Preserving the un-preservable at Station X

I’m intrigued to know more about the current exhibition at Milton Keynes–it’s the result of a collaboration between installation artist Maya Ramsay, sound artist Caroline Devine, photographer Rachael Marshall and film maker Luke Williams.  They have been documenting the current state of the WWII code-breakers’ huts at Bletchley Park, aiming to capture something of the very special atmosphere that will inevitably be lost when the restoration project at this extraordinary site gets underway.  The C20 has advised on the restoration, which aims to be as light-touch as possible, but these very fragile structures (which were only ever planned to be temporary) will inevitably need to change to a considerable extent.  The artists’ works include surfaces lifted from the walls of the buildings, recordings of sounds produced by and within the decaying buildings, and photographic and filmed documentation of the buildings. 

Details here http://www.mkgallery.org/news/article/2012_04_27/station_x/, including a link to the Today programme interview with the artists on site. 

St Margaret Clitherow, listed

We’re delighted that St Margaret Clitherow in Threshfield, North Yorkshire has just been listed at grade II.

This small Roman Catholic church, 10 miles from Skipton in the the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is affectonately known locally as “Paddy’s Wigwam”, because of its destinctive form that gives the impression of a pyramid.

The design of the church, by Peter Langtry-Langton in 1973, was inspired by African churches he’d seen built using poles, wattle and palm leaves. The massive zinc-clad buttresses of the hipped roof extend from the apex to the ground, over the plan which is essentially two overlapping squares with approximately 13m sides, one at 45 degree rotation to the other.

The roof section above the sanctuary carries a raised partly-glazed structure which lights the altar and bears a Celtic cross on the exterior face. The walls are of random-coursed limestone, and the roof of stone slates.

Either side of the altar are pairs of Dalle de Verre stained glass windows by Jane Duff, made by John Hardman Studios in Birmingham. The Risen Christ relief panel above the altar and the Celtic Cross were designed by John Ashworth, while the architect designed the curved pews and interior liturgical elements.

The listing follows the Twentieth Century Society’s application to English Heritage in 2008.

 

“Preston Passion”: images worth thousands of words…

( IMAGES from “Preston Passion”, 06.04.2012, available HERE: open pdf file )

I just watched BBC1′s “Preston Passion” : could there ever be a stronger manifestation of Preston Bus Station’s immense potential for a key role in the city’s regeneration?

Preston Bus Station on BBC1′s “Preston Passion”

Preston Bus Station fans nationwide eagerly look forward to enjoying “the city’s favourite building” on BBC1′s “Preston Passion” on Good Friday from 12pm. Marking the historic Preston Guild festivities the programme will combine moving stories based in Preston past and present and traditional and modern-day celebrations of Easter. For those who cannot watch it live, or simply wish to view it more than once, the programme will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

(IMAGES from “Preston Passion” available here.)

Scorer’s Little Chef canopy structure listed

This gallery contains 1 photo.

One of the most unusual and dramatic road side roof structures in the country has been listed this week at Grade II. The canopy was built in the late 1950s by Sam Scorer originally as a roof for a petrol … Continue reading →

The Metaphysics of Concrete

Whether you love concrete or loathe it, this fascinating lecture given at UCL by Professor Adrian Forty on The Metaphysics of Concrete is essential viewing: a taster for his new book Concrete and Culture: A Material History out in April.

Welcome back, my Lido – no. 2

Lidos continue re-gaining their popularity: Rhondda Cynon Taf council are positive that a £4m scheme to reopen the inter-war lido in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, part of the ongoing regeneration of the town, will boost visitor numbers. Built in 1927, this featured a swimming pool, semi-circular diving area, bath gallery and changing rooms. In its heyday it accommodated up to 1,000 people, but fell into decline in the 1980s and eventually closed in 1991. The council drew up initial restoration plans four years ago and secured £75,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2010 to further develop the project.
Listed at Grade II, the case can be clearly linked to that of (also Grade II-listed) Broomhill Pool in Ipswich, Suffolk, as Broomhill Pool Trust have already acutely noted. We hope to have similar news to report from Ipswich any time soon!