Bank of England | Newcastle | 4fl | Demolition

[elliott]

I wonder if this will mean that the NCP grows even larger.

Just what Newcastle needs, a massive surface carpark and knowing the council will have a plethora of large planters around the Pilgrim Street edges.

Et voila, regeneration on a massive scale for Newcastle, wonder if they can remove city status aswell as grant it, ha!!

[toonlad]

The state those buildings are in now, ANYTHING is an improvement, even a slab.

[Andym]

I think the demolition of the BoE will be seen as an act of vandalism in future years. We may wait fifteen years for a cheap and nasty replacement.

[thenorthumbrian]

Originally Posted by elliott

I wonder if this will mean that the NCP grows even larger.

Just what Newcastle needs, a massive surface carpark and knowing the council will have a plethora of large planters around the Pilgrim Street edges.

Et voila, regeneration on a massive scale for Newcastle, wonder if they can remove city status aswell as grant it, ha!!

Yes the remove city status because one ugly building is knocked down.
And the BOE was bloody ugly, thank god its on the way out.

[toonlad]

I dont love the building, I dont hate it. I dont think its a fine example of Brutalism though, it lacks the drama and wacky geometry. It needs overhangs, mezzanines and features that exist only to show off the strength and flexibility of the materials. BofE has none of these.

What I do hate is what it has become, an eyesore, a carbuncle. In such a decrepid state, with no hope of revival, i'd rather see it gone.

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by toonlad

I dont love the building, I dont hate it. I dont think its a fine example of Brutalism though, it lacks the drama and wacky geometry. It needs overhangs, mezzanines and features that exist only to show off the strength and flexibility of the materials. BofE has none of these.

What I do hate is what it has become, an eyesore, a carbuncle. In such a decrepid state, with no hope of revival, i'd rather see it gone.

Reading through the PA I cannot see any details as to what the land is going to be used for on a temporary basis but there is mention of a boundary fence being erected to shadow the buildings footprint, so reading between the lines perhaps it won't be an extension of the NCP car park. Boundary fence is to be the subject of a separate PA which I don't think has appeared on the NCC Portal yet.

[NewcastleStu]

When is the work scheduled to start? Is there any indication?

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

When is the work scheduled to start? Is there any indication?

No dates mentioned and really as the Decision Notice indicates - The prior approval of details of the method of proposed demolition and any restoration of the site is not required. Therefore the information supplied in the notification is sufficient and demolition may proceed.

Suppose the Contractor has submitted the PA out of courtesy.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by Andym

I think the demolition of the BoE will be seen as an act of vandalism in future years. We may wait fifteen years for a cheap and nasty replacement.

Agreed.

[elliott]

Originally Posted by thenorthumbrian

Yes the remove city status because one ugly building is knocked down.
And the BOE was bloody ugly, thank god its on the way out.

I know you know that was just sarcasm on my part. But it was part of a wider problem I see. This site is a 'Gateway' into the city, the other main one being the Redheugh Bridge / Scotswood Road one. But both are surrounded either by buildings of questionable quality or empty plots of land, which don't give the correct impression of the city at all from people coming into Newcastle.

There obviously are others such the Great North Road or the Swing Bridge approaches, but these are less important and usually used by locals on the whole. Just my opinion but I just want the 2 key Gateways improved and empty sites doesnt cut it.

[Adrian_Swall]

Absolutely right.

I did post recently why are the pedestrians are in subways but cars at ground level.
The reason was the design of Swan House roundabout and the Central Motorway - which is an abomination.

If you could reverse that then it would go some way to make the area more accessible.

If you are coming back into town from the east, the only route is only through the subway past Holy Jesus Hospital.

We probably need another Tyne crossing to take traffic away from the centre.

