Open House London, 19 and 20 September, 2009

[brix]

I'm always up for lookiing round interesting buildings.

There's so much to choose from, the trick is to pick one area and concentrate on it. Rather try to rush around all over the place.

I agree with you about picking one area and concentrating on that. I do really want to see the NLA Tower in Croydon - Can anyone suggest other buildings to see in the same sort of area? Particularly mid-20th century stuff.

*Lang Rabbie, I'm gazing hopefully in your direction*

 

[lang rabbie]

The only brutalism that caught my eye this year (and didn't need to have been booked last month) is James Gowan's 1958 flats at Ham Common, so I'm planning a potter around Richmond and Twickenham.

 

[brix]

The only brutalism that caught my eye this year (and didn't need to have been booked last month) is James Gowan's 1958 flats at Ham Common, so I'm planning a potter around Richmond and Twickenham.

Ah, I've just looked them up on the 20C Society's website and they look really interesting: http://www.riskybuildings.org.uk/docs/casework/postwar.html

Is it me or are there less mid-20C buildings to see this year? I'm sure there's been more choice in the past...

 

[lang rabbie]

I do get the impression that fewer institutional owners of interesting buildings are opening up [lack of volunteers/reluctance to pay overtime to staff for a "non-core" activity ], and the overall balance of Open House is more towards new buildings where all the free labour is being provided by the architect/contractor/design team who see it as a PR opportunity.

On the other hand, some of the interesting post-war churches that opened in previous years got precious few visitors over the course of the weekend.

 

[brix]

I do get the impression that fewer institutional owners of interesting buildings are opening up [lack of volunteers/reluctance to pay overtime to staff for a "non-core" activity ], and the overall balance of Open House is more towards new buildings where all the free labour is being provided by the architect/contractor/design team who see it as a PR opportunity.

On the other hand, some of the interesting post-war churches that opened in previous years got precious few visitors over the course of the weekend.

It's a shame the chuches get such a poor turnout. I usually go to at least one church during Open House. It's the only time in the year I go to church actually

 

[Sadken]

Cheers for the heads up

 

[Pip]

I agree with you about picking one area and concentrating on that. I do really want to see the NLA Tower in Croydon - Can anyone suggest other buildings to see in the same sort of area? Particularly mid-20th century stuff.

*Lang Rabbie, I'm gazing hopefully in your direction*

Ikea?

 

[Sadken]

Wow, I just remembered I'm going to Digger World this weekend! Carry on.

 

[scifisam]

I do get the impression that fewer institutional owners of interesting buildings are opening up [lack of volunteers/reluctance to pay overtime to staff for a "non-core" activity ], and the overall balance of Open House is more towards new buildings where all the free labour is being provided by the architect/contractor/design team who see it as a PR opportunity.

On the other hand, some of the interesting post-war churches that opened in previous years got precious few visitors over the course of the weekend.

That does seem to be the case this year. There were lots more older buildings open last year, for some reason. We're probably going to a church, however.

 

[citydreams]

I agree with you about picking one area and concentrating on that. I do really want to see the NLA Tower in Croydon - Can anyone suggest other buildings to see in the same sort of area? Particularly mid-20th century stuff.

Croydon's completely full of 20th centrury junk

http://www.glias.org.uk/database/boroughs/borough_0009.htm

I particularly like the old VW building:

 

[Biglittlefish]

Great site thanks for posting.

 

[1927]

Will do, but I'm back at work on Tuesday and have masses of stuff to do
Maybe we can go see some Open House stuff if you're up for it?



Why are you laughing?

I love the NLA tower

Is this where VW had their HQ back in the 70s?

As a young child I remember going thru Croydon and their being a building in the middle of the road with a huge VW logo on it!

 

[Lord Camomile]

Severndroog Castle goes immediately on my list

 

[marty21]

always try and go to something on these open days, probably stick to north London rather than the delights of Croydon though

 

[London_Calling]

I always mean to visit the Foreign Office but never get around to it:

 

[citydreams]

Is this where VW had their HQ back in the 70s?

As a young child I remember going thru Croydon and their being a building in the middle of the road with a huge VW logo on it!

