Tag Archives: Architecture

May 19 2012

Battersea as a football stadium?

I was in London this week and was interested to note that Chelsea Football Club are bidding to buy the iconic Battersea Power Station. I passed the building a number of times as I criss-crossed London.

The building isn’t pretty – but can be seen for miles around. The four chimneys and rather brutalist architecture make quite a statement on the London skyline. It’s a bit of a ‘marmite’ building. Some love it and some hate it. I quite like it. It last produced power in 1983!

And so it seems that the proposal by Chelsea to create a ‘Stamford Bridge II” has also divided opinion. Although I can see that the football club could create an instantly recognisable ground, I am not sue that it would work. I think the designers will have to demolish too much of the structure to make a stadium work. This seems a pity, although finding another use might be rather elusive.

I gather that Boris Johnson must give consent and that he may not be behind the proposal.

There was talk that the former power station should have been Tate modern. I think that sort of use sits much more comfortably than a football stadium…

May 3 2012

Churches past and present…

As I drive along Castle Boulevard each day (on my way to Costa Coffee!) I have watched the new Cornerstone Church gradually come out of the ground – on the site of the old MFI.

It’s not looking pretty. Imposing yes, pretty no. In fact, to date, it looks like a newer version of the MFI trade showroom it has replaced. All steel, crinkly tin and some token brick and stone facades. Theres a bit of a curved section of brickwork and a jauntily angled joint between brick and profile sheets. Although the scaffold remains up, the ‘reveal’ isn’t going to be eureka moment I fear!

I was thinking as I drove past this week what a difference a hundred years makes. Well, perhaps 200. If you have ever seen the Basilique_du_Sacré Coeur in Paris, St Pauls in London or La Salgrada Familia in Barcelona – you’ll understand what I mean. These are great pieces of architecture – that have stood the test of time. They remain iconic and standing! They were constructed of the very best material, stone, slate, lead. They had character and real features. They were more than just canopies to protect people from the wind and rain. They are not buildings they are places.

I wonder in a hundred years if this new Cornerstone church will be standing. I’m guessing that MFI was built in the late 1970′s – a pretty poor lifespan. 35-40 years?

Our world today is all about sustainability. We concentrate it seems to me on the energy and ‘green’ credentials. But surely some of the most sustainable ones are those that were built hundreds of years ago. Their embedded carbon has long since been written down. Look at the Pitcher & Piano in Nottingham – originally a church, now a bar. Re-use at it’s best.

I’m sure cost has featured highly and I gather that congregations are high in number. So, these new churches have done something the old buildings couldn’t do! Perhaps they are sustainable after all?

Apr 13 2012

Nottingham Contemporary – Thomas Demand

Last night I was at the Nottingham Contemporary again. This time it was an evening with the currently showing artist Thomas Demand. He was in conversation with Milan-based architect, researcher and editor in chief of Domus magazine, Joseph Grima.

The event was packed – it was over-subscribed. I guess there were over 100 people there. There was also a simultaneous live web-cast – which was recorded and remains on the web site here.

Domus is well respected in Architectural circles having been around since 1928. It has covered the work of John Lautner – and architect who was the inspiration for Demand’s latest exhibition. Lautner was an Architect who divided opinion – but who’s work has been widely critiqued. He was apparently a poor draftsman – and relied heavily on his models – which others then drew from. It was eight models held at the Getty Museum in LA which provided the material for Demand’s images.

Demand explained his interest in the models. These were ‘real’ three dimensional forms which were used to demonstrate the buildings, in a way which CAD or CGI’s can’t do. We have become used to the latter in our everyday lives – they permeate our world of film and game, as well as architecture.

He also touched on the work of Frank Ghery – Ghery is probably my favourite Architect and I thought his work at the Sci-Fi Museum and Experience Music Project in Seattle is just genius. Ghery works with paper and card to produce his whimsical models – which then form the basis of the actual building.

I thought the talk was a fascinating insight into how an artist works. He sees photographs as ‘indexical’, in other words a representation of what is in front of the camera. But they can, by using abstract composition provide a different perspective and become less of a record. It is interesting that his time at Getty was limited and there are rules which prevented him from taking photographs with flash, or by using a tripod. He took between 600-700 photographs for the handful you now see.

I liked in particular one of his phrases – “If I don’t love what I do, who else will love it”. It seemed to me that this was a similar perspective of Steve Jobs at Apple.

The Contemporary does this sort of thing well – a great venue and a unique opportunity to see and hear an artist who is regarded as being at the top of his game. Well done Nottingham Contemporary…

Mar 22 2012

Eco-Build

For the third time in as many weeks I found myself trailing around and exhibition – this time Eco-Build in London. I say London loosely as it was held at ExCel – which is closer to Southend-on-Sea than London I think!

This was a slightly different exhibition from the Building Exhibitions I used to go to at the NEC in Birmingham, the focus not surprisingly was on sustainable design and products. I have to say that some of the products just look as though they have been badged ‘green’ to get their place at the show. It was a massive undertaking – it would take you more than a day to get around the place!

