finally the post office tower has been listed. the listing also includes a number of other technology-based buildings like the observatory at herstmonceux. this adds to the growing number of 20th century constructions being saved for the nation and hopefully the final acceptance of the uk's limited pre-60s modernist heritage.
brighton also seems to have woken from its, well, 150 year architectural stupor and is currently looking at three large civic projects. replacing the utterly hideous seafront sports centre (the king alfred) in hove; black rock right on the other end of the seafront in kemptown; and now the news that the most revolting building in britain (the brighton centre) may be replaced.
i've been to see the consultation models and documents for the king alfred development at the town hall and its an interesting final cut of three proposals, all of which include a replacement sports centre, retail space and a mix of private and social housing. the inevitable richard rodgers live/work/play space, for which the planned detailing is nice but the overall scheme is grindingly dull. frankly it could have been any of his smaller projects from the last five years and looks rather like it was pulled from the bottom of the draw in haste. a star studded and very penile gehry that while interesting would entirely dwarf the rest of the city. and my favourite: wilkinson eyre, a jagged set of huge glass volumes jutting onto the seafront. the wilkinson design looks to me the most considered of the finalists, for all its sharp edges it mirrors and reinterprets the form of the coast at the other end of the city with its sheer white cliffs and affords the best views through the projects blocks.perserving one of the delights of living in seaside cities is the views caught down streets to the sea.
Posted by flambingo at March 27, 2003 12:11 PM