The end of The Car Park

[Nemesis]

Well, many of us worked to try to save it... but Gateshead continues its bulldozing ways... for a Tesco, natch.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7368516.stm

 

[Nemesis]

Groan today:

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/architecture/story/0,,2276421,00.html


Video tour:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/video/2008/apr/25/gateshead


Some old news:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/mar/31/urbandesign.arts

(actually, Adam wasn't always convinced, and Maeve was being a bit naughty ... but she thought the story would make a splash as the pic would go down well with the subs - and so it proved, a half page I recall...)

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1450917,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/apr/14/film.regeneration

 

[Penners]

many of us worked to try to save it

I used to visit a company in Gateshead regularly, and I remember the monstrosity of a car park.

Save it?! You can't be serious. An appearance in "Get Carter" doth not a masterpiece make.

Good riddance, I say.

 

[Nemesis]

I used to think so, in the days when I was daft enough to think nothing good was designed after the 18th century, before I 'got into' 20th century architecture and realised it was a piece of carefully designed - well, monumenal sculpture really.

Rather better than the Tesco etc which is to replace it. Gateshead managed to clear away much of interest in the town in the sixties and seventies, and it's making the same mistakes again.

Sad.

http://www.riskybuildings.org.uk/docs/04gateshead/

http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/press/0505_nottingham.html

SAVE's publication What? Conservation is Gateshead still makes interesting reading.

I talked to Tom Dyckhoff about it recently - he was shocked to find it hadn't been saved, and I think he knows a bit about architecture. So it's not just me.

 

[Penners]

Oh, I'm sure there are many eminent architectural pundits who will mourn the passing of the building, for reasons that a layman like me cannot appreciate. I claim no such expertise or ranks of like-minded folk!

Neither do I suffer from a post-18th century prejudice. I've seen many 19th/20th/21st century buildings that are - in my inexpert view - wonderful*.

I just know what I like, and I think that car park is/was bl**dy 'orrible.

*eg: Glasgow Science Centre.

 

[Nemesis]

Well, it's sad that Gateshead is getting rid of a building many consider now iconic and distinctive, possibly a design step on the way to the sort of sculptural building you admire, and putting cr*p in its place.
I love this too:

http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/building/killingworth.html

and indeed this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Newcastle_Civic_Centre.JPG

I got married there - although not exactly out of choice I suppose, it was/is the Registry Office.

 

[Penners]

I got married there - although not exactly out of choice I suppose

Ahem... is there something you want to tell us?

 

[Nemesis]

No, I chose to get married, but I had no choice where - it was the only place we could - residency reasons.

 

[plumbers mate]

Gateshead already has a Tesco, doesn't it? It had 20 odd years ago because I used it once. A Metro ride plus bus ride made shopping there too much like hard work so I use the Co-Op which is only one bus ride away from home and is (at present) the only supermarket in Newcastle City centre. (don't count M&S and Sommerfields isn't open yet). The Co-Op building is lovely and listed but the main store is empty and waiting for new occupants.

 

[Nemesis]

It has had a Tesco for many years - a small one.

I think this is a new build and part of World Domination.

It is also building - a car park.

Newcastle Co-op:

http://www.timmonet.co.uk/html/body_newcastle_co-op.htm

Whn i was small we used to have a once a year trip to the inner sanctum to get the Divi payout.

I recall being fascinated by the war memorial on the wall, I presume it's still there.

 

[Penners]

Our local Co-op has recently stopped paying the divi as cash. It now gives you vouchers for spending in the Co-op. I think this is a major step backwards, and devalues the divi into just another loyalty scheme, like Tesco's or Sainsbury's.

Harrumph.

 

[Nemesis]

Ooooh - I get vouchers, and even an annual cheque, as a member (cost £1) but the small print on the vouchers allows cashing in.

Cumbria Co-op.