Planned improvements around Centre Point - Page 2

***gothicform*** · August 5th, 2008, 11:14 PM

yes, it would. last time i tried i was getting emails asking me if i knew my account had been hacked. lol.

Rational Plan · August 6th, 2008, 09:50 PM

This is long overdue. The main reason for digging up the pond and snooker club underneath is thatit provides space tp launch a new escalator shaft down to the Northern Line. Meaning instead of just three escalators from the ticket hall there will be six. The extra space then allows a much bigger ticktet hall and much bigger street entrances on the Eastern side. The added bonus of getting rid of the stupid pond is that the street can continue up the Eastern Side of the Street. Closing the gyratory will also reduce conflicting traffic movements and tidy up a vary messy pedestrian environment.

On a personal note. I just don't like the entrances they look too large for the size of square and could clash with the base of the tower. A think a simpler glass shelter would serve the space better.

the spliff fairy · August 7th, 2008, 03:21 PM

St Giles is without a doubt the WORST area of London...historically. It was used as a plague pit in medieval times, then housed the prisoners and insane, and was the epicentre of following plague, influenza and cholera outbreaks throughout the centuries. It became the largest, poorest slum in London, aswell as the notorious last stop (at the pub) for the thousands hanged at the 'Tyburn Tree'. The local skagged out drug addicts and streetwalkers today add to this rich history.

***gothicform*** · August 7th, 2008, 04:05 PM

ummm wasnt the tyburn tree located in hyde park on what is now speakers corner?

***wjfox*** · August 7th, 2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothicform

ummm wasnt the tyburn tree located in hyde park on what is now speakers corner?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Giles%27_Circus

"From the Roman Period to the mid-19th century, St. Giles High Street was the main approach to the City of London from the west. In the Middle Ages, the City's Gallows were located at St. Giles Circus alongside a cage for prisoners. Later, when the place of public execution was moved west to Tyburn Tree, the Angel Inn near the Circus became a stopping point for the condemned on the way to Tyburn where they would be offered a final drink."

El_Greco · August 7th, 2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the spliff fairy

St Giles is without a doubt the WORST area of London...historically. It was used as a plague pit in medieval times, then housed the prisoners and insane, and was the epicentre of following plague, influenza and cholera outbreaks throughout the centuries. It became the largest, poorest slum in London, aswell as the notorious last stop (at the pub) for the thousands hanged at the 'Tyburn Tree'. The local skagged out drug addicts and streetwalkers today add to this rich history.

Sounds like it was a very colourful area!

DodgyEye · August 7th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothicform

ummm wasnt the tyburn tree located in hyde park on what is now speakers corner?

From Wikipedia: "The site of the [Tyburn Tree] is now marked by three brass triangles mounted on the pavement at the corner of Edgware Road and Bayswater Road"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyburn,_London

...another area that could do with some improvements...

***gothicform*** · August 7th, 2008, 05:56 PM

hmm...

Quote:

The area is also near to the largest Marks & Spencer store in the United Kingdom.

The arch stands close to the site of the Tyburn gallows (sometimes called 'Tyburn Tree'), a place of public execution from 1388 until 1793.

jimbo · August 11th, 2008, 12:04 AM

recommend that anyone with a passing interest in the streetscape around Centrepoint or the TCR tube station and the future crossrail stations get along to the Building Design centre - lots of informative info and a couple of friendly TFL chaps to explain whats going on. By god its going to take a while, but it'll be worth it eventually.

fitz44 · January 17th, 2009, 07:38 PM

We seem to have a number of Tottenham Court Road threads that will need clarifying as work in the area gets underway. Perhaps we need a Crossrail thread (I know there's one in Transport) for the above ground demo/construction?

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3131552&c=1

Centre Point fountains make way for Crossrail

But heritage groups argue they should be reinstated once work is done

Fountains built to mark the base of London’s Centre Point are looking for a new home as preparations get under way for the Crossrail project.

The grade II listed fountains, built in 1963, are to make way for huge ventilation shafts and an underground ticket hall for the new Hawkins Brown-designed Crossrail station at the busy intersection of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street.

But heritage groups and architects including ABK founder Richard Burton — whose father-in-law Jupp Dernbach-Mayen designed the fountains — have demanded the fountains be incorporated in the area’s redevelopment amid claims of a wider threat to 20th century public art and sculpture.

Burton told BD he was unconvinced the fountains had to be removed, and that his family still hoped architects could rework the scheme to include them.

“It’s integral to the building,” he said. “If you look at [artists’ impressions of the proposed scheme] there’s a whole area that’s free. There might be room for it.”

The Twentieth Century Society and modern movement campaign group Docomomo backed Burton, with the latter claiming the planned removal of the fountains was symptomatic of a wider problem of postwar art being separated from its architectural context.

