Wigglesworth looks at Robin Hood rescue | News | Building Design
Where on earth do they get their prices from? £70-100k pet unit, Coming form the construction industry that really is a load of tosh. This argument is put forward all the time and nobody ever challenges it.
As for what is replacing it, spot the difference? nope neither can I. The lessons from the 60's about not listening to communities and bulldozing on are alive and well by the sounds of it. Its so reassuring having our betters to do the thinking for us, m'Lord.
As for what is replacing it, spot the difference? nope neither can I. The lessons from the 60's about not listening to communities and bulldozing on are alive and well by the sounds of it. Its so reassuring having our betters to do the thinking for us, m'Lord.
The core of the subject is people, place people with opportunities to better themselves in a community, you get the Barbican. Take away those opportunities and tell them they will lucky to get a job and if they do they should be satisfied with minimum wage, dump them on an estate, bingo! sink estate! A building is never going to solve how people see the world, opportunity and hope are the way out. As people take pride in themselves, then pride in their surroundings follows. This is were the modernists got it wrong (i love modernist buildings, and i am not an architect) people are not machines. Can we learn from this? Yes but foundations first, and recently the raising of student fee's (and its not only the young who go to University) has in one swoop put us back 40 years, degree's will now be privilege of the wealthy. Politicians hang your heads in shame.
I've been vaguely following this argument since starting this degree (somehow managed to remain oblivious to the proposals before then) and have yet to read any residents' opinions.
ReplyDeleteI have friends who, until a few years ago (when they eventually saved up enough to move), lived on the 5th floor of Robin Hood Gardens (the block overlooking the Dartford tunnel) and frankly, they hated the place. With two young children, the playground was virtually useless unless one of the parents could find the time to accompany them down to it and wait whilst they played amongst the used syringes; even the lift was a no-go zone for at times (when it wasn't broken). The balcony corridor was effectively a wind funnel (lovely fresh, icy blasts in the winter) and although their flat was toasty warm in winter due to the highly efficient double-glazing, it was sweltering (not to mention dazzling) during the summer.
And arguably worst of all was the sense of isolation from all but one of the neighbours (the front doors are placed to face each other) and especially the outside world.
Having said that, the views were great and their flat was surprisingly spacious but no matter how highly the development may be regarded as an architectural 'treasure' I sincerely wonder how many of even its most ardent fans would genuinely choose to live there ...
Saw a Guardian video, interviewing residents etc, slightly pompous architect. Came away undecided like my views count for anything.
ReplyDeleteThey are taking it down. The only problem i have seen the new ones they are just pretty artists impressions. Sort the area out first.
Thanks for the comment i will chat to you on Monday about that one. It is helpful working your way through all the sides to hopefully reach some kind of educated conclusion.