[elliott]

Totally agree, but I don't see a solution. The best chance for a good redevelopment was after BT left Swan House and could have allowed for its demolition. However, as its been developed as a large apartment complex, I don't see how it could be 'properly' fixed without large engineering, design soultions that would inevitably be exorbitant in cost; or have a hotch potch approach to solving the problems.

Although, to me one of the easiest solutions is to remove the road between the BoE and 55 Degrees and as this would be the best time due there being no building grade the site according so that it works seemlessly with Pilgrim Street.

[thenorthumbrian]

Originally Posted by Andym

I think the demolition of the BoE will be seen as an act of vandalism in future years. We may wait fifteen years for a cheap and nasty replacement.

Building the damn thing was the original act of vandalism.
In my opinion, of course.

[NewcastleStu]

Seems like they might not waste too much time getting on with this. Part of the NCP next to Bank House has been fenced off as has the area around Bank House and they've also fenced off the steps that can take you from Pilgrim Street roundabout to the NCP.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

Seems like they might not waste too much time getting on with this. Part of the NCP next to Bank House has been fenced off as has the area around Bank House and they've also fenced off the steps that can take you from Pilgrim Street roundabout to the NCP.

Soon to be no more . . .



A building about which (on this forum, as elsewhere) there is a very wide range of opinions

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

A building about which (on this forum, as elsewhere) there is a very wide range of opinions

Thats the thing with architecture, no one person is right with their views.

Some of us love old stone buildings where as others love brutalism.

I myself am not a fan of most skyscrapers as this forum is named after or in reference too. Anyway I think most skyscrapers are ugly horrible blocky buildings and at street level they offer nothing. It is only when you stand back when you are able to appreciate what a skyscraper looks like. I have to admit over the last 10 years though skyscraper designs are becoming better and better and they aren't just a long oblong that they used to be.

Anyway as NH has said this building does divide opinion but thats what architecture is all about, we all love different types of buildings and non of us are right when we say one type is better than the other, we maybe in the majority in a lot of cases but no one is ever right on the subject.

As it is I'm myself am very happy it's coming down, but I am concerned about whats it's replacement will look like and how long it will take to gain a replacement.

[NewcastleStu]

There are some signs up today and it's MGL demolition who are doing the work. Wot no Thompsons of Prudhoe? Strangely they haven't fenced off that little street that runs from the bottom of Carliol Street along the 'back' of Bank House to Pilgrim Street roundabout. Must be doing the interiors for a while first as that would be a dangerous place to be once demolition starts.

[Ken O'Heed]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

There are some signs up today and it's MGL demolition who are doing the work. Wot no Thompsons of Prudhoe? Strangely they haven't fenced off that little street that runs from the bottom of Carliol Street along the 'back' of Bank House to Pilgrim Street roundabout. Must be doing the interiors for a while first as that would be a dangerous place to be once demolition starts.

Bank of England in its temporary MGL Demolition guise, pictures taken on mobile phone when passing 30/03/12 approx 1430 ( hosted on Photobucket)






KEN

[Ken O'Heed]

Some pictures (hosted on Photobucket) taken by myself at approx 1045 on 17/04/12 of work being being carried out to the rear of the building

At that point in the time the "Pecker" was making heavy weather of the concrete it was attempting to break - at times being used at very low speed

Having worked with MGL in the past do not think it is due to inadequate machinery - put it down to extremely strong and probably highly reinforced concrete










Have the feeling it may take a "few weeks"


KEN

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Ken O'Heed

Some pictures (hosted on Photobucket) taken by myself at approx 1045 on 17/04/12 of work being being carried out to the rear of the building

At that point in the time the "Pecker" was making heavy weather of the concrete it was attempting to break - at times being used at very low speed

Having worked with MGL in the past do not think it is due to inadequate machinery - put it down to extremely strong and probably highly reinforced concrete


Have the feeling it may take a "few weeks"


KEN

Good to see some progress on this Ken - wonder if today is the starting point?

Mind, I wouldn't want to park my car beside the demolition - coating in dust springs to mind