper public funding of universities should not be surrendered quite so readily. What has to be recognised is that the Browne Report is not some alternative, still less antidote, to the spending review: they go together as the two faces of a calculated attempt to reshape higher education in this country by subjecting it to ‘the discipline of the market’.</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n21/stefan-collini/brownes-gamble">http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n21/stefan-collini/brownes-gamble</a><br />
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All of which brings me, in my usual circuitous fashion, to this memorable piece of individual protest, singer Grace Petrie, who stood outside Clegg's constituency office in Sheffield on 13th December and sang The Emily Davison Blues. I hope the potted history above helps put it into context.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17801708" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/17801708">Grace Petrie - Emily Davison Blues</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2864369">Tim Morris</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<strong>Nick Clegg, who sold so many out who had hoped if elected the Lib Dems would stick by their pre-election promises, this blog and this song is for you on #cleggsbday. It's my own small one-woman protest; good luck to all carrying on the struggle in London this weekend. </strong><br />
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<strong>Deeds not words; but I also think the pen can be mighty.</strong><strong></strong><br />
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<strong>Nem</strong><br />
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<strong>*<a href="http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43277112750&v=wall&viewas=0&ref=mf">http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43277112750&v=wall&viewas=0&ref=mf</a></strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-41574353635757869062010-11-28T19:42:00.009+00:002010-11-29T11:27:05.173+00:00Chilling out... a winter warmer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P-xukmtGBp2O_t04qWlr26LHEQGNq61IjBWF2YmEBjzTSCjbwujg5M7nPAFMKCPqadyzUiECzjJu-CDhU4rBcDUAbz22yEfcQTjXF6BYTqNhacw74FblwmVuBWXhuKWv6ECL8hItQ7sJ/s1600/Terrier+knit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P-xukmtGBp2O_t04qWlr26LHEQGNq61IjBWF2YmEBjzTSCjbwujg5M7nPAFMKCPqadyzUiECzjJu-CDhU4rBcDUAbz22yEfcQTjXF6BYTqNhacw74FblwmVuBWXhuKWv6ECL8hItQ7sJ/s320/Terrier+knit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>That one is from a book of vintage patterns on Amazon; for free pet warmer jacket patterns:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.barlowscientific.com/technotes/home/sweater.htm">http://www.barlowscientific.com/technotes/home/sweater.htm</a></div><br />
Temperatures are plummeting and there's a foot of snow outside. We could be in for another long, hard winter. <br />
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How did we manage in the past, without, for most people, central heating? I recall it well. We were bloody cold at times and we had frost patterns inside the windows, since you ask. We wore warm clothes (oh the joys of a Liberty bodice...) and huddled round the fire. We ate warming soups and stews with seasonal veg and bulked them out with barley, followed by jam roly poly or spotted dick with custard. <br />
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Etymology:<br />
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<a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2031/whats-the-origin-of-spotted-dick">http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2031/whats-the-origin-of-spotted-dick</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih0mfaNhmxvt-6j3L9u09mXTbf2wRn_csmFVcwKVntsbsd3hCQpCoSaqANXbsXaFtPNO_qOaPEay8cvRz9xqi93tEfqk5D4cz0n38J4045tjKui2d45J3_BlLbgATXsEnhDeu7pmiYQMJ/s1600/Spotted+Dick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih0mfaNhmxvt-6j3L9u09mXTbf2wRn_csmFVcwKVntsbsd3hCQpCoSaqANXbsXaFtPNO_qOaPEay8cvRz9xqi93tEfqk5D4cz0n38J4045tjKui2d45J3_BlLbgATXsEnhDeu7pmiYQMJ/s320/Spotted+Dick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm not suggesting a total return to days of austerity, unless we must, but if we want to be 'eco-aware', save on energy costs and keep warm then we could look at the past to help inform the present.<br />
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We could eat more local and seasonal produce. Yesterday I made the veg crumble from here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.fifediet.co.uk/recipes/">http://www.fifediet.co.uk/recipes/</a><br />
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eaten with home grown baked spud and buttery cabbage. It was delicious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH7gpHtpiDZ76qXyoZKrfsmLC3VZsruypfyFjPACgZPiHDo2P2g5rCLDCF5zTyFArA0JU7K0QXxYXSCypvqqKkfekDMvTihdQywwtjXNQFccTCObPH7lZA1c1YfXnG3gL8fs5x4ehw6qm/s1600/crumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH7gpHtpiDZ76qXyoZKrfsmLC3VZsruypfyFjPACgZPiHDo2P2g5rCLDCF5zTyFArA0JU7K0QXxYXSCypvqqKkfekDMvTihdQywwtjXNQFccTCObPH7lZA1c1YfXnG3gL8fs5x4ehw6qm/s320/crumble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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For those of us with older properties*, we can cut out draughts and take simple steps to conserve heat without spending a great deal of cash and ripping out historic windows (not really very 'green' in a wider view) and their beautiful wobbly old glass, which gives so much life to properties which modern flat glass cannot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1XIklL9NDEM4f31A9lp1E1Ke0vzNj3qX6rSHqGkSKshZwr0lPHbcnB2OitYd3oJGHrI95tHxBKkjSRLOwzcePOAB0KQeGo9Q3eCY9oNrbNCSdaCUOPBXuDeUflBm5EkW4kixIXgcZ07w/s1600/Nasty+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1XIklL9NDEM4f31A9lp1E1Ke0vzNj3qX6rSHqGkSKshZwr0lPHbcnB2OitYd3oJGHrI95tHxBKkjSRLOwzcePOAB0KQeGo9Q3eCY9oNrbNCSdaCUOPBXuDeUflBm5EkW4kixIXgcZ07w/s320/Nasty+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have written in past blogs about this, here's one with further useful links to research and advice<br />
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<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/02/breathing-deeply-trash-plastic.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/02/breathing-deeply-trash-plastic.html</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUXsatFlH-srUKcrR_kjWsV41AlKDBSrNL556lIXNzIGODtGuMv4bB9TIiere2rlrVrV-sG5c18TtUtVgSj4cJvD8DXd3lTDdivemvK2fuQ1OqY3Qgu9Sm8OoppjXk-PP2uYdFEq38t5v/s1600/IMG_1907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUXsatFlH-srUKcrR_kjWsV41AlKDBSrNL556lIXNzIGODtGuMv4bB9TIiere2rlrVrV-sG5c18TtUtVgSj4cJvD8DXd3lTDdivemvK2fuQ1OqY3Qgu9Sm8OoppjXk-PP2uYdFEq38t5v/s320/IMG_1907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Edinburgh World Heritage (which is doing outstanding work in research and dissemination of information re upgrading period buildings to make them eco-friendly and energy efficient without spoiling their historic interest and fabric) recently took thermal images of windows with curtains and shutters closed and found that highly effective:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ewht.org.uk/news/109/102/Thermal-imaging-survey-reveals-close-your-shutters">http://www.ewht.org.uk/news/109/102/Thermal-imaging-survey-reveals-close-your-shutters</a><br />
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Here's the BBC report, with video:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11759023">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11759023</a><br />
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At least one company which purveys replacement windows has been trying to suggest that fitting its products is far more eco-friendly and saving of energy than the straightforward advice of EWH; please remember that double glazing salespeople are there to make money not save your bank balance and the planet, don't really see much beyond the next few years, certainly aren't interested in the long-term future of their products, and that in listed buildings, ripping out historic windows without consent is <strong>unlawful </strong>(and hopefully also such consent would not be granted).<br />
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Here's English Heritage on why you should save your historic windows (although <span style="color: red;"><strong>warning:</strong></span> Simon Thurley talking alert in the video, it is worth watching!):<br />
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<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/your-property/energy-efficiency/sash-windows/">http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/your-property/energy-efficiency/sash-windows/</a><br />
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<em>Windows are a precious part of our built heritage that makes the places we work and live special. Most people find them attractive. </em><br />
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<em>But keeping them is not just a matter of taste. It also makes economic and ecological sense. Original timber windows were made of very high quality wood seldom found nowadays. It is a waste to replace them unnecessarily. Plastic windows consume a lot of energy in their production and most are only expected to last for around 20 years. When broken, most go to land-fills. </em><br />
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<em>Besides, sash windows are a unique feature of your property. It gives it character and special appeal. 82% of estate agents we surveyed this year felt that original features such as sash windows tend to add financial value to properties and 78% believed they helped a property to sell more quickly.</em> <br />
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<em>The common objection to original sash windows is that they are not energy efficient and there are very limited ways of upgrading them. Now, for the first time an important piece of research has been commissioned by English Heritage at Glasgow Caledonian University that is going to show people just how easy and effective it is to bring a sash window up to modern standards. Download the research report to find out more.</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/p-t/sash-windows-research-summary">http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/p-t/sash-windows-research-summary</a></em><br />
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DIY draughtproofing is available from numerous places (do a google!)<br />
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Small selection<br />
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<a href="http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/sash_window_timber_staff_beads.html">http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/sash_window_timber_staff_beads.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.sashwindows.co.uk/">http://www.sashwindows.co.uk/</a><br />
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(Guide also available to buy via that site, as well as components) <br />
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and here's an online DIY guide<br />
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<a href="http://www.sashwindowspecialist.com/diyguide.html">http://www.sashwindowspecialist.com/diyguide.html</a><br />
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Even the Guardian has a simple repair guide<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/mar/01/diy.homes5">http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/mar/01/diy.homes5</a><br />
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One specialist firm which can do the draughtproofing job for you and repair even the most knackered windows (those who moan about draughty, rattly sash windows really should do something about that, it's not how they are meant to be) is currently featuring on TV:<br />
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<em>It made environmental, aesthetic and financial sense to use Ventrolla to restore all 147 sash windows we had at Rise Hall that were on the brink of collapse.</em><br />
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<em>They then fitted them with their two patented systems - first Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System which draught proofs the windows, preventing heat from escaping and therefore making them energy efficient.</em><br />
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<em>Secondly with their Sash Removal System (SRS), which allows the window to be easily removed from inside so future repainting and repairs will now be quick, easy and most importantly cheaper, as no scaffolding will be needed.</em><br />
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<em>Ventrolla were not only a pleasure to deal with and by transforming the windows they have also transformed the façade of Rise Hall.</em><br />
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<em>Graham Swift and Sarah Beeny</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.risehall.com/renovation/joinery/ventrolla-windows">http://www.risehall.com/renovation/joinery/ventrolla-windows</a><br />
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My own home's historic sash windows are currently 'draughtproofed' by pushing loo roll in the gaps. Works fine. <br />
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For those interested, there's also the possibility of secondary glazing, which can be very simple or more sophisticated:<br />
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<a href="http://www.dealtime.co.uk/diy-secondary-glazing-kits/products">http://www.dealtime.co.uk/diy-secondary-glazing-kits/products</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.stormwindows.co.uk/">http://www.stormwindows.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
although for historic windows consent will be required for anything which alters the existing windows. Also of course costs can add up, and payback time should be factored in.<br />
<br />
Edinburgh World Heritage has also produced two online guides to basic energy saving measures which are worth reading<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ewht.org.uk/looking-after-our-heritage/energy-efficiency-and-sustainability">http://www.ewht.org.uk/looking-after-our-heritage/energy-efficiency-and-sustainability</a><br />
<br />
<em><strong>Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings</strong></em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Relatively simple measures can make historic buildings as energy efficient as most modern constructions, for example draft proofing windows or reinstating wooden shutters. This project aims to reduce carbon emissions over the 16 month period and continue to generate savings on an ongoing basis, with a significant reduction in the overall carbon footprint of the city.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
Those links also give links to advice on how to make simple draught excluders. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/05/how-to-make-draught-excluder">http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/05/how-to-make-draught-excluder</a><br />
<br />
(comments worth reading)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.craftycrafty.tv/2007/09/how_to_make_your_own_dog_or_sn_1.html">http://www.craftycrafty.tv/2007/09/how_to_make_your_own_dog_or_sn_1.html</a><br />
<br />
Well, when it's freezing outside a few homecrafts will help make the long dark nights indoors pass by rapidly. What else would you be doing?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ59AY7AY18tXRzfoU092UHSHXViiDDmZM5bUDR_QL86HiezDXvvmwj5JGAepYjoLf87W7CvseFMFft8IkgUbrgGVTE6gF-ICH6ywJkez0uUSyV5wZZ007aGFs_LUkyUsnEsbSrbKcYkg/s1600/Draught-excluder-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ59AY7AY18tXRzfoU092UHSHXViiDDmZM5bUDR_QL86HiezDXvvmwj5JGAepYjoLf87W7CvseFMFft8IkgUbrgGVTE6gF-ICH6ywJkez0uUSyV5wZZ007aGFs_LUkyUsnEsbSrbKcYkg/s320/Draught-excluder-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For those with a wider interest in both homecrafts and vintage fashion, as well as keeping warm and how it used to be, the V & A has a smashing free online selection of 1940s knitting patterns.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/features/knitting/1940s/index.html">http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/features/knitting/1940s/index.html</a><br />
<br />
From fetchingly attractive warm hats to wool undies via stockings and bedsocks with pompoms ('make a very acceptable present') all your Christmas gifts dilemmas solved?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp0DbxpulBM-DoRUonAv0gQw0-HQmebnKJkSMfROSmv-9iOMs-5aswJBVbyzsTpX5_lrYe47pBu8movd_N-sP7K9majaYOkT9kEabEXD847SYyaqPS_RRaZvJRvPa9DQGh2FOwU6l_lVu/s1600/balaclavaV%2526A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp0DbxpulBM-DoRUonAv0gQw0-HQmebnKJkSMfROSmv-9iOMs-5aswJBVbyzsTpX5_lrYe47pBu8movd_N-sP7K9majaYOkT9kEabEXD847SYyaqPS_RRaZvJRvPa9DQGh2FOwU6l_lVu/s320/balaclavaV%2526A.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<em>'The balaclava helmet', from Essentials for the Forces, 1940s. Jaeger Handknit. With ear flaps to enable good hearing during telephone operations (or for use with a mobile phone).</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Nem </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><strong>*Of course this blog is the most basic of guides. For further reading on how to deal appropriately with period buildings here's an excellent start:</strong></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://huntwriter.com/?page_id=11">http://huntwriter.com/?page_id=11</a>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-37892019779120743872010-11-23T00:11:00.003+00:002010-11-23T18:52:49.514+00:00Ode to ... Hebden Bridge? Academy of Urbanism Awards 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEyv1nNyuBBc_kEAEk_CiywIZ3z90PkwcTHI0v7rQ0i4ywnsB9UprhL_QBV8wt7zjhFN0cr6ngsS983oW118kT4yJ6dEPvm2Nhj-zlOmm9wglqbHnI36AeQdGFrAX70KRdqYlSbMlj2h9/s1600/Rochdale+Canal+Hebeden+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEyv1nNyuBBc_kEAEk_CiywIZ3z90PkwcTHI0v7rQ0i4ywnsB9UprhL_QBV8wt7zjhFN0cr6ngsS983oW118kT4yJ6dEPvm2Nhj-zlOmm9wglqbHnI36AeQdGFrAX70KRdqYlSbMlj2h9/s320/Rochdale+Canal+Hebeden+Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/987457"><em>http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/987457</em></a><em> Copyright Paul Anderson and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.</em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rochdale Canal Hebden Bridge: Seen here in the centre of Hebden Bridge the Rochdale Canal winds through the town on its 32 mile journey from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge.</span></em></div><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Built by immigrant navvies between 1799 and 1804, the canal needed ninety-two locks to lift it 600ft above sea level</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Decades of dereliction and neglect ended in 2003 when the Rochdale re-opened - fully restored and reconnected to the national network at Sowerby Bridge where the deepest canal basin in the country marks its merging with with Calder and Hebble Navigation.Link</span></em><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many abandoned canal buildings around Hebden Bridge have been converted into luxury waterside apartments, small businesses and workshops, and the whole atmosphere of the canal bank has been enhanced by refurbished parks, marinas and gardens.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Hebden Bridge has featured here before in this very blog, proposals for a controversial development not wanted by local folk<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-grim-oop-north.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-grim-oop-north.html</a><br />
<br />
and turned down following a public inquiry, link in this post<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/lancaster-sec-of-state-turns-down.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/lancaster-sec-of-state-turns-down.html</a><br />
<br />
Anyhow, brief blog today to say that the Academy of Urbanism (see previous blogpost on trams, featuring AoU luminary and Twitterer @williemiller of Willie Miller Urban Design<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Miller_(urbanist">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Miller_(urbanist</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/11/on-and-off-rails.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/11/on-and-off-rails.html</a> )<br />
<br />
has announced the winners of its annual awards scheme, and along with that is a new poem by resident poet Ian McMillan. So, never one to let a chance for a poetry link to pass this blog by, here is more about Hebden Bridge from the Academy of Urbanism (and again text by Willie Miller). Best read from the link as many good photographs illustrate the text<br />
<br />
<a href="http://hebdenbridge.co.uk/news/2010/206.html">http://hebdenbridge.co.uk/news/2010/206.html</a><br />
<br />
<em>Hebden Bridge has a population of around 4,500 and is the smallest of the candidates in this category. Situated within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, it forms part of the Upper Calder Valley and lies eight miles west of Halifax and 14 miles north east of Rochdale,at the confluence of the River Calder and the River Hebden (Hebden Water). A 2004 profile of the Calder Valley ward, covering Hebden Bridge, Old Town, and part of Todmorden, estimated the wider population at 11,549.</em><br />
<br />
<em>The original settlement was the hilltop village of Heptonstall. Hebden Bridge started as a settlement where the Halifax to Burnley hilltop packhorse route dropped down into the valley. The route crossed the River Hebden at the spot where the old bridge (from where Hebden Bridge gets its name) stands</em><br />
<br />
<em>The steep wet hills and access to major wool markets meant that Hebden Bridge was ideal for water powered weaving mills and the town developed during the 19th and 20th centuries; at one time Hebden was so well-known for its clothing manufacture that it was known as 'Trouser Town'. Drainage of the marshland which covered much of the Upper Calder Valley prior to the Industrial Revolution enabled construction of the road which runs through the valley. Prior to this, travel was only possible via the ancient packhorse route which ran along the hilltop, dropping into the valleys wherever necessary, as was the case with Hebden Bridge. The wool trade also brought the Rochdale and the Manchester and Leeds Railway running from Leeds to Manchester and Burnley.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Hebden Bridge was the second town that the assessment team visited and it too set a high standard. As in Stroud, the relationship between the landscape and the town is remarkably integrated and first impressions on arriving at the railway station demonstrate the often dramatic nature of the bond between town structure and landscape. Walking from the station to the town centre along main roads was a less pleasant experience - the A646 is a busy route through the town and footpaths are quite narrow. However, once in the centre of the town, the pedestrian scale, high quality finishes of the public realm, and the standard of care were excellent. Even in the centre, the impact of the surrounding landscape is strong - and there is no unsympathetic development to undermine the natural setting of the town.</em><br />
<br />
<em>The standards of maintenance of streets, footpaths and buildings was very high as was the quality and extent of landscaping, especially the floral displays and hanging baskets.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Heritage plays a major role in Hebden Bridge and there is a marked interest and pride in the historical development of the town that informs how the town reacts to 21st century aspirations and pressures. This also plays out in the range of heritage trails as well as attitudes to newbuilding. Forexample,the town is intent on building an extension to the town hall that will provide community rooms and business together with new public space along the riverside. This has been developed over a considerable period of time with community involvement (through the Friends of the Town Hall) and has resulted in a proposal for a new building which is contemporary yet contextual, that everyone seems happy with.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Alternative energy is also a major interest in Hebden Bridge focused on an Alternative T echnology Centre beside the canal. The Centre organises various initiatives including Big Green Week and a Power From The Landscape project, which seeks to support communities in the development of micro hydro-electric schemes using the same sources of water power that originally powered the town industries in the 19th century.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Linear greenspace plays an important part in the town through footpaths and cycleways along the canal, through the town centre along the Hebden Water and along the River Calder. These paths are well signposted and trail leaflets are available to guide the visitor through the town.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Like Stroud, Hebden Bridge seems to be the very embodiment of the current government's aspirations to the Big Society and like Stroud, Hebden Bridge was doing the Big Society many years before the term's current usage. The town's community organisations have recognised the assets of place - physical, social and economic - and have worked hard to make the most of these with the local authorities and Yorkshire Forward. Again like Stroud, it seemed to the assessment team that this was a town in which it was possible for individuals in the community to originate ideas and proposals for projects that would benefit the town and find a way to implement them. There seemed to be a genuine pride of place and a shared interest in getting things done.</em><br />
<br />
<em>There are many notable achievements in Hebden Bridge but one of the most obvious in terms of the built environment is howrelatively intact it seems. Certainly buildings have come and gone over the years but there is a sense that what is there has an integrity, completeness and appropriateness - and it is also well looked after.</em><br />
<br />
<em>At the same time, there are some issues which present the town with some difficulties. The lack of developable land due to the local topography, which in some ways can be seen as a blessing,could inhibit the future growth of the town. Even land for allotments is almost impossible to find short of terracing the slopes of the surrounding hillsides. The impact of traffic along the A646 makes for an uncomfortable pedestrian experience and it would be constructive to look at ways of ameliorating that.</em><br />
<br />
<em>The transferable lessons of excellence that can be learned by others from Hebden Bridge are:</em><br />
<br />
<em>A. the sense of ownership of the town, civic pride and community management and the willingness of local authorities to adapt to and support a wide range of small scale community projects, in this case focusing around heritage and alternative technology but also covering a wide range of local interests</em><br />
<br />
<em>B.the principle of working with smallscale ideas and the fine grain of local areas - not only in the sense of physical fabric but also the grain of the community</em><br />
<br />
<em>C. potentially, how the knowledge and experience gained in this work is passed on to others over a wider area - and how new generations can acquire this knowledge and ability so that it does not disappear when particular individuals move on.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
and here is that poem. If anyone is concerned about copyright then I have no doubt the poet or the Academy will be in touch, but it seems to me a celebration in poetry such as this of a place requires the widest of audiences.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>HEBDEN BRIDGE</strong><br />
<br />
Town with a tissue that's quite unique;<br />
Town where history's strata show<br />
Alternative visions cheek to cheek<br />
Different plants allowed to grow.<br />
In a world where towns are pallid clones<br />
Hebden Bridge stands out a mile,<br />
As the sun lights up West Yorkshire stones<br />
And the sky is as bright as a smile;<br />
You walk through the street and the voices rise<br />
Like steam from a coffee emporium<br />
And very quickly you realise<br />
The whole town's an auditorium!<br />
Hebden Bridge is theatre, so let's all clap<br />
The wizard's cloak behind the new flat cap!<br />
<br />
Ian McMillan<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_v1B7WKePhEn_9ND2xHMf4WCu8sx7JYyo-nG3SedbXCaOhUfzluoGg-Jt7PFZ3-Q1OkrPFCsEyy8FLdUncYlvGmllxhzmbXfDOtnfvFM5c5NE_SOOrZgQnRn46_s4bdkrNghmSl2ETkl/s1600/urban-cert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_v1B7WKePhEn_9ND2xHMf4WCu8sx7JYyo-nG3SedbXCaOhUfzluoGg-Jt7PFZ3-Q1OkrPFCsEyy8FLdUncYlvGmllxhzmbXfDOtnfvFM5c5NE_SOOrZgQnRn46_s4bdkrNghmSl2ETkl/s320/urban-cert.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br />
I have a number of photographs of Hebden Bridge (several great caffs with cakes...) but they are, alas, still in need of loading from my camera, so instead here is a link to Geograph, where numerous pictures of this extremely attractive town can be found:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=17064103">http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=17064103</a><br />
<br />
The Academy of Urbanism<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/">http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
The Awards Scheme shortlist<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/">http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<strong>2011 FINALISTS</strong><br />
<br />
The European City of the Year<br />
<br />
Budapest<br />
<br />
<strong>Glasgow - winner</strong><br />
<br />
Helsinki<br />
<br />
<br />
The Great Town Award<br />
<br />
<strong>Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire - winner</strong><br />
<br />
Stroud, Gloucestershire<br />
<br />
Westport, Ireland<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Great Neighbourhood Award<br />
<br />
Cathedral Quarter, Belfast<br />
<br />
<strong>Northern Quarter, Manchester - winner</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9220000/9220968.stm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9220000/9220968.stm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter</a><br />
Pollokshields, Glasgow <br />
<br />
<br />
The Great Street Award<br />
<br />
<strong>Exmouth Market, London - winner</strong><br />
<br />
St. Patrick Street, Cork<br />
<br />
Union Street, Aberdeen<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Great Place Award<br />
<br />
Princesshay, Exeter<br />
<br />
St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh<br />
<br />
<strong>Tobermory Harbour, Mull - winner</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Good to know it's not all the gloom I frequently write about, congratulations to all shortlisted and winners, and let's hope that the positive lessons to be learned from places highlighted by these awards can be disseminated widely.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-11868403952062451362010-11-18T13:46:00.006+00:002010-11-18T18:19:18.830+00:00On and off the rails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XWxUU3-eAQJFfm_7w5sIBLw-orfE0P_9RRdNimnNZIO0DUnlNm9_Y2KZX5_rA4FHZQe6rtxqj6ZHUvXFsd72I7xTFRxYucIyy6r_T-lD0VH0ehZFGoK8Y30l-Hrrs0aY9Xh6vqMdUtHD/s1600/Trams+Princes+St.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XWxUU3-eAQJFfm_7w5sIBLw-orfE0P_9RRdNimnNZIO0DUnlNm9_Y2KZX5_rA4FHZQe6rtxqj6ZHUvXFsd72I7xTFRxYucIyy6r_T-lD0VH0ehZFGoK8Y30l-Hrrs0aY9Xh6vqMdUtHD/s320/Trams+Princes+St.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em>Edinburgh trams: Princes Street (click to enlarge)</em><br />
<br />
I did think, in the time honoured tradition of groanmaking headings for this blog, of calling this one Transports of Delight, but on more mature reflection I resisted.<br />
<br />
Long time readers of this blog will appreciate I have written a few posts mentioning the Edinburgh trams fiasco. <br />
<br />
Here's a sample:<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/05/trams-in-edinburgh.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/05/trams-in-edinburgh.html</a><br />
<br />
Others can be found by judicious use of the search facility. <br />
<br />
I have not updated that as the situation becomes ever more complex, labyrinthine, Byzantine, or just plain fucked up, whatever your culchurul linguistic preference. Keeping updated means reading the Scotsman online and the Edinburgh Evening News, and in particular in the comments of one SarahB, who has a grip on it all. Alas, those with a grip appear to not be employed in any capacity involved with delivery of the trams, which I think it fair to say will not be On Time and On Budget. <br />
<br />
Wiki on Edinburgh trams:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Trams">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Trams</a><br />
<br />
and Edinburgh Corporation Tramways, closed down in 1956:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Corporation_Tramways">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Corporation_Tramways</a><br />
<br />
For those with an anorak interest, and especially of holes in the ground, pictures here of the tramworks in Edinburgh:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.railbrit.co.uk/location.php?loc=Edinburgh%20Trams">http://www.railbrit.co.uk/location.php?loc=Edinburgh%20Trams</a><br />
<br />
and for those transport historians amongst us;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/incline/ed.htm">http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/incline/ed.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_edinburgh_transport_-_trams_around_edinburgh.htm">http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_edinburgh_transport_-_trams_around_edinburgh.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://wn.com/heritage_streetcar">http://wn.com/heritage_streetcar</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7IF98e-ZYWKtGgi51VhVVMommcL-rG5IyTC9VxL-t-jYd9c7IMF_BmNX0kUKpGV9BQcG-kg5VmlkRjBsFB7XyJDGLJ9HOWoLxfxcMmruZSE0tsw8DnUx6NjRJmFA8K8vLVCF8CKYdUpb/s1600/Trams+Calton+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7IF98e-ZYWKtGgi51VhVVMommcL-rG5IyTC9VxL-t-jYd9c7IMF_BmNX0kUKpGV9BQcG-kg5VmlkRjBsFB7XyJDGLJ9HOWoLxfxcMmruZSE0tsw8DnUx6NjRJmFA8K8vLVCF8CKYdUpb/s320/Trams+Calton+Hill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em>Edinburgh trams: Calton Hill (click to enlarge)</em><br />
<br />
My own view of trams is that they can be no doubt excellent and as a rail enthusiast they should be supported as an alternative to traffic congested city streets.<br />
<br />
My one gripe is the overground wire prob in Edinburgh, especially in Princes Street (where surely the pickup could be underground, avoiding the bristling poles spoiling views) and the wires which will be attached to historic buildings, which I fear will be damaging.<br />
<br />
So let's not go there. Let's instead celebrate places where trams are a success.<br />
<br />
Let's read the two terrific pieces by @williemiller of Willie Miller Urban Design, Scotland's foremost urban design practice, in the Guardian about trams in Bordeaux and Helsinki, and let's appreciate this country has so much to learn about urban planning. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.williemiller.com/index-places.htm">http://www.williemiller.com/index-places.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.williemiller.co.uk/">http://www.williemiller.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Miller_(urbanist">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Miller_(urbanist</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
Here I give myself a wee pat on the back as the initial instigator of the articles (is there a new career to be had in matchmaking?) but that's all the fame I can claim and it is with huge thanks to Willie that I am given the OK to repeat them both here . If Those In Charge of Edinburgh had any sense they would be beating that cliched path to WMUD's door and seeking more of his information but they haven't so they probably won't.<br />
<br />
No 1: Bordeaux<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/jul/30/edinburgh-trams-bordeaux-city">http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/jul/30/edinburgh-trams-bordeaux-city</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Spotlight on trams: Bordeaux</span></strong><br />
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<em><strong>In the first of an occasional series looking at the experience of trams in other world cities, guest blogger Willie Miller finds that Bordeaux's trams haven't just moved people around, the 'mobile social structures' have changed the very development of the place</strong></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymjL_VznhAxx5QTctFl2r37-dQfPhOfhPdj25PjC-OfdYU-TMZSGorce3hRmtrx9RdtSMuiERlAtLTb3JZ1ZXm51oP1w0Qyf56Hmvd4gXnHAkF-BWkB5zlSExwbtvJQx07j7-pvC2KeX_/s1600/Bordeaux--001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymjL_VznhAxx5QTctFl2r37-dQfPhOfhPdj25PjC-OfdYU-TMZSGorce3hRmtrx9RdtSMuiERlAtLTb3JZ1ZXm51oP1w0Qyf56Hmvd4gXnHAkF-BWkB5zlSExwbtvJQx07j7-pvC2KeX_/s400/Bordeaux--001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>The dramatic sight of the tram at night in Bordeaux. Photograph: Willie Miller/guardian.co.uk</em><br />
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Bordeaux is a vibrant city of 250,000 people serving a metropolitan catchment area with a population of 1.1 million and is one of the largest urban areas in France.<br />
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The city and its region are of course well known for wine making but this is also a city that makes things: optical and laser research and production, aeronautical and defence industries as well as pharmaceuticals, food and electronics. <br />
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It is also a significant administrative centre and a city attractive to tourists on the basis of the wine industry, the adjacent seaside resort of Arcachon and the city centre which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<br />