I went to meet a few people, but also to see my friends from Nottingham University – some 2nd year students were exhibiting a pallet shelter which was great fun -although a bit thin on practicality! But there was also a Passive Haus competition run in conjunction with Isover – where Nottingham University had five entrants in the 8 shortlisted schemes. These were all designs centred around Trent Basin Nottingham. there were some really good ideas. The winners were Dan Shanahan and Emmett McNamamra from Edinburgh University. Nottingham students took second and third prizes.

I had a fascinating chat with Prof. Wolfgang Feist – the man who ‘invested’ the Passiv Haus concept. He was a really interesting character and was evangelising the system – explaining that it is not complex. It is about keeping the design simple. And very airtight!

I also saw a containerised student village offering which had been built by Terrapin and designed by Church Lukas Architects in Nottingham. It was really good and a very clever use of the technology of building in factories and then constructing on-site afterwards. The Formula 1 Hotel concept was similar to the Japanese Hotel – it was ‘cosy’ to say the least!

Putting to one side the big glossy stands, I was, once again, impressed by the work produced by the students at the Universities.

Nov 26 2011

The Civic Trust Awards 2012

I was really pleased to be asked to act as a judge on the Civic Trust Awards again. I can’t believe a year has passed since I was hurtling around the East Midlands last year!

Obviously, I can’t divulge exactly what I looked at – or how I voted. The announcements are made in a few weeks time.

I really enjoy looking at the nominated schemes – I am privileged to get a behind the scenes look at buildings I wouldn’t ordinarily get access too. And, by the nature of the nominations – this is pretty good architecture. It is work at the forefront of what is being done. It is brilliant to see what new ideas are being put into practice.

I had wondered this year – in the light of the rather austere economy – whether this might have been reflected in the quality of the work. But I was really pleased to that this was not the case. All three schemes I looked at were built around a budget – no gold plated taps here. But all had gone well beyond the average you might expect when costs are cut.

In fact, I did wonder if these tough times had made people more creative; certainly some of the detailing I saw was as a result of some clever (and cost saving) design work. It did prove that you don’t always need to spend money to get good design.

So far from being disappointed I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t get to find out if the schemes I looked at ‘win’ until later (I am one of three judges).

The Civic Trust have been around since 1959 and aim to celebrate good architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art. Awards are given to projects of the highest quality design, but only if they are judged to have made a positive cultural, social or economic contribution to the local community. 6,500 awards have been given since the start. Nottingham Trent University and Julian Marsh’s house won awards last year.

I await the award brochure with interest!

Jun 1 2011

That Marmite feeling….in Nottingham?

Marmite has been in the news recently after it was reported that Denmark had banned it. It was something to do with fortified foods with added vitamins, minerals or other substances which can’t be marketed in Denmark unless approved by Danish food authorities – and Marmite isn’t approved!

And Marmite was used as a metaphor last night to describe the latest Nottingham building to have hit the press. My good mate Sue Churchill at Church Lukas Architects bagged the front page of the Evening Post! The story is here – the latest £60m development at Nottingham Trent University’s city centre campus.

I love marmite and I love this building. I think it just adds to this area. We already have a rejuvenated NTU campus – which I have blogged about before. The new Newton / Arkwright extension is superb and this new building compliments and helps yell out “success”. I might be a bit biased being a former student! I have many happy (?) memories of the Byron building – which is to be replaced by this new building… Byron was constructed, I guess, in the late 1960′s when this was a Polytechnic. It has had its day. It’s tired and dated.

We do have to remember that we really do need out to Universities to push boundaries – and this is not just in research. The architecture can be cutting edge too.

Although I think this is great stuff for nottingham it seems that some of the comments posted at the foot of the on-line Evening Post article are less than complimentary. But then you might recall that I ventured into this arena before and quickly retreated. It’s the usual suspects making misguided and irrelevant (mostly) comments. Sue has a sense of humour and agreed that the “Stevie Wonder Architecture Studio” was worthy of a laugh!

I hope people, whether they love it or hate it, see the benefit for the City….

May 20 2011

Nottingham Planners – the dilemma

Next Wednesday two of the biggest Planning Applications Nottingham has seen for years go before the Development (out of) Control Committee.

Broad Marsh - as it might look

This will be an interesting test. It is the first Committee after the Local Elections where Labour wiped the floor with everyone else. We have just 5 Conservative Councillors. The Liberal Democrats office at Loxley House is rather empty! Whether such a balance of power is actually healthy remains to be seen, but clearly Labour have the whip hand in (all) Committees.

The two applications are the £500m extension of Broad Marsh – hot on the heels of the Victoria Centre proposals. And a new ‘monster’ Tesco on the Island site – adjacent emda and the BBC. The latter is going with a recommendation by the Officers to refuse the application. The former is going with the blessing of the Officers. Such a moniker doesn’t necessarily mean much when you sit before Politicians. Long ago I was warned off such Committee’s – they are an interesting experience, often defying logic.

