The Glasgow KISS Games
The Scots are known for their thrift and they certainly seemed to have used the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) to produce an affordable opening ceremony last night.
The only extravagance would have been the amazing video screen, but that was probably hired through Sports Technology in Sussex, so we’ll see that and others like it, at events in the future.
The costumes and props for the show weren’t on the level of extravagance we’ve seen lately at some Games.
And it would appear that the only problem with the dogs was finding enough of them!
But the KISS principle has also been applied to the venues.
In a way holding the opening ceremony in Celtic Park by the athlete’s village was following what was done in London, where the athlete’s village was with all the main venues. This meant that athletes could enjoy the ceremony and then go to bed at a reasonable hour for competing today. We shouldn’t have games, where the athletes are some way from the venues. Both Glasgow and London have sufficient transport to cope for athletes and spectators.
But surely the masterstroke is building a combined sports hall and velodrome, with the facilities between the two arenas. You must get a hell of a lot more useable space for your money.
This one will be copied ad nauseum, all over the world.
A 3D Map Of London
This 3D map of London is at the Building Centre close to Tottenham Court Road station.
Unfortunately, dalston is just off the map, But it was good nevertheless.
Places And Spaces At The Building Centre
I went to this exhibition this morning, which shows how the various stations on Crossrail will look.
It was certainly a good free exhibition and whetted my appetite for what is to come.
Artwork At Bowes Park Station
Bowes Park station is one in my old haunts around Southgate and Wood Green.
I found a story that there had been some artwork put up at the station, so as I’ve never been to the station, I went to look.
I wasn’t that impressed with the artwork. But we do need some stations to be brightened up.
The station itself is of a rather unusual layout, but is clean and tidy, although the disabled entrance is possibly one of the worst in London. However, adding a lift, wouldn’t necessitate a major rebuild.
In fact, the station is one of those, where a clever architect could turn a bad station into an extremely good one, as it has spacious platforms and walk up access from both sides to the footbridge across the station and the tracks.
According to the latest news, the line which currently uses Class 313 trains, is going to be provided with new trains in the next few years.
A good disabled-friendly station coupled with the new trains and good cycle parking might almost make make the station improvements self financing, through more traffic.
Later when I returned to London from my visit to New Southgate, nearly all the passengers who got off the train at Highbury and Islington, crossed onto the Victoria line for trains to Central London. So would an upgraded Bowes Park station take customers away from Bounds Green tube station, which will probably never have lifts?
To The BBC For Fighting Talk
I had got tickets to go to the BBC Radio Theatre to see the broadcast of Fighting Talk.
I took these pictures as I walked up to the BBC in Portland Place.
It does appear to me, that the architect has made a good job putting a modern building behind the iconic All Souls church and beside the well-recognised BBC Broadcasting House.
Is This The House Of The Future?
All over the world we have a problem of affordable, quality housing.
So when I saw this £30,000 house for one on the BBC web site, called a Y-Cube I had to investigate.
It has a good pedigree in being designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour and backed by the YMCA. There’s a lot more about the concept here.
This design may not succeed, but others will!
We are all too ambitious (or is it greedy?) about the type of property we want to live in.
And the tax system encourages well-off single people like myself to live by ourselves in larger houses. Why should I get a Council Tax rebate because I live alone?
Sometimes, I think I’d prefer a minimalist luxury two-bedroom flat high in a tower block with spectacular views of the river. One of the reasons, I don’t move, is that I’d probably be the only person, actually living in a flat they owned.
Perhaps, Councils should publish the occupancy statistics for every street and block in their area. Possible incomers would then see the areas with the right mix of population for their choice of dwelling.
The Harrods Of The East End
I’d never heard of Wickham’s Department Store known in East End folklore as the Harrods of the East End, until I read about the building and its troubles in Private Eye.
Note how the two parts of the building are different sizes, with an off-centre tower. All caused because the jewellers in the middle wouldn’t sell out.
If you need to know more, there’s an excellent article here.
The DLR’s Superb New Station
The new Pudding Mill Lane station has now opened.
It is not fully open yet, as the lifts need to be tested and approved. But otherwise it is a station of which everyone can be proud. I think it is another example of how architects are creating quite a few new quality train and bus stations.
Note how the old station is now almost gone to allow Crossrail to emerge from underneath London.
The Co-Op’s Fancy New Headquarters
One Angel Square is the Co-Operative Group’s new headquarters.
It may have won lots of awards as a green building, but it’s surrounded by a see of that very green symbol, surface level car parks.
I had had difficulty finding the building too, as it wasn’t on any maps in the city centre. To get to the building, you needed to cross a busy dual carriageway.
If it’s a really green building, then surely it should have its own tram stop, but that was a rather shabby walk away.
With the news from the Co-Op this morning of Lord Myner’s resignation, it strikes me that the Co-op these days is a vanity institution and a gravy train and ego trip for some of those who control it.
The Kiosks In Kings Cross Square
When I wrote this post in February 2013, I said this about the architect’s job.
Note the short fat tower to the left of the centre of the picture. This must be the top of some sort of shaft and if you look it is also in the design of the new piazza. I bet the architects are cursing it, very loudly!
Today, I took these pictures, which show two kiosks for drinks and snacks.
The architects seem to have defeated the short fat towers.
The Anonymous Widower 