“These things are never just ‘add-ons’”, said Docomomo co-chair Dennis Sharp. “They are an integral part of the building, and they’re paid for by the public.”

Twentieth Century Society caseworker Jon Wright called on Hawkins Brown and Stanton Williams, which is designing the station’s entrances, to rethink their approach.

“All the drawings I’ve seen show a large plaza,” he said. “Clearly they are going to have some provision for art and I’d argue that these fountains are a significant part of what makes up Centre Point and its surrounds.

“We accept that this is necessary work [to temporarily remove the fountains] but they should be going back.”

But architects involved with the project insisted the fountains were being sacrificed for the greater good.

Hawkins Browns director Roger Hawkins said: “This has been the proposal for years, it’s part of the Crossrail bill.

“We’re building a ticket hall in the space under the pool six times larger than the current one.

“There has to be some pain to have the gain, and the gain is considerable.”

And Patrick Richard, project director for Stanton Williams, said the fountains had in fact made the plaza inaccessible to pedestrians.

He said: “It’s an impossible area to walk across, it’s a death trap.”

Officer Dibble · January 17th, 2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitz44

The grade II listed fountains, built in 1963

image hosted on flickr

(by "Immigrant's Images" on flickr)

They listed that pile of dreck? Is there anything left in London that's NOT listed?

Pompey77 · January 18th, 2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Burton told BD he was unconvinced the fountains had to be removed, and that his family still hoped architects could rework the scheme to include them.

“It’s integral to the building,” he said. “If you look at [artists’ impressions of the proposed scheme] there’s a whole area that’s free. There might be room for it.”

There isn’t room for the fountains now. They completely block the pavement and make the pedestrian environment around Centre Point one of the worst in this area of London. How exactly will there be room after larger accesses to the station have been added?

I simply can't believe why anyone would argue for the fountains to be reinstated. They are now and have always been a disaster. And as for them being listed.

jimbo · January 19th, 2009, 02:43 PM

they've hardly been turned on over the last couple of years......just move them and install them somewhere else, seems a bit retro to try and include them in the new site if the new stations need major ventilation!

I agree with the description as 'dreck'!!!

golddex · January 19th, 2009, 03:43 PM

I agree taking out the fountains is for the greater good but they do help to soften a hard concretey area.... there's some space behind Centrepoint near that Japanese store where they could go?

jayo · January 19th, 2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamandell (d69)

Looks great...but would it kill you to use a capital letter at all goth?

Why does it matter?

DarJoLe · January 19th, 2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayo

Why does it matter?

Because it's not how the English language is written. And it looks untidy.

Trances · January 21st, 2009, 04:25 PM

I can't belive anyone would support keeping the fountains. More open space is a gift and requirement to anyone in central London.

Officer Dibble · January 21st, 2009, 08:49 PM

Completely agree.

Light Parade · January 31st, 2009, 12:34 AM

Every so often some clown tips a bottle of Fairy Liquid into said fountains and CXR fills with bubbles... otherwise, no redeeming features. Have you seen how badly they leak into the subay below - it's the worst slice of public realm in London down there...

Octoman · January 31st, 2009, 01:24 PM

The fountains are ugly. No idea why they would want to keep them.

This all looks quite good. Glad they are doing something to improve the stretch to the north of Centrepoint on Tottenham Court Road. Its really ugly.

January 17th, 2009, 07:38 PM	#30
fitz44 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,203 Likes (Received): 6	We seem to have a number of Tottenham Court Road threads that will need clarifying as work in the area gets underway. Perhaps we need a Crossrail thread (I know there's one in Transport) for the above ground demo/construction? http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3131552&c=1 Centre Point fountains make way for Crossrail But heritage groups argue they should be reinstated once work is done Fountains built to mark the base of London’s Centre Point are looking for a new home as preparations get under way for the Crossrail project. The grade II listed fountains, built in 1963, are to make way for huge ventilation shafts and an underground ticket hall for the new Hawkins Brown-designed Crossrail station at the busy intersection of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. But heritage groups and architects including ABK founder Richard Burton — whose father-in-law Jupp Dernbach-Mayen designed the fountains — have demanded the fountains be incorporated in the area’s redevelopment amid claims of a wider threat to 20th century public art and sculpture. Burton told BD he was unconvinced the fountains had to be removed, and that his family still hoped architects could rework the scheme to include them. “It’s integral to the building,” he said. “If you look at [artists’ impressions of the proposed scheme] there’s a whole area that’s free. There might be room for it.” The Twentieth Century Society and modern movement campaign group Docomomo backed Burton, with the latter claiming the planned removal of the fountains was symptomatic of a wider problem of postwar art being separated from its architectural context. “These things are never just ‘add-ons’”, said Docomomo co-chair Dennis Sharp. “They are an integral part of the building, and they’re paid for by the public.” Twentieth Century Society caseworker Jon Wright called on Hawkins Brown and Stanton Williams, which is designing the station’s entrances, to rethink their approach. “All the drawings I’ve seen show a large plaza,” he said. “Clearly they are going to have some provision for art and I’d argue that these fountains are a significant part of what makes up Centre Point and its surrounds. “We accept that this is necessary work [to temporarily remove the fountains] but they should be going back.” But architects involved with the project insisted the fountains were being sacrificed for the greater good. Hawkins Browns director Roger Hawkins said: “This has been the proposal for years, it’s part of the Crossrail bill. “We’re building a ticket hall in the space under the pool six times larger than the current one. “There has to be some pain to have the gain, and the gain is considerable.” And Patrick Richard, project director for Stanton Williams, said the fountains had in fact made the plaza inaccessible to pedestrians. He said: “It’s an impossible area to walk across, it’s a death trap.” __________________ London Random and Unseen Photos; http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=637985

