O/T idle thoughts on Leeds architecture

[eric olthwaite]

I'm sure we've been here before, but I fucking loathe Heatherwick. Toytown bullshit.

I guess what interests me in design is how you react to something the hundredth time you see it. Heatherwick's all about the one time immediate impact. It's like meeting a bloke who tells you the same joke, everyday, forever.

Oh, so he's a dodgy dishonest twat too.

Who'da thunk it?

[OWETB]

This looks interesting.

[eric olthwaite]

Just mulling over the fact that the Angel of The North is 20 years old and coincidentally it's 30 years this month (I think) since Leeds CC pulled the plug on Anthony Gormley's brick man project in Holbeck Triangle.

I was a student at the time and remember the exhibition of shortlisted entries in (what was then) Bond Street Shopping Centre. I thought it was great. The comments from the councillor who helped kill it were very much symptomatic of a certain kind of 'Yorkshire-ism' at the time (talking about people who were against it):

Their common sense contrasts sharply with the airy-fairy views of celebrities who don't live within 100 miles of the city.

Had it been built I think it would have become a potent symbol for Leeds and ultimately much loved. Hey ho.

[JimbobMaloney]

Yes, oddly I've been thinking about the brick man recently too - i think it would have been ace. A real missed opportunity.
There have been plans to build a full size lighthouse (not sure if it's on the same site or not but I think it might be) as part of the European capital of culture bid. Sounds like it will still go ahead (despite us getting kicked out of that compo) funded by local businesses.

[the flying pig]

i don't think he looks awful for £800k, even at those days' prices, depending on how much it'd have cost to maintain etc.

[Oheddieeddie]

Never seen that before, and I love it.

[Quiffy]

i was doing my gcse art back in the day and remember seeing the plans as i regularly loitered round the art gallery. definite missed opportunity to create a landmark in a city with so few.

[Phil LUFC]

Could have gone on the new LUFC crest that, had it been built obviously.

[Blackwhite]

Is that small study for it still in the Henry Moore?

[Man Called Sun]

Is that small study for it still in the Henry Moore?

It was in the art gallery. I dunno if it’s still on display after their recent refurbishment.
Fucking lovely it is. If we had that and a tram system the place might be a bit more fucking pleasant eh?

[Blackwhite]

Ah cheers, you're right, yes.

Not seen the refurb.

[eric olthwaite]

More news on the nowhere-ing of Holbeck

Will include the tallest tower in Leeds apparently. A bit more here and here

Not necessarily opposed to big towers per se, but many cities have some sort of clustering / distant views policy whereas LCC seem content to allow random fuckers anywhere. Bit half arsed.

[eric olthwaite]

Random question, but are any 'ballers from / live in Halifax and are members of eg local history groups on Facebook or similar?

[eric olthwaite]

Channel 4 HQ moving to Leeds. Should be a big new shiny architecture commission for some A-lister.

[Blackwhite]

Channel 4 HQ moving to Leeds. Should be a big new shiny architecture commission for some A-lister.

What will you do with the money?

[eric olthwaite]

Channel 4 HQ moving to Leeds. Should be a big new shiny architecture commission for some A-lister.

What will you do with the money?

[Wakefield White]

Channel 4 HQ moving to Leeds. Should be a big new shiny architecture commission for some A-lister.

Where are the potential locations?

Media city was well suited for transport links and proximity to attractive suburbs. I appreciate it’s a different scale, but where’s the best spot to develop around Leeds?

[JimbobMaloney]

Kirkstall Road maybe? Itv there already, another production company (or two?) there too, close to town, near the motorway and the large thyssenkrupp site still empty.

[eric olthwaite]

It’ll be somewhere south of the river and station I’d guess. You’d have thought LCC would have pitched major redevelopment area and the HS3 station etc.

[Wakefield White]

Kirkstall Road maybe? Itv there already, another production company (or two?) there too, close to town, near the motorway and the large thyssenkrupp site still empty.

I could see that working. I hadn’t thought about somewhere quite as close to town as that.

In redevelopment terms (and its been over 15years since I lived in Leeds) it would be great to seee something to the east of the city center!