WestGate House - couple of pics

balacau · April 29th, 2006, 05:10 PM

[IMG]West Gate house 1[/IMG]
[IMG]West Gate house 2[/IMG]

Took these this morning on a routine run through Newcastle. Looks good so far by I'm wondering whats really worse, this building or the one which is still occupied thats on the same block of land just a little firther towards (and directly across the road from) Central Station?

Both are absolutely hideous as far as I'm concerned!

Sikario · April 29th, 2006, 05:16 PM

You have to upload the images onto the internet beforehand... use Imageshack for example.

balacau · April 29th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Eh that didnt work, ok I give up, aint had enough coffee!

Linking pics does work though so here they are!

Nothing special really...

Those will have to wait for another 3-4 weeks

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...teHouse001.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...teHouse002.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...teHouse004.jpg

***wjfox*** · April 29th, 2006, 05:20 PM

TinyPic.com is better.

Newcastle Guy · April 29th, 2006, 05:47 PM

I'm so happy that one of Newcastle's ugliest buildings is getting demolished!

NewcastleArchStudent · April 29th, 2006, 05:47 PM

Hmmm, lokoks exactly the same as ever to me? Was cycling past it whilst working last night, it'll be good to see it brought down but it could make traffic a nightmare!

Newcastle Guy · April 29th, 2006, 05:48 PM

Lookin good! It's about time!

Newcastle Guy · April 29th, 2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewcastleArchStudent

Hmmm, lokoks exactly the same as ever to me? Was cycling past it whilst working last night, it'll be good to see it brought down but it could make traffic a nightmare!

as you can see in the pic they are starting with the back, where you can't really see from street level

Newcastle Guy · April 29th, 2006, 05:51 PM

Anyone got any pics of commercial Union house? (The other monster that is built over Pilgrim street near the old Odeon)

balacau · April 29th, 2006, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcastle kid

Anyone got any pics of commercial Union house? (The other monster that is built over Pilgrim street near the old Odeon)

If only I had known before I went, I would have snapped that one too! Instead I was across the road from Charlie's chinese buffet, taking pictures of the developments over there! There was a 3-4 story building demolished last year and they are building there now. Nice pile driver and a couple of excavators there.

A nice run out for me and my faithful camera!

Shame they are making such a scene about the old Odeon building being of such a "historic value", I wouldn't mind seeing that being pulled down too! Such an eyesore, well past its usefulness plus give it a few more years and I'm betting it'll fall down by itself anyway...

Does anyone know what else is going on next to the spiral carpark at the Haymarket bus station? Another pile driver there too but you really only use those when you build a high rise structure over 3 stories high? Very odd...

Newcastle Guy · April 29th, 2006, 06:24 PM

Yes thats Times Central, has been U/C since last year I think, but the real activity has just started.

I hope Commercial Union House gets demolished, it's probably the seond worst building in the city centre after Westgate house, but It's still occupied so it could be awhile...

Andrew · April 29th, 2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Shame they are making such a scene about the old Odeon building being of such a "historic value", I wouldn't mind seeing that being pulled down too! Such an eyesore, well past its usefulness plus give it a few more years and I'm betting it'll fall down by itself anyway...

I completely disagree with you. It IS of historical value, yes it is grubby and it doesnt look very tidy at the moment but it's a pretty good example of some of our old cinema architecture and it would be a huge shame to lose it. In the UK we do not have that many examples left of architecture from that time period, not that we had that many in the first place. Newcastle has more than most UK cities but that doesnt mean that we should allow what's left to be got rid of.
A good refurbishment of the old odeon, the demolition of the 1960s block next door and a quality infill development in it's place would really give that part of the street a new lease of life and would go some way towards restoring some of it's historic character. If there are any elements of the original 1930s interior of the old odeon that still survive and could be restored then it would be even better.