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The built-up area has grown swiftly in the past decade and urban sprawl was considered to be a significant problem. In common with many other European cities, as Bordeaux expanded its periphery, industries around the core of the city declined most significantly along the banks of the Garonne.<br />
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The first Bordeaux tramway dated back to 1880. In 1946 the public transportation system had 38 tram lines with a total length of 124 miles carrying 160,000 passengers per day. <br />
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This system was abandoned in 1958 as a result of anti-tram arguments including the notion that trams hindered the flow of cars through the city.<br />
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<strong>Political change</strong><br />
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In 1995 the city elected Alain Juppé as its new mayor. He recognised the need for action to counter the strangulation of the city by transport problems and, together with a number of other initiatives, the city adopted the tramway plan in 1997 with the support of Central Government in 2000 as a Public Interest Project. This is a very European example of a politician supporting a major project rather than disowning it. The tramway network currently consists of three lines built at a cost of EURO 800M<br />
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The first new line was opened in December 2003 and further extensions have increased the route length to just over 27 miles with more routes planned. The system is notable for using a ground-level power supply system in the city centre to placate the views of conservationists who considered that overhead wires would threaten the integrity of the World Heritage Site. The system is operated at the moment under a five year contract by Keolis, the largest private sector transport group in France.<br />
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The overall transport system (bus-tram-rail) sees some 300,000 passenger journeys daily of which 165,000 are on trams. On average, 45% of journeys on the combined bus and tram network of the TBC are by tram. In 2008 the trams carried 54.7 million passengers. The Bordeaux tramway is one of 16 towns or cities in France running a tram system integrated with bus and rail.<br />
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<strong>Wide impact on structure</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hvu6BH8WGIAzivoRkYrOsAg9lrtD9MGIReYLaoT67B7j7B3vGBxupul474iu-fd8sw5jcVQ_fk-jOYoc1af6qU2BrzFTT-rT33Bk8Of09wFvtQ7Ah2xo8xe-am0nbxnRdCSfojV8Fng_/s1600/Bordeaux--002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hvu6BH8WGIAzivoRkYrOsAg9lrtD9MGIReYLaoT67B7j7B3vGBxupul474iu-fd8sw5jcVQ_fk-jOYoc1af6qU2BrzFTT-rT33Bk8Of09wFvtQ7Ah2xo8xe-am0nbxnRdCSfojV8Fng_/s400/Bordeaux--002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>Bordeaux tram stop Photograph: Willie Miller/guardian.co.uk </em><br />
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The impact of the tram on the city should not be seen just in terms of moving people around. It has had a much wider impact on the structure of the city and the way in which new development is allowed to take place. On the periphery of the city, the three tram routes define growth corridors along which development can take place. The new routes have defined new parts of the city where people live and work. <br />
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Tram stops become the focal points of new squares, the centres of new mixed use areas where employment and living space are co-located or the best way of getting to some of the city's remarkable new spaces such as Michel Corajoud's breathtaking Mirior d'eau opposite the Place de la Bourse on the banks of the Garonne. The tram has also allowed many traditional city squares to become areas of calm like the spaces around the Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux or around Richard Roger's Palais de Justice. Many of these spaces sit atop underground car parks so while the car can still penetrate the inner historic core, there is precious little evidence of its presence.<br />
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In Bordeaux the tram infrastructure enables easier orientation within the city. The tracks, overhead cables and stops are now permanent features of the city's streets - predictable and stable unlike bus routes. So the tram informs and helps people to formulate a clearer image of the structure of their city. It is a feature of their communal public space. <br />
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Tram stops in the city are typically focal points in the urban fabric where local shops, bars and cafes cluster or where students meet on the way to university. This perhaps sounds like UK Regeneration speak – and it probably is – but the defining of city spaces by public transport is a part of European urbanism that predates Lord Rogers and his Urban Renaissance by a century or more'<br />
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<strong>Mobile social spaces</strong><br />
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Bordeaux's trams are also mobile social spaces in a way that buses can never be – the arrangement of seats and standing space seems to encourage conversation. The tram is smooth running so that café au lait need not be spilled and the discussion started at the tram stop can continue without interruption.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYxYldo2U9YSIgzfRMlj9sY5yKFJ8msKCmeH6cxB-b7crydbKeT_xiPtwA6w2-Pj86aPscSc0mOyLhF8kNpGk9a1kQ7rJq1l2AE1oiU6cxMVz5BRzcU0RjGCiHbsHdXq5IDyOPc_QnRJs/s1600/Bordeaux--003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYxYldo2U9YSIgzfRMlj9sY5yKFJ8msKCmeH6cxB-b7crydbKeT_xiPtwA6w2-Pj86aPscSc0mOyLhF8kNpGk9a1kQ7rJq1l2AE1oiU6cxMVz5BRzcU0RjGCiHbsHdXq5IDyOPc_QnRJs/s400/Bordeaux--003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>Bordeaux Photograph: Willie Miller/guardian.co.uk </em><br />
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Trams in Bordeaux have also created more walkable streets. There is little if any evidence of a city centre traffic problem whereas before their reintroduction, there was traffic chaos. Generally, trams attract heavier usage than buses so their introduction and development has created a virtuous circle of improved diesel-free environments for pedestrians, more walking and increased use of public transport.<br />
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The brave steps that Bordeaux took at the end of the 20th century to reconfigure its transport system have effectively restructured the city and provided a new network of communal public spaces and a pedestrian priority city centre of which it can be justifiably proud. It is an excellent example which many UK cities should follow.<br />
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<em>Willie Miller as an urbanist and owner of WMUD, one of Scotland's leading urban design practices - the research was carried out during the 2009 Assessment visit for the Academy of Urbanism.</em><br />
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No 2: Helsinki<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/nov/15/edinburgh-trams-helsinki-finland-willie-miller">http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/nov/15/edinburgh-trams-helsinki-finland-willie-miller</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Spotlight on trams: Helsinki</span></strong><br />
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<em><strong>In the latest of an occasional series looking at trams across the world's cities, guest blogger Willie Miller discovers Finland's capital mirrors Edinburgh in many ways, yet trams are just a fraction of its transport aspirations</strong></em>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUrnJ4Qbe7wxM_-YCFLPAuG8xOBNZBGh-kD1389ivi2_9wq6OUd6LMZ6dz0QAhFzcNs2nQltQ3WfEoWUqBUgmkfVx1sYEKbAOHW3h9Bym-etOEeA1PqLrwAPb4mgAUqMY5YjyoTNbeZfY/s1600/Tram+Helsinki+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUrnJ4Qbe7wxM_-YCFLPAuG8xOBNZBGh-kD1389ivi2_9wq6OUd6LMZ6dz0QAhFzcNs2nQltQ3WfEoWUqBUgmkfVx1sYEKbAOHW3h9Bym-etOEeA1PqLrwAPb4mgAUqMY5YjyoTNbeZfY/s320/Tram+Helsinki+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em>Helsinki's modern tram operating in snow. Pic: Creative Commons</em><br />
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Imagine a country with around the same population as Scotland that builds Metro lines and high speed rail links, that has the ambition to build a 50 mile undersea tunnel link to another country and is built around an extensive welfare state.<br />
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Imagine the same country regularly topping international comparisons of national performance in health, education and quality of life, as well as being the seventh most competitive country in the world. <br />
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Imagine its capital city, with a similar population to Edinburgh, with an extensive district heating system, the foresight to introduce a vacuum powered district waste disposal scheme that eliminates bin collections and which is extending its tram based public transport system with six major new lines over the next few years. <br />
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Helsinki is a city of 480,000 people with a surrounding metropolitan area of around 1.3 million people. It is very similar in size to Edinburgh (478,000) and it also the capital of its country with a population slightly less than that of Scotland at 5.3 million. <br />
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It is a remarkable and beautiful city with big plans for the future which include a fast rail link to St Petersburg, promoting and developing its airport as a European hub to China and investigating a 50 mile tunnel link to Tallinn in Estonia. This is a city in which seventy percent of the land area and almost all development land is owned by the City Council. This is a city with big plans and the ability to implement them. <br />
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The city also has ambitious plans for its own expansion, particularly on to waterfront areas previously occupied by docklands and inner harbours which have moved out to a new complex at Vuosaaric on the eastern edge of the conurbation. It is expected that an additional 100,000 people will be accommodated in these new developments. A key factor in planning these new development areas is integrated public transport by Metro in part but mainly by tram. <br />
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Helsinki's tram network is one of the oldest electrified tram networks in the world. It forms part of the city public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Helsinki City Transport. The trams are the main means of transport within the city centre and 56.6 million trips were made back in 2004, which is more than those made with the Helsinki Metro. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFTwRrhpLa6IV4NWG_iyDNxDaHMitxSRhpAi4xguEUxxIVBzpcjfEINIBjTNJl71UnLoAoMFzoaQhBXePweGWaPusFRfMfmVaVmHnUIJZ1gSwVElf38GrR3NXUgHj8uc_1l3xgHCyp2VY/s1600/Tram+Helsinki+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFTwRrhpLa6IV4NWG_iyDNxDaHMitxSRhpAi4xguEUxxIVBzpcjfEINIBjTNJl71UnLoAoMFzoaQhBXePweGWaPusFRfMfmVaVmHnUIJZ1gSwVElf38GrR3NXUgHj8uc_1l3xgHCyp2VY/s320/Tram+Helsinki+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em>The Finnish capital has 12 tram lines and six more on the way. Pic: Creative Commons </em><br />
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The first tram network was established in 1890 and electrification took place in 1900. In common with many other European cities, the tram system was under threat from buses in the mid 20th century and the city decided to close the system in the early 1960s. However this decision was reversed during the early 1970s and by 1976 the network was being expanded again. Today the tram is a key part of the city's infrastructure. <br />
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The city has a current total of twelve lines with a further six lines planned over the next few years. As well as owning almost 70% of the land area of the city, the Helsinki authorities also own the public transport system and critically, the energy company that supplies power for the tram network. This degree of ownership of the core elements of the system means that it is relatively easy to extend the network and guarantee connections to new housing areas without having to haggle with different land owners, developers, public utility owners and contractors. <br />
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Another aspect of infrastructure provision in Helsinki is the way in which it seems to happen efficiently and painlessly. Not for them the contractual disputes, delays in implementation or flaws in construction which are leapt upon by a triumphant public and trumpeted in the media elsewhere. <br />
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Perhaps it is in the dour uncomplaining Finnish character to just let other people get on with things in the knowledge that they will eventually be successful. Or perhaps they are just used to doing infrastructure provision really well. <br />
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<em>Willie Miller as an urbanist and owner of WMUD, one of Scotland's leading urban design practices - the research was carried out during the 2010 Assessment visit for the Academy of Urbanism.</em><br />
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<strong>Nem</strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-74559317231911790502010-10-24T15:03:00.008+01:002010-11-25T12:51:37.327+00:00Samara in Danger still, St Petersburg & Gazprom update...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjIun947H7U0hNlNCmNr0_9yGW2QAp-qG-pYsADv8FQnxdTPZLtglC-jNNnd2oLGljdBTwE4gFKL10I8kSEPsb43OX21jrDGJEPQ6KIVnBYhzarSc38Xy1AQgdl-ykf7X7IMyN6ef3njh/s1600/Samara.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjIun947H7U0hNlNCmNr0_9yGW2QAp-qG-pYsADv8FQnxdTPZLtglC-jNNnd2oLGljdBTwE4gFKL10I8kSEPsb43OX21jrDGJEPQ6KIVnBYhzarSc38Xy1AQgdl-ykf7X7IMyN6ef3njh/s320/Samara.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and news of a UK conference on <strong>Architectural Preservation in Russia</strong>, see below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATE: Rowan Moore in the Observer on RMJM, Fred Goodwin, and Gazprom (Okhta) Tower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/nov/21/will-alsop-rmjm-fred-goodwin">http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/nov/21/will-alsop-rmjm-fred-goodwin</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">21st November 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last November I posted a blog post, <em><strong>From Russia With Love Part 2</strong></em> outlining the dangers to Samara, and drawing to the attention of readers the launch of a new joint MAPS and SAVE Europe's Heritage publication about what was happening in that city to destroy its heritage. It made uncomfortable reading, especially the murders of architects and planners.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/11/from-russia-with-love-part-2-samara.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/11/from-russia-with-love-part-2-samara.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An extract: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON THREATS FACING RICH ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF RUSSIAN CITY OF SAMARA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samara_pivzavod.JPG">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samara_pivzavod.JPG</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<em>World-launch of the new MAPS/SAVE Europe's Heritage, Samara: Endangered City on the Volga, will take place on 18th November at Pushkin House, London.</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>This report is the work of a panel of Russian and international experts, and is the first of its kind to tackle the problem of the loss of architectural heritage in the Russian provinces.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>The city stands on the banks of the Volga, some 400 miles south east of Moscow. It is home to a wealth of styles from wooden houses with finely carved window frames to, neo-classical, art nouveau, constructivist, industrial and post-war buildings. It is a major Russian city, closed to the West under Communism when it was called Kuibyshev. It was also the city to which Moscow evacuated during the Second World War.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Since the fall of Communism, corruption in Samara has led to the uncontrolled demolition of huge areas of the city, including its delicate system of courtyards. <strong>There is massive new construction and planners and architects have been murdered, such is the greed for land and property</strong>. Approximately one third of the old city has been destroyed. The report was initiated due to the immediate threat hanging over a Factory Canteen of the Constructivist era, which has a ground plan in the form of a hammer and sickle... </em></div><br />
I am pleased <strong>Rowan Moore</strong>, architecture writer for the <em>Observer </em>newspaper, has today published an article about his visit to the city, and the continuing problems. Here it is and with it a good gallery of new photographs:<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/oct/24/samara-wooden-city-architecture-review">http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/oct/24/samara-wooden-city-architecture-review</a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2010/oct/24/samara-architecture-russia">http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2010/oct/24/samara-architecture-russia</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Please read. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please order the book via SAVE </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another view on the <em>Observer </em>article </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://tarjanurmi-arkkivahti.blogspot.com/2010/10/rowan-moore-in-samara-russia.html">http://tarjanurmi-arkkivahti.blogspot.com/2010/10/rowan-moore-in-samara-russia.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the excellent <em><strong>chtodelat news (</strong></em>linked to with latest updates on the blog list right)<em><strong> </strong></em>on the Factory Kitchen in Samara, see Rowan Moore's article, built in the shape of a hammer and sickle:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/save-the-samara-factory-kitchen/">http://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/save-the-samara-factory-kitchen/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Where to begin with an update on St Petersburg, RMJM, and the ghastly threat of the Gazprom / Okhta Tower on the World Heritage Site?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week, the <em>Irish Times:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ahref="http: 1016="" 1224281250398.html?="" 2010="" newspaper="" world="" www.irishtimes.com=""><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1016/1224281250398.html">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1016/1224281250398.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and <em>Building Design</em> (via <em>Architectural Record</em>):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://archrecord.construction.com/yb/ar/article.aspx?story_id=151198656">http://archrecord.construction.com/yb/ar/article.aspx?story_id=151198656</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Regular readers of this blog will know my opposition to this and I have tried to post relevant news when I can. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A selection of past posts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-huge-erection.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-huge-erection.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sept 2009 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a class="gs-title" href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/09/st-petersburg-whs-gazprom-okhta-centre.html" target="_blank">St Petersburg WHS, Gazprom, <b>Okhta</b> Centre, BD - and JG</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sept 2009</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/10/gazprom-rmjm-okhta-tower-st-petersburg.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/10/gazprom-rmjm-okhta-tower-st-petersburg.html</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oct 2009</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A site search will reveal more, and here's a snippet from this post:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Those who really don't give a fuck... and those who do: </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/those-who-really-dont-give-fuck-and.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/those-who-really-dont-give-fuck-and.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Anonymous said... </em></div><em></em><br />
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<em>I was quite close to (a few desks away from) this project as it was being designed - the main (nay, the only) idea that went into it was a slight twist to the tower. Why? Not in reference to the dialectical torsion of Tatlin's tower, oh no, but merely because they'd seen some twisted towers in the latest Blueprint or whatever and thought that they looked pretty snazzy, so might as well rip em off...</em><br />
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So RMJM, what answer have you?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YNqrsSNmVqpy-ieNHczif4CBioUZNyH2VGYomn0X57HZAOAdWk5m4n-O1nob4ferE70g3VNrYNVuX9p-vlvvtQ1uExnI0Kp09Jf3FBF7bEazK93AyxQaKb0h-AaV-2yG8Ji6JCd-nbdy/s1600/Gazprom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YNqrsSNmVqpy-ieNHczif4CBioUZNyH2VGYomn0X57HZAOAdWk5m4n-O1nob4ferE70g3VNrYNVuX9p-vlvvtQ1uExnI0Kp09Jf3FBF7bEazK93AyxQaKb0h-AaV-2yG8Ji6JCd-nbdy/s1600/Gazprom+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Another snippet from that post (December 2009):<br />
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<em>Recently an e-mail pinged into my inbox from St Petersburg, bearing the latest news on the RMJM Gazprom (Okhta) Tower, which is already causing destruction of important archaeology and encountering a great deal of heroic opposition. I have posted a number of times about this, and so won't repeat it all here, simply to point to past posts, describing the violence inflicted on protestors by hired thugs, <strong>the manipulation of law and public policy and the apparent unwillingness of RMJM's Tony Kettle to engage with any issues other than the ones which will bring about the desired result for his architecture firm</strong></em><strong>. </strong><br />
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<em>The status of St Petersburg as a World Heritage Site is at risk, and there is no doubting UNESCO's deep concern. However, as with Liverpool, Bath and Edinburgh in the UK, and of course Dresden, whose Elbe Valley was struck off the World Heritage list this summer over the building of a particularly brutal bridge and the unwillingness of those responsible to consider any compromise, those who put such status at risk, or bring worries that such status isn't high on the priorities of those who should care more, appear unable to consider that there are always alternatives. Short termism and large egos, blinkered city officials aided by elected representatives with motives which at times seem far removed from the real needs of World Heritage cities and their residents, the desire for fat profits... and Philistinism... all are part, and more besides, of the root of the difficulties. Yes, it's complex, each city will tell you they have to move on, silly phrases about 'setting in aspic' and 'economic development' will be spouted, and those who try to urge caution and work for a better solution are always derided as wishing to hold back 'progress'. </em><br />
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Here from 2009 is Tony Kettle's 'justification' for the Gazprom Tower, as reported in the Architects' Journal:<br />
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<a href="http://independentrepublicofthecanongate.blogspot.com/2009/09/rmjms-gazprom-tower-in-st-petersburg.html">http://independentrepublicofthecanongate.blogspot.com/2009/09/rmjms-gazprom-tower-in-st-petersburg.html</a><br />
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<strong>UNESCO should realise that special sites require a special architectural response, says Kettle</strong><br />
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<em>I have been pretty clear in the past about my views on UNESCO’s intervention in RMJM’s Okhta Centre project for Gazprom in St Petersburg, Russia. The plans we have drawn up are for one of the world’s tallest buildings in one of the world’s most horizontal cities, where only special buildings are allowed to break the grain.</em><br />
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<em>These special buildings include 30 churches, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Admiralty and the TV tower (which is the height of the Eiffel Tower). Each is special in its own right. A city needs a hierarchy of buildings so that the ordinary and the special work with each other. If every building attempts to be special, then they will all become ordinary; so there needs to be a good reason for a building to be out of the ordinary.</em><br />
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<em>The issue of energy is the central concern of our time and Gazprom, as the largest supplier of energy in eastern Europe, is one of the reasons for Russia’s wealth and rebirth, putting it into the ‘special’ category.</em><br />
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<em>The Okhta Tower must symbolise rebirth for Russia and the city of St Petersburg, while demonstrating that an innovative, low-energy building is possible in the extremes of the Russian climate. UNESCO has never disputed the quality of the design, nor the fact that the tower sits some 6km from the historical centre. But it feels it cannot allow one project to break the city’s height limits, potentially opening the gates to a ‘free-for-all’ of new development in the city. In this case, there is no latitude in its thinking, no allowance made for creation of the ‘special’.</em><br />
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There is more arguing for development, this time in his home city of Edinburgh, see link, but that gives a flavour. <br />
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Well, it just shows if you are making enough cash you can justify anything. RMJM of course gave Sir Fred Goodwin a well-paid job following the banking crash, of which many feel he was in part the architect.<br />
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Here's <strong>Malcom Fraser</strong> on that subject:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ianfraser.org/goodwins-appointment-reveals-how-nothing-has-been-learnt-from-crash/">http://www.ianfraser.org/goodwins-appointment-reveals-how-nothing-has-been-learnt-from-crash/</a><br />
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<strong>Goodwin’s appointment reveals little has been learnt from the crash</strong><br />
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<br />
January 24th, 2010<br />
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<em>The news that the disgraced former chief executive of RBS, Fred Goodwin, has been given a berth at architecture firm RMJM is strangely delicious, like hearing the school bully, who is still treated with respect by too many, has turned-up wearing a BNP badge.</em><br />
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<em>RMJM are, to me, already the epitome of what the ruling business establishment wants from “architecture”. They represent architecture as pure business model, with its crafts base and ethical sense subservient to the business interests of its corporate clients and its production line outputs glammed-up by high-art marketing -– RMJM have already provided a home for architectural “terrible enfant” Will Alsop’s celebrity shape-making bling.</em><br />
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<em>There was a wonderful symmetry to this RMJM/Alsop dream-teaming, and I thought it lacked nothing until I heard this. Of course! What was missing was the application of some neo-liberal financial speculation, leading to proposals for an excitingly-whacky Dubai Formula One business center in every town …</em><br />
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<em>What a fine exemplar of our failure to learn from the 2008 crash, and our monumentally daft hubris over our relationship to our built environment and the world as a whole -– oh, how I tire of those who tell me that “we just need the confidence back”!</em><br />
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<em>So while my heart goes out to my friends who work down the mine at RMJM, and I fear for the application of the RBS business model and the final trashing of a once-great company, I do so enjoy the brazen effrontery of it -– it’s helpful to get these things out in the open.</em><br />
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<em>I’ll try not to think what might happen in the second great crash -– will I have to pay vast RIBA subscriptions to bail out Alsop’s pension.</em><br />
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<em>Instead, I’ll enjoy the sight of turbo-capitalism (on stilts!) eating itself.</em><br />
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<em>Malcolm Fraser is founder of the Edinburgh-based <strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects</strong></em><br />
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Well, a great deal has happened in the intervening months, although the World Heritage Committee did not put St Petersburg on the In Danger list at its meeting this summer despite its strongly worded objection to the tower which is on record*. However, the tower had not been granted final permission at that point which could be an explanation. <br />
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There were reports in the press last week that permission has now been granted, although naturally this is not the end of the matter and the pressure on the Russian authorities to not allow the desecration of the St Petersburg World Heritage skyline is being stepped up by activists in Russia and beyond. It is rumoured that the Russian authorities are trying to have the WHS boundaries redrawn to exclude the area in which the Gazprom Tower is to be built; in or outside the boundary will not, however, prevent the skyline being spoiled, and the archaeological destruction which has already begun on the site.<br />
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Edinburgh activists saw off the threat to the World Heritage Site skyline by the Haymarket Tower, situated outside the WH boundary, and it gives some small hope for St Petersburg.<br />
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However, although political shenanigans and planning is nothing new to Edinburgh, naturally it all pales beside the goings on in Russia. <br />
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Last week I heard from a friend in St Petersburg, and I feel this latest news deserves a wider audience. I therefore post here an edited extract from an e-mail, there is nothing quite as good as hearing from those closely involved in the struggle first-hand: <br />
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<br />
<em>It's not all as simple and straightforward as the BD article (most of which has just been copy-pasted from Sergey Chernov's article about the rally in the St Petersburg Times) makes it seem.</em><br />
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<em>Although they got one thing right: Glavgosekspertiza is "understood" to have issued the positive ruling only because Vladimir Gronsky (the prototype for the main character in the Chto Delat film) and his PR team at the Okhta Center company immediately began braying about the decision (and well before Saturday), but as far as I know, no one at Glavgosekpertiza itself has confirmed this news.</em><br />
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<em>Meanwhile, the culture minister, Avdeev, stated that if such a decision was taken, it was "technical" -- that is, it doesn't address the "political" and/our conservation aspects of the project. Avdeev again expressed his opposition to the tower in the wake of this alleged decision.</em><br />
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<em>People in the anti-tower coalition are tentatively planning legal challenges against the decision because they suspect that it didn't address the historical preservation question (as, apparently, it should have).</em><br />
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<em>By the way, the rally wasn't a response to the decision: it had been planned in advance, although some of the organizers suspected the decision might be issued round the same time.</em><br />
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<em>The Irish Times piece... is much closer to the truth, although I suspect that their reporter doesn't understand just how close. First of all, just last week, Medvedev finally made a direct statement (i.e., not via press secretaries) that in its own roundabout way did suggest he was opposed to the tower.</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101012/160928504.html">http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101012/160928504.html</a></em><em></em><br />
<br />
<em>But this is just a reiteration of Medvedev's previous, much more carefully mooted stance. <strong>The really interesting thing is a revelation made by Anton Glikin, a Russian-born, US-based architect</strong> (I recall he had an essay in that pamphlet on historic preservation in Petersburg that MAPS published), during a series of lectures on the topic that he gave last week in Petersburg. During the Q&A after one of the lectures, <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glikin recounted a conversation he'd recently had with an unnamed architect at RMJM in London, who allegedly told Glikin that all along they've been receiving secret memoranda from Putin telling them not to worry, that the tower would be built, etc.</span></strong> </em><br />
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<em>A reporter from the local business daily Delovoi Peterburg was there and filed this article:</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.dp.ru/a/2010/10/14/Putin_shlet_sekretnie_memo">http://www.dp.ru/a/2010/10/14/Putin_shlet_sekretnie_memo</a></em><em></em><br />
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<em>Here is my translation of the relevant passages (the first three paragraphs) from this article:</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>"Vladimir Putin every month sends secret memoranda to the architectural firm RMJM London containing his commentary on the Okhta Center project," American architect Anton Glikin publicly announced during the architectural conference "New Architecture in the Center of Petersburg," which took place the other day in the House of the Architect in Petersburg.</em><br />
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<em>According to [Glikin], he was informed about the premier's close attention to the skyscraper project by an architect at RMJM London (the designers of Okhta Center) during a recent face-to-face meeting in London. Such claims about the premier's passion for the project are especially curious in the light of Russian Federation president Dmitry Medvedev's recent statements about Okhta Center.</em><br />
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<em>During the conference [...] the issues of the Okhta Center project and the architectural look of Petersburg as a whole provoked a lively discussion amongst architects and government representatives. "The Okhta Center project is being lobbied by the high authorities, and KGIOP [Municipal Committee for State Monitoring, Use and Preservation of Monuments] supports it," said Anton Glikin in yet another blunt claim. "Under the committee's leadership, a massive destruction of the urban environment is taking place."</em><br />
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<em>Now "on the record" (as opposed to in his secret memos to RMJM) Putin has stated time and again that it's up to the local authorities to decide ("in accordance with the law") whether to build the tower or not. Not that anyone in their right mind actually believed this, however. So if you have any journalists you'd like to "leak" this to, or if you'd like to post it on your own blog or the WHC discussion board, go right ahead....</em><br />
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So I have. And if anyone reading this would like to know more. my e-mail is on my profile. <br />
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My friend continues:<br />
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<em>Even without WHS, Petersburg should be protected by any number of local and federal laws, as well as federal and municipal protection agencies like ... KGIOP. Instead, the city is being destroyed, often in violation of these laws and most always with the blessing of city authorities, including KGIOP officials. So WHS is actually not a "last ditch" defense against anything at all. </em><br />
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<em>This is the problem with "international law" in general. If it is to mean anything, it has to be enforceable in some sense. Or, at least, there has to be some way of punishing state parties who violate it, if only by excluding them from the bodies organized to monitor observance of these laws. Russia is hardly alone among the violators, of course, but the "constructive engagement" approach often just leads to violators' being able to maintain a veneer of respectability while continuing to engage with perfect immunity in the offensive practices back on the home front. </em><br />
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<em>... By not acting more vigorously, Unesco is complicit in the destruction of Petersburg. It actually has nothing to lose by stating unequivocally that the city will be stripped of WHS if the tower is built. This would not "free the hands" of developers and corrupt bureaucrats to engage in even more destruction, because as it is they do more or less as they please.</em><br />
