East Pilgrim Street (EPS) - Developments

[bigchrisfgb]

Yeah, I agree, I just can't like that building. It's everything I hate, concrete block, thats trying not to be a concrete block. Dull, unimginative, dark enough to suck in all the brightness from it's surroundings.

I can't like it, if it was a person, it would be a chav.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

Yeah, I agree, I just can't like that building. It's everything I hate, concrete block, thats trying not to be a concrete block. Dull, unimginative, dark enough to suck in all the brightness from it's surroundings.

I can't like it, if it was a person, it would be a chav.

Help . . . I'm surrounded!!!!

(But I won't surrender, never, never, never!)

[NewcastleStu]

I don't like it either. It looks just as bad in the 70s photo as it does now. Its badness has transcended the decades.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

I don't like it either. It looks just as bad in the 70s photo as it does now. Its badness has transcended the decades.

I'm s s s still not . . .

[hollow man]

Ok, I will concede that there is an element of it being so horrifically bad that it's actually good. Kind of like the Get Carter.

But just a small element though!!!

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by hollow man

Ok, I will concede that there is an element of it being so horrifically bad that it's actually good. Kind of like the Get Carter.

But just a small element though!!!

Really? I just don't see it.

[johnnypd]

i don't like it either....i don't hate it, but i wouldn't shed a tear if it was to go.

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

i don't like it either....i don't hate it, but i wouldn't shed a tear if it was to go.

I would.....................................of joy, well maybe not, I'd probs laugh, "another 60's architects master piece down the drain".


I can be harsh, but atleast I wasn't harsh enough to design something like they did and force 2-3 generations to see such a vulger building.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

I'd be interested to see what this building would be like if given a really good overhaul. I admit that it's a very brutal building and I don't think I could ever find it beautiful, but there's something about the quality of the design and the materials that I really do respect*.

On balance, I'd keep it, although equally I think that if it did go you could put something quite tall here. If the parking was accessed from the lower level at the back, you could have parking as part of the building without it being at street level and therefore killing its relationship with the street. You would want any tall building here to be rather slender though, otherwise it wouldn't contrast enough with 55 Degrees/Swan House and would be a LOT like the Pearl Insurance building is at the end of Northumberland St - a big, dumpy lump.

* That kind of grudging liking for the building though does remind me of the shopping centre on Gosforth High St. Despite being a bit run down, having slightly low ceilings, being out of scale with the surrounding buildings and being a bit brutal, there's something I really like about it. The quality of the brick seems pretty good, it has a strong ground floor and if you modernised the entrances, changed the roof level and let more natural light in it could be a good building.

[bigchrisfgb]

Yeah, Pearl Assurance House is another of my hated buildings. Infact I don't even think most of it is occupied now, only the street level floors are, and the 1st floor is occupied by specsavers or someone like that. Which in my opinion means that currently it wouldn't be a miss if it was to be replaced by a 2 or 3 story building.

I live in hope.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

I would.....................................of joy, well maybe not, I'd probs laugh, "another 60's architects master piece down the drain".

I can be harsh, but atleast I wasn't harsh enough to desing something like they did and force 2-3 generations to see such a vulger building.

I would have to argue that there are a number of recently built and currently being built buildings that will do exactly that. A lot of our current new buildings won't age well at all.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

I would have to argue that there are a number of recently built and currently being built buildings that will do exactly that. A lot of our current new buildings won't age well at all.

I can just imagine what the Skyscraper City posters of 2025 will be saying . . .

I have observed time and time again how strident and universally accepted praise for something (not just architecture) becomes (eventually, often quite soon) strident criticism, similarly supported a few years later, and often even more so after longer timescales have elapsed.

Often, then of course, the whole thing goes into complete reverse, and what was hated becomes (pretty universally) loved.

It is the human condition (or part of it) and while we all fiercely feel that our opinions are totally our own and not influenced by 'trends', patently obviously we are all (like it or not) very strongly influenced by the 'times' that we are living in.

[WilfBurnsFan]

Pearl Assurance House was too small - the low-rise podium block along New Bridge Street needs at least another storey to give coherence to the townsacpe and the slab on top is pretty pathetic. The old Pearl building it replaced was a proper landmark, with one of those excellent rusticated (?) stone corner towers with cupolas that crop up here and there in Newcastle (eg Clayton/Westgate junction).

I agree with Newcastle Historian about the Bank of England, btw.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

I can just imagine what the Skyscraper City posters of 2025 will be saying . . .

I have observed time and time again how strident and universally accepted praise for something (not just architecture) becomes (eventually, often quite soon) strident criticism, similarly supported a few years later, and often even more so after longer timescales have elapsed.

Often, then of course, the whole thing goes into complete reverse, and what was hated becomes (pretty universally) loved.

It is the human condition (or part of it) and while we all fiercely feel that our opinions are totally our own and not influenced by 'trends', patently obviously we are all (like it or not) very strongly influenced by the 'times' that we are living in.

