If Mitt Romney did Brutalism?
Bizarrely, it was meant to be a cafe, but never found a tenant (I wonder why?)
I only know it from Get Carter.
1 Like
One structure is made largely of window glass and has a soaring ceiling, befitting its purpose as a welcoming lobby to the arts; the other has only narrow panes of glass and is solid, protecting its massive library collection and providing many floors with nooks and crannies to study in. Sunlight on books is not a good thing.
6 Likes
Try this loop one time:
- west 2 blocks to Cornelissen art supplies
- across the street to Edwin Lutyens’ Bloomsbury Hotel, sit down in a spider back chair and order a Greenwich from the juice bar
- 2 blocks further to the electronics shops on Tottenham Court Road
- a couple blocks south, left onto Denmark Street, full of music shops
- if it’s Thursday lunch, grab an arepa from the Venezuelan truck at the St. Giles hot food market
- flat white coffee at Monmouth
- new umbrella at Smith’s
- 18/19C books at Jarndyce, current ones at London Review bookshop
- Blade Rubber stamp shop
and you’re back at the museum.
5 Likes
I live within walking distance of the site, and I don’t miss it, not at all- Gateshead really didn’t need a gigantic non-functional carpark. It wasn’t even the most interesting Brutalist building in Gateshead, but who complained about the demolition of the Dunston Rocket?
…though the only reason the Trinity carpark was there in the first place was that most of the 19th century town centre was demolished in the 1960s.
2 Likes
OT but is that the one where “Lord” Mandelson looked at the mushy peas and said “and I’ll have some of the guacamole?”[quote=“Beanolini, post:44, topic:89302”]
…though the only reason the Trinity carpark was there in the first place was that most of the 19th century town centre was demolished in the 1960s.
[/quote]
I vaguely remember that. I also remember the Mayor’s car park that more or less led straight onto the road to the airport, and that it was said it was so he could make his escape when the law finally caught up with the corruption.
Biggest investment mistake I ever made was not buying a flat in the Barbican when it opened.
1 Like
Look at some photos of the library at Tokyo’s Musashino Art University. A library can be be modern and perform its function well without looking like an above-ground fallout shelter.
1 Like
Considering that library’s location, looking like “an above-ground fallout shelter” is exactly appropriate.
Not every building in every style is going to appeal to you. Or me. Or the guy sitting one cubicle down. A building built in one country by one architect, even around the same time period, is going to look different than a building in the same general style built by a different architect somewhere else. C’est la vie.
Now that is a truly inspired connection. Well noted.
As I said upthread, “It’s almost as if it’s a matter of personal taste, innit?”
1 Like
but working in rooms without windows is horrible.
personally I think the library of the Uni Freiburg looks hideous but they tried to combine both use cases (storage of books, working with books) in one building: the shelves are in the center of the building, the reading desks on the outside
3 Likes
Bicycle parks almost all look a mess and the construction site doesn’t help, but I don’t think it looks too bad in itself.
Google images of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. It will either bum you out or call to you.
1 Like
many design architecture thingies work as freestanding concept. but unfortunately* they have to exist within the available environment
* I am channeling the architect here
1 Like
Oh, I miss The Rocket too. Apparently had a very high suicide rate among tenants, mind. Ah’d climb a moontan for Tudor!
Aye, the links between the building industry and our local Dear Leaders have always been… interesting.
Our local Dear Leaders have just decided to cut my wages 15% as well, so I’m all for heads on pikes. Fuckers.
1 Like
“Bloody clients!” (I am direct quoting an architect.)
1 Like
I lived for three years in Taunton, and when I left I considered it the most corrupt place on Earth. The entire place had been sewn up by three local builders and their political cronies. Tradesmen wage rates were held very low, profits were huge, it was rumoured many councillors had flats and houses in Spain paid for with money that they had never seen. The worst of it was that it was corruption over what was not, in reality, an awful lot of money. And today Taunton is a mess.
This topic was automatically closed after 5 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