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<em>Here are three tiny, current examples to back my case.</em><br />
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<em>Yesterday, Living City and other coalition members held a rally against the planned demolition of the so-called Jurgens House, a residential building constructed in the 19th century by Emmanuel Jurgens, a very prominent and prolific architect of the period. A "developer" got hold of the building a few years ago, and as in so many other cases of this sort, they got the necessary "expertise" from the ... Tatyana Slavina Architectural Bureau (who specialize in this aiding and abetting of destruction) -- the building (of course!) was "dilapidated" and could thus be demolished to make way for a six-storey office building with underground parking. (it's no different in this country... Nem)</em><br />
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<em>Journalist Sergey Chernov has a photo reportage from the rally here:</em><br />
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<a href="http://sergey-chernov.livejournal.com/542188.html"><em></em></a><a href="http://sergey-chernov.livejournal.com/542188.html">http://sergey-chernov.livejournal.com/542188.html</a><em></em></a><br />
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<em>What you might find of interest among the photos there are the images of the info stands Living City set up for the event (although you won't be able to read them). One is entitled "Охранные зоны: кольцо сжимается" ("Preservation zones: the ring is closing"), which shows the effects of the new preservation laws lobbied by KGIOP and passed by the city in 2009/2010. Basically, these new laws already constitute violations of the city's WHS, and as the explanatory text notes, the WHC has allegedly rejected this attempt at "renomination" of the city (has it?) via this shrinking of the protected districts.</em><br />
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<em>After the rally (held in Mayakovsky Square), the demonstrators headed to the Jurgens House itself, which you see in the final shots in Sergey's post. Yes, it looks awfully modest, but it's the hundreds and thousands of buildings like this that make Petersburg Petersburg, not just the spectacular palaces. In local parlance, they're called "rank-and-file" or "background" architecture, but you get rid of them and you get rid of Petersburg. </em><br />
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<em>And as Living City makes perfectly on the text of the stand, by all rights they should be protected. But in real life they aren't.</em><br />
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<em>Here is another case that typifies how the city is being destroyed while the bureaucrats stuff their wallets. This is from the blog of Dmitry Ratnikov, a journalist from the newspaper Sankt-Peterburgski vedomosti and runs the invaluable Internet-newspaper Karpovka.Ru, which is a fairly dense chronicle of news on the topic (Ratnikov often breaks stories that everyone else would have missed this way):</em><br />
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<a href="http://dsropen.livejournal.com/610578.html"><em></em></a><a href="http://dsropen.livejournal.com/610578.html">http://dsropen.livejournal.com/610578.html</a><em></em></a><br />
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<em>Here he's bringing attention to the fact that (probably illegal) mansard storeys are being built onto the Ziegel clock factory, a truly lovely (and unique) turn-of-the-century brick complex not far from our house. This sort of "mansardization," as it's called, is going on at a feverish pace in the central districts. It is a way for developers to get round the slightly thornier task of demolishing buildings to make way for new construction. However, it has become such a plague that local legislative deputy Alexei Kovalyov (one of the activists of the famous "Salvation Group" from the early perestroika period) has recently sent an official inquiry to the city administration, asking them to explain how so many permits have been issued for such construction, which in most cases also violates preservation and zoning laws.</em><br />
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<em>Finally, after destruction of or "improvements" to old buildings, we have the plague of infill construction, especially in allegedly protected parks and squares. Here is a short report on TV100 about the Lopukhinsky Garden where the battle is apparently lost. One of the city's most notorious development companies, RBI, led by ...Eduard Tiktinsky (quoted on camera in the report; he once famously suggested that the problem with green spaces in the city could be solved by building "gardens" on the tops of new buildings). They somehow got hold of a big chunk of the Garden to build a high-rise hotel. Unfortunately, the resistance in the neighborhood boiled down only to several flashy public actions. It was left to the Norway-based environmental organization Bellona (which has a branch in Petersburg that became famous in the nineties when its then-director, Alexander Nikitin, was arrested for "espionage" for reporting how Russia was disposing of its scrapped nuclear subs in the Murmansk region) to file a last-minute court challenge against the project because no one else could be bothered to do it for some reason. Last week, the court ruled against Bellona. So now TV100 has presented the horror that will ensure in the garden as fait accompli.</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.tv100.ru/video/view/38888/"><em></em></a><a href="http://www.tv100.ru/video/view/38888/">http://www.tv100.ru/video/view/38888/</a><em></em></a><br />
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<em>Also at issue here is the old rowing and boating club that has its facilities on the river that runs along one edge of the park.</em><br />
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<em>My point is that one could multiply these examples in four categories -- destruction of old, allegedly protected buildings; "reconstruction" (including "mansardization") of old buildings, which also violates preservation laws; infill construction in parks and squares (also mostly illegal); and construction of high-rises that violate either zoning laws per se and/or the WHS, which also protects the historic skyline -- and thus make an ironclad case against city officials without even once referencing the Okhta Center project. "Vigorous" opposition has in part crystallized round the tower only because everyone realizes that if it is allowed to be built, that will mean certain doom for the city. Which is being destroyed as it is.</em><br />
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Not cheering news, and for those with an interest here is news of a forthcoming conference in the UK on the subject of architectural preservation and destruction in Russia. Speakers include Dr Glikin, see above. <br />
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<strong>Global Aspiration and Pastiche Identity: Architectural Preservation in Russia</strong><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uvp0ojOBjckIxVI80VK-RjD4SeM4FYzV59ZK1hD-M69A-TjOqHca1Clp_IxsRcN7ko1fDmbyJigtKxBm13JwttMfbeS-ItHTD9rOlL9-EJ5J_-th8HTr_EhyUaYHrVxHz2SRuFS75GcA/s1600/Moscowchurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uvp0ojOBjckIxVI80VK-RjD4SeM4FYzV59ZK1hD-M69A-TjOqHca1Clp_IxsRcN7ko1fDmbyJigtKxBm13JwttMfbeS-ItHTD9rOlL9-EJ5J_-th8HTr_EhyUaYHrVxHz2SRuFS75GcA/s1600/Moscowchurch.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<em>Inter-disciplinary conference, to be held at Queen Mary, University of London on 6-7 November 2010, Mile End Road, Arts G34.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, major Russian cities have been undergoing rapid development, which has led to unprecedented destruction of the architectural heritage. Owing to the practice of replacing historical buildings with modern structures built in concrete and disguised by a mock facade in historical style, the cityscape of the Russian capital increasingly looks like a theme park. This conference convenes an international group of academics and preservationists to investigate the historical context of this crisis, examine current practices, and identify opportunities for future action. It is hoped that through an inter-disciplinary dialogue, the historical roots of attitudes regarding architectural preservation in Russia can be revealed.</em><br />
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The conference is organized by Prof. Andreas Schnle at Queen Mary, University of London and Prof. Catriona Kelly at New College, University of Oxford.<br />
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For further information, including the conference programme, and registration, please see here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/russian/PreservationConference.htm">http://www.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/russian/PreservationConference.htm</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/russian/Programme(05_10_10).pdf">http://www.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/russian/Programme(05_10_10).pdf</a><br />
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Sponsored by New College, University of Oxford; Queen Mary, University of London; GB-Russia Society; and BASEES.<br />
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Registration by 29 October 2010.<br />
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To read more about the issues facing heritage in Russia you may be interested in two reports published by SAVE Europe's Heritage in association with the Moscow Architectural Preservation Society (MAPS) on Moscow and Samara. <br />
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*Strong words from UNESCO (really, this is as bad as it gets):<br />
<br />
33COM 7B.118 - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments (Russian Federation) (C 540)<br />
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Decision Text<br />
<br />
The World Heritage Committee,<br />
<br />
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/33.COM/7B.Add,<br />
2. Recalling Decision 32COM 7B.105, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),<br />
3. Regrets that the State Party did not provide a state of conservation report, or a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value;<br />
4. Notes with concern, that the maps provided by the State Party define boundaries that include a significantly smaller area than that inscribed, and encourages the State Party to submit formally a significant boundary modification (according to Paragraph 165 of the Operational Guidelines) to allow the Committee to consider this issue;<br />
5. Also notes with concern that the buffer zone proposed does not extend to encompass the landscape setting of the property and in particular the panorama along the Neva River, and requests the State Party to reconsider this buffer zone and submit it formally to the World Heritage Centre;<br />
6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;<br />
7. Expresses again its grave concern that the proposed "Ohkta Centre Tower" could affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and requests the State Party to suspend work on this project and submit modified designs, in accordance with federal legislation and accompanied by an independent environmental impact assessment;<br />
8. Also expresses its grave concern about the continuous lack of a leading management system and defined mechanisms of coordination for the management of the property;<br />
9. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments to assess the state of conservation of the property;<br />
10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a state of conservation report for the property that addresses the above points for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010, with a view to consider, in the absence of substantial progress, to inscribe the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and related Groups of Monuments (Russian Federation) on the List of the World Heritage in Danger at its 34th session 2010.This, and all associated documents, can be read here:<br />
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<a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1910">http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1910</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540/">http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540/</a><br />
<br />
Russian Federation<br />
<br />
Date of Inscription: 1990Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)(vi)St. Petersburg regionN59 57 00 E30 19 06Ref: 540<br />
<br />
Brief Description<br />
<br />
The 'Venice of the North', with its numerous canals and more than 400 bridges, is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. Later known as Leningrad (in the former USSR), the city is closely associated with the October Revolution. Its architectural heritage reconciles the very different Baroque and pure neoclassical styles, as can be seen in the Admiralty, the Winter Palace, the Marble Palace and the Hermitage.<br />
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<strong>Nem</strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-23461906311234075442010-10-19T19:37:00.015+01:002010-11-26T10:31:49.265+00:00Sustainable housing, sustainable communities, Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmFajn11128V1iUlRMcnLLFrhYq1lc0BfcdvuTN48PKR0yo5JsRspIUW4pstWE8FT7bvn8Q3zc4WhuqBzA5HIl3JYGZnvm_mYN5888Ufs5clX0P7xmtZU3gC8HFqP-pCf9hhs2J-QvAXC/s1600/MFA+West+Lothian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmFajn11128V1iUlRMcnLLFrhYq1lc0BfcdvuTN48PKR0yo5JsRspIUW4pstWE8FT7bvn8Q3zc4WhuqBzA5HIl3JYGZnvm_mYN5888Ufs5clX0P7xmtZU3gC8HFqP-pCf9hhs2J-QvAXC/s400/MFA+West+Lothian.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em> Pic: Malcolm Fraser Architects</em><br />
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<em><strong>"Good Homes, Good Jobs and Good Neighbourhoods.”</strong></em><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Nicely alliterative headings there. Can't say I don't try for a bit of wider culcha in me blog.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Anyhow, post to say warmest congratulations to Malcolm Fraser Architects for the win in the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative (SSCI) Design Ideas Competition, which was run by the Scottish Government in partnership with Assets Ltd. It is Whitecross, Linlithgow, on the site of a former brickworks. <br />
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<a href="http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/malcolm-fraser-wins-rias-whitecross-housing-competition/8607054.article">http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/malcolm-fraser-wins-rias-whitecross-housing-competition/8607054.article</a><br />
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Here is the background:<br />
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<a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212607/0083301.pdf">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212607/0083301.pdf</a><br />
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and the whole ethos and planned community sounds remarkable. Let's hope it all happens and does become an exemplar. <br />
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At the competition launch in June, the press publicity said that it was to seek 'a new Scottish vernacular' which seemed a contradiction in terms:<br />
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<strong>Scottish Government Sustainable Housing Ideas Competition</strong><br />
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<em>As part of the Scottish Government’s Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative (SSCI) the RIAS is managing a design competition based around the SSCI exemplar site at Whitecross, near Linlithgow. The competition, launched today, seeks housing and urban design proposals that combine high levels of sustainability and reductions in carbon emissions with a sensitive response to place and context.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<em>It is expected that design proposals will reflect a ‘new vernacular’ for Scottish architecture that demonstrates how environmentally-sensitive designs might influence both the architecture and urban layout of contemporary development. “I look forward to seeing high-quality and creative responses developed for Scotland. What is different about this competition is that designs, while inspiring and innovative, must be realistic and commercially viable. Designing original and inventive buildings that can be realised and replicated is a vital element in supporting the construction sector to deliver the low-carbon communities that Scotland needs.”</em><br />
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I am delighted that the winner in fact does appear to be informed by the past while certainly being of the 21st century. Lovely. Look forward to learning more in due course, in the sure and certain hope that there is an afterlife re the current housing hiatus, and that all goes forward and gets built. Timber and zinc are featured, both very sustainable materials and ones which look good in urban, suburban and rural settings. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As I wrote here:<br />
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<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/08/scottish-housing-expo-2010-inverness.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/08/scottish-housing-expo-2010-inverness.html</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I felt on the whole the MFA houses, a detached and a pair of semis, were the most easily livable in designs at the Scottish Housing Expo; it seems the wider public also thought so and in the public vote for 'favourite house' a Malcolm Fraser Architects' design, the catchily named House NS came top:<br />
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<a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/scotland/scotlands_housing_expo_winner.htm">http://www.e-architect.co.uk/scotland/scotlands_housing_expo_winner.htm</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot27.php">http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot27.php</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<em>Click on pics to enlarge</em><br />
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followed by HLM Architects' Passive House: <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.sphc.co.uk/highland-housing-fair">http://www.sphc.co.uk/highland-housing-fair</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot11.php">http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot11.php</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and Rural Design, based on the Isle of Skye ('rural design for the Scottish countryside' ) Secret Garden :</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiwXjGdLb5gGCoCEx9GnmuXASV0iKP-lCpg0p5LaZT4gqvWfTynxkMtUIgvrjHrervFrgXC-XrZNhyphenhyphenBqAzj49qfY-gVDVOAAxg_sqCtCj3GSlWkcr1RKJEMCs5O4vGJdG4wxEQdz0AJro/s1600/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiwXjGdLb5gGCoCEx9GnmuXASV0iKP-lCpg0p5LaZT4gqvWfTynxkMtUIgvrjHrervFrgXC-XrZNhyphenhyphenBqAzj49qfY-gVDVOAAxg_sqCtCj3GSlWkcr1RKJEMCs5O4vGJdG4wxEQdz0AJro/s320/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwbpyY6rBHBakRyLIHrTtabR08us-KT1LojaisHoLWREuwLjeov9vQhpFQYj-urxEtEuoJ1_zGcbLAitYdQfA8Vm8n1RDShnJnIYLVtH9nbpEbwzFZtyz4TjCbiLBUMrC2w94R1bTJvPf/s1600/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwbpyY6rBHBakRyLIHrTtabR08us-KT1LojaisHoLWREuwLjeov9vQhpFQYj-urxEtEuoJ1_zGcbLAitYdQfA8Vm8n1RDShnJnIYLVtH9nbpEbwzFZtyz4TjCbiLBUMrC2w94R1bTJvPf/s320/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<a href="http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot17.php">http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot17.php</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.ruraldesign.co.uk/">http://www.ruraldesign.co.uk/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">whose 'contemporary buildings for rural places' I hugely admire, and was delighted to see 15 Fiscavaig win in the 2010 Saltire Awards:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/scotland/fiscavaig_house.htm">http://www.e-architect.co.uk/scotland/fiscavaig_house.htm</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eetQ_RLlG5Lu4QPhmXRqW10Ag4AOtznb2VmBBZhn6TuhN1iVQ5xlTx6bPDWNbPOeCKw7XpKR7b0ngcKl9Cs5qGSQ3FJzsASIf7LqMAURUmPswT0hrRrlgJL40JAe1mGAmB7iF9b51I26/s1600/fiscavaig_house_r011209_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eetQ_RLlG5Lu4QPhmXRqW10Ag4AOtznb2VmBBZhn6TuhN1iVQ5xlTx6bPDWNbPOeCKw7XpKR7b0ngcKl9Cs5qGSQ3FJzsASIf7LqMAURUmPswT0hrRrlgJL40JAe1mGAmB7iF9b51I26/s400/fiscavaig_house_r011209_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Further pics and plans:<br />
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<a href="http://bartlettyear1architecture.blogspot.com/2010/03/fiscavaig-project-by-rural-design.html">http://bartlettyear1architecture.blogspot.com/2010/03/fiscavaig-project-by-rural-design.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.archdaily.com/42143/fiscavaig-rural-design/">http://www.archdaily.com/42143/fiscavaig-rural-design/</a><br />
<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Saltire Medal</strong></div><div jquery1287489199812="15" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<em>We were delighted to be awarded the inaugural Saltire Medal, at a ceremony in Edinburgh on the 13th September. The medal was presented by Chairman of the Jury, and World Architect of the Year John McAslan.</em></div><div jquery1287489199812="16" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div jquery1287489199812="16" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>The award was for our project at 15 Fiscavaig on the West Coast of Skye.</em></div><div jquery1287489199812="17" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div jquery1287489199812="17" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>McAslan said: ‘The Medal winner, Fiscavaig, stood out for its innovative use of materials and design which took account of its surroundings and setting.</em></div><div jquery1287489199812="18" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div jquery1287489199812="18" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<em><strong>The standard of architecture being produced in Scotland is truly world class and Fiscavaig is a perfect example.</strong>’</em></div><div jquery1287489199812="18" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div jquery1287489199812="18" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I can only concur; Scotland at its best is producing wonderful architects and architecture (and yes plenty of rubbish also, see previous blog, but let's celebrate success) and it does need shouting from the rooftops. If only the Londoncentric architecture writers for the UK press would leave their cosy enclaves and write a little more about the rest of the UK, and if only Scotland would stop feeling it has to run 'international design competitions' and give the best spots to Big Names like Hadid and Holl and encourage its own... but I digress and will stop ranting.<br />
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Here are pics of all the shortlisted designs for the 2010 Saltire Housing Awards:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/saltire_society/sets/72157624557226634/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/saltire_society/sets/72157624557226634/</a><br />
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and results<br />
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<a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/scotland/saltire_awards_2010.htm">http://www.e-architect.co.uk/scotland/saltire_awards_2010.htm</a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2536/Fraser_voted_People%E2%80%99s_Expo_favourite_.html">http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2536/Fraser_voted_People%E2%80%99s_Expo_favourite_.html</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and an Urban Realm report on the Whitecross competition here with decent sized images of the five shortlisted entries: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2586/Fraser_wins_Whitecross_design_comp_.html">http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2586/Fraser_wins_Whitecross_design_comp_.html</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and here:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/competitions/ssci_design_ideas_competition.htm">http://www.e-architect.co.uk/competitions/ssci_design_ideas_competition.htm</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Very strong shortlist of five whittled down from an initial forty-one entries. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have blogged before and no doubt will again re the problems I perceive of a retro regressive approach to design, which Scotland is embracing in part with Prince Charles developments and Duany masterplans.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/09/duanyising-britain.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/09/duanyising-britain.html</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-new-towns-new-old-towns.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-new-towns-new-old-towns.html</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I appreciate Mr Duany's masterplans could be carried out with contemporary designs, but, alas, the 'codes' which accompany them seem to be a wishful-thinking return to a past 'vernacular' based on watching too much Disney.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZYl2D1OAMacoPZgaeJWYuVpJsVswGVYCOBldiKS-KEIliioxzp1TNgTfVGgfZtiDTNN4-OLdGb2ILwMLPEL8Kp6120koWjNYCKui1w4r6KJoewwB-kRScI6_WfDt2UTTsif_mKHl9D37/s1600/Disney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZYl2D1OAMacoPZgaeJWYuVpJsVswGVYCOBldiKS-KEIliioxzp1TNgTfVGgfZtiDTNN4-OLdGb2ILwMLPEL8Kp6120koWjNYCKui1w4r6KJoewwB-kRScI6_WfDt2UTTsif_mKHl9D37/s320/Disney.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Therefore the competition in association with the Scottish Government, and shortlisted five practices' designs, demonstrate that quality and sustainability allied to attractive places to live can be achieved without resorting to the ill-digested 'paraphenalia of the past pastiche n pediments' school of design.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYE6MpkTEzxR5Gjn-C7JugunveFec0aqkKzL2mqZPF5Z1tFFmv-HXm1cFIaqGCxFUVJ6Wo5qF5RFF2UEgtVmkXqSaS4xfJ4S75PdxmIdc4g2hq9l1VtwfEHDK0fGhldpmpjRZ7SO-pGRV/s1600/01-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYE6MpkTEzxR5Gjn-C7JugunveFec0aqkKzL2mqZPF5Z1tFFmv-HXm1cFIaqGCxFUVJ6Wo5qF5RFF2UEgtVmkXqSaS4xfJ4S75PdxmIdc4g2hq9l1VtwfEHDK0fGhldpmpjRZ7SO-pGRV/s400/01-image.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Here's the official press blurb:</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Result of Whitecross Design Competition</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>As part of the Scottish Government's Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative (SSCI) RIAS Consultancy, from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, has been managing a Design Ideas Competition for a proposed sustainable housing development at Whitecross in West Lothian.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>The competition sought design idea proposals from registered architects, working in partnership with developers/housebuilders, for a proposed low carbon community at Whitecross, near Linlithgow. The Whitecross project has been selected as an exemplar project by the Scottish Government as part of the SSCI.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Forty-one pre qualification submissions were received and a shortlist of five was selected by the judging panel. The shortlisted practices were (listed alphabetically):</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>- Elder & Cannon Architects Ltd</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>- Gareth Hoskins Architects Ltd</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>- HTA Architects Ltd</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>- Malcolm Fraser Architects Ltd</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>- RMJM Scotland Ltd.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>These practices prepared proposals for the judges to assess in association with interviews held on 14th October 2010. Images of the submissions can be viewed on the RIAS website <a href="http://www.rias.org.uk/">http://www.rias.org.uk/</a></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>It is proposed that the shortlisted competition entries will be on public display for viewing at the Urban Room at the ground floor of Edinburgh City Council offices at Waverley Court. Further details of dates and times for viewing will be released soon.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>RIAS Consultancy is pleased to announce that the winner is <strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects.</strong></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said,</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“The delivery of high-quality sustainable housing is at the heart of what this Government wants for communities across Scotland. The SSCI design competition has illustrated the depth of design talent in Scotland, with the five short-listed practices presenting bold and challenging architecture.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“I am delighted that all of the submissions demonstrate high-quality and creative solutions, taking account of commercial viability and responding to the particular requirements of the Whitecross site. These solutions showcase how innovative responses can help deliver places of real and enduring value in a time when the economic backdrop forces us all to be more resourceful.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“The winning team of Malcolm Fraser Architects has submitted an original and innovative proposal that I hope will be an important exemplar for the design and construction sector and help deliver low-carbon communities and sustainable economic growth for Scotland.”</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>The Chair of the judging panel, David Page of Page \ Park Architects, said,</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“A strong shortlist of architecture and development teams competed for the first phase of development of the community extension for the village of Whitecross. Working to the masterplan conceived by Cadell2 the five consortia explored variations on the themes of creating a new sense of place on the site of a former brickworks near Linlithgow working to the brief of providing homes to meet the 2013 building regulations with their requirement for a 40% reduction in CO2 production. This Scottish Government initiative with Morston Developments is one of a number to lift the standard of place making and energy efficiency of new communities.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Elder and Cannon Architects enthused the jury with their sense of crafted place through the synthesis of courtyard typology and earthy brick materiality overlaid the CCG prefabricated timber frame technology.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>HTA‟s partnership with Dualchas promoted a modular plan and sectional typology explored through their innovative work in the west coast of Scotland uniquely fused here with HTA‟s community based initiatives to promote community ownership of streets and public spaces.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>RMJM boldly reconceptualised the masterplan with the identification of a wide variety of house typologies and settings to deliver a closer linkage between the existing village and proposed new settlement extension.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Gareth Hoskins Architects‟ careful reworking of the masterplan with Crudens was commended by the jury for its manipulation of a modular frame system to create a variety of street settings that would quickly establish a sense of contemporary place".</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>First place was awarded to Malcolm Fraser Architects with Stewart Milne Homes for development of themes explored at nearby Bo‟ness and more recently at the Scotland‟s Housing Expo. This consisted here of groupings of housing arranged around a sequence of courts and rows linked by a pedestrian spine stretching from the masterplan proposed civic garden in the north down to the river woodland walk to the south. Clever manipulation of the building typologies adapted to the Cadell2 masterplan through adaptation of Stewart Milne Homes‟ prefabricated timber frame systems with innovative suggestions to the commercial development of the anchoring High Street.”</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>David Dodge, Chief Executive, Morston Assets Ltd said,</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“We are delighted that our vision for Yours Whitecross has generated such exciting high quality proposed design solutions throughout this competition. The key focus of the „Yours‟ brand is that the homes are sustainable in both design and use, are built within home zone layouts and facilitate home working and entrepreneurialism. We believe that this has been achieved by all of those shortlisted and was especially apparent in the winning entry. We look forward to delivering a truly sustainable community at Whitecross which delivers <strong>Good Homes, Good Jobs and Good Neighbourhoods.”</strong></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Nem</strong></div>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-53756716748212044742010-10-13T21:09:00.002+01:002010-10-14T08:45:27.485+01:00Festering sores and parapets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje36AXRI0vXuUNP6MuxNpI_qUcnN9C8Ah2_NhrjXX5uGA8CRwDsQFo_EXYjBMiE6Ss0LdYfTpj7R3ziJYOgkbeIV8ddS6lEqe8JcJFfU_Mng9OgRQ7DgK59PMw2VLhafVpAzcJoZ_8AESs/s1600/kilroy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje36AXRI0vXuUNP6MuxNpI_qUcnN9C8Ah2_NhrjXX5uGA8CRwDsQFo_EXYjBMiE6Ss0LdYfTpj7R3ziJYOgkbeIV8ddS6lEqe8JcJFfU_Mng9OgRQ7DgK59PMw2VLhafVpAzcJoZ_8AESs/s1600/kilroy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It's difficult at times to raise a head above a parapet and speak out about something you feel is wrong; it's especially difficult when it involves crticism of fellow professionals, but there are occasions it has to be done if you can look yourself in the eye in the mirror in the morning.<br />
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So well done <strong>Jon-Marc Creaney</strong> of GCA Architecture + Design Glasgow <br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/scarpadog/">http://twitter.com/#!/scarpadog/</a> <br />
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for penning this piece for the STV News Airdrie website, about the new Community Health Centre undergoing construction. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LJt-RKAPh3abd4QJr6zV9ffP9n8u2v2YeGyz3XSKHIVcbth8MacDe64g2siCbs_Pln9ngl0RL9jGxgtmUN2G1bzD_6oaZPpk_aJux_ljLRD2k71XAFvZp02or4yzWeV0g-H-WKs58OPD/s1600/Airdrie+Health+Centre.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LJt-RKAPh3abd4QJr6zV9ffP9n8u2v2YeGyz3XSKHIVcbth8MacDe64g2siCbs_Pln9ngl0RL9jGxgtmUN2G1bzD_6oaZPpk_aJux_ljLRD2k71XAFvZp02or4yzWeV0g-H-WKs58OPD/s320/Airdrie+Health+Centre.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I hope he and STV don't mind me stealing the text and his photographs. There's not a lot to disagree with in what he says. However, is it too late to stop this? And in a wider view what on earth is the purpose of Architecture + Design Scotland if a damning Design Review results in no change to the plans?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://local.stv.tv/airdrie/news/496-airdrie-community-health-centre/">http://local.stv.tv/airdrie/news/496-airdrie-community-health-centre/</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Airdrie Community Health Centre</span></strong><br />
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<strong>Local architect Jon-Marc Creaney gives STV Airdrie his view about the development of the Airdrie Community Health Centre</strong><br />
13 October 2010 <br />
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<em>In 2000, Airdrie gained the dubious honour of winning the Carbuncle Cup for being the most dismal town in Scotland.</em><br />
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<em>Ten years on, huge sums of money have been invested in the town, millions on streetscape improvements, the award-winning and environmentally accredited business centre has been constructed, and the oldest church in Airdrie , Old Wellwynd, which lay empty for fifteen years, has been rescued and re-used through conversion into a modern community facility.</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://gcaarchitects.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/wellwynd/">http://gcaarchitects.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/wellwynd/</a></em><em></em><br />
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<em>Airdrie’s problems are shared with many places in Scotland; it is a former industrial town struggling to find a new identity in tough economic times, and it is a victim of poor planning and design decisions of the past few decades.</em><br />
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<em>At the time it was given the Carbuncle Award, the accompanying statement was clear: <strong>This is not a criticism of the people of Airdrie, it is a criticism of the professionals who decide what does and does not happen.</strong></em><br />
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<em>This is why I feel strongly enough, as a local architect, to voice my concerns over what I perceive as a fresh mistake, the recently commenced Airdrie Community Health Centre.</em><br />
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<em>The Health Centre is a welcome major investment of £27million; it will provide a wide range of primary care and community-based services under one roof in the heart of Airdrie, and bringing these services together is an opportunity to breathe further life into the town centre.</em><br />
