On 11th Sep 2014 5:06pm, Prof said:
Very amusing and interesting Roger. I would affirm most of what you wrote though, I have to admit, I think Millenium Square is an excresence and the blue walkway over Lady Herbert's ruins the scale of the historic remains (Priory Gate) as do the dreaded boomerangs over the square. Architects were criticised when the new St Michael's was built but really - this takes the biscuit.
Only my view of course. Bring back the Hippodrome!
That whole 'Phoenix Initiative' was nominated for a prestigious architects award. I agree with you. That whole thing was a totally misguided development. The 'idea' was to link the Cathedral with the motor museum via a walkway with businesses (Priory Square) that would benefit from the tourists. Just like Cathedral Lanes was supposed to benefit from tourists. However, there either aren't enough or the 'route' is not particularly coherent. I think building a proper street rather than another collection of awkward spaces and back to front buildings might have been better. (Why they left the frontage to Fairfax Street blank walls is just... unbelievable, and the whole development feels shoehorned into the space awkwardly with poor links to the surrounding areas (One walkway just drops you out in service areas at the back of the hotel... Very poor planning.)
I think the arches and Millennium Square are dreadful - a boring empty space that's cluttered up with unimpressive artwork. The bridge over the walls is interesting, but goes nowhere - an empty garden than no one seems to use jammed up against the ring road.
I was no great fan of the hippodrome, but I think that spot was a good spot for a building, not an empty space - a landmark building at an intersection... Whether it was the old Hippodrome or something new.
(The businesses in priory place have struggled - after a good start with some decent restaurants it faded away and has become something of a backwater.) I like what they've done with the priory ruins, though... Quite a nice, quiet spot...
The fact that the 'initiative' stalled at phase 1 and the rest of the plans quietly cancelled (Long before the recession) speaks volumes about the success of the first phase... It all looks a bit dated and run down these days.