Andrew · April 29th, 2006, 07:46 PM

Here's a Flickr gallery of photos of the old Odeon cinema in Newcastle, it seems that it wont let me hotlink them so click on the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mojo-jo...7594099391265/

A petition to save it (It's closed now but I'd have signed it if I'd heard about it in time):
http://www.sapling.org.uk/paramount/petition.shtml

A photo I can hotlink, taken when the old Odeon was still open by the looks of it:

And another:

Taken from here (there's some interesting info about it on this page):
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3307/

Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that this be knocked down???? It's one of Newcastle's finest buildings from this time period. I have no idea how Odeon managed to get it de-listed, it's crazy!

Here are some old shots of the cinema that someone posted up on the page I linked to directly above (captions written by them):

Quote:

1. In 1949 with the original Paramount canopy (marquee) and vertical fin (blade) sign, but now sporting the Odeon name.

2. Daytime in February 1961, the canopy has been re-faced, but th fin sign still remains on show.

3. Night time in February 1961

balacau · April 29th, 2006, 09:39 PM

One of the many stumbling blocks of rennovating old buildings like this is simply the amount of £££ it would take. I have many fond memories of watching movies in the Odeon and arguing with my parents about what movie that we were going to see

but I still believe there is a point where a building is past its usefulness, a historical remnant of a bygone era or not. Nothing lasts forever....

I have nothing personally against this building, just to make sure people realise that lol

If a potential buyer and/or developer can be found to do something with the old Odeon, then great! But otherwise it is a prime area for redevelopment and it also being beside on of the main roads in Newcastle also makes it an interesting area which many company's could easily be interested in (its easily accessable by bus & pedestrian). Such companies many not be able to afford, or even want to try, to keep the building even looking the same and it may be more cost efficient to have it demolished and rebuild.

I find it hard to believe it would ever be returned to a 1930's looking theatre, simply because there isnt a demand for such a building anymore. Why are technologically-advanced places like The Gate so popular? Simply because the old buildings and screens need constant and highly expensive rennovations to keep them attracting viewers. No company, large or small,will want to invest in a shrinking market.

I have one question though, was the Odeon always a cinema, or was it first designed as something else (I can imagine it being a library!) and then its interior changed at a later date to make it usable as a cinema?

Andrew · April 30th, 2006, 09:18 AM

If you read the page I posted, you'll see that it was built to be a cinema (originally by paramount, see the old paramount logos at the top of the fecade), it's history also is a very good reason why it should be restored, it's not just your average 1930s cinema, it's exceptional, it's one of only a few and it's still in relatively good condition.
You mention a library, that is one use I think it would be well suited to, I went to the end of year exhibition of the final year architecture students projects last year and there was a very interesting design for a new central library inside the old odeon with a new building next to it on the site of the 60s office block there at the moment. Of course that particular design isnt ever going to be built but it does give some idea of what might be possible. Of course money plays a huge role and projects need to be viable, but in some cases (and I argue this one included) other factors such as the restoration of built heritage should take precident. Nobody in their right mind would argue that the buildings on Grey Street should have been demolished but I'm assuming that their restoration and re-use would not have been commercially viable without subsidies or tax cuts of some kind. My argument is that the old Odeon is almost as significant, the fact that it's not as old doesnt make it any less so in my opinion. Commercial viability should not be the defining factor on whether this building stays or goes, if it's not commercially viable as it is then government should offer some kind of subsidy to make it so.

April 29th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#1
balacau Gavin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bedlington Posts: 51 Likes (Received): 0	WestGate House - couple of pics [IMG]West Gate house 1[/IMG] [IMG]West Gate house 2[/IMG] Took these this morning on a routine run through Newcastle. Looks good so far by I'm wondering whats really worse, this building or the one which is still occupied thats on the same block of land just a little firther towards (and directly across the road from) Central Station? Both are absolutely hideous as far as I'm concerned!

April 29th, 2006, 05:20 PM	#4
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 36,224 Likes (Received): 941	TinyPic.com is better. __________________ FutureTimeline.net - a timeline of future history

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April 29th, 2006, 05:16 PM	#2
Sikario Loopy Londoner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 379 Likes (Received): 0	You have to upload the images onto the internet beforehand... use Imageshack for example.