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<em>The problem begins, however, and this is where I see history repeating itself, and the potential for future criticism of the professionals involved, in the design of the proposed new building. I feel this is misconceived, in terms of a lack of civic presence, a failure of integration with the town centre, and visual appearance.</em><br />
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<em>I understand fully issues of budget and design constraints in the delivery of a building of this type; however, in a building of such importance to the regeneration of the town, I believe there is a duty amongst design professionals to stick our heads above the parapet, difficult though this is, and question exactly what is being built.</em><br />
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<em>The design of this building has gone through a rigorous planning process and a design assessment carried out by the government official body Architecture and Design Scotland; yet the comments and recommendations made by A&DS in its report, which heavily criticise the proposals for a lack of civic presence, have been paid barely lip service in the final design.</em><br />
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<em>The architects claim, on their website, that they are a team ‘driven by design excellence’, and they are indeed an award-winning practice.</em><br />
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<em>I have no doubt they will be working to a tight budget, on a challenging site, to a demanding brief. All this will have to be delivered for a ridiculously low fee. However, all this should not prevent appropriate design considerations to be a priority.</em><br />
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<em>The façade of the proposed building includes large amounts of white render.</em><em>This a fundamental mistake for a building situated where it is proposed; one only has to look at the problems of this material at Glasgow’s Homes of the Future, Glasgow Green, to understand the inherent difficulties posed by white render in the Scottish climate in a building situated next to a busy roundabout.</em><br />
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<em>It will soon shed its bright new image and become very grimy indeed.</em><br />
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<em>In addition, the facades are featureless and bland, a nod to modernism without any of its soul, and a repeat of why Scotland has so few really good modern buildings.</em><br />
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<em>There is little articulation or sense of what this building could be. No doubt the designers could argue there is little local context to draw on, but that is no excuse to build something as architecturally uninspiring as the lump being torn down to make way for the new.</em><br />
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<em>This building should be an exemplar of what Airdrie could achieve in future and allow it to finally shake off its Carbuncle image.</em><br />
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<em>The new building does nothing to enhance or engage with the streetscape, and it turns its back on Graham Street; these issues have been raised during the design process so there is no excuse for the decision makers if this goes wrong.</em><br />
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<em>I believe architects have a responsibility to the wider built environment and should not consider their designs in isolation. They should be brave enough to question the brief, to explore alternative approaches to present to clients to demonstrate how buildings can work better as part of a holistic solution rather than merely providing an envelope to house the brief.</em><br />
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<em><strong>There is a wider question of the purpose of a Design Review; why bother, if comments made are not acted upon? </strong></em><br />
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<em>A building of this civic importance should be designed as an integral part of what will become the Conservation Area of the centre of Airdrie, and designed to stand many decades into the future.</em><br />
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<em>As things are, it will be lucky if it survives as long as its 1960s predecessor.</em><br />
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Here is the <strong>Design Assessment</strong> report from <strong>A+DS</strong> April 2009<br />
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<a href="http://www.ads.org.uk/what_we_do/design_review/reports/608_airdrie-community-health-centre-development">http://www.ads.org.uk/what_we_do/design_review/reports/608_airdrie-community-health-centre-development</a><br />
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<strong>Introduction</strong><br />
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<em>This report relates to proposals submitted for Planning Approval for a development of a retail and primary care facility in Airdrie town centre. A+DS carried out an earlier Design Assessment through our Health Programme, in conjunction with the building developers, NHS Lanarkshire and the Local Authority. The Assessment report was issued on 13th November 2008 and was forwarded to the Planning Authority for guidance. </em><br />
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<em>Our comments are based on a desk top analysis of the information in discussion with a member of the original A+DS Design Assessment panel and with reference to the previous Design Assessment Report. </em><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">A+DS Views</span></strong><br />
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<strong>1.0 General Comments</strong> <br />
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<em>1.1 We support the principle of locating public facilities in the centre of Airdrie, providing a major new public building and helping to reactivate the town centre. </em><br />
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<em>1.2 When the design was previously assessed, our report raised a number of issues including: the lack of an entrance to the Health Centre from Graham Street; poor quality of the surrounding public spaces, particularly along the west side of the building; a confusing and functionally difficult internal layout; and a lack of a confident or unified expression in the external form. </em><br />
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<em>1.3 We welcome the process of reviewing the proposals and some amendments in the submitted scheme, particularly the inclusion of a public entrance to Graham Street, and some improvements to internal wayfinding and the quality of some public areas. However, there are still a number of issues which we feel need to be addressed. </em><br />
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<strong>2.0 Wider Context</strong> <br />
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<em>2.1 Community Context and Development </em><br />
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<em>This part of Airdrie is set for significant change, with the development of the rail station and improvements to retail and community developments on this and adjacent sites. This important public building should become an integral part of the vision for the town. We previously recommended that the Council develop a strategic framework for spatial development and the public realm across the broader area, considering the location and nature of public routes and spaces, within which the designs for this site can be developed. If this opportunity is not taken at this stage then the town could lose the opportunities that come with the planned new developments, potentially resulting instead in a series of dislocated interventions. </em><br />
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<em>2.2 Urban analysis / design statement </em><br />
<br />
<em>We note that a Design Statement has not been included in the referred documents. Without this, or an analysis of the urban grain and fabric, it is not possible to assess how the building and surrounding spaces will integrate with the town, or how design principles have been applied. There is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the current designs will best use the opportunities available to achieve a high standard of development. </em><br />
<br />
<em>2.3 Urban Design </em><br />
<br />
<em>2.3.1. Entrance Strategy </em><br />
<br />
<em>We welcome the introduction of an entrance to the Health Centre from Graham Street, and the omission of the overly prominent escape stair at the north east corner. However we note that the south entrance from the car park, which has been retained with a projecting lobby, still reads as the most significant. In contrast, the new entrance to the major public space to the north is smaller and recessed. Neither entrance has the sense of occasion or spatial generosity that one would expect from the entrances to a major public facility. </em><br />
<br />
<em>2.3.2. Building footprint / Lane along West side of building </em><br />
<br />
<em>We believe that there are significant opportunities to activate the areas around the building by modifications to the building line, particularly along the north and east sides. These improvements to the quality of the public realm would create a more attractive area for retailers and shoppers, maximizing the benefit of the increased footfall generated by the Health Centre. These spaces should be used to clearly direct the public to the Health Centre entrances and link into the other routes through the town. </em><br />
<br />
<em>The pedestrian access along the west elevation, which is currently a narrow and hostile alley, is also a well used route to the shopping area, and will be even more so once the Health Centre is open and the station upgraded. We acknowledge that some improvements are now proposed that address some problems of this route, with the public realm works now extended into this area. However the lane itself is still ungenerous: the addition of 600mm to the width is not really ‘significant’ as stated, and the cross section remains tight, meaning that the lane is still likely to be overshadowed and unwelcoming. </em><br />
<br />
<em>2.3.3. Form and surface of the building </em><br />
<br />
<em>The elevations have been rationalised and are more unified than previously, but this has been to the extent that they have become faceless, and still lack civic presence. We welcome the larger areas of glazing where waiting and circulation spaces have been brought to the exterior providing animation to the street. However, we feel that there are considerable opportunities to lend the building greater articulation by celebrating the entrances to the Health Centre which, particularly at Graham Street, currently appear highly underplayed. The Design Team should be more ambitious in aiming to achieve a far more confident expression to give the building a greater civic presence in line with its important public role. </em><br />
<br />
<em>There is potential for creating additional life on surrounding streets by the provision on the ground floor of shop units and the Council Social Work facility, where there are currently blank facades. However, we remain concerned that the proposals for these frontages will not necessarily create the activation as well as they should, given the unit layouts and elevations. We note the frontages appear likely to be made from standard commercial shopfronts with some areas closed off, and we would like to see a more imaginative approach that contributes positively to the streets. We have particular concerns about the introduction of the long dark brick wall along most of the east side pavement which prevents any overlooking and invites vandalism. We would suggest looking at other more varied facade proposals to resolve the issue of blank side walls to shop units facing Graham Street. Similarly we recommend solutions that can add real animation, better than using advertising panels, to deal with their side walls onto the lane, e.g. opening up the entrance lobbies visually to this side as well. </em><br />
<br />
<strong>3.0 Internal Design</strong> <br />
<br />
<em>3.1 Plan layout in relation to entrances </em><br />
<br />
<em>There have been a number of improvements in the proposed layout, but it is still potentially confusing for many users of the building, particularly those who are not familiar with it. The inclusion of a central reception point on each floor, adjacent to the daylit open central court, is welcome, but has significant problems in being located away from the vertical circulation / entrances on the corners on the east side. There will be issues for many visitors in needing to be directed to it and then navigating the building to other receptions elsewhere. We note that staff-only areas in the north east on each floor can still only be accessed through other practice areas, which we understand need to be locked down individually. </em><br />
<br />
<em>3.2 Use of Courtyard </em><br />
<br />
<em>The central courtyard is inaccessible and isolated, and is unlikely to be a pleasant environment for rooms to look out onto. We believe that the courtyard could be better used. We are aware of similar facilities where the design has been able to resolve the demands of circulation and privacy to create a usable and pleasant place that also aids in wayfinding, daylighting and ventilation. Again, we believe that a more imaginative approach to the entrance and internal plan arrangements could achieve this, with a minimal loss of ground floor commercial area and large gains in usability. </em><br />
<br />
<em>3.3 Circulation and waiting spaces </em><br />
<br />
<em>We welcome the relocation of some waiting areas to the external facade, allowing natural light and views. However, several other waiting areas, and the majority of corridors, remain entirely internal, resulting in poor quality spaces and a lack of legibility or opportunities for orientation from within them. </em><br />
<br />
<em>3.4 Connection to Social Work offices </em><br />
<br />
<em>We note that there does not appear to be a fully accessible connection between the Social Work offices on the Ground Floor and the Health Centre above. We acknowledge that there is no current requirement for this link. However, we suggest that the inclusion of such a connection could produce great potential benefits for future flexibility and the integrated functioning of these facilities. </em><br />
<br />
<strong>4.0 Sustainability</strong> <br />
<br />
<em>We note the intention to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ but are not clear how this will be achieved. Several occupied rooms remain entirely internal, and so will be reliant on mechanical ventilation and artificial light, with implications on build and running costs and carbon emissions. There are still opportunities that could be exploited by using the central courtyard, which would allow it to contribute to both natural daylighting and the ventilation strategy within the building, and assist in achieving the ambitious targets set. </em><br />
<br />
<strong>Conclusion</strong><br />
<br />
<em>We support the project in its aspiration to improve accessibility to services and in the potential of enlivening the town centre. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for the town to acquire a building and public space of civic presence and which will set the standards for surrounding developments. As currently presented the proposals do not demonstrates that this will be achieved. We encourage the Design Team to continue to develop the designs, to match the aspirations and commitments given in the Council’s own guidance ‘Designing North Lanarkshire’, the Scottish Government’s ‘Designing Places’ and the ‘Policy on Design Quality for NHS Scotland’. </em><br />
<br />
<strong><em>We believe there are opportunities that can be taken to achieve a project of a standard that will help promote a vision for improvements in the town centre and enhance the lives of the people of Airdrie. We look forward to having the opportunity to comment on a revised scheme in the future. </em></strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/39276123/Airdrie-Elevations">http://www.scribd.com/doc/39276123/Airdrie-Elevations</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/39276123/Airdrie-Elevations" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px Helvetica, Arial, Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Airdrie: Elevations on Scribd">Airdrie: Elevations</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="600" id="doc_826380048928175" name="doc_826380048928175" style="outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=39276123&access_key=key-p5llkbo9menpqt44a0v&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_826380048928175" name="doc_826380048928175" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=39276123&access_key=key-p5llkbo9menpqt44a0v&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> <br />
<br />
What has been altered as a result of that damning report? Not a great deal it appears. <br />
<br />
Is it too late to do anything other than gnash teeth?<br />
<br />
Probably.<br />
<br />
Sad, but so many professionals involved in this, and it seems that lessons have still not been learned from 2000:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>At the time it was given the Carbuncle Award, the accompanying statement was clear:</em> <em>This is not a criticism of the people of Airdrie, <strong>it is a criticism of the professionals who decide what does and does not happen.</strong></em></span><br />
<br />
<strong>Airdrie, futher picture gallery:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.airdrie.net/weblog2/2005/03/13/photo-gallery/">http://www.airdrie.net/weblog2/2005/03/13/photo-gallery/</a><br />
<br />
Airdrie Town Trail:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.monklandsheritagesociety.org.uk/page3.html">http://www.monklandsheritagesociety.org.uk/page3.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Old Wellwynd Church:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gertie_du/3295849960/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/gertie_du/3295849960/in/photostream/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-5500079448063024912010-10-04T23:30:00.003+01:002012-12-04T13:45:47.445+00:00Cake, architecture, Edinburgh World Heritage site, poems.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ4BsrTun79mtWsbYXV6rTIBxP1Lsh4Xe8faaStb4kr2Wl185gd31Dxy0obtOAD2vNa2HWudFn8yanzoh5aXimvRgRV3X2OVP_qWmM7astZ4P6dl4se_IWHg2NtUG-F9h79AR0nUieq_I/s1600/Poetry+Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ4BsrTun79mtWsbYXV6rTIBxP1Lsh4Xe8faaStb4kr2Wl185gd31Dxy0obtOAD2vNa2HWudFn8yanzoh5aXimvRgRV3X2OVP_qWmM7astZ4P6dl4se_IWHg2NtUG-F9h79AR0nUieq_I/s400/Poetry+Library.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>The Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh: Malcolm Fraser Architects </em></div>
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<br /></div>
OK maybe you will disagree with the order of importance in the heading, but Thursday 7th October 2010 is National Poetry Day.<br />
<br />
@PoetryDayUK<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk/">http://www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
To mark the occasion, the Scottish Poetry Library @ByLeavesWeLive on Twitter, which I think (well actually I know!) is my favourite post-war building, is hosting a tea party (cake!!!) at 3pm.<br />
<br />
Tea, cake, and poetry (theme of Home) in one of Edinburgh World Heritage Site's most iconic 20th century buildings (for the cognoscenti dahlings...) is my idea of bliss. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_tHiA2FqYRH8sNerAjyEbCymQRCY6h-u-5RxXaLfXLQ4e0K3ev3tmNaArO-SzUlGCSZXH34UH_fMOR3o05aRcDb-5CWnbqlJh3IKiKpHgJpn0tU8Pf6LcegnXEU_gS7-sEouWRhTob_l/s1600/Cake+SPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_tHiA2FqYRH8sNerAjyEbCymQRCY6h-u-5RxXaLfXLQ4e0K3ev3tmNaArO-SzUlGCSZXH34UH_fMOR3o05aRcDb-5CWnbqlJh3IKiKpHgJpn0tU8Pf6LcegnXEU_gS7-sEouWRhTob_l/s320/Cake+SPL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<em>Cake, photo my copyright</em> <em>not to be reproduced without permission</em> <br />
<br />
<br />
I hope to be there, I hope you will be there also.<br />
<br />
Right, the links.<br />
<br />
<strong>Scottish Poetry Library</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://scottishpoetrylibrary.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/bookish-blog-2/">http://scottishpoetrylibrary.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/bookish-blog-2/</a><br />
<br />
<em>Thursday 7th October, we’ll be stopping for tea at 3pm. Although we are keen tea-drinkers, this particular tea party will be for a Higher Purpose (oh yes!) and we invite you all to join us in celebrating National Poetry Day with a cup of warming tea and a poem about our theme, ‘home.’ You can join in by coming along to our tea party at the library at 3pm, by stopping to read a poem about home wherever you are, or by tweeting @PoetryDayUK or @ByLeavesWeLive.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<br />
<em>Postcards will be available by post from the SPL (send us a self-addressed ordinary letter size envelope with 1st or 2nd class stamp marked NPD 2010), to pick up at the SPL, and online as e-cards from 7th October. Postcards will be available from lots of other places around the country: email us at reception@spl.org.uk to find yours.</em><br />
<br />
<em>It’s been all hands on deck this week in the build up to National Poetry Day, particularly for our Reader Development Officer, Lilias Fraser, and our Education Officer, Lorna Irvine. Postcard orders for schools have now closed, resources for teachers and education professionals are up on GLOW (look for a national group called ‘poetry’) and everyone at the library would like to thank them for their hard work with a cup of tea, coffee or Earl Grey… how’s 3pm, Thursday 7th October?</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.spl.org.uk/about/building.html">http://www.spl.org.uk/about/building.html</a><br />
<br />
<em>I look on this building as a poem that we've made together, composed from light, view, rhythm, embrace, movement, gathering, colour, texture and metaphor to express the joy of poetry, and optimism for its future within our culture. </em><br />
<br />
Malcolm Fraser<br />
<br />
<em>Designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects, the building was financed principally by a grant from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund. The Scottish Poetry Library has won several awards, and was shortlisted for Channel 4's Building of the Year 2000. </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>As well as general reading and study sections, it has facilities for listening and performing, and special children's and members' areas.</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=257&parentid=248">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=257&parentid=248</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Edinburgh World Heritage</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ewht.org.uk/">http://www.ewht.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
A national celebration of poetry in a fantastic building in one of the most wonderful of cities. All this and cake too. How much more bliss can life hold?<br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>A selection of past posts on similar subect matter:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/hug-for-poetry-and-unesco.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/hug-for-poetry-and-unesco.html</a></strong><strong>unesco.html</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><u><span style="color: #810081;"><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/edinburgh-old-and-new.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/edinburgh-old-and-new.html</a></span></u></strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-43153360123063074852010-09-09T09:07:00.008+01:002010-09-17T15:13:12.934+01:00Love Me Do...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h02G3iWigJTvfyyVDo5GKjPg4Q1vBiQ_VM6bxvaGh2YitVTJgTVqhT9VEDJxOq-UuqshK46pDV5nk3sDuzUStQ0bSmevhOc3kkNfjtY1Wk1uHLhkkJNrfBo0kfXQEQlL1G5mjAK4T2TZ/s1600/beatles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h02G3iWigJTvfyyVDo5GKjPg4Q1vBiQ_VM6bxvaGh2YitVTJgTVqhT9VEDJxOq-UuqshK46pDV5nk3sDuzUStQ0bSmevhOc3kkNfjtY1Wk1uHLhkkJNrfBo0kfXQEQlL1G5mjAK4T2TZ/s320/beatles1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: red;">Post updated 17th September:<strong> Secretary of State Eric Pickles joins the campaign!</strong></span></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/09/16/secretary-of-state-eric-pickles-weighs-into-liverpool-welsh-streets-row-100252-27277819/">http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/09/16/secretary-of-state-eric-pickles-weighs-into-liverpool-welsh-streets-row-100252-27277819/</a><br />
<br />
As for Mary Huxham, I'd suggest that if you don't want to live there don't, but others do. <br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13341141" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13341141">Mary Huxham - Liverpool Welsh Streets</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2243271">ciara leeming</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />
If you remove the gloss paint from the walls, and ensure the building can breathe in other ways, eg lime mortar (see SPAB for how to make that work) you might find the claimed damp disappears. <br />
<br />
As for the claim of £150,000 to renovate? I doubt that very much! It's so much hogwash. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><em>Post updated 2pm 9th Sept Latest SAVE News, with details of this, the wider Pathfinder and other SAVE campaigns:</em></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs//newsletter%20april%2010%20final.pdf">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs//newsletter%20april%2010%20final.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<br />
PRESS RELEASE 9 SEPTEMBER 2010<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>SAVE IN DRAMATIC BID TO LIST BEATLES HOUSES</strong></span><br />
<br />
<em>AS BULLDOZERS CLOSE IN ON RINGO STARR’S CHILDHOOD HOME, SAVE AND THE MERSEYSIDE CIVIC SOCIETY APPEAL FOR THE IMMEDIATE GROUP LISTING OF BEATLES HOUSES</em><br />
<br />
National preservation charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage has joined forces with the Merseyside Civic Society (MCS) to apply for the listing of 9 Madryn Street, Liverpool, the birthplace and childhood home of the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, together with five other buildings in Liverpool with intimate connections to the Beatles. The appeal comes in response to the City council’s bid to demolish Ringo’s birthplace in the Welsh Streets area of the city. Currently, none of the former Beatles homes in the city are listed, although two houses are owned and operated by the National Trust.<br />
<br />
9 Madryn Street, where Ringo was born and lived until he was four, is earmarked for clearance as part of the government’s controversial Housing Market Renewal (Pathfinder) Initiative, described by the Urban Task Force as a 'crude, insensitive and wasteful' return to mass housing clearance, and criticised as ‘high risk’ by the National Audit Office. The programme has already resulted in the demolition of large swathes of northern towns and cities, leaving communities decimated and whole neighbourhoods destroyed.<br />
<br />
Nowhere has this insensitivity and waste been more apparent than on Merseyside where entire districts of the well planned Victorian and Edwardian inner suburbs of Liverpool, a UNESCO World Heritage city, have been laid waste by blight imposed at immense public expense. Edge Hill, Toxteth, Kensington and Anfield have been subject to long term land banking, with communities, businesses and urban fabric forced to make way for acre after acre of vacant lots. <br />
<br />
SAVE and the local Civic Society are calling for the <strong>immediate listing</strong> of Madryn Street, together with 10 Admiral Grove, Ringo’s subsequent childhood home; 12 Arnold Grove, the birthplace of George Harrison; Mendips, Menlove Avenue, where John Lennon lived from 1945 to 1963; 20 Forthlin Road, childhood home of Paul McCartney, and the ornate iron gates and stone piers of Strawberry Field, all that remains of the house and gardens which inspired one of the Beatles’ most famous songs.<br />
<br />
<strong>William Palin</strong>, Secretary of SAVE says ‘This is a bid for national recognition and statutory protection for a group of buildings which are intimately associated with the four men who, together, became the greatest cultural phenomenon of the 20th century. <br />
<br />
‘In 1973, Liverpool’s celebrated Cavern Club, birthplace of the Beatles, was demolished because of a council compulsory purchase order, to make room for a ventilation shaft that was never built. The destruction of Madryn Street would represent another tragic loss and a further assault on the heart and spirit of the city.’ <br />
<br />
‘It is astonishing and distressing that Liverpool City Council retains such a callous disregard for its cultural heritage, and sad that it should fall to organisations such as SAVE and the MCS to protect and promote buildings within the city that have such huge historic and socio-economic importance.’<br />
<br />
<strong>Marcus Binney</strong>, President of SAVE says ‘From the very start of listing in 1945 the Act provided for listing buildings for their special historic interest as well as their architectural quality. The earliest guidelines for listing specifically mention buildings which are associated in the public mind with famous people. The Liverpool sites associated with the Beatles including their childhood homes are clearly of the strongest interest to the British public as witnessed by the thousands of visitors to the Beatles homes owned by the National Trust’.<br />
<br />
Merseyside Civic Society planner <strong>Jonathan Brown</strong> says: ‘20th-century Liverpool and its port helped shape the Beatles phenomenon; in the 21st century their global stardom illuminates Liverpool’s place on the world stage.’ <br />
<br />
‘The international public have an almighty appetite for sites and buildings associated with the band’s early story, a blessing city authorities have been slow to acknowledge.’ <br />
<br />
‘If allowed, demolition of their homes and birthplaces will eclipse loss of the Cavern Club as an act of crass cultural vandalism. In fact, it would be far less forgivable, because of what we now know about the importance of music and tourism to economic revival. We appeal to the Secretary of State to stop the bulldozers unleashed by Mr Prescott’. <br />
<br />
‘Of course, the listing application is about much more than the birthplaces of four individuals; it is also about protecting the inner city communities of Liverpool from being sold out to narrow developer interests by public officials. The Pathfinder clearances have wiped out swathes of entire historic districts like Edge Hill, Anfield, Bootle and Toxteth; demolition of Beatles’ heritage is just a symptom of the scheme’s indifference to social values beyond land assembly.’<br />
<br />
<br />
NOTES <br />
<br />
SAVE and the MCS have written to English Heritage to request the listing of the following buildings at Grade II:<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>9 Madryn Street, Liverpool, L8</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimujK0uyEqUpmcgl7iGhhyphenhyphen9vtAwIMCnG8aqY7j9uilRjVEnTUXETyefeFjc7osuYb26xowXk3Zlm-bZ-IRw-CIEXQHMQNtTvQwRfsFva_m6QNmR7L2XaVtMwWyBe_PFK0PRQgz2zzZr8hi/s1600/Beatles+Madryn+Street_Marc+Loudoun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimujK0uyEqUpmcgl7iGhhyphenhyphen9vtAwIMCnG8aqY7j9uilRjVEnTUXETyefeFjc7osuYb26xowXk3Zlm-bZ-IRw-CIEXQHMQNtTvQwRfsFva_m6QNmR7L2XaVtMwWyBe_PFK0PRQgz2zzZr8hi/s320/Beatles+Madryn+Street_Marc+Loudoun.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The birthplace of drummer Richard Starkey (b. 7.7.1940), best known by his stage name, Ringo Starr (coined when he joined the Beatles in 1962). He lived here until the age of four.<br />
<br />
The building is a two-bay, two-up two-down ‘back of pavement’ terraced house in the ‘Welsh Streets’ area of Toxteth, Liverpool developed in the late 19th-century to house migrant Welsh workers, most of whom were employed in the building trades.<br />
<br />
The house and the area have been often recalled by Ringo during his career. ‘I was born at Number 9 Madryn Street, Liverpool 8’ are the highlighted first words in his section of the Beatles Anthology, the band's authorised autobiography. And his valedictory solo album Liverpool 8 features the single Liverpool I Love You and the lyric ‘Said goodbye to Madryn Street’. The house is visited daily by coach tours on the city’s Beatles trail, and plans for its demolition have attracted international press attention.<br />
<br />
<em>Photo: Marc Loudoun</em><br />
<br />
<strong>10 Admiral Grove, Liverpool, L8</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Ringo’s single Liverpool I Left You also referred to this house where he lived after moving from Madryn Street: ‘Liverpool I left you, said goodbye to Admiral Grove’. Two-bay, two-up two-down ‘back of pavement’ terraced house.<br />
<br />
<strong>12 Arnold Grove, Liverpool, L15</strong><br />
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The birthplace of Beatles guitarist George Harrison (b. 25.2.1943 d. 29.11.2001). He lived here for the first six years of his life. A two-bay, two-up two-down ‘back of pavement’ terraced house close to the iconic Penny Lane.<br />
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<em>Photo: Mark Getty</em><br />
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<strong>Mendips, 251 Menlove Avenue, Liverpool, L25</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKi5CaK7Cc8o7qSVFRKTPSE9B8O7N8TgwnQwv3gldlxdgTw2P12k-PvbB5dUqtvY7-z8uu5DnMDA4DmMz5xF1dMjky6_loXlirIV59FgI6Mf2O8bYU6aPnWAGjX2Ja22ylxxdAihUkRqj/s1600/Beatles+Mendips+251+Manlove+Avenue_Mark+Getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKi5CaK7Cc8o7qSVFRKTPSE9B8O7N8TgwnQwv3gldlxdgTw2P12k-PvbB5dUqtvY7-z8uu5DnMDA4DmMz5xF1dMjky6_loXlirIV59FgI6Mf2O8bYU6aPnWAGjX2Ja22ylxxdAihUkRqj/s320/Beatles+Mendips+251+Manlove+Avenue_Mark+Getty.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This semi-detached house, built in 1933, was the childhood home of John Lennon (b. 1940) from 1945-1963. It is recorded with a blue EH plaque. Lennon lived at Mendips with his Aunt Mimi after the separation of his parents. He was here during the formative Beatles years, and a number of early songs were composed at Mendips with Paul McCartney. It is now owned by the National Trust and, like Forthlin Road, is a successful tourist attraction.<br />
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<em>Photo: Mark Getty</em><br />
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<strong>20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool, L24</strong><br />
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This semi-detatched post-war council house in Allerton was the childhood home of Paul McCartney (b. 1942) from 1955. It is owned by the National Trust and is a successful tourist attraction. John Lennon and Paul McCartney are known to have composed and practiced here.<br />
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<em>Photo: Mark Getty</em><br />
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<strong>Strawberry Field, Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool, L25</strong><br />
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Ornate iron gates and stone piers of 19th-century Gothic villa and gardens demolished c.1970, immortalised by Strawberry Fields Forever, one of the Beatle’s most famous songs, written by John Lennon in 1966.<br />
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<em>Photo: Mark Getty</em><br />
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<strong>SAVE Britain’s Heritage</strong> has been campaigning for historic buildings since its formation in 1975 by a group of architects, journalists and planners. It is a strong, independent voice in conservation, free to respond rapidly to emergencies and to speak out loud for the historic built environment.<br />
<br />
SAVE has been one of the strongest critics of the demolitions proposed as part of the government’s <strong>Housing Market Renewal (Pathfinder) Initiative.</strong> SAVE’s hard-hitting report on Pathfinder, published in 2006, highlighted the devastating effects of these clearances on both the communities and the architectural cohesion of towns and cities. SAVE has also drawn attention to wastefulness of demolition. SAVE’s position has been vindicated by a report by the Commons Committee of Public Accounts published in June 2008. The report warns of ‘…a risk that demolition sites, rather than newly built houses, will be the Programme’s legacy’ and concludes that ‘the needs of those who wish to remain in an area should not be overlooked in developing more mixed and sustainable communities.’<br />
<br />
SAVE continues to support communities threatened by Pathfinder clearances and highlight the social, and environmental cost of demolitions. Its latest report, <em>Reviving Britain’s Terraces: Life after Pathfinder</em>, SAVE has teamed up with architect Mark Hines to look at how housing earmarked for demolition can be adapted, upgraded and remodelled to a high standard of energy efficiency, creating a range of accommodation and forming exemplar 'eco-communities' of the future. For more information and to purchase the report, visit the SAVE website<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/</a> <br />
<br />
<strong>For more information contact:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>William Palin (Secretary), SAVE Britain’s Heritage,</strong> 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ. Tel: 020 7253 3500. Email: office@savebritainsheritage.org<br />
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<strong>Merseyside Civic Society</strong> was established in 1938 out of a concern for the built environment of the Liverpool City region. As a registered charity, the Society is dedicated both to preserving and celebrating our rich built heritage, and to campaigning for new schemes to be of the very highest standard. Membership of the Society is open to anyone sharing these ideals.<br />
<br />
For more information contact:<br />
<br />
