Bath - the Holburne extension

[Nemesis]

Some good news - at least the controversial proposed extension has been refused permission.

Of course it will probably go to appeal...

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/feature.asp?featurecode=11978


http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3092724

The Bath Chronicle tells rather a different story:

http://tinyurl.com/2mj57f

And RogerH (of this site) has it about right:

"Am I right in thinking that the rejected extension would have been at the rear of the existing building and caused no offence to anyone?" ... Hardly. It would have been on the garden front of the building, the part designed to form the termination of a vista through Sydney Gardens (the only surviving 18th century pleasure garden remaining as a public park). In addition it included the removal of an internal wall and chimney breast inside the Grade 1 building, the demolition and relocation of the staircase and the division of the entrance hall. Nor has anyone suggested that the Holburne should not be allowed to extend, nor that it cannot be of modern design. The fact that councillors voted nine to three against this particular proposal, despite heavy and high profile lobbying, demonstrates just what an insensitive and inappropriate addition this particular design would have been.
rogerh, Bath

 

[Nemesis]

There is a website:

http://www.halttheholburne.com

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Some good news - at least the controversial proposed extension has been refused permission.

Of course it will probably go to appeal...

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/feature.asp?featurecode=11978


http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3092724

The Bath Chronicle tells rather a different story:

http://tinyurl.com/2mj57f

And RogerH (of this site) has it about right:

"Am I right in thinking that the rejected extension would have been at the rear of the existing building and caused no offence to anyone?" ... Hardly. It would have been on the garden front of the building, the part designed to form the termination of a vista through Sydney Gardens (the only surviving 18th century pleasure garden remaining as a public park). In addition it included the removal of an internal wall and chimney breast inside the Grade 1 building, the demolition and relocation of the staircase and the division of the entrance hall. Nor has anyone suggested that the Holburne should not be allowed to extend, nor that it cannot be of modern design. The fact that councillors voted nine to three against this particular proposal, despite heavy and high profile lobbying, demonstrates just what an insensitive and inappropriate addition this particular design would have been.
rogerh, Bath

I'm sorry, but that really is spherical, and there are two of them.

The back elevation and much of the interior dates from Reginald Blomfield's remodelling in the early 1900s. Blomfield was never above spoiling perfectly good buildings with his own, often rather poor, alterations and this is a case where what would have been "lost" was not of the importance being attached to it by rogerh.

I don't much like the Parry scheme myself but if it annoys the smug beggars of Bath (and as it doesn't involve a catastrophic architectural loss), then I'm all for it. :twisted:

This page, and the pages linking from it, give a very good indication of what the scheme's about:

http://www.bath.ac.uk/holburne/future/index.html

(I note it's also being supported by John Harris, no less)

 

[Nemesis]

I think it sucks.

I think it all needs thinking about again.

Even with JH's support.

'The finely crafted ceramic exterior of the upper floors reflects the trees and sky of its garden setting while suggesting the building’s precious contents.'

I reckon it suggests nowt of the sort - and not all of the contents are ceramic. It's a lump really. No matter how much it's dressed up in fancy language.

Yes it's building I know well, was last there in December for the Uglow exhibition, and Bath is a city I know well. Don't think I'm smug, but I do think at the moment what is happening there is worrying.

I do know what it's about, but there are many facets to it all.

I do think that the HLF funding has twisted a few arms to give support where possibly they may not have done.

(I rather like the little tea rooms that are there too - a large garden shed really, but more like a park pavilion than this thing is.)

 

[rogerh]

It's not so much that Blomfield's alterations deserve protection as that the extension completely blocks any view of a rear facade to the original building. The main points made in a detailed presentation by the Historic Buildings officers at the planning meeting were the dominance of the new relative to the original, the loss of views out of the museum over the park, the division of the hallway with a glass screen, the loss of the carriageway in front of the building and the removal of an internal wall to create a single room with two styles of window.

The page you refer to doesn't give "a very good indication of what the scheme's about" either. The model is entirely white and luminous yet the sample of the ceramic provided was dark and solid, not unlike a piece of polished granite worktop.

Bath already has plenty of ill-fitting architecture to annoy its beggars, smug or otherwise.

 

[Nemesis]

I'm not altogether certain that the Geo Group's supposed support was wildly enthusiastic either... but I think the museum Director has connections there.

EH simply hasn't the guts to say no to so many schemes.

So they are going to appeal.

Pity.

I don't think the residents of Bath are smug - look at the public street demos re Churchill House.

I think just concerned - look at the mistakes of the recent past. Let's not do it again.

The Busometer is awful, the Dyson Academy...

 

[rogerh]

English Heritage: "As regards the merits of the proposed extension, views were split between members who were wholly supportive of the scheme and those who expressed concerns regarding the impact on the registered garden."

Georgian Group: "They remain of the view that rethinking of the accommodation in the Holburne should be undertaken as part of a thorough and holistic review of how the entire site, including Sydney Gardens, is presented and restored."

Meeting agenda:

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/committee_papers/DevContCtte/DC070725/08HolburnePlgApplic.htm

 

[Nemesis]

Oh - I see Tavernor is all in favour.
He usually is, as Piloti occasionally points out.

He's in favour of the Smithfield demolitions too. In fact he's appearing for 'the other side'.

Well, he who pays the piper etc.

I wonder if JH has seen the proposed cladding...

Its so top heavy too. I have no objection to something in glass here - if done well ... just this isn't it.

That's about the view I thought the Geo Group had expressd.

So it's not the total support of EH, GG, Vic Soc (been surprised if Vic Soc approved - may not have diapproved of the removal of the existing extension, which isn't the same thing...) and planners which BD states then.

Thought not.

 

[Nemesis]

Update for BD:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=436&storycode=3093167&c=2&encCode=0000000001372b61

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Update for BD:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=436&storycode=3093167&c=2&encCode=0000000001372b61

Yes, but that's Bob Adam being almost as crusty as me. He's no democrat either...

 

[Nemesis]

Well, I've just been crusty on the Bath Chronic site, in answer to a letter.

In this case I agree with RA (don't always...)

 

[Fizzer]

looks like the borg landed in Bath

 

[Nemesis]

Small piece in Country Life.

Not at all sure why there is now the gnashing of teeth and threats the museum may close and anyhow ya boo sucks we will go to appeal and win - the extension is a lump which has no place on that building. No matter how much publicity the Trustees try to get, and even if they win (too many with fingers in pies and therefore not a fair fight...) the councillors on the DCC did the right thing.

 

[Nemesis]

And what a load of pretentious twaddle on the Eric Parry site.

Click on Projects then read the blurb on Living, Working, Learning etc etc...

http://www.ericparryarchitects.co.uk/home.html

These are buildings. The Holburne proposed one is a gallery which you see from inside and out and a caff. It's not a cathedral. I like the current caff, it sells great cake and has cats. I'm sick of over priced lattes and 'modern' surroundings.

I note that the drawings on the website don't bear much resemblance to the computer model now shown around:

http://www.ericparryarchitects.co.uk/pdf/hm.pdf



Went to Kelso Tuesday. Went for lunch in a pub with lovely historic exterior, just been given the clone bland interior.

Wonder who thought it a good idea to have coffee tables to eat from instead of tables of the right sort of height to get your knees under?

Design - it's about fitness for place and purpose amongst other things.