tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1690720220183337557.post5022011968756967958..comments2024-03-28T15:37:41.163+00:00Comments on FTHN: From the Hornets Nest: MORE HEARING BUT NOT LISTENING FROM LOCAL DIALOGUEUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1690720220183337557.post-70198424274016764922012-07-27T07:11:32.878+01:002012-07-27T07:11:32.878+01:00If you stand up to the planners and the Council th...If you stand up to the planners and the Council they will come and try and crush you- just ask the Lancaster West community and the imposition of KALC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1690720220183337557.post-6246681311756758432012-07-26T17:52:02.038+01:002012-07-26T17:52:02.038+01:00Dear All, The fact of the matter is that architect...Dear All, The fact of the matter is that architectural design and planning affects everyone's welfare by creating the environments around us, impacting our collective quality of life. It makes complete common sense, therefore, for architects and planners to reflect this absolute fact by participating in broadscale local community engagement and seriously taking into consideration collective local feedback. Not to do so - and to go ahead regardless - displays not only an irresponsible arrogance, but perpetuates the public's negative image of Architects (and supportive planners) that they are simply furthering self-interest, furthering artistic recognition within the profession, and serving the interests of clients, a small sliver of the population, where budgets may be large or small; but where small budgets invariably involve cost cutting and cheapness hidden behind eloquent marketing and buzz words. Certainly, with such a "we're going ahead anyway" attitude, the local public interest is not taken into consideration, and that is also absolute fact.<br /><br />In many ways all this could be related to public health, which was created to serve the public interest rather than private clinics that served just a few clients. Architects and planners would do well to reflect on this. Actually, they may not have a choice: the contsruction sector is hardly moving (outside of the Olympics) due to the economic down turn over the past few years, and, as I understand it, unemployment among newly qualified graduates is high at around 14%.<br /> <br />The message is clear. Listen to the local community and reflect their voices, their feelings and welfare! These people have a real understanding of the importance of the local historic uniqueness and consistency in the local buildings that so many other people are able to enjoy when they choose to visit these parts of London. It may mean swallowing pride and going back to the drawing board; it may mean finding the strength not to sell one's soul to cost cutting budgets; and it may mean having to feel irritated for a while, especially if there would have been selfish bonuses involved. Read the first sentence again, and do what most 'normal' people would consider ethical and that which makes moral common sense - by considering the impact on everyone's welfare, especially those who have voiced it. <br /> <br />Best Regards, Justin Senior (former tenant, Earl's Court).HornetsNesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986293957148642699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1690720220183337557.post-53348210436012447062012-07-26T14:04:24.310+01:002012-07-26T14:04:24.310+01:00Of course the two planning committees must shoulde...Of course the two planning committees must shoulder part of the responsibility for the lack of interest in preserving the environment of Kensington and Chelsea. But the Leader of the Council has no interest in the planning process other than to ensure that it does not interfere with his self-agrandisement. The planning department is the major problem. Any applicant with money can scare them into accepting the unacceptable under the threat of an award of costs at appeal and then convincing a committee of amateurs that their view has to be accepted. Kensington Society has battled long and hard to preserve Kensington for future generations, often it has appeared that the main objective of the planning department has been to thwart their efforts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1690720220183337557.post-7243491058749726922012-07-26T11:37:33.038+01:002012-07-26T11:37:33.038+01:00Dear All,
How interesting, but inevitably self ...Dear All, <br /><br />How interesting, but inevitably self serving , that developers and architects aspire to the idea that they are creating a ‘modern interpretation’ of an already appallingly unattractive, slab like block which was designed during the earlier phase of the Lego School of architecture , which has dominated this once proud and inventive profession since the 1950’s and is noted for its poverty of imagination and sterility of designs . Alas this seems to be still the case . The contemporary architectural arrogance of sneering at Pastiche , when the whole attraction of RBKC is an efflux of varying styles, all pastiches of something or other, is astounding. Who would ever admire or want to look at a streetscape of Lego build blocks from these same, cutting edge of taste architects?<br /><br /> <br /><br />The proposed refurbished building , despite its romantically described ‘soft red and buff mottled glazed terracotta, to reflect the brickwork of local buildings ( with ) each panel is individually hand-glazed and fired, which creates colour and texture variation to add character’, is , very typically , just large blank slabs of a colour, ( an ‘architectural statement’ – oh dear!) without relief and without any character – even in contrast to the adjacent ‘modern’ blocks which at least have balconies and the subtle texture of brick work. If this were a design for a modern prison it would be commendable – bright , confident , socially advanced, unimpeachably boring and patently secure – but somewhere else please .<br /><br /> <br /><br />It is with regret that one has to regard the planning committee of RBKC as both passive and even compliant with the vulgarities of modern architecture which they inflict with aplomb, in both huge and smaller developments, all over this fair Borough, with a degree of tastelessness worthy of Canary Wharf .<br /><br /> <br /><br />Yours sincerely<br /><br /> <br /><br />Jonathan ChoatHornetsNesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986293957148642699noreply@blogger.com