NationStates Jolt Archive

After reading a book 40 years old called New Directions in British Architecture, I have found a love for those 60's buildings that grace our towns.
I admire the Park Hill Estate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/uk_britain0s_worst_buildings/img/7.jpg) and the irresistible charms of the Prefabricated House. (http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/images/lambeth/lambeth-north/prefab-00055-640.jpg)
The Tricorn Estate (http://www.rmaz.co.uk/tricorn2.html) is such beautiful building. Tower Blocks (http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1110000/images/_1114063_trellick150.jpg) are such intricate buildings.

So I may be crazy, but that would onl be one of the many opinions I've received. Maybe i's because I make chicken noises at the ceiling in the english rooms...

Regardless, does anybody else see the beauty of these concrete behemoths? Or do we all feel they should be tore down immediately?#

And just so I don't forget, the plug in city (http://www.artfacts.net/exhibpics/5838.jpg).

Someone has to have an interest in this?

You are joking right?

You are joking right?
I admit at first glance they did seem quite repulsive, btu soon they've grown into my heart. If I could have my way all buildings would be forced to have A section like this.

I admit at first glance they did seem quite repulsive, btu soon they've grown into my heart. If I could have my way all buildings would be forced to have A section like this.
They were made like that to save money, not to look good.

They were made like that to save money, not to look good.
But they fill both roles perfectly. Economical, practical, stylish. There's one in france which is basically a village in a building. Celebrations of concrete.

I think concrete beauty is putting peple off.

Damn, those are some ugly buildings. Get out the dynamite!

Damn, those are some ugly buildings. Get out the dynamite!
They may appear ugly, but if you explored some of the buildings and wondered about the architects dedication, I'm pretty sure you'd admire them.

Revival.

They're functional, but that doesn't detract from the eye-melting levels of ugly

They're functional, but that doesn't detract from the eye-melting levels of ugly
It's the functional that provides the foundation for beauty. Anyone else?

Have you had a vision test in the last, oh, ten years?!

Have you had a vision test in the last, oh, ten years?!
Yes, I had on earlier today and my sights gone up a whole unit, so I'm getting new glasses. But whe my generation is in power, and maybe, probably, definitely, me, I'd campaign for the survival of these concrete guardians.

It's the functional that provides the foundation for beauty.

Potentially. Not really, though. They still look ugly. Maybe there's an inner beauty, and maybe if you live there, it's a different thing, but from the outside, there are no redeeming aesthetic qualities.

Yes, I had on earlier today and my sights gone up a whole unit, so I'm getting new glasses. But whe my generation is in power, and maybe, probably, definitely, me, I'd campaign for the survival of these concrete guardians.


There are better throwbacks to the 60s than these eyesores.

There are better throwbacks to the 60s than these eyesores.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I man here are those who like Michelle McManus.

After reading a book 40 years old called New Directions in British Architecture, I have found a love for those 60's buildings that grace our towns.
I admire the Park Hill Estate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/uk_britain0s_worst_buildings/img/7.jpg) and the irresistible charms of the Prefabricated House. (http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/images/lambeth/lambeth-north/prefab-00055-640.jpg)
The Tricorn Estate (http://www.rmaz.co.uk/tricorn2.html) is such beautiful building. Tower Blocks (http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1110000/images/_1114063_trellick150.jpg) are such intricate buildings.

So I may be crazy, but that would onl be one of the many opinions I've received. Maybe i's because I make chicken noises at the ceiling in the english rooms...

Regardless, does anybody else see the beauty of these concrete behemoths? Or do we all feel they should be tore down immediately?#

And just so I don't forget, the plug in city (http://www.artfacts.net/exhibpics/5838.jpg).
Smacks Imperiux upside the head for crimes against architecture. :p
Seriously, you find buildings like this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/hollywood_on_tyne/images/get_carter/get_carter_carpark150.jpg
are attractive? Why? Spartan, devoid of character and charm, and they didn't even succeed at what they were intended to do - eradicate slums. All the towe block estates did was stack the slums on top of each other.

Potentially. Not really, though. They still look ugly. Maybe there's an inner beauty, and maybe if you live there, it's a different thing, but from the outside, there are no redeeming aesthetic qualities.
I don't live in one, much to my disappointment, but it is their bland and grey appearance that appeals t me.

Well after having stayed in a building similar to those (Megaplex, St. Jean Quebec - Military), I'd say they're interesting for sure...But I'd rather stick with something a little more classy and a little less economic downtrodden.

Smacks Imperiux upside the head for crimes against architecture. :p
Seriously, you find buildings like this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/hollywood_on_tyne/images/get_carter/get_carter_carpark150.jpg
are attractive? Why? Spartan, devoid of character and charm, and they didn't even succeed at what they were intended to do - eradicate slums. All the towe block estates did was stack the slums on top of each other.
Surely I do. The curves. The concrete. The pasts future. Celebrations of concrete. GIVE ME MORE!

Well after having stayed in a building similar to those (Megaplex, St. Jean Quebec - Military), I'd say they're interesting for sure...But I'd rather stick with something a little more classy and a little less economic downtrodden.
Classy? How can you get more sophisticated than stayin inside a "ugly" and "bland" building? The sophistication of yourself will reveal itself in splendour, pitted against a "Drab" background.

Classy? How can you get more sophisticated than stayin inside a "ugly" and "bland" building? The sophistication of yourself will reveal itself in splendour, pitted against a "Drab" background.

Dude, I'm as far from sophisticated as you can get, why would I want to further that? I'm not against the whole indutrial thing, I mean I'd love to own some neat old brick building (think New York) but a massive concrete behemoth just doesn't fly for me.

