HRH and carbuncles

[Nemesis]

Not great news, but what can I know:

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=19722863

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=19744488&bustcache=&1201895711039#views

 

[Nemesis]

Hideous impractical dust-trap St Pancras Station in the 60s is now wonderful St Pancras

I never thought so.

 

[piper]

Interested to know what Ev and others think of the Sage. Personally, I like it very much, and I also tend to agree with quite a lot Charlie says, e.g. whole philosophy of buildings etc at Highgrove.

 

[Nemesis]

I find it inoffensive, it has tried to echo the bridges, the reflective nature of the material makes it vanish a little, at night I find the geometry of the windows interesting, I even have a painting in which it features (view from the viewing floor of the Baltic). But I don't think it's great architecture. No, no real reason other than gut reaction. Not very elegant. But - its scale and position now (unless the demo has begun...) makes it an interesting grouping with the car park, and from the top of that you get great views over it.

Some very distressed campaigners in Edinburgh tonight, following the Bath decison. However, HRH has cleverly raised the issue to a national outcry... we may get it called in, but then there are the financial and other costs of a public inquiry. There ain't no justice.

 

[Penners]

this was always a heap of sh*te and we are glad to see the back of it

Is that the big building that you see on the right soon after you've come north across the Gateshead bridge? If so, good riddance!

 

[Nemesis]

No, it was opposite the Station Hotel, near Stephensons' Monument.

It's gone. But sadly so has the building it replaced.

 

[Penners]

Interested to know what Ev and others think of the Sage.

I like it, too, but in then I like the whole riverside area around the The Baltic, The Sage and the Millennium Bridge.

Here's a piccy that I took from a friend's bijou apartment on the Newcastle side.

 

[Nemesis]

I like some of what was done, but sadly a great deal of character and many interesting buildings were swept away in the process. Several magnificent warehouses suffered mystery fires, and I can't say that many of those bijou apartment blocks are of great architectural value.

The revamped Live Theatre is stunning, off the Quayside, though. I love the wall which was built too, with the carved reliefs showing buildings and features along the Tyne, which includes our local pottery.

The bridge is wonderful, shame that it had to be spolt by the guides and lights in the river - health and safety again!

A worthy addition to the High Level, the Tyne and the brilliant Swing Bridge.

My home town. I only wish that it hadn't been so badly mauled in recent decades.

 

[Penners]

I can't say that many of those bijou apartment blocks are of great architectural value.

I quite agree. They're like a thousand similar, unimaginative waterside developments all over the country.

Gorgeous views, though. Here it is by night (excuse the slight camera shake - I'd had a few by then!)

 

[piper]

Canny Newcastle; A good pipe tune among many others equally appropriate, e.g. The High Level Hornpipe, the New High Level etc. etc. What a pity we don't have a soundtrack to these threads - background music of Northumbrian pipes would be just canny. Why Aye Hinnies.

 

[Nemesis]

If you are going again in the near future, buy tickets for the Pitman Painters - a second run starting in April of Lee Hall's new play, before it goes to the National, and I have no doubt, as with his Billy Elliot, is made into an award winning film, but it is a wonderful theatre piece which should be seen in Le'e's 'home' theatre really, with the original cast. Converted listed buildings.

Buy cabaret seats - those are the ones at the stage edge with the tables for your drinks. The bar has been removed from the theatre space but drinking inside is still encouraged! Just don't overdo it and fall off your seat.

I am a very long time 'customer' of Live, worked in part of the building for a while, was worried that the revamp might spoil it but it hasn't. It's wonderful.

 

[Nemesis]

Piper - possibly not the Wild Hills of Wanney (however you want to spell it) as if the windfarmers have their way, they won't be to wild for much longer.

I'm sure that there will be an online soundtrack, although The High Level Ranters is maybe more appropriate! Recorded live at the Bridge?

 

[piper]

The High Level Ranters is maybe more appropriate!

 

[Nemesis]

Still going I see - but the REAL Ranters:

http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/Index_Link_Files/high_level_ranters_topic_records.html

I think Adam Buckham would be the best track for Penners's pics!

 

[Nemesis]

Anyhow - back to the meat of some of HRH's speech and World Heritage Sites:

Very worrying news:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/412

http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/411

Let's hope it won't happen here, but Bath could be a first, with Liverpool coming next...