^^ http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=9639525&postcount=40

You were in the furthest reaches of Croydon then.. That's Purley Oaks, corner of Riddlesdown and Brighton road.

It once were all fields

 

[ethel]

I always mean to visit the Foreign Office but never get around to it:

i work next door. we don't have any frescos

 

[London_Calling]

Those offices on roundabouts never work - the one that was empy at the end of Westminster Bridge Road was the most desperate, I thought. I know the old VW building has had a refurb but it's still a sodding roundabout . . .

Maybe the NLA tower just about get away with it . . .

 

[Leafster]

It once were all fields

That's Whyteleafe! (as seen from the top of Riddlesdown Common.)

Cool photo btw, any idea when it was taken?

 

[London_Calling]

i work next door. we don't have any frescos

This won't cheer you up, either:



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...above_the_State_Stair,_The_Foreign_Office.jpg

 

[lang rabbie]

Ikea?

Titter ye not!

The chimneys at IKEA are all that is left of Croydon B Power Station

There is a theory that Robert Atkinson's design for the brickwork was influenced by Albi Cathedral.

 

[Callie]

Well I'd quite like to have a nose around the Alms houses in Croydon - they have always been a mystery to me since a child. Theyre right in the centre, on the high street. I never quite got the concept of Alms houses when I was little, feel quite sorry for the people that live there given the state of that bit of town on Friday and Saturday nights - no double glazing!

Other options for buildings to look at, just a stone throw from the NLA would be Electric House, The Nestle Headquarters...and the building next door which appears abandoned but I really like it then just round the corner from there you have the Town Hall and round the corner again from that is Grants, a big old department store frontage. There is also an odd building along the High Street which I can never quite work out which has normal shop frontage at ground level but some kind of dome thingy on the top - maybe just decoration but I'm not sure.

Ikea is doable by tram from the NLA, assuming they have fixed the tracks!

 

[brix]

Well I'd quite like to have a nose around the Alms houses in Croydon - they have always been a mystery to me since a child. Theyre right in the centre, on the high street. I never quite got the concept of Alms houses when I was little, feel quite sorry for the people that live there given the state of that bit of town on Friday and Saturday nights - no double glazing!

Other options for buildings to look at, just a stone throw from the NLA would be Electric House, The Nestle Headquarters...and the building next door which appears abandoned but I really like it then just round the corner from there you have the Town Hall and round the corner again from that is Grants, a big old department store frontage. There is also an odd building along the High Street which I can never quite work out which has normal shop frontage at ground level but some kind of dome thingy on the top - maybe just decoration but I'm not sure.

Ikea is doable by tram from the NLA, assuming they have fixed the tracks!

That building used to be a cinema. I suspected as much, but it was confirmed on the SuperCroydon walk I did last year. The walk also took in lots of the buildings you mention. What I really would like now is to get inside all of those buildings and have a good old nose around!

 

[Callie]

Hmm well not sure I can advise on how to get into them

A cinema! but the domey thing is quiote small - what purpose do they serve for cinemas? or ye olde cinemas?

 

[brix]

Hmm well not sure I can advise on how to get into them

A cinema! but the domey thing is quiote small - what purpose do they serve for cinemas? or ye olde cinemas?

Oh Callie, you're letting me down here

Not sure the dome served any purpose apart from advertising the cinema. Suspect it's just a solid bit of concrete. But I'm just guessing

 

[Callie]

ooh i went abit west country there with my quiote!

Hmm ok. A big bolus of concrete = cinema. Ye old people were weird.

 

[brix]

ooh i went abit west country there with my quiote!

Hmm ok. A big bolus of concrete = cinema. Ye old people were weird.

Like I say, I dunno for sure. Lang Rabbie or Mrs M will probably know for definite.

You bumpkin you.

 

[Callie]

!

are you calling them ye old people? how rude!

 

[brix]

!

are you calling them ye old people? how rude!

God no! I wouldn't dare!

Shush

 

[lang rabbie]

Oh Callie, you're letting me down here

Not sure the dome served any purpose apart from advertising the cinema. Suspect it's just a solid bit of concrete. But I'm just guessing

It is from the conversion of a former drill hall into the short lived Prince's Picture House.