Very true. However my view on a lot of our new buildings are that a lot of them are "non-architecture". The exterior of them is little more than wallpaper, only just acceptable enough to get through planning and nothing more. The BoE building that you have pictured above, whether people see it as ugly or not, at least says something. The designer is trying to make a building that has some form of style, with an idea behind it. As a result, you can love it or hate it - hence I have a lot of respect for the building and would want to keep it. However we have so many buildings now that are designed to be inoffensive, to not say anything at all. I would for instance suggest that the Eldon Square extension, particularly where it faces onto Clayton St, is a classic example. And if we keep stuffing our city with this rubbish we'll have a cheap, identikit looking city that has absolutely no soul.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

Very true. However my view on a lot of our new buildings are that a lot of them are "non-architecture". The exterior of them is little more than wallpaper, only just acceptable enough to get through planning and nothing more.

The BoE building that you have pictured above, whether people see it as ugly or not, at least says something. The designer is trying to make a building that has some form of style, with an idea behind it. As a result, you can love it or hate it - hence I have a lot of respect for the building and would want to keep it.

However we have so many buildings now that are designed to be inoffensive, to not say anything at all. I would for instance suggest that the Eldon Square extension, particularly where it faces onto Clayton St, is a classic example. And if we keep stuffing our city with this rubbish we'll have a cheap, identikit looking city that has absolutely no soul.

That seems a fair assessment. The B of E building (whether you like it or not) can NOT be realistically called run-of-the-mill, or un-imaginative, or boring!!!

Here-ya-go!!! . . . from yesterdays T Dan Smith exhibition :

[Chatton11]

I'm with Historian. As I've said somewhere on here before, I actually like the building. I think a part of that is because I used to work in the Manchester version of the style, again the old BoE building. It's bold, and is actually extremely good architecture. It's the materials that let it down slightly, and they haven't aged well, and as someone pointed out, the concrete didn't look that great in the 70s. The brown glass doesn't look greatimo, but with clear glazing, all lit up at night, and showing the office in vibrant busy use, it would be much better. I think with a really good clean up, and some replacement of materials, maybe even some new design input, such as another couple of stories, this building could lok really good. It's got such a prime spot, that they either need to really work hard to get it looking superb, and used, or...sniff sniff....get rid and get something newer with prescence there.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

On reflection, I'd definitely keep it.

I don't for a minute believe it'd be replaced with anything better.

[hollow man]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

On reflection, I'd definitely keep it.

I don't for a minute believe it'd be replaced with anything better.

Very good point tbh.

[TownPlanningNE]

Article in today's Chronicle with regards to some East Pilgrim Street news...

IT is a fascinating window to the past which could play a key role in shaping the future.

Former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has swooped to buy the Northern Constitutional Club, which has been based on the city’s Pilgrim Street since the 1830s.

It currently occupies a spot on the top floor of the former Odeon cinema building, with stunning views across Tyneside.

Shepherd has paid a seven-figure sum to buy out all remaining shareholders of the society, which was previously known as the Northern Conservative Club and is the oldest political club in the city.

Inside the 9,000 sq ft site are a host of treasures including a bronze bust of former Tory PM Benjamin Disraeli and a memorial plaque to those who lost their lives at war.

As well as containing a range of artefacts, the club is also located in the centre of a plot earmarked for large-scale regeneration.

There are plans to revamp the East Pilgrim Street area, which covers 40 acres between Saville Row, off Northumberland Street, the Central Motorway and Swan House roundabout.

It was hoped the scheme would see a major retailer like Harvey Nichols attracted to the area, with around 3,000 jobs created in the process.

But progress has stalled during the credit crunch and instead of empty buildings being pulled down, space inside them is being rented out on a short-term basis.

Now, Shepherd, through firm Shepherd Offshore Developments, plan to hold discussions with developers in the hope they can re-invigorate the regeneration plans.

He said: “As Geordies, it was important to us that all these fabulous items contained in the club were kept in the region.

“We plan to move them to another historic site, La Sagesse, so they remain in the region for the benefit of future generations.

“We also hope to sit down with the owners of the building to see if we can jointly find a way forward for the whole area that will benefit everyone.”

The Constitutional Club is described as Tyneside’s “best kept secret.” With its own private lift, the club has a large main room with dancefloor, a bar and a series of lounges, complete with full-size snooker tables. There is also a large working kitchen.

Southwards it looks over the Tyne Bridge, while the view North is of Northumberland Street, while West, Grey’s Monument is seen.

The purchase of the club comes after Shepherd splashed out to buy former girls school La Sagesse in Jesmond, which closed in August last year.

It was placed on the market and Shepherd splashed out more than £5m to acquire the 26,000sq metre plot in February.

The plot, bought by Mr Shepherd through family firm Shepherd Offshore, includes the main school building, a chapel, a gym dating from the 1970s and the former convent.

The owners of the building that houses the Constitutional Club are Brookfield and Aldersgate, who voiced frustration at red tape slowing down their plans to regenerate the area earlier this year.

And in recent months, hopes of a speedy start of the revamp scheme faded after the decision was taken to rent out office space in the East Pilgrim Street area in the short-term.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...2703-25124620/

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Shepherd is being very, very clever during this recession. He's bought up a few very good pieces of real estate when there's been very little competition.

It just reminds me of some of the moves Newcastle council have been making. Purchasing sites in the Ouseburn, the Northern Rock buildings etc was a very good idea - low risk, high return bargains which the city can use to a) bring in revenue and b) shape development to the benefit of the city, not the developers' bank balance.

If you had anything to do with this sort of thing Greg, well done.