March 27, 2003
saving and making buildings
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.
Umm Qasr
"Umm Qasr is a city similar to Southampton", UK defence minister Geoff
Hoon said in The Commons yesterday. "He's either never been to
Southampton, or he's never been to Umm Qasr" said one British Squaddie
on patrol in Umm Qasr today. Another added, "There's no beer, no
prostitutes and people are shooting at us. It's more like Portsmouth."
March 24, 2003
March 05, 2003
ash wednesday
Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope to turn
Desiring this man's gift and that man's scope
I no longer strive to strive towards such things
(Why should the aged eagle stretch its wings?)
Why should I mourn
The vanished power of the usual reign?
walking down kingsway this lunchtime i came across a crowd of people with grey smudges on thier foreheads and remembered it was ash wednesday. while no believer myself it made me nostagic for some time which was regulated by feasts and fasts and ceremonies rather than finacial quarters and hallmark festivals.
nostalgia is the wrong word, it implies a longing for something that you have experienced.
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
March 04, 2003
terror preparations
Given the news this morning that "London's small and medium size businesses are unprepared for terrorist attack" (and now presumably ordering thier hazmat suits alongside the one-cup tea bags), here at Flambingo Towers we are taking the threat very seriously and announce the intention to train for this necessity (particually if Paul & Joe protective wear becomes available).
this is of course on top of the five minute hate we have established as part of our daily ritual.
long live our noble leaders.