Piccadilly Gardens

[Rusholme Ruffian]

I took the advice of someone on here (Longford probably) and had a look at some of Tadao Ando's other stuff. I really like it, but what struck me is that all the photos I saw were of sleek, smooth, clean concrete:



I still like the concept of the wall and pavillion in Piccadilly, but sticking it next to a busy bus station doesn't seem the best idea.

[High-Fi]

Looks like the Chapman Building(s) at Salford University. Now that is one brutal piece of architecture. I always thought it was a carbuncle while I was there (years ago) but now I kind of appreciate it?

[Liam-Manchester]

Originally Posted by Accura

The worn turf in that pic is terrible If they dont sort it out, its going to end up being really muddy in the winter.

It's not worn, it's just incredibly parched due to the very dry and hot weather we've seen over the past few weeks. A combination of a lack of rain and constant hot sun has gradually killed the grass. It's not only a problem at Piccadilly Gardens- I was at St James Park in London a couple of weeks ago and there was hardly any grass left there- it's just been a quite exceptional summer so far.

[J5]

I hate Chapman building at Salford uni! what a mess - Your spot on there High fi

[Bachy Soletanche]

Personally I think that parts of this are some of the worst pieces of urban design of the last 20 years,







And these things may be required, but to have them sticking out like that?



Ugly, you ain't got no alibi, you is ugly!

[Farsight]

Dreadful.

And that grass. Appalling. I'd say there's no soil under it, or something similarly crackers.

How this got the plaudits it did absolutely beats me.

PS: I've been on holiday.

[andysimo123]

Right heres the plan, we get around ten of us and ten sledge hammers and take aim at piccadilly gardens one night.

[jrb]

Got to agree. I've given the concrete walls the benefit of doubt, but it's time MCC admitted their mistake's and demolished the lot.

[Farsight]

Mistakes like laying turf on concrete, by the looks of this picture.



What idiot puts all that concrete in a garden?

I thought what golddigga said in post #263 on page 14 made a lot of sense:

..clad in that rather nice sandstone that is used for the flowerbeds in the gardens and maybe had lighting recessed into it and ivy growing up it or even water features running down it..

[ric]

Originally Posted by Rusholme Ruffian

I took the advice of someone on here (Longford probably) and had a look at some of Tadao Ando's other stuff. I really like it, but what struck me is that all the photos I saw were of sleek, smooth, clean concrete...

we had a CPD from a specialist concrete consultant the other week, and he told us that the wall was one of the worst examples of insitu concrete he'd seen... and probably wasn't specified by Ando, but by the UK architects who ran it on site (?)

to get a really good finish you need to make sure the mixture is right, the formwork is of a really high quality, it's properly compacted and the release agents are correctly applied... probably too many potential problems for a UK contractor to deal with?!!

he said that apparently the anti-grafitti coating the council have applied has now made the surface even worse!

[The Longford]

I had presumed the quality of the concrete was 'site specific' or something because what little i do know about concrete i could tell it wasnt the sexy sleek stuff. Now ric has put paid to that idea i must say i'm very disappointed because it just gives ammunition to the haters.

[Farsight]

"Haters" sounds like you actually like this blot on the landscape, Longford. Nobody needs ammunition for this. It's just uh, oh, awful.



Talk about Emperor's New Clothes. Jeez.

[The Longford]

Originally Posted by Farsight

"Haters" sounds like you actually like this blot on the landscape, Longford.

You should pay more attention Farsitespecific!
I'm always sticking up for the wall and am prepared to my reputation* on the line for it.


*a reputation for being a cantankerous, difficult bastard that is!

[Farsight]

I think the word you were searching for is pretentious, Longshanks. You'll be telling us you like Tracy Emin's bed next.

[The Longford]

Originally Posted by Farsight

I think the word you were searching for is pretentious, Longshanks. You'll be telling us you like Tracy Emin's bed next.

Not really, but her little bird in Liverpool was rather sweet.

[roverman]

Concrete can be pleasing in a garden and as a feature of public urban space also. However it needs to be of a high quality finish and generally looks drab in our damp grey climate as opposed to a bright Mediterrean one. Piccadilly Gardens is a poor design with possibly the exception of the fountains which do fulfil a role - allowing people of all generations the opportunity to enjoy the sight, sound, and feel of water in the city centre. The space fails to act as a focal point for general gathering and events though, and is pretty barren and unwelcoming on anything but a hot summer day. Considering the price (in terms of lost public space, and the poor design of No.1 Piccadilly which occupies the lost space), it is a lose-lose for the city. Hopefully, enough time will have soon passed for the Council to put this space right without having to admit it was a flop. We must then insist on public consultation and some informed opinion as to the design for its replacement.

[The Longford]

Originally Posted by roverman

We must then insist on public consultation and some informed opinion as to the design for its replacement.

Nooooo!
Dont ask your average-Joe-six-pack their opinion.
The general public are idiots and if you aked them they would want we would get an out of town retail park that just sold fags,lottery tickets, Heat and WKD.
The lumpen proletariat need to be 'guided' in the ways of beauty and we need brave people to take a chance now and again - Piccadilly gardens a case in point.

[Isaac Newell]

bare concrete can have great sculptural quality but it needs to be softened by a bit of greenery or be so different that it challenges you to accept it.

Like this



The Andao wall would have been better in Stevenson square, in Piccadilly it practically blends in and thus fails in my opinion.

[Rusholme Ruffian]

See, I agree that this:

Originally Posted by Isaac Newell

looks great. But the Piccadilly wall is filthy and the dirt and weather stains detract from the sleekness of the design. Can't the council get it regularly cleaned or something?

I'm really, really trying to like this thing, and, having seen some other Ando stuff, I can see where this is coming from, but there's no two ways about it: dirty concrete mings.

[Caiman]

The turf like practically all turf and grass in the country has been overwhelmed by the heat!