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dunno if this is old news, but i found it an interesting read.
no wonder my image of london during my visit not so long ago is tainted by the rampant, consuming, discriminating capitalism which seems to have taken firm grip of the city.
i should add im dutch living in berlin so from totally different social and planning backgrounds.
but to be honest. it really was disappointing.. -
Sadly common place. I was speaking to a friend at the weekend who is working on a project where the Section 106 contribution was to build a library. Of course the housing phase of the project commenced prior to this. Unsuprisingly the developer now claims they can't afford the S106 agreement and Westminster are toothless in holding them too it. Apparently the only leverage WCC have is with the determination future planning applications, which would be appealed anyway and WCC would no doubt lose.
Quite enjoyed Sam Jacob's piece on Dezeen about the clusterfuck that is Heatherwick's garden bridge.
The bridge then might be the ultimate conclusion of British urbanism and simultaneously the end of – or opposite of – real urbanity, the ultimate product of the post-public city.
Indeed, many are arguing that the Garden Bridge is the tipping point where London is no longer a real city but a theme park for tourists and the mega rich. In which case its imagery might resonate in another way.
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it is very sad indeed.
the fact that we*'ve produced a culture where one, with money, can shamelessly denounce their social responsibilities with the argument of otherwise not getting a TWENTY PERCENT PROFIT is beyond my willingness to understand.
im now working on a project in a banlieu of paris where all these things, percentage social housing, percentage of green space per built square meter are much more cemented down.
we work for the devil (aka property developer), but the system keeps them to their responsibilities -
I've done quite a bit of (voluntary) work on land use planning and seen the most appalling rotten tricks by developers, but needless to say, the good guys exist, too.
The biggest failure of our land use 'planning' system is that it opens every door to property speculation and invites injustice and unevenness at every level.
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They're building a big new school near us. The developers have just advised that they can't finish it on budget because of 'inflation' so are going to charge more. Apparently that's a thing you can do in public sector work, get part way through and put the price up because inflation. The school now has to decide which facilities they forego to ensure the builder gets their profit.
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Always have your contracts clear and precise. Keep a big post in the budget for unforeseeable expenses and make the definition of that very including.
In other news, I GOT A JOB! For the next six months before I go back to school to graduate. I'm chuffed and excited. It's the studio where I've been the past semester as an intern.
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Croydon - a strangely interesting place! Had the pleasure of spending many hours at Lunar House in Croydon on Saturday. During the brief hour when I could leave the building I went for a wander searching food but I got distracted by the architecture of the area. Really fascinating! Maybe the winter sunshine and cold harsh light helped but the various building looked so crisp. The space age influences to Lunar and Apollo house - Love the louvres and the angled base to the building making it look a little like a lunar lander. Lot's of stilts and cantilevers (?).
What does all this mean? I'm not educated in architecture at all so my descriptions may be lacking but I found the area fascinating. Weirdly I'd like to ride down there and try some photography.
The only real info I found on the are is this:
http://dirtymodernscoundrel.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/ten-monuments-from-space-age-in-croydon.htmlAnyone else, or is it just me that is weird for liking Croydon?
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Just you. :oP
Having grown up in the wake of 70's architecture, I find it fascinating how hopes and dreams change.
These Utopian towers reminiscent of visions from The Great Exhibitions looked to the future.
They appear heavily influenced by Americana and the Jet set to me. Where the Sun only shines and the seasons never change. Where every citizen smiles cheerily on their way to work.
But they built them in Croydon.
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So much of Croydon is yesteryear's futuristic ambitions. And then so much Victorian(?) rather grand home-making too. It's pretty great at times. Although the local people also have "future promises" fatigue from various major projects that haven't happened for a long time. Looks like they will get their Westfield though... Also interesting that a lot of that retro-future office stuff is now being replaced as it can longer be let. It isn't what modern companies want.
One of the planners has a nice Instagram that seems to often delight in Croydon. (Edit - found it) http://instagram.com/vincentlacovara/
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Funny how the impressions of the place differ. For perspective, I had to go there for an ILR application at the Home office and was dreading it for multiple reasons. After waiting for 3 hours in a drab series of rooms we had the opportunity to go outside and walk around. So, possibly, anything would have been interesting. I actually said to my partner that it felt very "Canberran" if you've ever been to Canberra in Australia you'd know exactly - artificial and sterile. Still, nice to see a different part of the place - and I tend to like anything distopian.
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Little mention of the fact that trying to knock down Grade I-listed buildings also isn't the most straightforward recipe for success. :)
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It depends what part of the building is original, many of the buildings near Regents Park were bombed during the war, so don't retain original layouts or fabric making it possible to alter even a Grade I listed property fairly significantly. Plus it doesn't actually say they're demolishing the buildings does it ;)
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I could live in this
http://www.dezeen.com/2011/12/14/mima-house-by-mima-architects/
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...and we could watch...
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ikea.com
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http://homedesigning.tumblr.com/
http://interiorlikes.tumblr.com
The Selby
http://homeandinteriors.tumblr.com
Flats on The Modern House estate agent often have interesting interiors and are well photographed
mrgumby
Rodolfo
Prole.
Oliver Schick
Hefty
tbc
kboy
drøn
TRA
Ordinata
hoefla
RichG
withered_preacher
krikov
fredtc-
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Architecture and interior design thread
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@coppiThat
great site.
the portmeirion-esque, grayson perry FAT project made me smile.
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