What's happening to old ED police station?

[dwatkins]

Does anyone know what's happening to the old police station in ED? I thought it was going to become a school but I don't see any sign of any work starting?

[Mutrik]

Still supposed to be a Harris primary school, although the admin staff at Harris told us via email it would not now open until january 2016 rather than sep 2015 as originally planned... Not sure why the start of the build is slipping as it was supposed to have started in august (as far as I know)

[dwatkins]

Thank you. Well I guess the slippage in opening, might explain the delay in building work. I think a primary school would be good in that location. Let's hope so.

[Curmudgeon]

Do you? I think it's an odd place for a primary school...but needs must I suppose

Are they knocking the whole building down and starting again?

[clockworkorange]

All, from school builds I've been involved with, timetable "slippage" stems from the education funding agency applying wholly unrealistic budgets for developments. 1 of the Contractors I'm aware has walked away from a batch of schools because they would make a loss delivering them. This may be a cause here. Equally a very tight site which will bring a higher number of challenges that will need to be considered before works progress.

[healey]

Curmudgeon Wrote:

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> Do you? I think it's an odd place for a primary

> school...but needs must I suppose

>

> Are they knocking the whole building down and

> starting again?

No odder than Goose Green site. I don't imagine that the current building would be at all suitable for a primary school.

[Mariamadeit]

There has been a delay as there are structural issues that need sorting out first, there is an information session happening during half term I think, can't remember the exact details... But the plans will be shared then.

[James Barber]

Wednesday 22 October 3pm-9pm a public exhibition is being held of what is planned for the former East Dulwich Police station at Christ Church, 263 Barry Road (close to the junction with Lordship Lane.

Harris people will be there but also their architects and builders. GSS Architecture, Farrans and Lambert Smith Hampton.

They will add the proposed details to their website 24 October after the public consultation.

[mikeb]

Rough estimate based on Google Maps shows Goose Green School has site area of about 2,500m2, which is broadly same size as Heber. For the police station Knight Frank's sale document has it as 0.186 hectares ~ 1,860m2.

http://www.inst.knightfrank.com/public/fetch/5490

Needs must though it is clearly a tight site. Perhaps a clever architect can make it work - play area on roof?

http://marylebonejournal.com/space/state-of-play

[bemusED]

a quick review of GSS architecture's website unfortunately would suggest that they are maybe not the most creative of architects...

I look forward to their proposals for this site.

[Earl Aelfheah]

hmmm, not hugely insipiring: http://www.gssarchitecture.com/?page_id=2549

[Jeremy]

They look fine to me... a damn sight better than the ad-hoc collection of decrepit buildings and portacabins my school was comprised of.

[jimbo1964]

Horrible cheap looking buildings. I don't see a Stirling prize heading their way. The Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton is a beautiful new school structure.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Michael Faraday on Portland Street (se17), the Walworth Academy and Evelyn Grace all great, imaginative buildings. Would hope we could get something as interesting on Lordship Lane.

[nunheadbelle]

The photos of the schools on this site show low-level schools with ample acreage for many classrooms on a single floor, I would have thought that the ED school would need to be several storeys high to accommodate all the pupils, especially as it is on a tight site.

rahrahrah Wrote:

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> hmmm, not hugely insipiring:

> http://www.gssarchitecture.com/?page_id=2549

[Curose]

Is it me or does Harris seem to be taking over the world!!

[Earl Aelfheah]

Here are the plans:

http://upload.reactcdn.co.uk/harris_primary_eastdulwich/uploads/document/33621_LSH_HARRIS_DULWICH_BOARDS.PDF

Pretty uninspiring building.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Don't like the way they're building right up to the boundary on Whateley Road. The current building is set back a little.

[mikeb]

Well I suppose it's better than the police station, though that's not really a high bar ...

[bemusED]

Given the many great schools which this country has seen built over the past decade and the apparent complexity of this site, i had hoped for a creative solution which would propose a lasting, inspiring piece of architecture for the area and pupils alike.

Alas this is an exceedingly dull building, unresponsive to the area, devoid of any substance, already looks terribly dated and is devoid of any joy. It has the aura of something designed by a first year interior architecture student.

I don't ever remember encountering a building which successful used differing render colours to activate a facade. At least a brick-clad building would be more appropriate to the area, weather better over time, provide a sense of permanence and have the potential to command some respect as a local civic building of note.

A single external space for kids aged from year 1 to 6 looks less than ideal for anyone. Could some of the many upper roofs at set-backs not be assigned to classrooms and utilised as external spaces?

This site was always going to be challenging and requires a creative practice to produce a proposal which is fit for purpose, deals with the main road and resi neighbours alike, whilst providing a rich learning environment for all.

I fear my suspicions have been confirmed that GSS are not that practice.

[EDmummy]

I think work might be starting today on the site. Heard a builder ask the bus driver where the police station was this morning.

[first mate]

All the Harris academies look much the same...legoesque. Ghastly, unimaginative, cheap tat.

[intexasatthe moment]

Absolutely bemusED and first mate .

I think it's a crime . So many of us will view this building every day . So many children will spend formative years with this awful piece of work imprinted on their minds .

Aren't planning laws meant to protect us from this sort of travesty ?

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Hideous and not in keeping with the current buildings in Dulwich but hey ho , what do I know ?

[jimbo1964]

Agree with all of the above. It would have been great to see a creative, interesting building go up. Particularly as it's a place that's supposed to inspire young minds.