London - Full Summary of Projects 20

[Langur]

That's certainly no beauty. It looks like a fire station. However I'm sure Hampstead can do shitter than that. It must be close to the Heath so that our Kuwaiti Prince can take his dogs or wives for a walk.

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

Grade 2 listed and managed by the National Trust.

NEXT.

Why the hell is that listed? Every town centre around the UK is full of this sort of stuff.

I despair.

[DarJoLe]

Originally Posted by Octoman

I despair.

Well I despair at some of your posts, so I guess that makes us equal.

[Octoman]

As a modernist you should have no reason to despair at all. Your preferred architectural style is niche and yet represents a large percentage of the developments. On the rare occasions something traditional comes along it seems to send you into a tailspin.

[london lad]

Lol - Octoman are you some your not some kind made up caricature of a Daily Mail reader as your posts all over the forum are descending more and more into some sort of Daily Mail reader parody.

You spend 90% of your time on a forum about architecture in a politics thread and when you do surface in an actual thread to do with a building its 90% of time to say something bad about modernism or something good about classicalism.

Just why do you spend so much time on a forum that is really only ever going to have modern architecture if it doesn't interest you? Very strange.

[larven]

Originally Posted by Octoman

Why the hell is that listed?

The largest listed building in Europe.

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by london lad

Lol - Octoman are you some your not some kind made up caricature of a Daily Mail reader as your posts all over the forum are descending more and more into some sort of Daily Mail reader parody.

You spend 90% of your time on a forum about architecture in a politics thread and when you do surface in an actual thread to do with a building its 90% of time to say something bad about modernism or something good about classicalism.

Just why do you spend so much time on a forum that is really only ever going to have modern architecture if it doesn't interest you? Very strange.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Because my view doesnt chime with some on here I should stop posting? Its a familiar tone I see in this part of the forum.

There is a little clique of modernists in the London section these day thats true, but its not a modernist forum. And you're right, its rare I post in the London section these days because the viewpoints you hear are becoming increasingly one dimensional and predictable. On the whole its pretty clear that a lot of posters who had a different viewpoint are less active in the London section. Its certainly less of a melting pot of viewpoints than it used to be. And indeed you are correct, I am interested in politics and economics too. There is a good community in SSC to discuss these things, some of whom I know in person now.

[london lad]

Lol that should be your strap line.

"increasingly one dimensional and predictable."

Slight paranoia as well with the modernist clique. Any project in this forum is 99% of the time going to be a modern building of some sort so its going to be pretty clear that a lot of posters who have a different viewpoint are less active in the London section because of this. So by melting pot and different views your saying people who would prefer a classical building rather than whatever is actually proposed. Thats hardly a melting pot is it. Its just people who don't like modern architecture which as I put to you is why bother going onto the forum thats going to be full of little else. Theres only so many times a person can post- oh god another glass building why can't they build something classical in stone. Thats not debate. Thats the tired and predictable Classical V Modernism that has done to death on this forum.

Its very rare for people to actually debate why developers, architects, tenants and planners are designing, approving and occupying modern buildings the world over for at least the last 50 years and very rarely is site or context drawn into the debate.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Octoman

Yes, this monstrosity by Goldfinger. Sited on 2 Willow Road Hampstead.

This is an excellent design from a functional point of view. I'd thoroughly recommend a visit. I appreciate the aesthetics outside isn't all that, but it would be a wonderful building to live in.

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by london lad

Any project in this forum is 99% of the time going to be a modern building of some sort so its going to be pretty clear that a lot of posters who have a different viewpoint are less active in the London section because of this.

Exactly the point I was making in response to your question on why I post less in the London architecture threads. But mainly because of your other point :

Theres only so many times a person can post- oh god another glass building why can't they build something classical in stone. Thats not debate. Thats the tired and predictable Classical V Modernism that has done to death on this forum.

I agree. So after reading updates on a project I cant see the point in posting 'still dont like it' or 'urgh' or something. Maybe just once in a while. I do actually respect the opinion of the people who are knowledgeable about the technical side of the industry and I'm not going to get into long post exchanges on something where I am merely and enthusiast and not an expert. Its enough to read the updates and think 'still dont like it' or 'urgh' or something

I posted in response to a classical project which prompted this latest exchange. I have posted a few times on the London Wall thread because the area is a total disaster and the plans to improve it are crap.

I'm suprised that you dont think politics and economics arent integral to architecture. They are a huge component, especially regeneration projects.

[london lad]

Fair enough Octoman but most of your posts and others in say the Bors thread to be fair have very little relevance to Architecture. Its the same when you generally discuss economics which is usually at the macro level. However when it comes to the economics of a project,which does have an effect on how a project turns out on so many levels very little is actually discussed.

[Octoman]

True, although macro economics it is what I am surrounded by at work all day so it tends to be at the front of my mind. In the past I kept getting drawn into political debates when regeneration schemes were being discussed and the inclusion of affordable housing is picked out as a positive quality of the development. thats not architecture, its architecture for politcal ends. Its also a strategy I wholeheartedly disagree with.

I dont know the mechanics of building financing other than investing in existing commercial real estate which I did for a while on behalf of private investors. Presumably its the same mechanics for new projects although on a larger scale. One thing I do know is its a dirty and corrupt business.

[delores]

new scheme in the strand looks alright actually.
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=15214

[Bob]

Good spot delores. Intelligent enough design that's inoffensive. This increase in accomodation in the city centre can't happen quick enough for me. Each flat represents one or more people that don't need to use any form of transport other than their feet to get to work. This development is then the better part of a tube train full.

[DarJoLe]

Originally Posted by Bob

Each flat represents one or more people that don't need to use any form of transport other than their feet to get to work.

Unless they work somewhere that isn't walkable to...

[Bob]

What like the Isle of Whight? Picky, I know you get my point.

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by delores

new scheme in the strand looks alright actually.
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=15214

The existing building on the site was horrible (I worked in it for a while). Its hard to do anything that doesnt improve the appearance of that area. There was a model of this building on display a while back in the remaining part of the old building. It does look pretty good. They just need to get rid of the ugly buildings on the other side of the road and we are getting somewhere!

Sadly, just as this street improves, Aldwych has taken a whack with the ugly stick from that new bland building facing towards the strand.

[Langur]

Originally Posted by delores

new scheme in the strand looks alright actually.
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=15214

I love the Strand. It's one of the best streets in London (and best preserved) so I was wary when I read of "existing buildings being demolished". However I've just checked out the site in bird's eye view on Bing Maps and it's a concrete modernist horror, so they're welcome to demolish it in my opinion. Good riddance and an architectural improvement.

[Langur]

Originally Posted by Octoman

Sadly, just as this street improves, Aldwych has taken a whack with the ugly stick from that new bland building facing towards the strand.

Yes it's not great, but give it a chance. The old building was harmonious but not a great treasure. We don't yet know how it will look when work on that site is finally completed.

[london lad]

Originally Posted by Langur

I love the Strand. It's one of the best streets in London (and best preserved) so I was wary when I read of "existing buildings being demolished". However I've just checked out the site in bird's eye view on Bing Maps and it's a concrete modernist horror, so they're welcome to demolish it in my opinion. Good riddance and an architectural improvement.

The good thing as well is it s a residential scheme which might just inject a little life in the area which is pretty lifeless in the evening with it all being offices, especially considering this in the heart of the city.