April 29th, 2006, 05:19 PM	#3
balacau Gavin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bedlington Posts: 51 Likes (Received): 0	Eh that didnt work, ok I give up, aint had enough coffee! Linking pics does work though so here they are! Nothing special really... Those will have to wait for another 3-4 weeks http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...teHouse001.jpg http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...teHouse002.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19...teHouse004.jpg

April 29th, 2006, 05:47 PM	#5
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 8,957 Likes (Received): 18	I'm so happy that one of Newcastle's ugliest buildings is getting demolished!

April 29th, 2006, 05:47 PM	#6
NewcastleArchStudent Slowly learning... Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 60 Likes (Received): 0	Hmmm, lokoks exactly the same as ever to me? Was cycling past it whilst working last night, it'll be good to see it brought down but it could make traffic a nightmare!

April 29th, 2006, 05:48 PM	#7
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 8,957 Likes (Received): 18	Lookin good! It's about time!

April 29th, 2006, 05:51 PM	#9
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 8,957 Likes (Received): 18	Anyone got any pics of commercial Union house? (The other monster that is built over Pilgrim street near the old Odeon)

April 29th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#11
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 8,957 Likes (Received): 18	Yes thats Times Central, has been U/C since last year I think, but the real activity has just started. I hope Commercial Union House gets demolished, it's probably the seond worst building in the city centre after Westgate house, but It's still occupied so it could be awhile...

April 29th, 2006, 09:39 PM	#14
balacau Gavin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bedlington Posts: 51 Likes (Received): 0	One of the many stumbling blocks of rennovating old buildings like this is simply the amount of £££ it would take. I have many fond memories of watching movies in the Odeon and arguing with my parents about what movie that we were going to see but I still believe there is a point where a building is past its usefulness, a historical remnant of a bygone era or not. Nothing lasts forever.... I have nothing personally against this building, just to make sure people realise that lol If a potential buyer and/or developer can be found to do something with the old Odeon, then great! But otherwise it is a prime area for redevelopment and it also being beside on of the main roads in Newcastle also makes it an interesting area which many company's could easily be interested in (its easily accessable by bus & pedestrian). Such companies many not be able to afford, or even want to try, to keep the building even looking the same and it may be more cost efficient to have it demolished and rebuild. I find it hard to believe it would ever be returned to a 1930's looking theatre, simply because there isnt a demand for such a building anymore. Why are technologically-advanced places like The Gate so popular? Simply because the old buildings and screens need constant and highly expensive rennovations to keep them attracting viewers. No company, large or small,will want to invest in a shrinking market. I have one question though, was the Odeon always a cinema, or was it first designed as something else (I can imagine it being a library!) and then its interior changed at a later date to make it usable as a cinema?

April 30th, 2006, 09:18 AM	#15
Andrew Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cardiff/Newcastle Posts: 3,487 Likes (Received): 7	If you read the page I posted, you'll see that it was built to be a cinema (originally by paramount, see the old paramount logos at the top of the fecade), it's history also is a very good reason why it should be restored, it's not just your average 1930s cinema, it's exceptional, it's one of only a few and it's still in relatively good condition. You mention a library, that is one use I think it would be well suited to, I went to the end of year exhibition of the final year architecture students projects last year and there was a very interesting design for a new central library inside the old odeon with a new building next to it on the site of the 60s office block there at the moment. Of course that particular design isnt ever going to be built but it does give some idea of what might be possible. Of course money plays a huge role and projects need to be viable, but in some cases (and I argue this one included) other factors such as the restoration of built heritage should take precident. Nobody in their right mind would argue that the buildings on Grey Street should have been demolished but I'm assuming that their restoration and re-use would not have been commercially viable without subsidies or tax cuts of some kind. My argument is that the old Odeon is almost as significant, the fact that it's not as old doesnt make it any less so in my opinion. Commercial viability should not be the defining factor on whether this building stays or goes, if it's not commercially viable as it is then government should offer some kind of subsidy to make it so.