| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Another one bites the dust | |
| Posted by: | Tracie Dudley Craig | |
| Date/Time: | 18/08/19 11:31:00 |
| Nichols - Yes. That was a tragedy. NV - I feel you're being obtuse. I live in the St Pauls area, in a little Victorian cottage of no particular architectural merit. It does, however, have charm, and it's a pleasure to live around here. It would make me sad if a developer were to plough down these dwellings in the name of progress. My point has always been that, when it comes to urban regeneration, there is a need for architectural diversity and an honouring of the past. The Wilson & Kyle building wasn't especially attractive, but it has a certain grittiness and integrity, which is part and parcel of the curious place that is Brentford. Its place in Brentford's industrial past speaks for itself. The County Court is another good example. It is unlovely, but speaks of the time and purpose for which it was built. It has value. Georgian splendour, Victorian terraces, pre-war Deco, post-war modernism (and - say it - brutalism) and contemporary structures can, and should, co-exist. It's the patchwork that makes a place lively and interesting. O'Riordan's Tavern may not possess architectural merit on a grand scale, however it is an attractive building with a long history and is worthy of care. Its proposed replacement does not enhance or add anything to the area. To my eyes, the plans show a building of no merit whatsoever. You don't have to be Einstein to work out that TW8 was one of the last areas in London to offer riverside land at relatively affordable prices, something for which developers were desperate. How lucky for them that there was a council ready to grant almost anything in exchange for cash and a blind eye willingly turned to both the aesthetic and social ramifications of their plans. It's not regeneration - it's vandalism. |