Jump to content

Recommended Posts

The English Heritage approach to preservation of buildings now emphasises "sense of place" and townscape. This can be read about in copies of Conservation News which can be downloaded for free from the web-site.


Since spring 1964 East Dulwich has lost many non-domestic buildings that made up our townscape.


It is time to consider those few that are are still with us.


The English Heritage application process is straightforward.


Here is a worthy candidate.


John K

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> An excellent candidate.

>

> I'm with John here :)


I agree entirely. I think the tiles are distinctive and unusual, and the whole seems to embody a spirit of futile optimism which, because it's been cruelly dashed by the inevitable bludgeon of time, exemplifies, in a very concrete sense, the essence of the human condition. We all start out embodying other people's hopes and, for a while, may even be cherished, but we all go to our graves ugly and alone. The building's brutal celebration of that simple truth, albeit metaphorically, is surely worth preserving. I am, however, glad that such senior members of the forum have chosen to champion it first, as otherwise it might have seemed tactless.

rgctobin Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> John K - would you care to elaborate on the

> supposed architectural merit of your "worthy

> candidate"?

>

> RT


The starting point for context is the three comparators:


The old Woolworths building

The old Co-Operative building

The present Co-Operative building


All post World War II.


All with the same design purpose of having economically viable ground-floor retail unit(s).


Burbage has identified one of the key features likely to be of interest to English Heritage.


John K

edhistory Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------


> Burbage has identified one of the key features

> likely to be of interest to English Heritage.

>



xxxxxx


His prose style certainly has that je ne sais quoi .......

edhistory Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The building needs to be considered in the round,

> including its rear.


As, sadly, do we all. But, as your picture makes clear, the west face is something of a revelation. At first glance, there's an almost Escherian playfulness in its gutterless geometry, and an apparent acknowledgement of human liberty in the graceful levity of the aerial walkways. On closer consideration, however, the sinisterly labyrinthine qualities become clear. This is surely a Castle rather than a Castalia, a sarcastic Berghof of the flatlands. It's no coincidence that the stairway leads not to heaven but to a parody of a Clarkeian monolith, a decidedly earthly destination that demonstrates both the limits of human ambition and the fearful mundanity of life's purpose.


I disagree that a building's occupants are irrelevant. We might think of the building chiefly as a garish bunker of frozen comestibles, but it also houses suburban exiles of the rat-race, a plight that's been reflected both presciently and appropriately by the architect. One of the key deliverables of any civilisation is the accommodation of the unfortunate and this has surely earned its place in the townscape on that ground alone.

edhistory Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> The building needs to be considered in the round,

> including its rear.

>


xxxxxx


I think it has a lovely rear.


Why is Father Ted's "Lovely Girls Competition" springing to mind?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • That's not a bad idea, though I also want to keep the site as simple and user friendly as possibly. It's ultimately about getting a balance between being informative and being a good read. Stars are useful but I'd like people to read the reviews too. 
    • Standard places haven’t got any? Anyone seen any on sale this week? thanks
    • Sue. You really don’t have to keep saying about the electoral system    a) we all know about it b) it doesn’t matter    FPTP is the system we have always had and hopefully we will get rid of it someday but it is what it is    when anyone suggests changing the system Corbyn is right there at the front of the queue to prevent it   so its pointless him or any of supporters complaining about it    the evidence you want is the result of the elections. You can’t have clearer evidence. 
    • Has anyone from the school commented? Have they said why? Is it a fresh start? Is it that Grove in the name may have connotations of wealth and they want to attract more applicants from a wider area? Is that it currently is linked to the DKH Estate? 
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...