Dude, I'm as far from sophisticated as you can get, why would I want to further that? I'm not against the whole indutrial thing, I mean I'd love to own some neat old brick building (think New York) but a massive concrete behemoth just doesn't fly for me.
Brick. B. R. I. C. K. The most flexible buildin material known to man. Dosn't the rigidity of concrete appeal to you. The possibilities of the curvaceous straight lines?

Brick. B. R. I. C. K. The most flexible buildin material known to man. Dosn't the rigidity of concrete appeal to you. The possibilities of the curvaceous straight lines?

Got curvaceous lines; her name's Lisa.

Got curvaceous lines; her name's Lisa.
Not exactly a pretty picture.

Not exactly a pretty picture.

I beg to differ.

I watched an English doco about these sorts of buildings the other day. I can't remember who the narrator was, but he was explaining the original purpose & meaning behind the buildings. It was interesting, but it didn't make me love them. He was very disappointed that they knocked down the Tricorn building.

I don't think they should be torn down, but that's not the kind of architecture i like at all.

I watched an English doco about these sorts of buildings the other day. I can't remember who the narrator was, but he was explaining the original purpose & meaning behind the buildings. It was interesting, but it didn't make me love them. He was very disappointed that they knocked down the Tricorn building.
So am I. The Tricorn was the symbol of concrete.

No, they're not beautiful. The functionality of building is far more than it's simply purpose - such as a car park. These buildings are part of cities, and the lifestyle of cities take their toll on people. It's hard to live in a city, it's even harder when you're surrounded by cold hard angles and drab colours. The psychological effect of a building should not be underestimated.

These buildings weren't just built in the place of condemed buildings, but also those that were fully functional, but not as 'effcient'. However, you will find that many of the concrete shopping malls of the 60s are not very profitable, and are often the poorest part of the retail sector in the city. Indeed much of the economic revival in poorer cities is centred around older and more pleasant buildings, rather than these concrete blocks.

Also, I believe that some of the architects of the 60s were idiots. I've heard of so many buildings built the cities, that due to the stupidity of the architects, cannot serve their intended purposes. In the 60s, my university commissioned the building of a new library building. However, once it was completed, the architect realised that whilst the building was able to support its own weight it would not be able to support the additional weight of all the library books. So now that building merely serves at the offices for the art department. What's even more appalling is that the building is a Grade II listed building. The building is also has had scaffolding put up around it for the past 8 years, and there is no building work going on, nor will there ever be. The scaffolding is there to deflect the wind around the building.

Finally these buildings don't represent anything positive, they only represent failure. They are the white elephants of the 60s and 70s.

Jesus Christ. Blow up the damn things, quick. We have enough to remember the seventies and eighties by without these eyesores. Herll, are you sure that's not the former Eastern Bloc?

I don't so much like the buildings, but I like the thought that went behind building them, the "we're going to build something to stick people in comrade, and to hell with aesthetics!", I think that that is admirable, and, more importantly, very typical of European history, if we tear all of these buildings down we are being like the Vandals who occupied Rome, tearing things down because we are unable to sympathise with their historical value.

I'm going to a university in this style (hopefully) in october, Lancaster in north-west England, and, although all my friends hated it, I loved the labyrinthine corridors and tunnels, it was like a post-industrial fairyland. I loved it.

Although, I have to agree there is nothing uglier than damp concrete. That's why I think we should stick some free standing facades onto some of these buildings to add some colour, or, failing that, legalise grafitti, that would go a long way towards brightening up urban landscapes.

Does anyone else want to contribute?

Does anyone else want to contribute?

I like boring little brick houses. They're so...nice.

I like boring little brick houses. They're so...nice.
Unefficient, waste of resources. That's a little brick house.

Unefficient, waste of resources. That's a little brick house.

So? 1960s concrete tower blocks are hardly what I'd call eco-friendly. Inefficient, btw. ;)

After reading a book 40 years old called New Directions in British Architecture, I have found a love for those 60's buildings that grace our towns.
I admire the Park Hill Estate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/uk_britain0s_worst_buildings/img/7.jpg) and the irresistible charms of the Prefabricated House. (http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/images/lambeth/lambeth-north/prefab-00055-640.jpg)
The Tricorn Estate (http://www.rmaz.co.uk/tricorn2.html) is such beautiful building. Tower Blocks (http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1110000/images/_1114063_trellick150.jpg) are such intricate buildings.

So I may be crazy, but that would onl be one of the many opinions I've received. Maybe i's because I make chicken noises at the ceiling in the english rooms...

Regardless, does anybody else see the beauty of these concrete behemoths? Or do we all feel they should be tore down immediately?#

And just so I don't forget, the plug in city (http://www.artfacts.net/exhibpics/5838.jpg).
I think I like them, but it may be the painkillers. That concrete garage thing is nice.

its rather comical, back in the 60's they thought they were going with the wave of the future and thought that by the year 2000 people would be living in space ship style houses. they covered up the "old" stuff and built up their new style around it.

now today alot of the stuff they built in the 60's are seen as eye sores or just not efficient and they are tearing it down. nothing but design flaws came out of the 60's. i think architecture learnt its lesson in those years and will now stick to being usefull (for the most part, there are still a large amount of LSD architects)

Actually, I do like those type of buildings for practical purposes.

Nowadays in the modern design people make such an annoying effort on creating efficient designs which are easily accesible etc. But in these intricately complex architectural designs one has to take f.ex; the eastern staircase on floor two in order to get to the balcony raised before level two (due to the elevator moving straight onto level three).

Making it difficult to understand creates a system of paradoxes, and that is beautiful to me.

Some people are starting to agree, woohoo!