<strong>Jonathan Brown</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.liv.ac.uk/mcs/mcshome.html">www.liv.ac.uk/mcs/mcshome.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The Save Madryn Street Facebook Campaign: <a href="http://www.savemadrynstreet.co.uk/">http://www.savemadrynstreet.co.uk/</a><br />
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PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY SAVE Britain’s Heritage, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ. Registered Charity 269129<br />
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<strong>See also</strong> the blog and website of <strong>EMPTY HOMES</strong> @emptyhomes :<br />
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<a href="http://www.emptyhomes.com/">http://www.emptyhomes.com/</a><br />
<br />
the national charity which campaigns for the re-use of empty homes; it too has been campaigning to stop the demolition of the Welsh Streets and other wasteful demolitions. In a country where there is a desperate shortage of housing, and a housing market which has collapsed, it makes no sense to demolish houses which are capable of re-occupation with a small amount of cash and effort.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://unlockingthepotential.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-days-of-welsh-streets.html">http://unlockingthepotential.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-days-of-welsh-streets.html</a><br />
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<br />
<em>For every two families that need a home there is one property standing empty. This isn't just inefficient it's unjust</em><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13341245" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/13341245">Nina Edge - Liverpool Welsh Streets</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2243271">ciara leeming</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<i>Nina Edge is fighting to save her beautiful Victorian villa on Kelvin Grove, in Liverpool’s Toxteth neighbourhood, from the bulldozers. The house, along with all the other properties on her side of the street, is down for clearance under L8′s controversial Welsh Streets regeneration scheme, a Housing Market Renewal-funded project which aims to tackle what the authorities say is a failing housing market. The grand houses on Edge’s street have been lumped into a demolition scheme which mainly deals with small two-up, two-down terraces, and which will create a tempting plot of land for future redevelopment. Edge is convinced there would be demand for the houses on her street if the market was allowed to operate normally, and believes the other homes could also be saved and refurbished to a decent standard using modern techniques. More than five years after demolition was agreed in principle by Liverpool council, there has been no CPO and little substantial progress. </i><br />
<br />
Another view:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.liverpoolcultureblog.co.uk/2008/07/ringo-and-liverpool-saying-goodbye-to-madryn-street/comment-page-1/#comment-986">http://www.liverpoolcultureblog.co.uk/2008/07/ringo-and-liverpool-saying-goodbye-to-madryn-street/comment-page-1/#comment-986</a> <br />
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Past post on Pathfinder and Liverpool:<br />
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<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html</a><br />
<br />
More from Elizabeth Pascoe:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/11680198" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
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<em><strong>To take people's homes, for no good reason, is despicable... Elizabeth Pascoe</strong></em><br />
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<br />
<i> </i><strong>Nem</strong>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-89781247246748543072010-09-02T19:27:00.004+01:002010-09-09T14:14:27.717+01:00Duanyising Britain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VZJCjcFpY-b0BxaUhL19GE7UNHRFhhWMP3I0ToOLAYrc1pIBzGfvA1caJCc80r7jc2oJMHZ0aBVmK-fWdi3HH3hqtYnUACc_mOlDzRl1FyVr848s7CiAFnniJn394Hgcq8suc-A01YqF/s1600/TartanTin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VZJCjcFpY-b0BxaUhL19GE7UNHRFhhWMP3I0ToOLAYrc1pIBzGfvA1caJCc80r7jc2oJMHZ0aBVmK-fWdi3HH3hqtYnUACc_mOlDzRl1FyVr848s7CiAFnniJn394Hgcq8suc-A01YqF/s320/TartanTin.jpg" /></a><em></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>A view of the future?</em></div><br />
The Expo I have more to write about; for today, a slight diversion, and it's linked. I point in the direction of two thought-provoking articles in Scottish Review on Andres Duany, DPZ, and his work for the Scottish Government.<br />
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The articles focus particularly on the Design Charette at Lochgelly, which was attended by the writer, Andrew Gray. Here's a video on the STV website and a report from last March<br />
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<strong><em>'Lochgelly? perhaps a kind of Scottish Truman Show'</em></strong> quote from Duany<br />
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<strong>'Truman show' town planner turns sights on Lochgelly</strong><br />
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VIDEO: Andres Duany, who designed the idyllic Florida film set, is aiming to transform a former Fife mining town.<br />
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<a href="http://video.stv.tv/?bcpid=37654293001&bctid=71010766001">http://video.stv.tv/?bcpid=37654293001&bctid=71010766001</a> <br />
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<a href="http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/162464-truman-show-town-planner-turns-sights-on-lochgelly/">http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/162464-truman-show-town-planner-turns-sights-on-lochgelly/</a><br />
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As it states in Scottish Review: <em>In March this year the Scottish Government supported an American urban design firm Duany Plater-Zyberk to promote its brand of ‘New Urbanism’ in Scotland – as part of the government’s aspiration for the re-invention in Scotland of ‘traditional qualities of place’ and ‘traditional architecture’. Following Duany Plater-Zyberk to one of its three destinations in Scotland, the Fife town of Lochgelly, Andrew Guest asks what was learnt from this expensive exercise, why it was necessary for Americans to teach us how we should be developing our towns, and what are the implications of government support for ‘traditional architecture’ in 21st century Scotland.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<br />
Part 1: <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Re-inventing Scotland</em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.scottishreview.net/AndrewGuest14.shtml">http://www.scottishreview.net/AndrewGuest14.shtml</a><br />
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<br />
Part 2: <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Welcome to the past</em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.scottishreview.net/AndrewGuest15.shtml">http://www.scottishreview.net/AndrewGuest15.shtml</a><br />
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Concluding paragraphs:<br />
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<em>Most places already own a wealth of cultural, social and creative skills which could contribute to this process – especially if supported by local and national authority. We don't need a team of outside experts to do this for us. <strong>We already have our own immense knowledge of historical and traditional architectural traditions if we want to draw on these to inform new design solutions for new communities – we don't need to rely on an outsider's sentimental view of what Scottish architecture was or could be. Past experience and tradition is important but so is interpreting this with new ideas and new experience today, and Scotland has a substantial reservoir of its own design talents and plenty recent design experience with which to do this.</strong> If it is invidious for the Scottish Government to back this expertise to lead a programme to promote better design, then perhaps that was not the right programme, or the government should not be taking this particular lead.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<br />
<em>But above all a superficial nostalgia for a past ideal of community should not prevent us from facing up to the multi-sided challenges of urbanisation and sustainability in Scotland in the 21st century and from engaging creatively and openly in a process that asks 'What kind of places do we want?' and 'Who will they be for?' One of the accusations against modernism is that it relied on aesthetic solutions to deal with the social problems it encountered – one result of which was that everywhere ending up looking the same, and mostly pretty dull.<strong> Scotland is in danger of planning the next 50 years pursuing another false aesthetic ideal – an un-debated ideal of the traditional – the result of which will be another form of destructive monotony.</strong></em><br />
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<em>Andrew Guest lives in Edinburgh and writes on culture and </em><em>the environment.</em><br />
<em></em> <br />
And hooray. <br />
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<br />
<em><strong>Urban Realm</strong></em> comments are interesting here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2225/Duany_puts_some_welly_into_Lochgelly_.html">http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2225/Duany_puts_some_welly_into_Lochgelly_.html</a><br />
<br />
and another video.<br />
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Link to the official charette site:<br />
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<a href="http://www.scotlandcharrettelochgelly.co.uk/about/">http://www.scotlandcharrettelochgelly.co.uk/about/</a><br />
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I gather <em><strong>Urban Realm</strong></em> has invited Duany to speak at a debate in October in Glasgow. I expect that there will several architects with passionate views on 'Prince Charles urbanism' or 'shortbread tin Scotland' willing to tackle him on the subject of 'traditional Scottish architecture' and its place in a 21st century Scotland. <br />
<br />
My view is that Duany's views on urban planning may be the greatest thing to hit Scotland since Irn Bru; I cannot comment on that. His views on architecture, however, may not. My view is that possibly they are not.<br />
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<em>Lochgelly, a proposal, from the Duany charette.</em><br />
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It's not only Scotland of course. For example, Duany and his brand of 'New Urbanism' is being imported to Norfolk:<br />
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<em><a href="http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/eveningnews24/norwich-news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=xNews&itemid=NOED13%20Jul%202010%2022%3A42%3A20%3A250">http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/eveningnews24/norwich-news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=xNews&itemid=NOED13%20Jul%202010%2022%3A42%3A20%3A250</a></em><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Thorpe residents slammed for lack of vision</span></strong><br />
<br />
<em>DAVID BALE</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><em> 14/07/2010 </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<strong>Extract:</strong><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>An American planner has set out his vision for a new village on the outskirts of Norwich - and it incorporates ideas from north Norfolk, Norwich city centre and even colonial America.</em><br />
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<em>Architect and urban planner Andres Duany, of urban planning firm DPZ, is best-known for creating the feted Sea-side town in Florida, which featured as the backdrop to the film The Truman Show.</em><br />
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<em>His plans to build 631 new homes at a woodland site off Plumstead Road, Pound Lane and near Salhouse Road in Thorpe St Andrew are equally revolutionary.</em><br />
<br />
<em>His vision is to keep many of the trees on the site with more than 50pc open spaces, but also to add urban living based on Burnham Market's Green, The Crescent, off Chapel Field Road, and housing developments in South Carolina.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Last night's public meeting in central Norwich was part of the innovative design process called a 'charrette' or sometimes enquiry by design, which is aimed at involving the community in the planning process from the start.</em><br />
<br />
<em>It was the final presentation after an intensive eight days of consultation in the area, which included a stormy meeting at Thorpe Village Hall <strong>where residents gave a resounding 'NO' to the plans...</strong></em><br />
<br />
<strong>and I note a group of residents is fighting back:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em><a href="http://savethorpewoodlands.blogspot.com/p/charrette-or-charade-can-we-save.html">http://savethorpewoodlands.blogspot.com/p/charrette-or-charade-can-we-save.html</a></em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The website also features Lochgelly. Interesting read. I also note Duany spoke for one and half hours, but didn't take questions.</strong><br />
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<em>Throughout the Charrette, Duany and his team said they were interested in the views of the people who live in Thorpe, and those who neighbour the woods. However earlier this year, in front of an audience of journalists at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge Massachusetts, Duany put forward the case that the planning process needed to be reformed as it has been usurped by the public, and especially by those people who neighbour the site of the proposed development. He argued consultation should not be with the public in general and especially the locals, instead it should consist of a controlled consultation with a selected group of local citizens, he stated that if this isn’t done the process is taken over by "a bunch of little mobs, invited in by idiot public planners." </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<br />
<em>Duany has been criticised by members of his own profession. </em><br />
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<em>The April edition of the Architects Journal published an article entitled “Scottish architects fry new urbanist Duany” it stated that “American new urbanist Andres Duany has sparked protests from Scottish architects after alleging the country had not built any housing to be proud of since 1945”. </em><br />
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<em>In the article Duany’s position is criticised by fellow architects as being “ill informed”, Peter Wilson, director of Edinburgh Napier University’s Wood Studio, said Duany’s ‘twee way of viewing Scotland’ was to blame. ‘He does all these charrettes at a great expense and then expects everything to look like small Scottish town Dunkeld’ In Thorpe’s case for Dunkeld read Burnham Market. </em><br />
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<em>The above shows that the Charrette process is being cynically used by developers as a means to convince local people that opposing a development would be futile, that the proposal is a ‘done deal’ and that if the local people don’t work with the developer they may end up with something far worse...</em><br />
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<em>Our local councillors have opposed these plans and our local MP Chloe Smith has written to Broadland District Council’s planning department to draw their attention to the strong local opposition to these proposals. </em><br />
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<em>...The destruction of these woods is not a done deal, the local people of Thorpe, who Andres Duany may view as a ‘little mob’, can stop this development and save the woods and its rich wildlife for today and for future generations... </em><br />
<br />
And here is part of my worry; that Duany and his 'design team' is now being hired by developers to give the gloss (and perhaps glitz) of respectability and 'consultation' to schemes which otherwise could prove contentious.<br />
<br />
Is this the 'urban planning' version of hiring an 'internationally known architect' (or his/her practice) to build an 'iconic building', a sure way to override all manner of planning policies and objections?<br />
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<strong>Is he the Messiah, or simply someone hired to do a job, and making a tidy sum out of it?</strong><br />
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Linked past post:<br />
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<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-new-towns-new-old-towns.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-new-towns-new-old-towns.html</a><br />
<br />
Glancey in the Guardian, Dec 2008<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/dec/03/architecture-design">http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/dec/03/architecture-design</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Thou shalt not follow Duany's architectural gospel</span></strong><br />
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<em>British postwar architects have nothing to repent - it is Andres Duany's bland new urbanism that we must be saved from...</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSaF3m4iKP4_wcYw1f6sWmTjVzdnodZuIqEVZl1-_kTPAqqXBFKgc4Byd0pRIJ0080WnxD__kxVU-pHi2Lt89l3cB00oWi3Sj5Ox8twG3Yf7v__c_GIZ9xN41WVKlEqF03oPk0O6Mg9qR/s1600/Poundbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSaF3m4iKP4_wcYw1f6sWmTjVzdnodZuIqEVZl1-_kTPAqqXBFKgc4Byd0pRIJ0080WnxD__kxVU-pHi2Lt89l3cB00oWi3Sj5Ox8twG3Yf7v__c_GIZ9xN41WVKlEqF03oPk0O6Mg9qR/s320/Poundbury.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<em>Poundbury</em><br />
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<strong>Nem</strong><br />
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</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-69570877105563423152010-08-28T19:05:00.023+01:002010-09-01T22:22:10.243+01:00Scottish Housing Expo 2010 Inverness<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRndLBTruMnfWZ0dEca6hU9H9NnQVmMATOrXPCJiSn2yC5_XX4L_o5kBvX2n8vEK3plkCAM0rIolmUoMrz94nw4Rx-mai_w7meJ5EMxGsaPD7gy6fMIYkLQ8bus0WtRuRDSVOAbInfrmf/s1600/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRndLBTruMnfWZ0dEca6hU9H9NnQVmMATOrXPCJiSn2yC5_XX4L_o5kBvX2n8vEK3plkCAM0rIolmUoMrz94nw4Rx-mai_w7meJ5EMxGsaPD7gy6fMIYkLQ8bus0WtRuRDSVOAbInfrmf/s320/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+014.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS7ujmBakaOJepHZvz-DZPYb01e16xypX4U6Qzd0NoASkPzZ4kGiVpb9GtxNDnccCKniY6B3LbLZTwY3ibsxRBd7wCNWFNltULVWlKM4WFwfjbFz8qCJNE7iVVeaKhKsujVI26mGVZ5u5/s1600/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS7ujmBakaOJepHZvz-DZPYb01e16xypX4U6Qzd0NoASkPzZ4kGiVpb9GtxNDnccCKniY6B3LbLZTwY3ibsxRBd7wCNWFNltULVWlKM4WFwfjbFz8qCJNE7iVVeaKhKsujVI26mGVZ5u5/s320/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+013.jpg" /></a></div> <em>The planned but so far not executed 'garden' of one of Malcolm Fraser Architects designs for the 2010 Scottish Housing Expo, Inverness. 'Minimalist'? Certainly is! Doesn't so far exist... although the accompanying houses do. Not all houses at the Expo are completed or even as yet built. Plots 22 and 27, which, while not perfect, are at least amongst those which could actually sensibly be lived in by real people, and be attractive to 'volume' developers, although without the architectural pretension of some. The unfinished garden is a victim of, and possibly a metaphor for, the Expo problems. Click pics to enlarge... a second click will enlarge even further, but use the 'back' button to get back to the page or you will lose the post. </em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00UmaMTN_vM7I9KOrLlewdND0GPDmQLczvQ1HXH97frvhm9mBlqKuZw6n9RITHV3u9Sb8hHt4gDLPoOtVJRZpwGQFhsPvISnEMO6GBHiTxKcuidEwPPVcVr5vTCWnIhPxtfvDJAV0JVD3/s1600/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00UmaMTN_vM7I9KOrLlewdND0GPDmQLczvQ1HXH97frvhm9mBlqKuZw6n9RITHV3u9Sb8hHt4gDLPoOtVJRZpwGQFhsPvISnEMO6GBHiTxKcuidEwPPVcVr5vTCWnIhPxtfvDJAV0JVD3/s320/Scottish+Housing+Expo+August++25+2010+017.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
Details:<br />
<a href="http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/index.php">http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/index.php</a><br />
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Pictures: <br />
<a href="http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot_updates.php">http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/plot_updates.php</a><br />
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<a href="http://ht.ly/2vUNc">http://ht.ly/2vUNc</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198911&id=164636957634&l=973ac1125e">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198911&id=164636957634&l=973ac1125e</a><br />
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This week, I visited the Scottish Housing Expo, aka the Highland Housing Expo, Inverness. It was a bizarre experience. I have no doubt in years to come it all will be Listed by Historic Scotland, and visited as Portmerion is as something slightly surreal. Certainly it is a very unsettlingly strange place indeed. What is worrying is that some think it all a great success, and are considering repeating this all over Scotland. It's no way to plan for the future... <br />
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<a href="http://tweetphoto.com/42140983" title=""><img alt="" height="79" src="http://c0013477.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/x2_2830537" width="79" /></a><br />
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I would love to take a number of the architects involved through their buildings, and point out exactly what would make them difficult/impossible/improbable/greenwashery /unsustainable to live in. If I really had to, there is only a handful of houses I would be willing move into. Maybe I will blog more when it isn't so raw and immediate and actually, upsetting. Next week possibly... I might be a little more coherent about it then. And by then some architects might have realised that a house where a scaffold tower is needed to change a lightbulb isn't really very practical. One 'grand gesture' house, with its upstairs all-in-one kitchen/dining/living area, too small to sensibly accommodate the number of people a four bedroomed house will require, appeared to have nowhere to put a washing machine. There were kitchens without enough workspace to sensibly prepare a meal and some which would have been dangerous to work in. From the macro to the micro level, so much could have been better. <br />
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I so wanted to find this a positive experience. I didn't. I do appreciate all the problems, the delays caused by the market downturn, the terrible winter, and all the rest. How I wish I could get a group of non-architect folk to sit with some of the architects and developers and discuss what makes a home for normal families which isn't 'wanky wilful shapemaking' to paraphrase one involved, what is a decent amount of space in which to live, and what makes for an affordable, sustainable future. I would love to talk to the Scottish Housing Minister and do likewise. I do appreciate that architects had a brief to which to work, and that all have constraints. But hey, couldn't we all learn from this?<br />
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I'd also love to be able to write about it all in the architectural press, but alas I doubt anyone will ask me. So far very little attention has been paid, apart from Building Design, and of that, well, it's been a little banal and focused not really on the diverse and important issues this has raised. <br />
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A few architects, from the renowned to the 'local', showed they had some idea. However, from the possibly internationally known to the emerging and thrusting, and the small and established but not nationally known, too few understood what makes a home, as opposed to an architectural gesture, and what is really sensibly, affordably sustainable. <br />
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<a href="http://tweetphoto.com/42141221" title=""><img alt="" height="79" src="http://c0013477.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/x2_2830625" width="79" /></a><br />
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And then there were the Rabbit Hutches... it seems the less well off don't deserve decent living space. An atrium and a mezzanine may give the illusion of space, but don't compensate for tiny rooms, especially bedrooms. <br />
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Parker-Morris, we need you now.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Morris_Committee">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Morris_Committee</a><br />
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Large areas of glass, too, featured in rooms which were overlooked... as one visitor remarked, "Some of these architects must have shares in a curtain factory!"<br />
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Anyhow, the Expo ends at the end of August. Wish I had taken two days to visit as there wasn't enough time in one. The cake in the marquee was wonderful. The Portaloos were clean and more than adequate. <br />
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But it's Scotland, so really, in the wider world, no-one gives a fuck. The architectural press is all off at the Venice Biennale, and that's much more exciting and important than global warming and the future of housing, isn't it? Had this taken place in the south of England, so much would have been written about it, but it was Inverness, and beyond Nottingham Contemporary all is a barren waste, it seems, where none dare to venture.<br />
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Meanwhile, some views on youtube of the exteriors of some, and very odd bunch they are, lumped together, but let's face it: we mostly live in interiors. And there lies much of the problem.<br />
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The first tranche of houses for sale prices:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/houses.php">http://www.scotlandshousingexpo.com/houses.php</a><br />
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<em>For private sale plots: 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 contact </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Rettie & Co on tel: 0845 220 6565 or email: <a href="mailto:scotlandshousingexpo@rettie.co.uk">scotlandshousingexpo@rettie.co.uk</a></em><br />
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<em>or visit <a href="http://www.highlandhousingalliance.com/expo">www.highlandhousingalliance.com/expo</a></em><br />
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<em>Plot 7 – Guide Price £ 300,000 </em><br />
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</em><br />
<em>Plot 9.2 – Guide Price £ 220,000 </em><br />
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</em><br />
<em>Plot 17 – Offers Over £ 300,000 </em><br />
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</em><br />
<em>Plot 18 – Offers Over £ 350,000 </em><br />
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</em><br />
<em>Plot 26.1 – Guide Price £ 230,000</em><br />
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I leave the reader to work out how affordable this is to many, and if this Expo served the needs of the public and a sustainable future, or was more about the architects and developers. It's certainly going to be a 'mixed' community, when and if the houses and flats are eventually fully occupied; it remains to be seen if it ever becomes a genuine community. <br />
<br />
<br />
(movies by Abbozzo Architects)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz1H5E0tuW8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz1H5E0tuW8</a><br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Vz1H5E0tuW8?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Vz1H5E0tuW8?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFyrzFwcjMA&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFyrzFwcjMA&feature=related</a><br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/SFyrzFwcjMA?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/SFyrzFwcjMA?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdhK6DazFA4&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdhK6DazFA4&feature=related</a><br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/vdhK6DazFA4?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/vdhK6DazFA4?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Nem<br />
<br />
<a class="addthis_button" href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=xa-4b5cd1bb72df5e62"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=xa-4b5cd1bb72df5e62" type="text/javascript">
</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-3745774994902942492010-06-21T16:35:00.009+01:002010-06-21T23:04:54.852+01:00A Vision of Harmony...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6-iZ3H58IAZ8CwPJBPea1J8fUh7CLUPvY2JtCH1cXdWhzFl__zfSL48jxe4vNfVL0ZGY4IdYzYQ5xDhvYJwHOwV3JxmrPtqdC89hDz4W3VIko8FK8VpbaPTEmALI80JkK37uwBoTRHSe/s1600/utopia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6-iZ3H58IAZ8CwPJBPea1J8fUh7CLUPvY2JtCH1cXdWhzFl__zfSL48jxe4vNfVL0ZGY4IdYzYQ5xDhvYJwHOwV3JxmrPtqdC89hDz4W3VIko8FK8VpbaPTEmALI80JkK37uwBoTRHSe/s400/utopia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I've been a tad remiss in blogging of late, and in the interim I note Blogger has been updating features and thankfully has restored a spellcheck. <br />
<br />
However, back now, and I hope readers of the Republic will enjoy this:<br />
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<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12690053&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12690053&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/12690053">Real Estate</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4078596">Jonathan Weston</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/12690053">http://vimeo.com/12690053</a><br />
<br />
As it says on the tin:<br />
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<em>This animation sardonically shows what happens when real life infects the imagery of a glossy property advert. Exploiting the familiar style of architectural visualisation, the film tracks the advert’s increasingly reactionary responses to escalating urban events.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV_ZAR7MbfWgrecftugEwM34C2O6EDZ7joq0G28Wh8ZoRabuN_mKttrlhdJSiHE1G_IAwOdWaBEZsfYkYjr_1vj4dSkkSJk1oWSX43LdxHSp_g6Hs9b93edHBzSojwhnCq6LDJcTg5Lm5/s1600/UtopiaMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV_ZAR7MbfWgrecftugEwM34C2O6EDZ7joq0G28Wh8ZoRabuN_mKttrlhdJSiHE1G_IAwOdWaBEZsfYkYjr_1vj4dSkkSJk1oWSX43LdxHSp_g6Hs9b93edHBzSojwhnCq6LDJcTg5Lm5/s400/UtopiaMap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As Wiki says:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Utopia</strong> (pronounced /juːˈtoʊpiə/) <em>is a name for an ideal community or society, which is taken from</em> <em>Of the Best State of a <strong>Republic...</strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>...Utopia is largely based on Plato's Republic. It is a perfect version of Republic wherein the beauties of society reign (eg: equality and a general pacifist attitude), although its citizens are all ready to fight if need be.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiZ97p6kpozoiYTEL3i-zqAqyKs62Q0-coLZPKKQSUYoO8LZkJ4l1keGfeMsk7bi7PX4DDH1XXfSbEpgmSDnMKMmWhTRFnkD4lb7SK-0NZ7cfjZVWlaYVi-A7v_OtMTl7sKEbpJWl5fCV/s1600/New+Harmony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiZ97p6kpozoiYTEL3i-zqAqyKs62Q0-coLZPKKQSUYoO8LZkJ4l1keGfeMsk7bi7PX4DDH1XXfSbEpgmSDnMKMmWhTRFnkD4lb7SK-0NZ7cfjZVWlaYVi-A7v_OtMTl7sKEbpJWl5fCV/s400/New+Harmony.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em> A bird's eye view of a (Utopian) community in New Harmony, Indiana, United States, as proposed by Robert Owen. Engraving by F. Bate, London 1838.</em></div><em></em><br />
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<em>Inscribed at bottom of plate: A Bird's Eye View of a Community, as proposed by Robert Owen Esq.re is respectfully dedicated to the following classes of society: To the Landowners, as being the only means whereby their Estates can be rendered permanently productive, and their Rents secure. To the Capitalists, as offering the safest speculation, and most gratifying ways of investing their surplus Capital, without risk of failure. To the Clergy, and Instructors of Mankind, as the only and speedy means of bringing about that great desideratum they have so much at heart, namely, the suppression of Vice & Error, by the removal of the causes of Crime (Ignorance & Poverty), the dissemination of Truth, & the establishment of Virtue. To the industrious Wealth Producers, as affording the only arrangements, whereby they can secure their true and rightful position in Society, and the just & honest participation in the Wealth created by their talents and industry. And lastly, to the Government of the British Empire, shewing the arrangements, whereby the duties of Government may be rendered safe, easy, and delightful, instead of as heretofore, being one of danger, difficulty, error, confusion and disatisfaction. N.B. for further details consult the Works of Owen, Thompson, Combe, Morgan &c. Sold with a woodengraving of the same scene.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Date London 1838.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Source Drawn and engraved by F. Bate. Published by "The Association of all Classes of all Nations", at their institution, 69, Great Queen Street. Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, 1838.</em><br />
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More of Harmony and New Harmony here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Harmony,_Indiana">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Harmony,_Indiana</a><br />
<br />
and for those with an interest in architecture (which is why you are reading this, right?)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.library.cornell.edu/Reps/DOCS/whitwell.htm">http://www.library.cornell.edu/Reps/DOCS/whitwell.htm</a><br />
<br />
Extract<br />
<br />
DESCRIPTION OF AN ARCHITECTURAL MODEL.... <br />
<br />
<br />
Stedman Whitwell <br />
<br />
<em>Description of an Architectural Model From a Design by Stedman Whitwell, Esq. for a Community Upon a Principle of United Interests, as Advocated by Robert Owen, Esq. (London: Hurst Chance & Co.: 1830). </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Thomas Stedman Whitwell (1784-1840), born in Coventry, England, moved to London as early as 1806 when he exhibited his work at the Royal Academy. Five years later he evidently worked in the Architect's Office at the London Docks. Sometime after this he returned to Coventry where there and in Birmingham he drew the plans for several public buildings. Whitwell apparently did not enjoy a thriving practice, and his reputation received a blow when one of his buildings, the Brunswick Theatre in London's Whitechapel district collapsed just a few days after it had been completed. In 1819 Whitwell designed one large-scale project near Leamington Spa that was never undertaken. </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Whether he volunteered to prepare the plan illustrating Robert Owen's concept of a communitarian town or was recruited for this purpose by Owen is not known. Whitwell accompanied Owen to America on his second trip in 1825, bringing with him a six-foot square model of the town as described in the document below. Owen succeeded in gaining permission from President John Quincy Adams to display the model in the White House. Whitwell lived for a short time in New Harmony, Indiana, the Rappite community that Owen purchased as the site for his model society. Not long after his arrival he began to criticize some of the leaders of the venture and to spread gossip about them. His only contribution, if it can be called that, was a system of naming places by converting degrees, and minutes of latitude and longitude to letters of the alphabet. Thus, a near-by off-shoot of the New Harmony community that Whitwell joined received the name Feiba Peveli. In this system, New York (40 degrees, 43 minutes N and 73 degrees 59 minutes W) becomes Otke Notive! </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>In addition to the small illustration and its key reproduced in this pamphlet of 1830, the perspective of his design was separately published on a much larger scale. Doubtless this was issued in 1825 and may have been distributed at the time the model was displayed. By the time the document below was published in 1830 the New Harmony experiment had disintegrated as residents left or split into factions. Nevertheless, Owen may have felt that another effort should be made to put his plan into effect in England, or perhaps Whitwell remained a faithful believer in the concept and independently issued his pamphlet. Owen himself would still be advocating his village plan in 1841 in a publication proposing the development of "self-supporting Home Colonies" in England. </em><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRFBwr0cKFyVG355ViqGWitQ5vV2g3WQ_wT2lDvyAcYYlJlDEr2Z8KaMbE2xSkTxiBTPD5pRXcFw3k6J2A6SMn6ddyQ3MiDWzMsr-2xq1WFq3XufGmqrHFF_3FHuklt4cdqJiwvbkgD4q/s400/Harmony+plan.gif" width="297" /></div>And this vision of a Utopian community included the following:<br />
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<strong>Extent and Position.</strong> <br />
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The area of ground occupied by the Buildings, Promenades, and Gardens of the Establishment would be about thirty-three acres; that of the enclosed quadrangle twenty-two acres, nearly three times as large as Russell Square. <br />