January 21st, 2009, 04:25 PM	#37
Trances , , and , Fade to Black. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Living in London Posts: 7,895 Likes (Received): 4	I can't belive anyone would support keeping the fountains. More open space is a gift and requirement to anyone in central London. __________________ "Are we ready to go farther or have we already gone to far?" “He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future.”

January 21st, 2009, 08:49 PM	#38
Officer Dibble cartoon policeman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Londres Posts: 2,961 Likes (Received): 40	Completely agree. __________________ dibble music

January 31st, 2009, 12:34 AM	#39
Light Parade Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London Posts: 693 Likes (Received): 14	Centre Point fountains Every so often some clown tips a bottle of Fairy Liquid into said fountains and CXR fills with bubbles... otherwise, no redeeming features. Have you seen how badly they leak into the subay below - it's the worst slice of public realm in London down there...

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August 5th, 2008, 11:14 PM	#21
*gothicform* Bossman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: not london Posts: 29,147 Likes (Received): 481	yes, it would. last time i tried i was getting emails asking me if i knew my account had been hacked. lol.

August 6th, 2008, 09:50 PM	#22
Rational Plan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Slough Posts: 2,785 Likes (Received): 52	This is long overdue. The main reason for digging up the pond and snooker club underneath is thatit provides space tp launch a new escalator shaft down to the Northern Line. Meaning instead of just three escalators from the ticket hall there will be six. The extra space then allows a much bigger ticktet hall and much bigger street entrances on the Eastern side. The added bonus of getting rid of the stupid pond is that the street can continue up the Eastern Side of the Street. Closing the gyratory will also reduce conflicting traffic movements and tidy up a vary messy pedestrian environment. On a personal note. I just don't like the entrances they look too large for the size of square and could clash with the base of the tower. A think a simpler glass shelter would serve the space better.

August 7th, 2008, 03:21 PM	#23
the spliff fairy ONE WORLD Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: london Posts: 7,170 Likes (Received): 247	St Giles is without a doubt the WORST area of London...historically. It was used as a plague pit in medieval times, then housed the prisoners and insane, and was the epicentre of following plague, influenza and cholera outbreaks throughout the centuries. It became the largest, poorest slum in London, aswell as the notorious last stop (at the pub) for the thousands hanged at the 'Tyburn Tree'. The local skagged out drug addicts and streetwalkers today add to this rich history.

August 7th, 2008, 04:05 PM	#24
*gothicform* Bossman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: not london Posts: 29,147 Likes (Received): 481	ummm wasnt the tyburn tree located in hyde park on what is now speakers corner?

August 11th, 2008, 12:04 AM	#29
jimbo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leeds/London Posts: 4,677 Likes (Received): 3	recommend that anyone with a passing interest in the streetscape around Centrepoint or the TCR tube station and the future crossrail stations get along to the Building Design centre - lots of informative info and a couple of friendly TFL chaps to explain whats going on. By god its going to take a while, but it'll be worth it eventually.

January 19th, 2009, 02:43 PM	#33
jimbo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leeds/London Posts: 4,677 Likes (Received): 3	they've hardly been turned on over the last couple of years......just move them and install them somewhere else, seems a bit retro to try and include them in the new site if the new stations need major ventilation! I agree with the description as 'dreck'!!!

January 19th, 2009, 03:43 PM	#34
golddex Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London Posts: 206 Likes (Received): 0	I agree taking out the fountains is for the greater good but they do help to soften a hard concretey area.... there's some space behind Centrepoint near that Japanese store where they could go?

January 31st, 2009, 01:24 PM	#40
Octoman Boo! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 20,681 Likes (Received): 470	The fountains are ugly. No idea why they would want to keep them. This all looks quite good. Glad they are doing something to improve the stretch to the north of Centrepoint on Tottenham Court Road. Its really ugly.