Malcolm Fraser Architects carbuncles for Berwick

[Nemesis]

Well he may be award-winning, but his Dance City in Newcatle is an eyesore, his proposed building for the dreaful Caltongate development in Edinburgh's Old Town World Heritage Site a monstrosity,

http://www.eh8.org.uk



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and now he's about to destroy the historic charms of Berwick:

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/newcastle/berwick_upon_tweed_flats.htm

Click on pics to enlarge.

Still, the planning officer likes it:

Planning officer Peter Rutherford said the site represented a 'significant challenge' which the developers had met.

"It's a challenging site to mediate the intervening space between two landmark buildings, Lloyds TSB and the Bank of Scotland," he explained. "Our view is that the mediation has been achieved successfully. The height, scale, form and mass of the building works in a very sophisticated way.

"It appears when you view it from lower Hide Hill and Sandgate to nestle and abut the gable of the Lloyds bank building. It doesn't but it reinforces the building line, grain and muscularity of these commercial buildings. It then, through the architecture, avoids competing with the Bank of Scotland building."

Planning officers have been asked to approach the developers to ask if they will contribute to the funding of a parking strategy for the town.

http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/Restaurant-and-flats-for-former.3846941.jp

http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/Playhouse-Theatre-to-be-demolished.3847481.jp

This are the buildings which to be demolished for the flats on Hide Hill:


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[Gareth Hughes]

Well he may be award-winning,

and now he's about to destroy the historic charms of Berwick:

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/newcastle/berwick_upon_tweed_flats.htm

Click on pics to enlarge.

Still, the planning officer likes it:

So, up to a point, does the Chairman of the local Civic Society:

Alison Cowe, chairman of Berwick Civic Society, said: "I still think the building is a storey too high and needs a little more work to be a successful addition to the landscape but overall I think it is a high quality piece of architecture for Berwick town centre."

I agree with her. It's replacing one very grotty and never much good single-storey c.1900 bit of tat and a very sorry-looking and heavily altered possibly early 1800s block. And the buildings either side that the planning officer is so impressed about the new building mediating between aren't much cop either - very routine Victorian commercial.

This time it's mainly the colour I'm not absolutely certain about.

 

[Nemesis]

I like the old shop - it's a bit of fun - and the old inn behind fits in around the rest. With a bit of paint and some refurb it could have been re-used.

I wonder if residents will hang their washing on the balconies...

In general Berwick is a town of some charm and quite a bit of decent building - but it's the overall effect and this will seriously be a sore thumb. I seem not to be the only one who thinks that, but I'm not a great fan of Mr F. The second building, the one to replace the Playhouse, is simply ugly. Like so much he does.

Alison Cowe of Berwick Civic Society described it as a 'big staring blank eye across the street', as she raised this, and other concerns about parking and the height of the proposed building to the committee.

Just up from the Lloyds Bank is an inn where Dickens stayed. Twice. He even gave a reading in the Assembly rooms. Busy man.


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Malcolm Fraser said: "We are absolutely delighted to get the go ahead to press on with these two exciting schemes which will help to regenerate Berwick town centre.

"There are too many unused buildings and gap sites so it's great to be able to bring some contemporary use to them and hopefully provide a fresh buzz to that part of town."

I note this has to be referred to the Sec of State. It's in a conservation area. Not sure what the reason is for the referral as yet.

I worry about architects who talk about providing a fresh buzz.

Tom D has it about right:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/architecture_and_design/article3403126.ece

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Hmmm. I think when you're replacing tatty grot, or even average background architecture in a historic town, it's far better to seize the opportunity:View attachment 1

than do the ghastly good taste, so-called (ie planners' interpretation) "in keeping" thing:View attachment 2

 

[Nemesis]

I'm no fan of the low quality 'in keeping' stuff either, although there are times, if well done, it has a place. I dislike glass as I do think it's not as invisible as some would wish and its time hopefully has passed. Well apart from in Bath - the Spa wasn't too great, the Dustbin which has replaced Churchill House nasty, the Dyson Aademy is ... unbelievable.

The building I do like of Fraser Architects is the Scottish Storytelling Centre, although he didn't actually design it I gather - colleague Neil Simpson did.

http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/scottish_storytelling_centre.htm

But he's won another award:

http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/bryant_homes_edinburgh.htm

The Mr S has set up on his own and objected very strongly to the Caltongate Carbuncle.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Funny, the storytelling centre looks great from uphill, but lousy from downhill, don't you think?

 

[Nemesis]

Nope. I like it all ways.