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It is proposed that one of the diagonal lines of the square should be so placed as to coincide with a meridian, and, if possible, to range with some remarkable points or objects of the distant country. This would ensure an equal distribution of light and darkness, sun and shadow among the occupants of every part of the edifice; and be convenient for astronomical and geographical reference. <br />
<br />
It is desirable in most cases that the scite of land selected for this purpose, should be in the vicinity of a stream, ample enough to supply the domestic purposes of the establishment, to secure its drainage, and furnish power sufficient for the mills and other manufactories necessary or convenient for the accommodation and prosperity of the inhabitants. <br />
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<strong>General Arrangements</strong>. <br />
<br />
The Building to be disposed in a quadrangle measuring one thousand feet on each side; divided <br />
<br />
Externally, into <br />
<br />
Dwelling houses, <br />
<br />
Central public buildings, <br />
<br />
Angle ditto <br />
<br />
Internally are disposed the <br />
<br />
Baths, <br />
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Public Refectories, <br />
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Kitchens, Breweries, &c. <br />
<br />
Stores, Offices, &c. <br />
<br />
Botanic Gardens. <br />
<br />
Gymnasiums. <br />
surrounded by a Cloister or covered Arcade for general communication. <br />
<br />
<strong>Arrangements of the Dwelling Houses. </strong><br />
The dwelling houses are situated on the extended lines, between the central and angle buildings, upon each side of the quadrangle; and occupy the ground and the first floor stories, they are divided into two sets of a Sitting room, Chamber, and Water closet each. They have ready and convenient access to the offices, by means of Covered ways, at a lower level than the general entrance from the Esplanade; these form also the separate and private entrances to the Cloister or Arcade surrounding the whole interior of the quadrangle; and by means of Bridges of communication, over the Covered ways before-named, connect the staircase of each house with the Terrace over the cloister, forming a general access from every house to every part of the establishment. <br />
<br />
<strong>The Dormitories.</strong> <br />
The ranges of apartments over the dwelling houses, are proposed to be occupied as Dormitories or Sleeping rooms, for unmarried persons and children; having no connection with the dwelling or private houses below them. They are approached from the great staircases in the central and angle buildings. This story is so contrived that the whole, or any part of it may, at any time be thrown into vast apartments, or be subdivided into chambers of the most minute dimensions. <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Temperature of the Interior----Ventilation----Light----Supply of Water----Drainage----Basement</strong> <br />
The whole of the Interior, but most particularly the Dwelling houses, to be warmed and ventilated upon the most improved principle, and the temperature maintained at an agreeable degree of heat in the coldest and most variable seasons, by means of Air-warmers; the whole of which, with the arrangements for the service of hot and cold water to each apartment, at all hours, the lighting with gas, and other scientific means of reducing domestic labour, to be constructed in the general basement, which extends under the entire range and over the whole extent of the Buildings; Access to which is obtained from the central and angle buildings, so that it may have no connection with the dwelling houses. <br />
<br />
<strong>Central and Angle Buildings----Staircases.</strong> <br />
The central buildings are occupied on the ground or terrace floor, by the grand entrances to the quadrangle, and in these and the angle buildings, are the great staircases communicating on each side with the dormitories, over the private apartments, and the Public rooms contained in these Buildings. <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Public Rooms in the Centres and Angles.</strong> <br />
In these buildings are contained the Libraries, Museums of Natural History, &c. Theatre for Lectures, Exhibitions, Ball and Concert Room, Reading Rooms, Conversation Rooms, Rooms of Management, &c. &c. <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Central Public Buildings inside Quadrangle----Offices, &c.----Public Refectories.</strong> <br />
Passing through each of the grand Entrances, a raised Platform, with which the Cloisters are connected, leads to the central public buildings within the quadrangle. the Hall or Vestibule of which is approached by flights of stone steps of large extent. On each side the Vestibule are disposed the Dining Apartments for infants and children; the Vestibule itself leading to the great Hall or Public Refectory, a noble and extensive Saloon, open to the roof, lighted by seven lofty windows on each side, and in which every means of reducing the labour of service is proposed to be adopted: particularly the service of the dinner, &c. from the public Kitchens under the Refectory, this is proposed to be performed by mechanical means, in a rapid, quiet, and cleanly manner; the different utensils removed by the same process; and the apparatus to present, in the Refectories, the appearance of handsome sideboards in recesses. <br />
<br />
The most perfect System of Ventilation, so important in Apartments of this description, is proposed to be introduced. <br />
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In the rear of the refectory, and opening to it, are rooms for the glass, table linen, spices, and other condiments, &c. &c. <br />
<br />
<strong>Basement----Subway to Basement.</strong> <br />
The Basement is approached by inclined planes, leading under the principal carriage entrance to the public Kitchens, and Store Departments. This entrance or approach is sufficiently capacious for the admission of carts, &c. to supply the various kitchens, stores, breweries, gas works, &c. &c. all of which are concentrated near these four central points, from them branch off railways, meeting each other, and forming one complete circuit of communication throughout the whole establishment, on which carriages will convey the supply of fuel, provisions, &c. to the different depôts, without interference with the dressed grounds, Esplanade, or with the dwelling part of the establishment, and by the same Routes all refuse material is removed. <br />
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In the Basement of the Inner Central Buildings, under the great hall and refectories, are the public Kitchens, Sculleries, Larders, Offices for the distribution of stores, &c. &c. and around the bases of the towers are disposed the Breweries, Gas-works, Wash-houses, Laundries, Steam works, for the supply of the kitchen, &c. and other apparatus for carrying away all smoke, and vapour, the whole of which is collected at these points, and carried upwards through the great shafts of the towers; means of access to any part of which for necessary repairs, cleansing, &c. can at all times be had, and spacious accommodation for those so employed. <br />
<br />
The vaults for the stowage of malt liquors, fuel, and other heavy stores, are of extensive and spacious dimensions, and situated in the vicinity of those places where their service is most immediately required. <br />
<br />
<strong>Towers----Illuminated Dials----Distribution of Light from the Towers.</strong> <br />
The towers which rise from the four internal central buildings, are intended. (in addition to their uses as stated above,) to form observatories, and for that purpose a commodious spiral staircase surrounds each of them, springing from the roof of the rear building, which is designed as their base. About midway upon each shaft, are placed dials, illuminated at night by gas, visible at all hours in all parts of the internal area and buildings. The gallery which forms the observatory upon each tower, immediately surmounts the parapet of the same, which parapet is pierced with a series of arched openings, at the back of each of which powerful reflectors are places; gas burners being introduced here, the light is distributed downwards, in all directions, and the space between the corbels supporting the parapet is left open for the same purpose. by these means, independent of any other light, that from the towers will be sufficient to illuminate the whole Quadrangle and the rooms which look into it, and these four points will be from their elevation, (about two hundred feet,) so many beacons to the surrounding country, marking distinctly the position of the building to a very great distance. <br />
<br />
<strong>Cloister or Arcade, and its Terrace. </strong><br />
This runs round the whole internal area, and forms the boundary of the gardens; on the ground it will be a kind of continued alcove, surmounted by a terrace of the same extent, both furnished with seats, and serving as delightful places, either for retirement from bad weather, or for social purposes. From the arcade and terrace a direct communication is made to every part, particularly to the baths, gymnasiums, and gardens. It will be observed, that by means of the cloisters surrounding the inner quadrangle, the most perfect communication can be maintained with every part of the establishment in bad weather, without exposure; while the terrace over it affords equal access, and a delightful promenade, under more favourable circumstances. <br />
<br />
<strong>Gymnasiums.</strong> <br />
The angles of the inner area of the quadrangle are occupied by the gymnasiums for the Infants, Children and Youth of the community, and for the Convalescents of the Infirmary; these are accessible by covered ways, from the cloisters and alcoves at the angles of the building. <br />
<br />
<strong>Baths. </strong><br />
To each of the four main divisions of the general buildings are annexed warm and cold baths, for the separate accommodation of the male and female members of the community. These distinct buildings are placed on each side the central internal public buildings, and are approached by the covered ways from the cloisters, and the terrace over them. These baths will contain accommodations of a novel and peculiar character, uniting the privacy of retirement with the exercise of extensive general baths. <br />
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<strong>Pleasure Gardens----Conservatory. </strong><br />
The quadrangle is intended to be laid out in shrubberies, flower gardens, and pleasure grounds, scientifically arranged, that the gratifications of the garden may be combined with new accessions of information, and the means of inculcating precepts of order at every step. The walks to be so disposed that each shall form a vista, terminating with some object of part of the building, of a varied and pleasing character; the centre of the grounds to be occupied by a Conservatory, of about one hundred feet in diameter, for the reception and cultivation of exotics, to be warmed and fitted up upon an improved and novel plan. <br />
<br />
<strong>The Esplanade and Approaches</strong>. <br />
The Esplanade surrounding the general edifice to be one hundred feet wide, and laid out in lawns, and other pleasure grounds, with a Promenade, defended by a parapet, and overlooking the surrounding scenery of the Establishment and country. This Esplanade it is proposed to elevate above the level of the adjoining land, and to connect it, by means of a wide and gently ascending road, forming an Approach for carriages, &c. proceeding to the establishment. Steps of communication will present themselves at every angle, and at other convenient points of the Esplanade. The four fronts of the whole structure to be furnished with fruit trees, trained upon trellis, and the tract of land upon which the establishment is place to be cultivated for agricultural purposes, for the supply of the community; regard being had to preserve a picturesque effect, as far as the interests of the establishment will permit. <br />
<br />
Not a successful venture. Nuff said. But without ideals and idealism, where would the world be?<br />
<br />
Owen's earlier New Lanark, Scotland, however, is now a World Heritage Site. Possibly not Utopia, though an interesting place to visit. But that's for another blog, and picture gallery. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lanark/newlanark/history1.html">http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lanark/newlanark/history1.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Nem<br />
<br />
<br />
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</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-15220126819291882072010-06-02T12:45:00.001+01:002010-06-02T12:47:12.106+01:00Scottish Ballet HQ wins Scottish Design Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDfvUHwRyl9d35pWGdQqaph-0HK0r65KqMYmpmTGUN2F8RmpUUX0ItYNNH3fd0wh-HlW_Ej09-qeT94aq34gHFtZv_WrCvY6JmnpHzQKrI1EmVuvjYF2z1VlHsbojVCRCXWb51GhqEfek/s1600/Scottish_Ballet_fraser_web_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDfvUHwRyl9d35pWGdQqaph-0HK0r65KqMYmpmTGUN2F8RmpUUX0ItYNNH3fd0wh-HlW_Ej09-qeT94aq34gHFtZv_WrCvY6JmnpHzQKrI1EmVuvjYF2z1VlHsbojVCRCXWb51GhqEfek/s400/Scottish_Ballet_fraser_web_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scottish Ballet HQ, Southside, Glasgow, Malcolm Fraser Architects</span></em><br />
<br />
Yes I did consider as a heading 'bally good show' and stuff about 'grands jetes for joy' or some such, but of course ghastly puns of that sort are not really what this blog is about... she lied.<br />
<br />
However, after the pleasure of the nomination but disappointment of no award for Malcolm Fraser Architects' Scottish Ballet HQ in Glasgow (although MFA's Infirmary Street Baths in Edinburgh won a RIBA Regional Award, as reported on the post about the building<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-splash.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-splash.html</a><br />
<br />
- how is Scotland a Region I wonder?) <br />
<br />
I am delighted to report that not only did Scottish Ballet HQ win the Best Public Building category in the Scottish Design Awards, but also the overall 'big' award, best of the best, the Architecture Grand Prix. Considering the strength of the entries, not limited to buildings in Scotland, this is an outstanding achievement, particularly so given the major expertise of the judging panel, who could clearly see beyond the fact this isn't silly shapemaking, or 'iconic' tower, but something totally original, thoughtful, clever and a building which above all works and is loved by those who commissioned it and use it.<br />
<br />
Why am I so delighted? Well, regular readers will appreciate I have been singing its praises in several blogs, so it's good to have my own obviously exquisite architectural taste backed up by others who clearly know a bit about buildings. <br />
<br />
A small sample of past posts about this: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-being-industrious.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-being-industrious.html</a><br />
<br />
<em>....The other dates from 2009, one century later, and on the outside is frankly quite industrial looking, albeit fittingly and elegantly so, in the context, a modern interpretation of ‘wrinkly tin’, and factory style saw toothed roof, an addition to an existing re-use of a historic tramshed in Glasgow...</em><br />
<br />
and:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/03/pointe-of-interest.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/03/pointe-of-interest.html</a><br />
<br />
from which there are a number of links to sources of information, pictures etc.<br />
<br />
Also:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/joyeux-noel.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/joyeux-noel.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Here's <strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects'</strong> own site:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=268&parentid=248">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=268&parentid=248</a><br />
<br />
and many pictures and info here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/scottish_ballet.php">http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/scottish_ballet.php</a><br />
<br />
As reported in <em><strong>Building Design</strong></em> today:<br />
<br />
<em>The annual awards, presented in Glasgow last Friday, were judged by an architecture panel chaired by Roger Zogolovitch.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Judges included Simon Allford, Renato Benedetti, Professor David Dunster and directors from Adams Kara Taylor, Eric Parry, Tony Fretton, Pascall & Watson, Hopkins and Feilden Clegg Bradley.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Graeme Massie was awarded Architect of the Year and the awards for place making and public realm, while Tom Elder and Dick Cannon of Elder & Cannon were given a lifetime achievement award.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Groves-Raines architects were awarded the Chairman’s Award for Architecture for a £22,000 composting shed.</em><br />
<br />
Full list of nominations and awards here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thedrum.co.uk/events/70-scottish-design-awards-2010/categories/">http://www.thedrum.co.uk/events/70-scottish-design-awards-2010/categories/</a><br />
<br />
<em>On</em> <em>the architecture side, the Grand Prix went to <strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects</strong> for <strong>Scottish Ballet at the Tramway.</strong> Judge Gerry O’Brien from Adams Kara Taylor said this was a worthy winner as “The circulation is good; it’s grappling with many complexities. It’s one of the most pleasant spaces you could find, all the people in there loved it to death despite a difficult urban locale.“</em><br />
<br />
<strong>BBC:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/10184742.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/10184742.stm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpb3S859OMaRkTX7iAxeeFYUxDdHOu1XLEl415jqLtpxDk-P7FkhgL8o4SeNFsWQkLBP4bUZXGjvz6cr37N8eaoUx32naDG1tX6fRIGjVALZBBSvIBtlT9yDAoSgluLPteGh62ibpg9zH/s1600/Scottish+Ballet+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpb3S859OMaRkTX7iAxeeFYUxDdHOu1XLEl415jqLtpxDk-P7FkhgL8o4SeNFsWQkLBP4bUZXGjvz6cr37N8eaoUx32naDG1tX6fRIGjVALZBBSvIBtlT9yDAoSgluLPteGh62ibpg9zH/s320/Scottish+Ballet+sign.jpg" /></a></div><em>Pic of new Scottish Ballet HQ, Glasgow, courtesy of here: </em><a href="http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/whats-on/current-productions/doors-open-days/doors-open-days.htm"><em>http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/whats-on/current-productions/doors-open-days/doors-open-days.htm</em></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Scottish Ballet:</strong> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/news/current-news/scottish-design-awards.htm">http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/news/current-news/scottish-design-awards.htm</a><br />
<br />
<em>Scottish Ballet is delighted that its new national headquarters, designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects, has received two prizes at the prestigious Scottish Design Awards: BestPublicBuilding and the Architecture Grand Prix.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Speaking at the Scottish Design Awards ceremony on Friday 28th May, one of the judging panel, Gerry O’Brien from Adams Kara Taylor, said “It’s one of the most pleasant spaces you could find. All the people in there loved it.”</em><br />
<br />
<em>Scottish Ballet’s Chief Executive, Cindy Sughrue, added: “I’m thrilled that Malcolm Fraser Architects have received the recognition they deserve for designing a truly wonderful building. It has completely transformed how we work.”</em><br />
<br />
Review from<em> <strong>Architecture Today:</strong></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/?p=693">http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/?p=693</a><br />
<br />
<em>A century ago, also in Glasgow, Charles Rennie Mackintosh adopted JD Sedding’s motto, ‘There is hope in honest error, none in the icy perfections of the mere stylist’. Malcolm Fraser Architects’ achievement at the Scottish Ballet has been to discover an underlying order in a complex programme and to express this in a simple, but appropriate language. There is no artifice, just honest attention to the client’s needs transformed by sound architectural judgement.</em><br />
<br />
A blast from the past, an article from 2007; possibly Malcolm Fraser, currently Geddes Honorary Professorial Fellow at Edinburgh Uni School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, can now be seen to be a 'leading' architect full stop, and not simply 'one of Scotland's leading architects', good though that is? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3662218/A-dance-to-the-music-of-light.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3662218/A-dance-to-the-music-of-light.html</a><br />
<br />
<em>"I was a late starter, but maybe there's a virtue in taking your time about these things. It took time to discover my confidence. But now I see that the wonderful thing about being an architect is knowing that wherever you are, there are people in your buildings, enjoying them. That's the joy."</em><br />
<br />
Indeed. I spent some time in one of Malcolm Fraser's most loved buildings, the Scottish Poetry Library, last weekend, with a group of other very appreciative people; it was indeed a joy.<br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong><br />
<br />
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</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-13929377312366863042010-05-16T20:58:00.007+01:002010-05-20T14:39:41.417+01:00Angry men: Crap housing, our cash, VAT, communities, rubbish architecture, urban renewal and all that jazz.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBfZ48KA__B4onIW3m6e6owOJ7XXVN8Pul5JJasYjbwXwX50YD6PsYABl_dyNHX8rmHmIdoSYRb51eLIOP5ObQF3B_xyEbreyAv6biT1DJmEcu8zI06jd3pwBR6n75ocv9FVnFDWO33s0/s1600/Mass+housing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBfZ48KA__B4onIW3m6e6owOJ7XXVN8Pul5JJasYjbwXwX50YD6PsYABl_dyNHX8rmHmIdoSYRb51eLIOP5ObQF3B_xyEbreyAv6biT1DJmEcu8zI06jd3pwBR6n75ocv9FVnFDWO33s0/s320/Mass+housing+1.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><em>Diddy boxes</em><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AN3rN59GlWw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AN3rN59GlWw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<em>Of, if only things had improved since Pete Seeger sang that, so many years ago!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzaBfQDZlkwrt7JVud8BD1mU8eKlu8xNcZ0FI5JlwQsDHAouTn7_vPpTewP36tRcruQ0Hl4wrOIXqQzyQboorvTToJVq7nKFdKELopJ0Y1Cv5UhnH6cxv9ckndPydW7nIJVBvd6OtYsbH/s1600/Monotony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzaBfQDZlkwrt7JVud8BD1mU8eKlu8xNcZ0FI5JlwQsDHAouTn7_vPpTewP36tRcruQ0Hl4wrOIXqQzyQboorvTToJVq7nKFdKELopJ0Y1Cv5UhnH6cxv9ckndPydW7nIJVBvd6OtYsbH/s320/Monotony.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyibrH6gBkCHF2vHxveTODsGbTXf-6LjwhYGm6br58x7ASlHRZRMlQMwaEzxIhVzuOO_86VtF4QWzeEBaQLj0uacd9vCjYR9RuwGZ4ciCIV_o5yea9OvMy-3xR_5EuL4DOcTYaBDxtFpM/s1600/Bigger+houses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyibrH6gBkCHF2vHxveTODsGbTXf-6LjwhYGm6br58x7ASlHRZRMlQMwaEzxIhVzuOO_86VtF4QWzeEBaQLj0uacd9vCjYR9RuwGZ4ciCIV_o5yea9OvMy-3xR_5EuL4DOcTYaBDxtFpM/s320/Bigger+houses.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
It's been an interesting weekend in the press, architecturally speaking. <br />
<br />
First, we have the magnificently eloquent Scottish architect and writer Malcolm Fraser (Republic passim, including the very recent post on the Madelvic Factory demolition<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/04/dont-destroy-madelvic-factory.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/04/dont-destroy-madelvic-factory.html</a> )<br />
<br />
on gobons and government payouts for crappy housing, VAT iniquities, empty homes and stuff in the Herald, expanding what he said recently in <em>Building Design,</em> as reported on Archibollocks, <br />
<br />
<a href="http://archibollocks.blogspot.com/2010/04/gobbing-on.html">http://archibollocks.blogspot.com/2010/04/gobbing-on.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMX75MoU4fGo6uBt_NQxiQemCJoQQuQkDMr6b5JL7ryCUmgUlRhmuuVJLLaCxukipYj0A4V_k2m1RNf4ymbsW4_vapL2AfEg38UPDdDtC1fCl6SPy6Q8VPT8y360B40SlWDXiLB0_Xd2Z/s1600/Malcolm+Fraser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMX75MoU4fGo6uBt_NQxiQemCJoQQuQkDMr6b5JL7ryCUmgUlRhmuuVJLLaCxukipYj0A4V_k2m1RNf4ymbsW4_vapL2AfEg38UPDdDtC1fCl6SPy6Q8VPT8y360B40SlWDXiLB0_Xd2Z/s320/Malcolm+Fraser.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
and I hope he'll not make a fuss if I repeat it all here :<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/markets-economy/scotland-should-aim-higher-than-clusters-of-urban-lumps-complete-with-useless-gob-ons-1.1027961">http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/markets-economy/scotland-should-aim-higher-than-clusters-of-urban-lumps-complete-with-useless-gob-ons-1.1027961</a><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Scotland should aim higher than clusters of urban lumps, complete with useless ‘gob ons’</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Malcolm Fraser</strong> <br />
<br />
May 16th <br />
<br />
<em>Little fanfare greeted the recent announcement that Scotland’s beleaguered volume housebuilders were to receive a £130 million boost from the Scottish Government’s new “National Housing Trust”.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Given the transformative potential of the scheme, this lack of attention is baffling.</em><br />
<br />
<em>The move follows plans in England to boost the housing sector through the “Kickstart” programme, and First Minister Alex Salmond’s own promises to business leaders to fund “shovel-ready” development in Scotland.</em><br />
<br />
<em>These are the same housebuilders that mass-produce homes that are, according to architecture writer Jonathan Glancey “… a blight on the landscape, a stain on our collective soul, a national disgrace”.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Even Gordon Brown, in the final election debate, admitted that volume housebuilders “… have really not served us well in this country”.</em><br />
<br />
<em>In that final leaders’ debate Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg uttered the unfashionable words: “council houses”. From sub-prime to credit-bubble, the banking and housebuilding industries were intertwined, and went down the pan together. The Brown Government borrowed hugely to bail out the banks without requiring them to improve their service. Skating over their own part in encouraging the hubris that led to massive failure the Government simply begged the banks to take our money and go back to business-as-usual.</em><br />
<br />
<em>The Scottish Government appears to be following Westminster, in doing a similar back-to-business-as-usual, no-strings-attached bailout for our housebuilding industry.</em><br />
<br />
<em>It is worth pondering what, exactly is the state of the house-building industry that is to be bailed out – and what sort of development will the volume housebuilders be expected to have “shovel-ready”?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Their new homes tend to fall into one of two categories: suburban diddy-boxes, car-dependent and decorated by the sort of pediments, half-timbering and carriage lamps that the industry itself, revealing their contempt for the public, refers to as “gob-ons”.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Their other type is always branded “stylish urban living”, meaning lumpen flats with bolted-on, sticky-out “Juliet” balconies jutting into our bitter winds and car fumes.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Alex Neil, the Scottish Government’s housing minister, responded to my concerns over quality, published in the architectural press, by assuring doubters that, to qualify for a bail-out, the Government “…are likely to require that all proposed homes meet, at the very least, the 2007 Scottish Building Regulations”</em><br />
<br />
<em>Big deal! So the only requirement for those diddy boxes and urban lumps is that they are “likely” to meet the bare, lowest minimum technical standard. The bar could hardly be lower, and my heart sinks at the dismal poverty of our aspirations.</em><br />
<br />
<em>As if this wasn’t bad enough, while the housing minister’s civil servants channel our money to such unworthy recipients, whole other armies of civil servants – in the Planning Directorate, the Architecture & Place Policy Unit and our built environment design quango, Architecture + Design Scotland – have no powers to do more than look on aghast. Established and paid for out of the public purse to raise the woeful quality of new housing in Scotland, this bailout bypasses them.</em><br />
<br />
<em>In their own initiatives they have, however, aimed very low. The planning regime in Scotland follows the “New Urbanist” orthodoxy that starts as a laudable concern for the values of traditional urban settlements. But I fear that under this banner the Scottish Government merely collaborates with housebuilders to devise better “gob-ons”, and make the roads through housing estates a bit more wiggly.</em><br />
<br />
<em>What might we better achieve with all this public mone</em><br />
<br />
<em>Well, in that final leaders’ debate Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg uttered the unfashionable words: “council houses”. Perhaps if we set-aside our prejudiced stereotyped idea of grimy estates, decent quality council houses are exactly what we should be spending public money on.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Clegg also raised the issue of VAT. Newbuild is zero-rated, but repair and renewal attracts the full 17.5%. This hugely tips the balance towards greenfield building sites, and away from refurbishing our existing stock. There are hundreds of thousands of empty properties lying vacant in our towns and cities</em><br />
<br />
<em>Readjusting VAT to encourage the repair of these would deliver more homes for every pound invested, fortify existing communities, reduce car-dependency, and create more jobs (repair being more labour-intensive).</em><br />
<br />
<em>And when we do build new homes we should be talking about what actually creates communities – not pediments and wiggly streets, but awareness of sunshine, south-facing living rooms that open into gardens, public places for our kids to play and places to meet, and engage with, our neighbours.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Why is it that we can’t we build communities based on these simple, humane priorities?</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Malcolm Fraser is founder of Edinburgh’s Malcolm Fraser Architects <a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/and">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/and</a> a former deputy chairman of Architecture + Design Scotland</strong><strong>and</strong><br />
<br />
Then yesterday a terrific <strong>Jonathan Glancey</strong> article in the <em>Guardian</em> on the late and greatly lamented <strong>Ian Nairn,</strong> and good that he mentioned the writers who are behind:<br />
<br />
Bad British Architecture @Ghostof Nairn <br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://badbritisharchitecture.blogspot.com/">http://badbritisharchitecture.blogspot.com/</a></strong><br />
<br />
and @tragedyhatherle of Urban Trawl in <em>Building Design</em> and <em>Zero Books</em> various (including <em>Militant</em> <em>Modernism</em>) amongst other writing: <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIF_z56qb-mcdoqWDR4ski6Q3yohWYYOzkbgHa-GPut66vJcoNPlUW3JxpDsoIMgzCJBvopyW16uPL6EInv8FzRshuS0kGh_MOL9oimR-rMOGkkEsVD4fm7XEtQowG6YRDJDoQWw5ackx/s1600/Ruins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIF_z56qb-mcdoqWDR4ski6Q3yohWYYOzkbgHa-GPut66vJcoNPlUW3JxpDsoIMgzCJBvopyW16uPL6EInv8FzRshuS0kGh_MOL9oimR-rMOGkkEsVD4fm7XEtQowG6YRDJDoQWw5ackx/s320/Ruins.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong><a href="http://nastybrutalistandshort.blogspot.com/">http://nastybrutalistandshort.blogspot.com/</a></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Here it is:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/may/15/architecture-ian-nairn">http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/may/15/architecture-ian-nairn</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElch9Y9DpSRtS2BwppjUjPg75C0rIkWOgLizHtPWmOC_oc8NOMnj7AJBMWZfAQZET8QtK5IpZYRgpXcQCcdXoXh61bbbPg2dKxGyGUG-nWi4GPzC7vrx7Y_mm3iQq9wmV_nOVyAns8CA1/s1600/Ian-Nairn-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElch9Y9DpSRtS2BwppjUjPg75C0rIkWOgLizHtPWmOC_oc8NOMnj7AJBMWZfAQZET8QtK5IpZYRgpXcQCcdXoXh61bbbPg2dKxGyGUG-nWi4GPzC7vrx7Y_mm3iQq9wmV_nOVyAns8CA1/s320/Ian-Nairn-006.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em>Ian Nairn's voice of outrage...</em><br />
<br />
<em>His attacks on the banality of Britain's postwar buildings made Ian Nairn an inspiration for a generation of architectural critics. Jonathan Glancey celebrates the scourge of 'subtopia'...</em><br />
<br />
look forward to the video articles mentioned.... <br />
<br />
and <strong>Gavin Stamp,</strong> <em>Private Eye's</em> <strong>Piloti</strong><br />
<br />
a review of his <em>Britain's Lost Cities</em> by Nicholas Lezard:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjlnL_DmXh9iU74MvUezUmzFbKv9eMtC7_iNAIwz_Er2bhOjwifKc3YCT5hMUMo7OOhFUidlR_PrqWlK5Uwa50sfmFdMwL13NRBX39UDxiP_4ZKvSKi7naVGDfJPUBXSQQeX5KLIHVLIL/s1600/Britains-Lost-Cities-A-Chron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjlnL_DmXh9iU74MvUezUmzFbKv9eMtC7_iNAIwz_Er2bhOjwifKc3YCT5hMUMo7OOhFUidlR_PrqWlK5Uwa50sfmFdMwL13NRBX39UDxiP_4ZKvSKi7naVGDfJPUBXSQQeX5KLIHVLIL/s320/Britains-Lost-Cities-A-Chron.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/15/britain-lost-cities-gavin-stamp">http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/15/britain-lost-cities-gavin-stamp</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>It may be a truism that this country lost more buildings to town planners than to the Luftwaffe, but it is still worth mentioning. Here are 180 pages, each illustrated with one or more photographs, which document what can only be a fraction of the buildings and vistas we have lost.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Stamp quotes a recent conclusion, regarding Hull, but it applies everywhere:</em><br />
<br />
<em> <strong>"What has gone are the accents of the cityscape, the varied shapes, textures and materials, the undoubted wealth of craftsmanship, the unexpected or bizarre incident; items that there is now no way of matching, for neither money nor skills are forthcoming."</strong></em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>This is, in short, a very depressing book – but one that is wholly necessary...</em><br />
<br />
Which ,basically, brings me back to <strong>Malcolm Fraser:</strong> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfABgSM8vPIOw_Ee77uBnD7MNHxU-zje61sbAM20wsJle5a3AG180TgaQAYboj-ob9c-PitU03-AgF4npZFSMUHD_TVPy2fKxN3sb8Asg1GyTC0c_BduDOuZ17EQaWyU1Ngp-gGAq5s9z/s1600/Leith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfABgSM8vPIOw_Ee77uBnD7MNHxU-zje61sbAM20wsJle5a3AG180TgaQAYboj-ob9c-PitU03-AgF4npZFSMUHD_TVPy2fKxN3sb8Asg1GyTC0c_BduDOuZ17EQaWyU1Ngp-gGAq5s9z/s320/Leith.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Leith, Edinburgh, Western Harbour Development</em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and of course the splendid Blogger <strong>Dave Thompson</strong>, @auchterness:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>I'm deeply privileged today to write a review of one of Scotland's greatest success stories of visionary planning and property development. It's a veritable dripping roast of invention and superlatives, truly the eastern equivalent of Glasgow Harbour in every way. The team that did the astonishing breakthrough thinking on this one are Forth Ports (who kindly donated the land), Turkey Associates and RMJM, they of the recent heroic failure at Custom House Quay in Glasgow. One word - wow!</em></div><em><br />
</em><br />
<em>You know, it's sometimes hard to take in the sheer comprehensive brilliance of some projects - the diamond sharp intellectual endeavour, the world class parametric design work not to mention the streetwise nous that can turn a derelict area into a thriving community of beautiful houses, shops and parks all wrapped up into one of the finest urban development frameworks you will see around Edinburgh since Wester Hailes was but a twinkle in a planner's eye. Recently a member of the Prince's Foundation described it as being, 'as good as Sierra Leone'. That's praise indeed coming from a world traveller and member of the Royal Family - a total pat on the back for Forth Ports and for Turkey Associates, a real feather in their cap....</em><br />
<br />
Read on:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://auchterness.blogspot.com/2009/10/granton-and-leith-docks-epicentre-of.html">http://auchterness.blogspot.com/2009/10/granton-and-leith-docks-epicentre-of.html</a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yes, Brave New World:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaoRHEQIFlHJJCPdFu2_E1_is1j8xHUIVQ3G33BxSQstigrnmkaNMXf2_h3uUVx0oZ5jxuOm9VURcKMh_UEdddFQOUBuQfoRf-zmr4zG0ohkO7QRqkulSui6U6sK82FI2kjnMvwWUCE3F/s1600/platinum-point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaoRHEQIFlHJJCPdFu2_E1_is1j8xHUIVQ3G33BxSQstigrnmkaNMXf2_h3uUVx0oZ5jxuOm9VURcKMh_UEdddFQOUBuQfoRf-zmr4zG0ohkO7QRqkulSui6U6sK82FI2kjnMvwWUCE3F/s320/platinum-point.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.gregorshore.co.uk/platinumpoint/flash.htm">http://www.gregorshore.co.uk/platinumpoint/flash.htm</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watch the movie and weep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Nem</strong> (angry but female). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlBsAQ9dJRYg9INJXPuTZ569LN8GkkcbOrKDg-6wL8JOcpfGIhuiJ3OF7jEIWJ3DoRGyQfvGpeVxNAMEr-adB7yOCyPSiPlg1hREuuN3teX2xAGN2FK8igAKNablcbdILviOwh3yvaLXp/s1600/angry_cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlBsAQ9dJRYg9INJXPuTZ569LN8GkkcbOrKDg-6wL8JOcpfGIhuiJ3OF7jEIWJ3DoRGyQfvGpeVxNAMEr-adB7yOCyPSiPlg1hREuuN3teX2xAGN2FK8igAKNablcbdILviOwh3yvaLXp/s320/angry_cat.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-46265969507468149742010-05-12T16:26:00.004+01:002010-05-13T17:10:26.251+01:00Live or Let Die! Buildings at Risk 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh45Gcr2FXypyhu5zlK3H8kmXJdNIoQXUtctmU-ZtRM1zsyVeEmlMP227CoBoOUvj8bY2YXUVBiinVzmqxMoQgpRaMzPzoypQsOQ0WP_ziBCp18Iv7ZjZD28GFHTvHlA7UVXXsC_tCuyh8/s1600/SAVE+header.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh45Gcr2FXypyhu5zlK3H8kmXJdNIoQXUtctmU-ZtRM1zsyVeEmlMP227CoBoOUvj8bY2YXUVBiinVzmqxMoQgpRaMzPzoypQsOQ0WP_ziBCp18Iv7ZjZD28GFHTvHlA7UVXXsC_tCuyh8/s320/SAVE+header.bmp" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Yes folks it's that time of year again, and this has pinged into my inbox, so please all get your orders in NOW!</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings_at_risk/">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings_at_risk/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings_at_risk/catalogue.php">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings_at_risk/catalogue.php</a><br />
