In the last Newsletter I reported on the launch of two major projects in the city - the competition to re-design the Old Market Square, and the inauguration of Line One of the NET tram service.
Since then, the winner of the Square competition has been announced: the
Gustafson Porter Partnership was considered to have produced the most appropriate
design, prominent features of which are the use of planting and water. The
concept of channelled water was also, of course used by Kathryn Gustafson
in her design for the Diana Memorial in Hyde Park.
The newly-arrived tram has now had a few months to ‘bed in’ and
has attracted its fans and regular users: people living out along its route
are impressed by the speed with which it brings them into the city, while
for others, residents and visitors alike, it brings the appeal of novelty
and the opportunity to travel through the unfamiliar ‘back garden’
of Nottingham.
Some thought must be given, however, to the interior design in relation to
the spacing of the grab-poles. Passengers, especially the less able-bodied,
have commented that it is difficult to move down the tram when it is moving
as the poles are far apart and there are no handles on the seat-tops. This
is certainly something, which needs to be addressed for future tram-cars.
Following the launches of the Square designs and the tram, there has been an event in which we had a very special involvement with a launch of our own. To commemorate the 75th birthday of Nottingham’s ‘jewel in the crown’, the Council House, the Civic Society has published a book describing the history of the Square and its development culminating in the building of the Council House. The design, construction and decoration of the building are described by our Vice Chair Ken Brand and Professor John Beckett of Nottingham University. The book, available from the Gatehouse Shop and at booksellers as well as at Society meetings, was launched at a ‘birthday party’ (complete with a cake decorated with an icing picture of the building) hosted by the Lord Mayor, Councillor John Hartshorne, in the unspoilt 1929 splendour of the ballroom.
One of the most remarkable and appealing features of the building, apart from its stunning design both inside and out, is the way in which original decor (and much of the original furniture) have been retained and cared for down the years: successive City Councils are to be congratulated - and urged to carry on the excellent and very necessary stewardship.
Moving east from the centre of the city, there are some causes for celebration and others for concern.
We are very pleased to hear that the work on the proposed Sneinton Market/Victoria
Park Conservation Area is nearing completion: this should provide a higher
degree of protection for an area, which continues to be under threat of inappropriately
tall and massive developments. It is an area with a definite character and
a range of buildings reflecting the life of Nottingham and its building styles
from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries.
We have also been encouraged to see the outline proposals for the extended Boots Island Site off London Road, which have been prepared by Hopkins Architects (of the Inland Revenue Building, Nottingham University Jubilee Campus, Westminster’s Portcullis Building, etc). The proposals show imaginative use of water, bringing the canal into the site, and also intend to provide a green area linking through to Victoria Park. It is also interesting to see that there are proposals to incorporate the currently derelict Alexander Warehouse into the design.
The architects feel that views into and out of the development are important,
including the view up to St Mary’s and the Lace Market from London Road.
This view, which is a gateway snapshot introduction to Nottingham’s
history, is in danger of being irreparably damaged if the proposal to build
on the High Pavement bomb site / car park ‘hole’ is allowed to
come to fruition. The view as it exists now, complete with the symmetrical
power and elegance of the Victorian warehouse, must be retained. This site
would surely be more appropriately developed as a landscaped ‘pocket
park’, providing much-needed green space in this part of the city -
even more essential if the plans to build the Centre for Visual and Live Arts
on Garner’s Hill Park go ahead.
We must do everything in our power to ensure that our city retains and celebrates its historic character and does not allow it to be compromised by inappropriate development.
It is important to the future success of the city that inward investment and development continue and that the city continues to be attractive to organisations and individuals, but in the rush to develop we must not lose the very things which make the city attractive to newcomers and established citizens.
We have for some time campaigned strongly on behalf of the western side of the city; now it is time to champion the east side.
Hilary Silvester
Chairman
August 2004
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