On this occasion, I think the officers are probably right in their views. I don’t think we need a giant Tesco on the edge of town. Actually we need to strengthen the town – and I have real concerns about the power of these giant supermarkets. It is not always healthy. But we certainly do need the Broad Marsh extension. It has been too long in gestation. The City is, in my view, slipping in the retail rankings. I don’t think, as I have said before, that we can sustain both the Broad Marsh and the Victoria Centre. It is reckoned that Broad Marsh would create around 5,000 new jobs.

But in my view and critically, it would improve the present Centre – which is some way past its sell by date. It will help regenerate the South-side of the city.

On this occasion I hope the Committee run with the Officers…

UPDATE 25 May 2011

In anticipation of a refusal Tesco withdrew their application before it got to Committee today. This is not unusual. It is better to withdraw and re-submit than get a refusal… So watch this space!

May 9 2011

Housing – have we learned anything?

There’s a great phrase which suggests that “the Devil’s in the detail”. It so often is – and especially when it comes to the design of buildings.

When I was in Norfolk last weekend at the funeral of my old Senior Partner I drove past a new housing development on the edge of Kings Lynn. Known as Kings Reach it sits on the eastern side of Lynn. I drove past it on the way to the funeral and was impressed by the varied choice of materials – brick, render and timber. House sizes varied – there were three storey town houses, two storey cottages and some ‘affordable’ apartments. On the face of it I was heartened by the apparent great design.

On my way back home I decided to call in to the Taylor Wimpey scheme to have a closer look.

I was a bit disappointed by the approach – a sort of go-kart track, but quickly came across the development – which seems to have been well-laid out. I dislike parking areas which sit behind houses – they create areas which can hide people easily – and need to be lit in the winter. They remind me of 1960′s lock-up garages.

But my main criticism was that there were some really basic design faults. Had the architect not realised that we have wheely-bins? Well, we do and here they were strewn around the estate – mostly in front gardens. It looks like Lynn Council employ a two-bin system (I have the pleasure of three). I could see most of them! Which was a great pity – as on the face of it this scheme, from a distance, looked really promising!

We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t design houses to take account of wheely-bins?

May 4 2011

Ghery gets it wrong?

I am usually a fan of Frank Ghery’s architecture – one of my favourtite buildings is the EMP in Seattle which I visited in late 2009. I thought the building was brilliant – striking and clever.

At the side of the HighLine in New York is another of his efforts – the IAC Building which I have photographed a few times. It is different although much more conservative than the Seattle ‘statement’. His Dancing House building in Prague is clever too as is the Guggenheim Museum in Balbao.

But his latest building in New York, next to the fantastic Woolworth Building and iconic Brookyln Bridge seems a bit of a disappointment.

It is huge – 1.1 million square feet and has been named the Beekman Tower. It climbs 76 stroeys and houses some Hospital space, a school and 903 apartments. You can read about it here.

But having just been opened I think it is one of Ghery’s least inspiring pieces of work. It looks as though the ‘Gheryisation’ has comprised some crinkly tin strips applied to the facade. It looks like a tall building with some bling? Surely with the amount of money and the talent of the architect this could have been really good?

I think it is a lost opportunity…

Apr 8 2011

Shanghai – the facts

Shanghai is a difficult place to describe. It’s big, brash and noisy – it demands that you pay attention! I have had a couple of days to reflect on what I saw this time. And what I learned.

Although a couple of weeks ago was my second trip it takes you a while to adjust and comprehend the place. But to put some things in context:

* 21 million people live in Shanghai – 1.3 billion in China as a whole.
* GDP growth in China has been 11.2% on average for the period 2006-2010 – the Government target is 7% over the next 5 years.
* China is now the Worlds second largest economy (the US is still the largest)
* The UK imports £24bn each year but only exports £7bn – the UK Government want this to equalise.
* Inflation is running at 4.9%
* By 2015 half of the Worlds building will be taking place in Shanghai.
* 400 new Cities are being built and their average size will be the size of Birmingham!
* 15 million people are moving away from the Countryside to the Cities each year – by 2020 900m people will live in Cities.
* China was the largest producer of CO2 in the World in 2020

It is quite difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of what is going on here. I find it hard to explain in words – even looking at some of the brochures I brought back don’t really explain it. We just don’t see ‘development’ like this here in the UK. I’m not sure it is happening anywhere else in the World in this manner.

So is it good?

One of the speakers at the Conference I attended was quite damning – he raised the issues of corruption – there are four or five construction companies doing all of the work. Someone is getting very rich.

Then there is the ‘green’ aspect – and you can’t help but wonder if there is lip service being paid to the issues. On more than one occasion I heard stories about the ‘green features and standards being designed in, but not bult in. The latter simply because there is so much going on it cannot be all checked.

But my real issue is that when you peel back behind the veneer some of these buildings are not actually very good. Whilst we might develop buildings for 65-80 years, I am not convinced that the stuff being thrown up is at that standard. I wonder if they will last 20-25 years! I will return to this point again I think….