<br />
Order form: <a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/BaR2010orderform_updated.pdf">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/BaR2010orderform_updated.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh45Gcr2FXypyhu5zlK3H8kmXJdNIoQXUtctmU-ZtRM1zsyVeEmlMP227CoBoOUvj8bY2YXUVBiinVzmqxMoQgpRaMzPzoypQsOQ0WP_ziBCp18Iv7ZjZD28GFHTvHlA7UVXXsC_tCuyh8/s1600/SAVE+header.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh45Gcr2FXypyhu5zlK3H8kmXJdNIoQXUtctmU-ZtRM1zsyVeEmlMP227CoBoOUvj8bY2YXUVBiinVzmqxMoQgpRaMzPzoypQsOQ0WP_ziBCp18Iv7ZjZD28GFHTvHlA7UVXXsC_tCuyh8/s200/SAVE+header.bmp" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>PRESS RELEASE May 2010</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Live or Let Die</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">BUILDINGS AT RISK 2010 – 2011</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT8V8RdNpxiM6ifiGxsBai-jpv50itimEaBnlhvLfBebYo1zD-0MTRQymONpEw4awxFqFrYc467kbLdMmSZ4lxYRltyd90UcVkvmj4Vj-vOD9JFdVLapTz32dNKja7t4hm_Aq5C0wzHf_/s1600/SAVE+1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT8V8RdNpxiM6ifiGxsBai-jpv50itimEaBnlhvLfBebYo1zD-0MTRQymONpEw4awxFqFrYc467kbLdMmSZ4lxYRltyd90UcVkvmj4Vj-vOD9JFdVLapTz32dNKja7t4hm_Aq5C0wzHf_/s400/SAVE+1.bmp" width="266" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em>Northwold Manor, Northwold, Norfolk</em><br />
<br />
Foreword by <strong>Marcus Binney</strong><br />
<br />
Publication Date: <strong>1 June 2010</strong><br />
<br />
Price: <strong>£15 Full colour</strong><br />
<br />
Every year SAVE sets out on a treasure hunt to find a selection of ‘sleeping beauties’ across England and Wales. Any building type can qualify, so long as it is curious, interesting, unloved and crying out for a new owner or new use. Many of the featured buildings cannot always be found on the books of estate agents and come from local authorities or local contacts who are keen to help towards a solution. Persistence, resourcefulness and diplomacy will be required in order to get hold of these properties but, over two decades, SAVE has seen an impressive number of successful rescues.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fIiGPiwUAGcyUsA-LG5aSKGiyU8lHRj9Wy6MDSJ0VDnkpgKXdMa1TR5fCSpvGIMel-8wW2jQiWNpnrxld57UOAaNorsVOk-lkj9QfBdF6ZX1iVpZcu15WOM_nJhpXf-1UdailWQVvOre/s1600/SAVE+2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fIiGPiwUAGcyUsA-LG5aSKGiyU8lHRj9Wy6MDSJ0VDnkpgKXdMa1TR5fCSpvGIMel-8wW2jQiWNpnrxld57UOAaNorsVOk-lkj9QfBdF6ZX1iVpZcu15WOM_nJhpXf-1UdailWQVvOre/s320/SAVE+2.bmp" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em>Mill House, Gedney, Lincolnshire </em><br />
<br />
This year’s report, <em>Live or Let Die</em>, lifts the veil on over a hundred alluring properties. Remote farmhouses and grand crumbling country mansions vie for attention with Georgian townhouses, mills, redundant churches, town halls, schools, libraries and even post offices in what is a surprisingly diverse selection. Some of the featured buildings have been empty for years others whilst others are newly abandoned as the result of the recession.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKrxcXl1-8BkLC-s7mELvn_leA5U-WWIUixutk2FsnfYUynIo18NSid5rv123BKYt6ATNYEjQWKSTurZWRuivAXhdgHE0nQxL9bjsJFqXw_b5krEOuJ76Tu5NvezKR_f4JMKa3iyM3lHn/s1600/SAVE+3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKrxcXl1-8BkLC-s7mELvn_leA5U-WWIUixutk2FsnfYUynIo18NSid5rv123BKYt6ATNYEjQWKSTurZWRuivAXhdgHE0nQxL9bjsJFqXw_b5krEOuJ76Tu5NvezKR_f4JMKa3iyM3lHn/s320/SAVE+3.bmp" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em>Church Street, Isleham, Cambridgeshire</em><br />
<br />
<em>Live or Let Die</em> is more than just an illustrated list, it also features reports on successful restorations; scandalous demolitions; pubs at risk and sections looking at individual towns such as Doncaster and Reading. For the first time, this year’s report looks at examples of buildings at risk in Scotland and London - areas not covered in the full list. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe3vTW3A7pF5kfkNeyyVIn3vO8n3S2evjQFJZrV9qDy5QZYWPlY2NXIm4au_Il6c9b_f0U3byWHz1j_eGRChjnHYnOo-bgWpR506Wucn1Ch4HTF82aB-NY8Mv4etQznyolFWQQkDwmrts/s1600/SAVE+4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe3vTW3A7pF5kfkNeyyVIn3vO8n3S2evjQFJZrV9qDy5QZYWPlY2NXIm4au_Il6c9b_f0U3byWHz1j_eGRChjnHYnOo-bgWpR506Wucn1Ch4HTF82aB-NY8Mv4etQznyolFWQQkDwmrts/s320/SAVE+4.bmp" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em>St Cuthbert’s Chapel, Worcester</em><br />
<br />
The register continues to perform vital work as the only national source of information on Grade II listed and unlisted buildings at risk from all around England and Wales. Access to the online register (featuring over 1,000 properties) costs £25 for a year’s subscription. To become a Friend of SAVE or to order <em>Live or Let Die</em> contact the SAVE office directly. <br />
<br />
A selection of five buildings at risk from <em>Live or Let Die</em> can be viewed in advance on the website from 25 May.<br />
<br />
For further information please contact Rhiannon Tracy on 020 7253 3500 or email her at SAVE <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>NOTES TO EDITORS</strong><br />
SAVE Britain’s Heritage has been campaigning for historic buildings since its formation in 1975 by a group of architects, journalists and planners. It is a strong, independent voice in conservation, free to respond rapidly to emergencies and to speak out loud for the historic built environment. It has published a Buildings at Risk Register for England and Wales since 1989.<br />
<br />
Rhiannon Tracy<br />
Buildings at Risk Officer <br />
SAVE Britain's Heritage<br />
70 Cowcross Street<br />
London<br />
EC1M 6EJ<br />
T: 0207 2533500<br />
F: 0207 2533400<br />
<br />
<br />
rhiannon dot tracy at savebritainsheritage dot org <br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
New Publications Available from <strong>SAVE Britain's Heritage:</strong><br />
<br />
Triumph, Disaster & Decay: The SAVE Survey of Liverpool's Heritage - £12.50<br />
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Brighton Churches: The Need for Action Now - £20<br />
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<br />
<br />
New Publications Available from <strong>SAVE Europe's Heritage:</strong><br />
<br />
Silesia: The Land of Dying Country Houses - £15<br />
<br />
Moscow Heritage at Crisis Point - 2nd Edition - £18<br />
<br />
See website for further details: <a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/</a>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-63033324509417042282010-04-29T13:30:00.015+01:002010-05-08T12:37:25.310+01:00Don't destroy the Madelvic factory!<em></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5heEHs0N7CLPQS02AbQEModumr5WMXWpl9aGNRbB2uD5Q51pnl4ba-bPsLl-ooT8znNklpCBXfexH9tCZD8GAmfCDWgza-PkaRbF20QFJ_H6Mjowm5CdAS2nWWBFCoUXdeoSrsbhC5YE0/s1600/madelvic_car_fs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5heEHs0N7CLPQS02AbQEModumr5WMXWpl9aGNRbB2uD5Q51pnl4ba-bPsLl-ooT8znNklpCBXfexH9tCZD8GAmfCDWgza-PkaRbF20QFJ_H6Mjowm5CdAS2nWWBFCoUXdeoSrsbhC5YE0/s320/madelvic_car_fs.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><em> The Madelvic electric car</em><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: red;">UPDATE May 7th</span><br />
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Short article (slightly garbled) in Building Design:<br />
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<strong>Fraser slams Maldevic (sic) demolition</strong><br />
<br />
6 May, 2010<br />
<br />
By David Rogers <br />
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<em>Architect Malcolm Fraser has spoken out against plans by Edinburgh Council to demolish the listed Maldevic electric car factory in the Granton area of the city to make way for new houses.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46JAFHWCHxTNrnJ828ZpuClpmy3OLF8U1VBg69gU_3UqPPr-MRZkcGTcOdFkTj8SoBffet-npGbIUsTD9OU8CKObdbcMMuLnqQi_OqSa5WslDERvmvWOJBqG6JK-r6w5Y6VQisBXMVwKl/s1600/Malcolm_Fraser_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46JAFHWCHxTNrnJ828ZpuClpmy3OLF8U1VBg69gU_3UqPPr-MRZkcGTcOdFkTj8SoBffet-npGbIUsTD9OU8CKObdbcMMuLnqQi_OqSa5WslDERvmvWOJBqG6JK-r6w5Y6VQisBXMVwKl/s320/Malcolm_Fraser_web.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Malcolm Fraser</em></span><br />
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<em>Council-owned developer EDI has (had?) linked up with the Burrell Company to convert the factory, which opened in 1898, into apartments and commercial space. The developers will retain its office block but demolish the main factory building.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Fraser said it should not be demolished and added: “<strong>Is it the case that, in a recession, any listed building can be sent for landfill?”</strong></em><br />
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Read more: <a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3163001&channel=426&c=1#ixzz0nESuvUEN">http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3163001&channel=426&c=1#ixzz0nESuvUEN<span style="color: red;"></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">UPDATE 30th April </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Madelvic in the Guardian, excellent piece by Tom Allan</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/apr/30/madelvic-factory-demolition-malcolm-fraser-edinburgh">http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/apr/30/madelvic-factory-demolition-malcolm-fraser-edinburgh</a><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> A request has been made (by me) to have the factory placed on the Scottish Buildings at Risk Register:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/BAR/">http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/BAR/<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">(Also</span> of course there is the sad loss of most of the historic interest of this piece of motoring heritage in Glasgow.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.botanicgardensgarage.org/">http://www.botanicgardensgarage.org/</a> )<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">It's a worry, is Scotland, and failure to really protect listed buildings. Cynical of me I know, but it does seem that it's so easy to override national policy...</span><br />
<br />
<strong>Original post</strong> <br />
<br />
The Madelvic Factory production block at Granton, Edinburgh, is under threat of demolition. This is the oldest remaining purpose-built car factory in the UK; it may be the oldest in Europe. It dates from c1898. Alongside the small office block (not currently under direct threat) this is an important piece of historic industrial architecture. <br />
<br />
Listed building description: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=45654">http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=45654</a><br />
<br />
Requests for the permission to demolish by City of Edinburgh Council to be called in by the Scottish Government (Historic Scotland objected to the demolition, the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and SAVE Britain's Heritage all sought a call-in, arguing that not all avenues for retention and re-use have been explored and it is believed that national policy has not been fully followed or taken into account) have been refused. This is a worrying situation, and this really should have been fully explored at an inquiry. <br />
<br />
Urban Realm has taken up the story, and published yesterday and today two articles, one with the background, the other multi-award-winning Edinburgh architect Malcolm Fraser making a passionate plea for retention and re-use, if not with the scheme his practice has already designed then for another scheme.<br />
<br />
I agree; landfill should not be an option, and the building should be properly mothballed and secured until such time as the market picks up again and viabilty of a re-use scheme can be looked at further. <br />
<br />
Listed buildings should not be so lightly disposed of. Sadly, Edinburgh Council seems to see them not as an asset but a nuisance which get in the way of development. <br />
<br />
And so our shared history and national heritage is wiped out, historic landmarks razed, because it's more convenient than imaginative re-use, and of course the profit motive is more important to some than those wider issues. No it's not a 'pretty' building, that's not always the point; it is certainly of historic importance. <br />
<br />
Urban Realm reports:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2336/Demolition_of_B_listed_Madelvic_factory_wont_be_called_in.html">http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2336/Demolition_of_B_listed_Madelvic_factory_wont_be_called_in.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2338/Fraser_mounts_impassioned_Madelvic_plea.html">http://www.urbanrealm.co.uk/news/2338/Fraser_mounts_impassioned_Madelvic_plea.html</a><br />
<br />
and as Malcolm Fraser says:<br />
<br />
<em><strong>“But the buildings are not dropped yet! And if there is any specialist developer out there who is interested, come and see me, and we can approach the site’s owner together</strong>.” </em><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9fQdYYB3vk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9fQdYYB3vk</a><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/c9fQdYYB3vk&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/c9fQdYYB3vk&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
The Granton History Group has an excellent website detailing the interesting history of the Madelvic car and factory:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.grantonhistory.org/industry/madelvic.htm">http://www.grantonhistory.org/industry/madelvic.htm</a><br />
<br />
Secret Scotland:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/MadelvicCarriageCo">http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/MadelvicCarriageCo</a><br />
<br />
<br />
NemNemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-39910509862883006002010-04-20T14:14:00.027+01:002010-05-08T13:54:03.527+01:00St John & St James: more Liverpool at Risk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82tm4GaT519i4rX1KqeO0TKtxLLkc8fYNOwr02ljvgMPevK4l8Mt9xiQqULa8bRFaQdOre81JDB5B5e_aXYUk3xrgsAJBQSTTk2v2kE74Jf-CUVhdC8dTO-swBaAaj8acsC6pHikhT5yl/s1600/St+John+and+St+James+Liverpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82tm4GaT519i4rX1KqeO0TKtxLLkc8fYNOwr02ljvgMPevK4l8Mt9xiQqULa8bRFaQdOre81JDB5B5e_aXYUk3xrgsAJBQSTTk2v2kE74Jf-CUVhdC8dTO-swBaAaj8acsC6pHikhT5yl/s320/St+John+and+St+James+Liverpool.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: red;">UPDATE May 7th</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">The church has, sadly, now been demolished; see SAVE link for pictures:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/article.php?id=135">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/article.php?id=135</a><br />
<br />
<strong>More Pathfinder madness as landmark Liverpool church is flattened</strong>.<br />
<br />
<em>Liverpool has just lost another important landmark building. St John and St James, a finely detailed and pleasingly quirky Edwardian church by James Francis Doyle, was demolished at the end of April, the victim of a deal struck between the Diocese of Liverpool and a property developer. The site, which is part of a Pathfinder 'regeneration' area, is to be developed as 16 dwellings.</em><br />
<br />
<em>The furnishings and fittings of the church were stripped out in advance of a listing inspection with many items sold at auction. The church, distinguished by its octagonal bell tower and good Gothic detailing, was a building of real quality in an area which has all but lost its identity and community. Even the leader of Liverpool Council recently conceded that the Pathfinder clearances had 'ripped the heart out of local communities'. Yet, his penitential words have come too late to prevent the tragic loss of St John and St James.</em><br />
<br />
Further information can be seen on this dedicated website: <br />
<br />
Save Bootle's Heritage; St John and St James Church <a href="http://www.monfaroad.info/">http://www.monfaroad.info/</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Original post:</strong><br />
<br />
I have been asked to give this campaign some publicity. So here it is. <br />
<br />
<strong>A website and Facebook campaign have been set up in a last ditch attempt to save an historic Bootle church from demolition.</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.monfaroad.info/">http://www.monfaroad.info/</a> <em>(warning - the site has music, so if that's a problem, press the mute button)</em><br />
Pictures, Youtube videos and a great deal of further history on the website. <br />
<br />
<em>The Church of St John and St James in Monfa Road, Orrell, was dedicated to two brothers, Sir John and Mr James Wilcox, who were proprietors and editors of the Daily Post and Echo.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Built in 1910 to the designs of Liverpool architect James Francis Doyle, the church also has a link to the famous Liver Buildings, whose designer was a pupil of Doyle. He worked with the celebrated Richard Norman Shaw on the White Star Line HQ on James Street, where news of the Titanic's sinking was first announced to a shocked world, and built the gold-domed Royal Insurance building on North John Street. </em><br />
<br />
<em>Now the building has been stripped of its features and is facing the bulldozers, with planning permission granted by Sefton Council for 16 houses.</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5YHcFbHeMSPVCluq41LkgIn0EX3yPZ7O4IFIoYVS3BDr6coaJ9pqQtQ0xoQkNP4j2fxFrkg1GqMK4I_pInmQidJ5vxPJv6BTmlPE9LACqL3DtZsGdiBzqDQMt_zKjaK88RjEZXbUzDck/s1600/St+John+7+St+James+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5YHcFbHeMSPVCluq41LkgIn0EX3yPZ7O4IFIoYVS3BDr6coaJ9pqQtQ0xoQkNP4j2fxFrkg1GqMK4I_pInmQidJ5vxPJv6BTmlPE9LACqL3DtZsGdiBzqDQMt_zKjaK88RjEZXbUzDck/s320/St+John+7+St+James+1.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em>Conservation experts have criticised church authorities for abandoning heritage buildings to pursue land sell offs, and questioned English Heritage's decision not to grant emergency listing status by suggesting the Liverpool designer is 'not of national interest'.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Planning specialist <strong>Jonathan Brown</strong> from <strong>Merseyside Civic Society</strong> said:</em><br />
<br />
<em>"This church was the work of a man associated with some of Liverpool's finest mercantile buildings, and dedicated to the owner and editors of our great city newspapers, the Post and Echo. If English Heritage </em><em>accept James Doyle is 'regionally important', from what is after all World city, why isn't that of 'national interest', the criteria for listing? Would the same be true if the connection was with famous buildings and newspapers in London? Of course not - these are simply double-standards. It's one rule for Bootle and another for Bromley."</em><br />
<br />
<em>The website's designer <strong>Jonathan Wild,</strong> whose partner lived in the adjacent Klondyke terraced streets until recently moved out under the New Heartlands (Pathfinder) demolition scheme said:</em><br />
<br />
<em>"This is another case of a church losing its congregation to a misguided clearance programme while the Diocese washes its hands of the building. As with the listed St. Cyprian's on Edge Lane and St.John's in Fairfield, church authorities have stood by while so called regeneration evicts families, draining community facilities of their life-blood. The result is loss of character and civic pride."</em><br />
<br />
<em>National campaign group <strong>SAVE Britain's Heritage</strong> have also expressed their alarm at the state of some churches in Liverpool's clearance areas. <strong>Secretary Will Palin</strong> said: </em><br />
<br />
<em>Bishop James Jones's chairmanship of the Stop the Rot campaign has given real focus to the city's historic environment, so it is very disappointing to see his Diocese still overseeing church closures that lead to demolition of well-loved local landmarks like this, and failing to speak out over the wasteful return to sixties style housing clearance."</em><br />
<br />
<em>For further information, contact SAVE <a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/</a></em><br />
<br />
<strong>Merseyside Civic Society</strong> has an excellent website:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.liv.ac.uk/mcs/mcshome.html">http://www.liv.ac.uk/mcs/mcshome.html</a><br />
<br />
<strong>The campaign:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.monfaroad.info/">http://www.monfaroad.info/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=321731792630">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=321731792630</a><br />
<br />
Forum discussion:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bootlehistory.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11115">http://www.bootlehistory.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11115</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuprk0ZqTyp2A_VIBQEB6pnRO_raeRetw4qnYeod7bqerkL-aKShzs3cD4M-SgFpt2XLuwQlyb4sPaqaW6IVzlOE9mrm1MUP-l9OrmNcRqWOm-FQRUXEtxbqJVCIkLb8UJKhdQcS0_-SWP/s1600/Liverpool+Pathfinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuprk0ZqTyp2A_VIBQEB6pnRO_raeRetw4qnYeod7bqerkL-aKShzs3cD4M-SgFpt2XLuwQlyb4sPaqaW6IVzlOE9mrm1MUP-l9OrmNcRqWOm-FQRUXEtxbqJVCIkLb8UJKhdQcS0_-SWP/s320/Liverpool+Pathfinder.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
As regular readers of this blog will know, SAVE has been concerned about destruction in Liverpool for many years. Last year it staged an acclaimed exhibition to highlight the neglect and destruction. <br />
<br />
The review from the Indie is below. This picture is of a small section of the exhibition at the milkand sugar gallery, Liverpool RIBA (click to enlarge):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIq8UarbU_LZcbqsew5ZvW-MrySLt0CsVpDPSlyP5ibXl63_La0DR6xMr6aEmvsdapV80u7O5vBk7EeDKA9aODc8mj5rQOtR3v1cPHw0NHJPjsJWywJYuES4rdSNujvOw7JSgwKMlOJ4Q/s1600/SAVE+Liverpool+exhibition+Feb+13+2009+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIq8UarbU_LZcbqsew5ZvW-MrySLt0CsVpDPSlyP5ibXl63_La0DR6xMr6aEmvsdapV80u7O5vBk7EeDKA9aODc8mj5rQOtR3v1cPHw0NHJPjsJWywJYuES4rdSNujvOw7JSgwKMlOJ4Q/s320/SAVE+Liverpool+exhibition+Feb+13+2009+030.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
The book which accompanied the exhibition is still available from SAVE:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuanUGpwYZVQloXFLJLof6DgaU2v1tebj1BWo6EmRMvoeTIJ3pMlsU3JZDxRcDZp8vhzzyxYaCfDyLCVBT1cDJhgZBC7Q0JkglcPYr4ArACHTiyHCGwA3Dm-q9darrAt576E-uANK1d0T/s1600/Liverpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuanUGpwYZVQloXFLJLof6DgaU2v1tebj1BWo6EmRMvoeTIJ3pMlsU3JZDxRcDZp8vhzzyxYaCfDyLCVBT1cDJhgZBC7Q0JkglcPYr4ArACHTiyHCGwA3Dm-q9darrAt576E-uANK1d0T/s320/Liverpool.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong>Triumph, Disaster and Decay: The SAVE survey of Liverpool's Heritage</strong></em><br />
<br />
as is the SAVE <strong><em>Pathfinder</em></strong> report, which also features Liverpool, and which has of course been highlighted in this blog a number of times, especially with the campaign to save her home from the bulldozers by Elizabeth Pascoe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GzaliUhVuMZ2XZqj9s10zCJcxVnJnWHASrCU3AuPi84On_lxgoyVz_KeR7dfoFVoyoXFXMV-7E8hUJymXexU6GBVKcKRIPLcQKk_uvUp0rknrr-RUYAZHV4M0Em7SIWVFsq4u-2dlmoO/s1600/Pathfinder+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GzaliUhVuMZ2XZqj9s10zCJcxVnJnWHASrCU3AuPi84On_lxgoyVz_KeR7dfoFVoyoXFXMV-7E8hUJymXexU6GBVKcKRIPLcQKk_uvUp0rknrr-RUYAZHV4M0Em7SIWVFsq4u-2dlmoO/s320/Pathfinder+cover.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>see Publications <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/</a><br />
<br />
A comprehensive Flickr set, <strong><em>Lost Liverpool:</em></strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/sets/72157623086033785/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/sets/72157623086033785/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Triumph, Disaster and Decay, milkandsugar, Liverpool</strong><br />
<br />
Reviewed by Anthony Quinn<br />
<br />
Tuesday, 24 February 2009<br />
<br />
No city, with the possible exception of Jericho, has suffered such a dramatic collapse as Liverpool. Within 100 years, it has gone from being one of the wealthiest in the world to one of the poorest in Europe. The Second World War, the decline of its port trade and the rise of containerisation all figured in its economic perdition, to say nothing of its wildcat politicians and other wilful saboteurs – even in 1935, the Communist Party were calling the place “an organiser’s graveyard”. <br />
<br />
Yet Liverpool’s agony has also been an internal one, witnessed by residents and visitors alike, in the unceasing destruction of its architectural heritage. A bomb-site necropolis long after the Luftwaffe had visited, the city began an extraordinary programme of self-mutilation, starting with the demolition of John Foster’s magnificent Customs House in 1947, despite the fact that its war damage was quite reparable. This story of a disappearing city, which continues to the present day, is chronicled in a superb exhibition of photographs, Triumph, Disaster and Decay, at the milkandsugar gallery. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8spM4wz91GN2BpRuB442K4px9INVOdpBNDhSzwT5lwTQGmM8qeGc7_BV6yjb0QMOzH9EmqAl2aXglIHtFXUVXzyOwthM19UL35tPTehBSFmySgWT_XIdxNW6Fk7R4zWhe0KnceR9C5Rr/s1600/liverpool+customs+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8spM4wz91GN2BpRuB442K4px9INVOdpBNDhSzwT5lwTQGmM8qeGc7_BV6yjb0QMOzH9EmqAl2aXglIHtFXUVXzyOwthM19UL35tPTehBSFmySgWT_XIdxNW6Fk7R4zWhe0KnceR9C5Rr/s320/liverpool+customs+house.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><em>Liverpool Customs House, demolished post-war a 'job creation' scheme</em><br />
<br />
Laid out in two sections – the first an account of lost Liverpool, the second a report on those buildings under threat – its cumulative effect is at once heartbreaking and deeply shaming. That whole swaths of late-Georgian and early Victorian terraced houses still survived in suburbs such as Toxteth and Everton into the 1960s is almost as startling as the mass clearances that would soon condemn them. The city’s population crashed by half in the next 30 years. Jonathan Brown, in his catalogue essay “Liverpool Betrayed”, interestingly argues that the accepted history – people left because the docks closed – got it the wrong way round. The economy stalled because working people were cast out and marooned in distant housing estates. <br />
<br />
Individual records of philistinism and neglect unfold across the gallery walls. Of the 19 churches in Everton described by Nikolaus Pevsner in 1969, only six remain. A photograph of Abercromby Square shows Foster’s church St Catherine’s, demolished in 1966 to make way for the university’s Senate House. More heartbreaking still is the fragment of wrought ironwork from a gallery inside the Old Sailors’ Home, a beautiful neo-Jacobean marvel senselessly destroyed in the 1970s. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEkHswGhUY-CpeUIuY249mSRvMIeqMNXMm5rUxDs_PLCTZhaFiVdlDHs0zOkwphUoyEmpKUaS8dxPWxTfKV-jw1pIA96wIx2Bgc-w_xKU474pH_Yx70x7g4mc3qjJWGVv9KEwX4t0ZM5f/s1600/Liverpool+Sailor%27s+Home.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEkHswGhUY-CpeUIuY249mSRvMIeqMNXMm5rUxDs_PLCTZhaFiVdlDHs0zOkwphUoyEmpKUaS8dxPWxTfKV-jw1pIA96wIx2Bgc-w_xKU474pH_Yx70x7g4mc3qjJWGVv9KEwX4t0ZM5f/s320/Liverpool+Sailor%27s+Home.gif" wt="true" /></a></div><em>The Old Sailors' Home</em><br />
<br />
Canning Place, where it stood, itself no longer exists, swallowed up by the huge (and controversial) Paradise Street shopping centre, Liverpool One. It echoes another outrageous scarring, of elegant old Clayton Square, flattened to make way for another mall in 1986. By whose decree? The answer isn’t always clear, but a combination of rapacious property developers and incompetent councillors have usually done for it. <br />
<br />
That legacy of near-criminal negligence seems to have been handed down through the DNA of Liverpool City Council. One might leave this exhibition feeling indignant and deeply depressed, for the disasters of the 1960s are returning, in the shape of the Government-sponsored Pathfinder schemes. Hearteningly, campaigns are being fought against further depredations. Elizabeth Pascoe still battles a road-widening scheme that would destroy 400 perfectly good family houses in and around Edge Lane. <br />
<em>(Alas, a battle now lost </em><a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html"><em>http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html</em></a><em>) </em>Florence Gersten also continues a valiant rearguard against municipal vandalism, having helped to save the Lyceum building in Bold Street back in the 1980s. Save Britain’s Heritage itself deserves immense credit for supporting the fightback, and for mounting this exhibition, splendidly curated by Robert Hradsky. <br />
<br />
Why does it matter? Because when you obliterate familiar buildings and street patterns, you cut people off from a sense of belonging. The writer Iain Sinclair recently described landscape as a “refracted autobiography”. If we keep losing that landscape, we lose our sense of self. It’s a bitter lesson that Liverpool, even after the infamy it has endured, still seems reluctant to learn.Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-25242087490287745502010-04-19T12:32:00.006+01:002010-05-20T09:46:34.744+01:00Castlemilk Stables - another win...<strong></strong><br />
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<br />
News hot off Twitter... <strong>Castlemilk Stables, Architect: Tom Connolly of Elder and Cannon </strong>(and David Hamilton* for the original building) is the winner of the inaugural Scottish Civic Trust 'My Place' Awards:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/2010-gallery-of-entrants.aspx">http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/2010-gallery-of-entrants.aspx</a><br />
<br />
Gallery of all entrants, with pics; congratulations to all, for although there could only be one overall winner, the projects nominated by local communities are all superb. It is particularly heartwarming to note how many historic buildings are treasured and, no matter how poor a condition into which they are allowed to deteriorate<em> (and see my previous post for a little history of another worthy contender, Edinburgh's Infirmary Street Baths, Dovecot Studios/ Malcolm Fraser Architects, which I gather came 2nd with a High Commendation <a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-splash.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-splash.html</a>)</em><br />
there is hope, and a will to succeed. So much of the rescue of historic buildings is based on philanthropy and untold hours of time by volunteers, campaigning, fundraising. At times the odds seem so stacked against you, but there are exemplar projects on the list which bring pride to local communities, and show both the standard which can be achieved of repair/restoration/re-use and the excellence of many architectural practices working in Scotland. <br />
<br />
<strong>Castlemilk Stables: gallery</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/2010-gallery-of-entrants/castlemilk-stables.aspx">http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/2010-gallery-of-entrants/castlemilk-stables.aspx</a><br />
<br />
<em>The Scottish Civic Trust's My Place Awards is a unique new award scheme supported by the Scottish Government, that celebrates good local design and conservation as judged by local people. A panel of four industry experts are presently judging projects as diverse as a restored suspension bridge in Aberdeen and a regenerated public baths in Edinburgh. Entries have been received from across the country; from Arran in the West, throughout the Central Belt including Glasgow, Bo'ness and Edinburgh, to Banff in the North -East. There's plenty of diversity and many skills are on display.</em><br />
<br />
<em>In this, its first year, a Scottish Civic Trust My Place Award will be presented to the project that contributes most positively to local place-making. Chairing the judging panel, Angus Kerr, architect and trustee of the Scottish Civic Trust, said "that the panel's aim is to celebrate a project that has had a positive impact and offered additional benefits in a local community." He is joined by fellow trustee Alistair Scott, director of architects Smith Scott Mullan Associates, Petra Biberbach, Chief Executive, Planning Aid for Scotland and Donnie Munro, who trained in fine art and, after huge success as Runrig's lead singer in the 80s and early 90s, is now Director of Development at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college in Sleat, Skye. The judges are looking for creativity, imagination, originality and innovation. </em><br />
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<em>The Scottish Civic Trust's My Place Award 2010 will be presented at a ceremony in The Lighthouse, Glasgow on Monday 19 April 2010.</em><br />
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<strong>As the Supporting Statement has it:</strong><br />
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<em>The building is a Georgian Stable Block and the only surviving remnant of a historic country estate. It was first built around 1750 and provided a magnificent landmark situated on high ground with an impressive octagonal tower topped with a dome. It is Category B-Listed, a fine example of its kind and unique in the area. The original Castlemilk House of the estate was demolished in the 1960s. Although the Stable Block survived, by 1994 it was empty and had become damaged by fire and was a building at risk. </em><br />
<br />
<em>The people of Castlemilk Housing Estate, mounted a 10 year long campaign to save the building and give it a sustainable re-use. A feasibility study identified the local housing association as an end user that would use the principal space as offices and lettable office accommodation which would in turn provide income for community uses and maintenance of the building. To be viable we needed to increase the usable floor area whilst avoiding compromising the architectural integrity of the building. Our organisation purchased the building, assembled the design team and raised the funding with our partners (in excess of £4m from a total of 26 agencies and charitable organisations), then oversaw the specialist work in terms of the careful repair and restoration of the listed fabric and the delivery of the re-use of this local landmark. </em><br />
<br />
<em>Summary</em><br />
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<em>Completed in July 2007 and handed over to the community this project is situated in an area of multiple deprivation on the periphery of Glasgow. The vision came from the community who were intent on saving a derelict 18th century Stable Block in the heart of their area; this is a community inspired project. Our organisation Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT), a charitable trust, entered into partnership with Cassiltoun Housing Association, to meet the aspirations of the community to restore the building and retain it for community ownership with a long term sustainable use. </em><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Architect: Elder and Cannon, Tom Connolly</em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Building User's View </strong><br />
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<em>The conservation led restoration, started in 2005 and completed in July 2007, was placed in the hands of Elder and Cannon, the Glasgow-based award winning architects. They worked to find a way of restoring the historic fabric of the Category B Listed building and at the same time give it the new floor area required for a viable social enterprise. The answer has been to sensitively conserve and repair the external elevations very much as they were, and add a simple glass and steel cloister and inner foyer which allow the original fabric to be viewed whilst enabling the creation of a modern multi-use space. </em><br />
<br />
<em>The main contractor for this project was Chard Construction who are increasingly involved in working on historic buildings and building up a strength of specialist expertise. This complex restoration project required traditionally skilled stone masons, lead workers and slaters with specialist skills and knowledge in working with traditional materials. GBPT’s strict conservation philosophy was applied throughout the project. GBPT aspires to best practice in architectural conservation, informed by the principals embodied the conservation policies and practises formulated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, in particular the Venice and Burra Charters. Articles 1 and 5 of the Venice Charter in particular relate to fundamental objectives of GBPT in terms of providing, where possible, a socially useful purpose to ensure long-term sustainability of the building and its place and wider urban setting. </em><br />
<br />
<em>“After a hard day travelling round Scotland, looking at a whole series of fine buildings, on entering the restored stables block, the immediate impression was - this is a totally different order of building, controlled, superbly spatially manipulated, poetic, it’s architecture of the highest order. </em><br />
<br />
<em>The fine Georgian building renovated to provide a historical sense of place for the surrounding community, melded with stunning contemporary construction providing a social focus for local organisations and a lively day nursery, all built round a wonderfully peaceful courtyard which encourages a host of temporary local functions.” </em><br />
<br />
<em>Professor Andrew MacMillan</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Building Owner's View:</strong><br />
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<em>Since the completion of the rescue and restoration of this beautiful community building it has become the centre of local activity. It represents our community’s sense of place and captures our civic pride in what the community has achieved. Attracting now thousands of visitors, it has given us confidence and the aspiration to do more ” </em><br />
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<em>Charlie Millar of Cassiltoun Trust</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m2QlryOzkZwrD1RKqlx8G_J8UhoTw8CxJndwcIZcEntxii2_HyHuNjOJhvpJGLQCwuiiT1ag9P_lH51Ij2bp-7ulozzuY3WuNLsgXKrarx9W12tOdU7yjPf8NrdV9YfBrsmc0mH4N_hI/s1600/Castlelmilk+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m2QlryOzkZwrD1RKqlx8G_J8UhoTw8CxJndwcIZcEntxii2_HyHuNjOJhvpJGLQCwuiiT1ag9P_lH51Ij2bp-7ulozzuY3WuNLsgXKrarx9W12tOdU7yjPf8NrdV9YfBrsmc0mH4N_hI/s320/Castlelmilk+6.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><em><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/717334"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/717334</span></a></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Castlemilk Fireplace.This fireplace was created in 1794. It depicts the Battle Of Orleans- 1429, where two Stuart brothers perished. It stands 15ft high and was rescued during the demolition of Castlemilk House in 1969. It was returned to Castlemilk in the early 2000's were it was housed in the CEDA building. It now has pride of place in the recently refurbished Castlemilk Stables.</span></em><br />
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That adds to a number of other awards, including the <strong>RIAS Best Building in Scotland Andrew Doolan Award 2008:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rias.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s2_18_3">http://www.rias.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s2_18_3</a><br />
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<em>Judges' Citation: This late eighteenth century stable block, whose original architect has recently been confirmed as David Hamilton, survived demolition in the 1970’s because it was serving as a store for workmen’s tools, by the 1990’s it lay in a ruinious condition, its roofscape virtually completely collapsed.</em><br />
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<em>The intervention of the local community, in particular Cassiltoun Housing Association working alongside Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, determined that this last great building of historic Castlemilk must survive. However, its restoration to the skillful designs of Elder and Cannon has not been about preserving the building in aspic as a museum piece but about creating a lively community focus, with offices for the housing association, other local organisations and a pre-fives nursery. </em><br />
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<em>This project has been a catalyst to other positive development in the area and has already become a cultural and leisure hub. The stable block’s sustainable energy programme has also received significant praise. This is a building infused with a real feeling of joy.</em><br />
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<em>For more information about Elder & Cannon Architects please visit: </em><a href="http://www.elder-cannon.co.uk/"><em>www.elder-cannon.co.uk</em></a><br />
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and the <strong>Georgian Group 'Best Re-use of a Georgian Building' award</strong> 2007<br />
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<a href="http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/awards/winners.php?id=4:51:0:2">http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/awards/winners.php?id=4:51:0:2</a><br />
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<em>The stables are 1750, the only surviving remnant of Castlemilk House. They were empty by 1994, fire-damaged and at risk. All things considered, the prospects for survival were seriously bleak. This is a comparatively deprived part of Glasgow with more than its fair share of social and other problems. But there is a strong community spirit, carefully fostered, and that in the end saved the building. After a ten-year local campaign to preserve it and find it a new use, it is now a beacon at the centre of a housing estate and serves as a home for various community facilities.</em><br />
<br />
<em>For much of the day it is now alive with clearly very happy nursery school children. There are small touches that demonstrate attention to detail. We were impressed that the rough stone of the stables was left uncovered on the walls of the nursery corridors, so that young children could feel its texture. The internal spaces and the beautifully restored stable courtyard are commendably free of clutter.</em><br />
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<em>This has been a victory against significant odds. Local attachment to the historic stables shines through. Notably, the building has suffered no vandalism or graffiti since it was restored. The civilising power of fine buildings kept in good order is evident here as elsewhere. </em><br />
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Further information and thumbnail pictures here (click to enlarge):<br />
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<a href="http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/castlemilk_stables.htm">http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/castlemilk_stables.htm</a><br />
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Doors Open Day information:<br />
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<a href="http://www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com/projects/castlemilk-stables.php">http://www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com/projects/castlemilk-stables.php</a><br />
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A great deal more information and many pictures here, the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust's own website:<br />
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<a href="http://www.gbpt.org/projects/castlemilk.html">http://www.gbpt.org/projects/castlemilk.html</a><br />
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Conservation, adaptation and re-use - it makes sense! <br />
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*David Hamilton:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amostcuriousmurder.com/Works.htm">http://www.amostcuriousmurder.com/Works.htm</a><br />
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<em>"....The painting of Hamilton by Saxon shows a rather dandified young man, but the later one by Macnee is of a friendly old man with a mischievous grin. It is this kindly, humorous, fatherly figure that his apprentices remembered, treated, as they were, as part of the family in the old-fashioned, office-house. This was the training ground for many of Glasgow's Victorian architects - Charles Wilson and J. T. Rochead are names that spring immediately to mind; and it was Hamilton's example that enabled them and their colleagues to maintain such a high standard. He died on December 5th 1843, the most loved and revered of all Glasgow's architects. From his stature and influence, David Hamilton can fairly be called the father of Glasgow architecture." "</em><br />
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A collection of the surviving drawings of David Hamilton is held at the Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow University<br />
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<strong>Nem</strong><br />
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</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-16366031258303490172010-03-30T18:26:00.045+01:002012-04-02T14:55:18.674+01:00Making a splash!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dpLXiPG6p-XBGPB-bmo_9vVdyG9Xwer8jq2bjVA_Prsh3uqRwmeR0thXc5I1GmyiGvGjxNRzYI92jH-EHGgN-Mb9gRr7frMPIeGS-6GCDUmBtmXlKZjTHfyKWhim-yq5u7lZPGE-IhYv/s1600/Infirmary+St+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dpLXiPG6p-XBGPB-bmo_9vVdyG9Xwer8jq2bjVA_Prsh3uqRwmeR0thXc5I1GmyiGvGjxNRzYI92jH-EHGgN-Mb9gRr7frMPIeGS-6GCDUmBtmXlKZjTHfyKWhim-yq5u7lZPGE-IhYv/s320/Infirmary+St+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oX6OwHfKyQvm_SSfkZ0g1aHbTsEtvyl3FiZ-O06z5t1xJNoyHTALnYVPKT6laBuiZBxT364zSb55x_Rz-SeJDsMRddepeuyoA1s7Hr8ie3CZIBFf_FRk4_QKs9OHhKB_zwh3hHpZtHWo/s1600/Infirmary+Street+baths+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oX6OwHfKyQvm_SSfkZ0g1aHbTsEtvyl3FiZ-O06z5t1xJNoyHTALnYVPKT6laBuiZBxT364zSb55x_Rz-SeJDsMRddepeuyoA1s7Hr8ie3CZIBFf_FRk4_QKs9OHhKB_zwh3hHpZtHWo/s320/Infirmary+Street+baths+pic.jpg" /></a></div><em><strong>Infirmary Street Baths, Edinburgh</strong>... then and now</em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Update Nov Infirmary Street Dovecot Studios named in Indy top 50 Museums list</span></em><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/the-50-best-museums-amp-galleries-2112967.html?action=Gallery&ino=39">http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/the-50-best-museums-amp-galleries-2112967.html?action=Gallery&ino=39</a></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>BLOG UPDATE 20th May</strong> Delighted to see that <strong>Infirmary Street Baths has won a RIBA Regional Award.</strong> Eight Awards made for Scotland, so excellent news, especially so as it was such a challenging re-use. Sad that Scottish Ballet HQ did not receive an Award however; such a great building, contextually challenging, but possibly not quite 'safe' enough for a RIBA Award? Trongate 103 also received an Award, full list here: </span></em><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/riba-2010-regional-award-winners-announced/5000153.article">http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/riba-2010-regional-award-winners-announced/5000153.article</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>Also delighted that Infirmary Street came second in the <strong>Civic Trust 'My Place' Awards</strong>, with a High Commendation. Given the strong list of entries, this is very good news indeed. </em></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>BLOG UPDATE 8th April Infirmary Street article on the Guardian website </strong></span></em><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/apr/07/infirmary-street-baths-edinburgh-history">http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/apr/07/infirmary-street-baths-edinburgh-history</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>BLOG UPDATE 1st April Pleased to see Infirmary Street Baths (Malcolm Fraser Architects, Edinburgh) has been nominated for a Scottish Civic Trust Award by Edinburgh's Cockburn Association</strong> </span></em><a href="http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/2010-gallery-of-entrants/infirmary-street-baths.aspx">http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/2010-gallery-of-entrants/infirmary-street-baths.aspx</a></div><br />
Quote: from the supporting statements:<br />
<br />
<strong>Buildings user's view</strong>: "...<em>Dovecot as a building is a pleasure to work in - a fantastic re-imagining of a former community swimming pool. The building represents a fabulous contribution to art spaces in Scotland and the UK...”</em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Cockburn Association is Edinburgh's Civic Trust:</span></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/">http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
The <strong>RIBA Awards</strong> shortlist for Scottish architecture was announced last week.<br />
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<strong>RIAS Announces Strong Scottish Shortlist for 2010 RIBA Awards</strong><br />
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<em>The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced a Scottish shortlist of sixteen buildings for the 2010 RIBA Awards. David Dunbar, President of the RIAS, commented: "We received the largest ever submission to the UK's most prestigious awards and the result is a fantastic shortlist of sixteen very varied projects, including a masterplan, housing, major conservation work, hospital and education provision and even a distillery. All this comes at a time when life has never been more difficult or demanding for the architectural profession and the construction industry but all of it demonstrates that good architecture can have a huge positive impact on peoples' lives and Scotland's economy. </em><br />
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<a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/awards/riba_awards_2010_scotland.htm">http://www.e-architect.co.uk/awards/riba_awards_2010_scotland.htm</a><br />
<br />
That link gives the full list of 16 buildings, with further links to details and photographs (thumbnails, click to enlarge). <br />
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I'm pleased to see that certain of those which made the shortlist feature the rescue and re-use of historic buildings. As a Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) Mills Section member, I'm delighted that the already multi-award-winning rescue of Stanley Mills, Perthshire (and once in danger of demolition) has made the shortlist:<br />
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<a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stanley/stanleymills/index.html">http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stanley/stanleymills/index.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_273&PropName=Stanley%20Mills">http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_273&PropName=Stanley%20Mills</a><br />
<br />
In 1995, Stanley Mills was bought by Historic Scotland with financial assistance from the HLF and other funding bodies. The buildings are category A listed, and the design work for the entire complex was undertaken by <strong>LDN Architects.</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvEl6ODpHpiEbHi82O_WLc2-vJJlbzAU3Ev0230qJVwwFwB7tuZk7PDnwoJ5rN3OwP0dpq5n17QmW5hVhUPmD9P778nnq3ORCnmX2b2DzMnaJrHi9FHtmglOXg5NFP6qVQMj75ONlU6dk/s1600/Stanley+Mills+010_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvEl6ODpHpiEbHi82O_WLc2-vJJlbzAU3Ev0230qJVwwFwB7tuZk7PDnwoJ5rN3OwP0dpq5n17QmW5hVhUPmD9P778nnq3ORCnmX2b2DzMnaJrHi9FHtmglOXg5NFP6qVQMj75ONlU6dk/s320/Stanley+Mills+010_jpg.jpg" /></a></div><em>Stanley Mills</em> <br />
<br />
Then there's Trongate 103, Glasgow, listed buildings in need of substantial repair, turned into part of an 'arts hub'. Housed over six stories in a former B listed Edwardian warehouse on Trongate, Trongate 103 occupies almost the whole street block between King Street, Parnie Street, New Wynd and Trongate. The building has been designed by Glasgow based architects, <strong>Elder and Canon:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trongate103.com/130/the_building/">http://www.trongate103.com/130/the_building/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/trongate_103.htm">http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/trongate_103.htm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Scottish Ballet new HQ in Glasgow, about which I have blogged previously:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-being-industrious.html">http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-being-industrious.html</a><br />
<br />
which is in part the conversion of historic stables and in part exciting yet sympathetic new build, an addition to Tramway Arts, itself based in historic tramsheds, <strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects</strong>:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/scottish_ballet.php">http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/scottish_ballet.php</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=268&parentid=248">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=268&parentid=248</a><br />
<br />
and possibly the most challenging of re-use schemes, B listed Infirmary Street Baths, Edinburgh, <strong>Malcolm Fraser Architects,</strong> converted to Dovecot tapestry weaving studios, exhibition space, office space and housing, in the centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dovecotstudios.com/">http://www.dovecotstudios.com/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=308&parentid=250">http://www.malcolmfraser.co.uk/projects/?contentid=308&parentid=250</a><br />
<br />
There are some buildings which are on At Risk Registers for which it can prove extraordinarily difficult to find a new use, and swimming pools are amongst them. Of course keeping them in use is first priority, but for many reasons this isn't always possible. Yet the example here at Infirmary Street, and another in Kendal in Cumbria (swimming baths and wash houses converted to a Wetherspoons pub) are among those conversions which show how re-use can be rewarding, financially and architecturally. <br />
<br />
As long ago as 1982, <strong>SAVE Britain's Heritage</strong> was drawing attention to the architectural interest and variety of swimming baths in the UK, with an exhibition and (now, alas, out of print) publication:<br />
<br />
<strong>Taking The Plunge: The Architecture of Bathing</strong><br />
<br />
<em>The companion to SAVE's exhibition at the RIBA Heinz gallery 26th May- 10th July 1982. It draws attention to the variety and quality of swimming baths throughout Britain. Marcus Binney and Hana & Alastair Laing Published May 1982.</em><br />
<br />
The <strong>Twentieth Century Society</strong> and the <strong>Victorian Society</strong> have also campaigned for the recognition of the architecture of swimming baths, and for those with a further interest there are useful links here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/refs.htm#notes">http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/refs.htm#notes</a><br />
<br />
As the Vic Soc says on its website:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/council-urged-not-to-close-historic-staffordshire-pool/">http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/council-urged-not-to-close-historic-staffordshire-pool/</a><br />
<br />
<em>Tunstall Pool on Greengates Street has been used by swimmers in Staffordshire for 120 years. It's a significant example of Victorian municipal architecture, but most importantly it is still open as a public pool.</em><em><strong>The building faces a bleak future if it closes to swimmers as historic pools are notoriously hard to find new uses for</strong>.</em><em>There are only 14 out of more than 50 listed pools (in England) still open for swimming. Those that are still used need to be preserved...</em><br />
<br />
Indeed, in order to bring attention to the plight of historic swimming pools, the Director of the Victorian Society, Ian Dungavell, decided on a marathon 'swim', and successfully completed his challenge to visit all of the listed Victorian and Edwardian pools still open for public swimming in England and swim a lap for every year each of the buildings has been standing:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/category/swimming-pools/">http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/category/swimming-pools/</a><br />
<br />
In Edinburgh, the City Council took the excellent decision to refurbish and retain in use its legacy of beautiful historic swimming pools. Sadly, Infirmary Street had been the victim of a fire in the 1950s, since when the Ladies' Pool had stood roofless and overgrown; then it languished, unloved, on the Scottish Buildings at Risk Register* for a considerable number of years, while various plans for re-use were drawn up, use as a swimming pool not being considered possible. I gather that the fire had in part destabilised the building, and so an imaginative scheme which would enable the sensitive repair of what remained, and new build in order to help the cost of re-use, was devised. The baths, by City architect Robert Morham,** became the capital’s first public pool when opened on the site of the old Royal Infirmary in the 1880s. Infirmary Street Baths is one of several public swimming pools that the Victorians built in Edinburgh in order to combat cholera.<br />
<br />
A couple of pictures here show the sad state the building, which closed in 1995, not without protests, was in prior to its re-use:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/infirmary_street_baths.htm">http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/infirmary_street_baths.htm</a><br />
<br />
I'm a sucker for use of metal cladding (corrugated iron buildings being a particular pleasure) and the modern additions in zinc, clearly 'of our time' (very SPAB...) have given this building a new use which proves that even the most unlikely of 'basket cases' of disused swimming pool buildings can be given a future.<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4iQW80qKGqYWbe5ar9r8U1pMNd4vv9xBaROnYU72Hl-n-O5d3GRHfREkpSpF7DF_0SNsCjXXKLRTOaHtjGM3CYw0jxInNOYnOSpk_ch4S7einbWqkBQO5W4JBn92vhYpa9M5LIpx25wp/s1600/Infirmary+St+MF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4iQW80qKGqYWbe5ar9r8U1pMNd4vv9xBaROnYU72Hl-n-O5d3GRHfREkpSpF7DF_0SNsCjXXKLRTOaHtjGM3CYw0jxInNOYnOSpk_ch4S7einbWqkBQO5W4JBn92vhYpa9M5LIpx25wp/s320/Infirmary+St+MF.gif" /></a></div><em>Pics with thanks to Malcolm Fraser, click to enlarge</em> <br />
<br />
<strong>Links to other information and recollections about Infirmary Street Baths:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/10/12_edinburgh_today_-_infirmary_street_baths.htm">http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/10/12_edinburgh_today_-_infirmary_street_baths.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_edin/1_edinburgh_history_-_recollections_infirmary_street_baths.htm">http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_edin/1_edinburgh_history_-_recollections_infirmary_street_baths.htm</a><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Times</em> property article on the re-opening:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/new_homes/article6804171.ece">http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/new_homes/article6804171.ece</a><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Scotsman</em> article:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://living.scotsman.com/edinburghvisualartsfestival/Dovecot-Studios--Weaving-a.4365488.jp">http://living.scotsman.com/edinburghvisualartsfestival/Dovecot-Studios--Weaving-a.4365488.jp</a><br />
<br />
<em>You could say that Infirmary Street weaves together two distinct strands of Victorian idealism – the social vision of the baths... to provide sorely lacking basic washing facilities for a crowded Old Town, and the Arts and Crafts inspired vision of Dovecot, founded in 1912 by the fourth Marquess of Bute, a friend of William Morris....</em><br />
<br />
<em>...Amid the hard-hatted bustle and the snarl of machine tools of a building site fast approaching deadline, Weir takes me through the elegant spaces emerging out of the shell of the old baths, which closed their doors in 1995, although its women's pool had been roofless and overgrown since a fire in the 1950s. Basically, they have excavated under the smaller derelict women's pool and the larger general pool, to provide two spacious ground-floor galleries, while the first floor, on what would have been the main pool surface level, sweeps up into the lofty weaving hall, with its elegantly-arched Victorian roof timbers supported on cast-iron columns. Ideally fit for purpose, the weaving hall allows ample height for the biggest of Dovecot's looms, which was first assembled at the studio's old Corstorphine premises to create the largest tapestry woven in Britain during the 20th century, a commission for the British Library. </em><br />
<br />
<em>Generously proportioned skylights fill the work space with light, while the wide galleries have been cleared of their old bath cubicles and turned into a public viewing platform and further potential gallery space...</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>**Architect Robert Morham, City Architect and Superintendant of Works:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200385">http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200385</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=212373">http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=212373</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The excellent website of <strong>Dave Henniker,</strong> which has several photographs including a terrific black and white one of the baths before it was closed, detailing the delightful roof structure:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.henniker.org.uk/html/_bridges1.htm">http://www.henniker.org.uk/html/_bridges1.htm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Building Design</em> article, Malcolm Fraser on conservation</strong> (with pictures) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3125060">http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3125060</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Unusual pic and lovely comments on <strong><em>Occasional Scotland</em></strong> blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://occasionalscotland.blogspot.com/2009/04/skywatch-friday-little-and-large.html">http://occasionalscotland.blogspot.com/2009/04/skywatch-friday-little-and-large.html</a><br />
<br />
and a great set of <strong>Flickr photographs,</strong> showing the beautiful interior, from <strong>Doors Open Day</strong>, and reproduced with thanks to <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en_GB">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en_GB</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chatiryworld/sets/72157607552156863/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/chatiryworld/sets/72157607552156863/</a><br />
<br />
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*<strong>Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland:</strong> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/BAR/">http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/BAR/</a><br />
<br />
<strong>C20th Soc:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.c20society.org.uk/casework/reports/2001/bathing-belles-in-peril-lasting-lidos.html">http://www.c20society.org.uk/casework/reports/2001/bathing-belles-in-peril-lasting-lidos.html</a><br />
<br />
<strong>SPAB (founded by William Morris in 1877)</strong> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.spab.org.uk/">http://www.spab.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Great book on historic swimming baths:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.playedinbritain.co.uk/books/great-lengths.php">http://www.playedinbritain.co.uk/books/great-lengths.php</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Recent <em>Times </em>article by Marcus Binney on historic pools at risk:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article7051623.ece">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article7051623.ece</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Nem</strong><br />
<br />
PS <span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>SAVE Buildings at Risk Catalogue 2010</strong> -<strong><em>Live or Let Die</em></strong></span> - order now! I gather this year Scottish buildings will be featured for the first time:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings_at_risk/catalogue.php">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings_at_risk/catalogue.php</a><br />
<br />
Last year, <em><strong>All We Need is Love, Buildings at Risk 2009-2010</strong></em> sold out within 6 weeks. To be certain of a copy this year, place a pre-order now. SAVE’s 2010-2011 catalogue will be available from June 1st 2010. It contains 100 new entries alongside focus topics and helpful information. To order your copy please download the order form and return to the office with a cheque made payable to SAVE Britain's Heritage or with your card details. The publication is priced at £15 (£13 for Friends) + £2.50 p&p (this will be more if you live abroad, contact the office for an estimate).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/BaR2010orderform.pdf">http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/BaR2010orderform.pdf</a><br />
<br />
See Lucy Denyer's article for last year's catalogue in the Home section of the <strong><em>Sunday Times</em></strong> 7 June 2009. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article6432246.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1">http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article6432246.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1</a><br />
<br />
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And finally, thankyou, <strong><em>Things</em>,</strong> for another link to this blog: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://thingsmag.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/illuminating-the-corners/">http://thingsmag.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/illuminating-the-corners/</a><br />
<br />
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</script>Nemesis http://www.blogger.com/profile/16935291114531954647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127226013787633926.post-80288190174876690582010-03-23T22:47:00.010+00:002010-03-30T21:04:51.946+01:00New: PPS5 Planning & the Historic Environment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdnKE3SnOn0QhnRVmyIAv6rEOmHR8i3x45gKN6sdNAzh4cYluv6Vx9QIF34ubPdF3XS0JnMqT9ty2qXEHQ_GCS61ib7MRtTR2O2nG8hPKm1CkY9E8t5OTRKWBTniqgzJIk8KHCvuUgy-i/s1600-h/PPS5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdnKE3SnOn0QhnRVmyIAv6rEOmHR8i3x45gKN6sdNAzh4cYluv6Vx9QIF34ubPdF3XS0JnMqT9ty2qXEHQ_GCS61ib7MRtTR2O2nG8hPKm1CkY9E8t5OTRKWBTniqgzJIk8KHCvuUgy-i/s200/PPS5.jpg" vt="true" width="140" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <strong>UPDATED 24th March*</strong> see end of blogpost - Government Vision Statement link added</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally published today is <strong>PPS5: <em>Planning and the Historic Environment</em>,</strong> the replacement policy document for England for PPG15 and PPG16.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A previous attempt at this replacement doc last year met with huge opposition from many organisations and individuals, in part as it referred to guidance to flesh out the bones which was to come from English Heritage, with no timescale for publication of such a document, and in part because there was concern that the document was worded in such a manner that there could be major downgrading of protection for the historic environment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, all and sundry had their say, further representations were made to government departments, and a promise was made that a revised version would be available before Easter 2010. In addition to the quite brief PPS5, English Heritage has published its guidance which should be read alongside it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PPG15 was a much-admired and indeed inspirational policy document, and some people can quote it in chunks and ref relevant and important parts, especially those paras which afforded very useful protection from unwarranted demolition of listed buildings and conservation area buildings, so let's hope that this proves as useful. There is also a mention of World Heritage Sites, let's keep fingers crossed that further protection can be strengthened for the Outstanding Universal Value of individual sites. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/gb">http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/gb</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list">http://whc.unesco.org/en/list</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Planning circular on WHS:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.21141">http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.21141</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't read it thoroughly, at a quick reading all seems very dry when compared with the prose of PPG15 and I can't think I'll really ever feel comfortable talking about 'Heritage Assets'. I suppose all will learn to live with it and try to interpret it as best they can, in particular the parts regarding renewable energy and energy conservation, and I have no doubt clarifications will be required and fresh case law will eventually be made. It is to be hoped that the separation of policy from the Practice Guide (which is now a 'material consideration' for planning) doesn't mean the latter is treated as something so flexible that it confers, in reality, little protection, but I'm not holding my breath. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, here it all is, policy doc and related publications:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Dept for Communities and Government:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Summary</div><br />
<em>Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (PPS5) sets out the Government's planning policies on the conservation of the historic environment.</em><br />
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<em>This replaces Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG15) published on 14 September 1994; and Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning (PPG16) published on 21 November 1990.</em><br />
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<em>PPS5 will be supported by guidance prepared by English Heritage.</em><br />
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Further information and various downloads:<br />
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<a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps5">http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps5</a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">PPS5 as a PDF:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1514132.pdf">http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1514132.pdf</a></div><br />
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<strong>English Heritage:</strong><br />
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<strong>Planning for the Historic Environment:</strong><br />
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Putting Heritage at the Heart of the Planning System<br />
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<em>Changes to the existing planning policy framework, part of Heritage Protection Reform, are delivering real benefits for the historic environment:</em><br />
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<em>•Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, replaces Planning Policy Guidance notes 15 & 16 to bring heritage protection into the 21st century.</em><br />
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<em>•English Heritage worked closely with the Departments of Communities and Local Government and Culture, Media and Sport to deliver a modern planning policy framework in an important step forward in the delivery of a reformed Heritage Protection system;</em><br />
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<em>•PPS5 is supported by a Practice Guide,with further information on how to apply the policies in the PPS.<strong></strong></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.20037">http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.20037</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>English Heritage Practice Guide:</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PPS Practice Guide</div><br />
<em>Anyone familiar with PPGs 15 and 16 will see that the new PPS is significantly shorter than these documents. This is a deliberate decision, taken to make the PPS easier to use.</em><br />
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<em>Shortening the PPS does not mean that protection afforded by PPG15 and 16 has been reduced - all areas are covered, just more clearly and succinctly. </em><br />
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<em>The PPS Practice Guide supports the policies outlined in the PPS with explanations and guidance but adds no new policies itself. </em><br />
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<em>The Practice Guide is a joint publication by CLG, DCMS and English Heritage. As such, although the PPS itself has primacy in plan-making and individual planning decisions, the Practice Guide carries governmental weight and is a material consideration in planning terms. This is no different to the situation with PPG15 and 16, except that policy and guidance are clearly separated, making the documents easier to use and understand. </em><br />
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<em>Work is continuing on revising the existing Principles of Selection which accompanied PPG15. The Principles of Selection: </em><br />
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<a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/circularrevisions">http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/circularrevisions</a><br />
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<em>provide guidance on how to select heritage assets for national designation. This revised document will, in due course, accompany the PPS and will be supported by English Heritage Selection Guides:</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8833">http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8833</a><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">The new EH Practice Guide as a PDF:</span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Historic_Environment_Planning_Practice_Guide.pdf?1269367157">http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Historic_Environment_Planning_Practice_Guide.pdf?1269367157</a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">*<strong>Update: Government Vision Statement,</strong> including a great deal more information about climate change and the historic environment, useful case studies etc etc. Two PDFs and a plain text link (the PDFs are better)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6763.aspx">http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6763.aspx</a><br />
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<strong>Nem</strong><br />
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