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@chips-and-brown-gravy wrote:

Have you actually looked at the other buildings that were in contention for the prize?  Some pretty horrendous buildings there.

 

Updating buildings in different (modern) styles has been going on since there were buildings, and I guess there will always be those who love it and those who hate it.

 

It could have been demolished completely and something hideously modern put in it's place - all square glass and concrete.

 

If you want to see really bad taste in houses I suggest you look at

this

 

 

 

 

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I was stunned at some of the entries - the workmanship was awful and the materials already showing signs of breaking down.

A couple of the entries were quite mediocre too and from the videos there was nothing that really stood out as being inspirational - more like typical institutional.

At first, I wasn't too sure about Astley Castle until about half way through the video and more of the reasoning was explained as to why they'd chosen to do it the way they did.

The only other one I was really impressed with - and for reasons that weren't actually mentioned in the vid, was the Bishop Edward King Chapel - it was a shame that they went out of their way to 'prove' how the building had come to be felt the spiritual centre they'd hoped for so quickly.

The outside structure has some very special resonances and connections.

Anyway, I'm happy to say that, as I couldn't make up my mind, I voted for both of them.

I think Astley Castle is one of those places that really has to be seen in situ to really get the feel for why they did what they did.

What's so wonderful about this?:-

It looks like a half finished DIY job and look at upstairs, you can see where the "old" meets the "new":-

You think this is good eh?:-

That looks more like an UNfinished DIY job as does this:-

Yes - I like it!

Anyway, in case anyone is interested, on the theme of promoting their own tastes in what they think is good - only one day to got though

http://www.wikilovesmonuments.org.uk/?pk_campaign=Centralnotice

You are meant to see where the old meets new though.

I know they've done that deliberately, that's why it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Did you look at the close-up of where the old stonework meets the new brickwork? The stonework isn't pointed properly and before long, it'll be crumbling. I've seen better pointing on buildings they're maintaining as a ruin.

Can you imagine repairing/restoring a vintage car with new bits totally different to the original and also a different texture and colour?

Yes yes yes - I love it, I love it.

It is soooooooo me.

And vintage cars do get repaired with new parts that are not the same as the originals where alterations have to be made if they want to take them on the road.

Ha ha, so you'd be happy to put a White wing from a Ford Focus on a Black Bentley 3½ litre because that's about the long and short of the mess at Astley Castle?

Frankly, I'd be happpy with any car that actually works and can be safely driven.

In it's day, the interior walls of that "castle" would have been plastered so why it's been left as it has I dunno.

It's a complete mess and if you spent some time living in a place under "renovation", you'd soon get tired of the dust, the spiders and the other bugs crawling out of the crevices.

Ceedee - You get them bugs in yer house anyway - and the older the house, the more will have taken up residence under the floorboards, in the cavities etc.

It's clean and yes, some bits may fall off, but they they'd fall off anyway.

'sno good - I like it and I'd be happy if I could stay in it - sooo much potential if I had a home like that.

No good us all being the same either - but take heart - I think we both disliked some of the other entries too - so it's not all doom n gloom.

True, it wouldn't do for us all the be the same but............... yer welcome to that ruin.

I agree with cd,its aweful 

ok 🙂 thanks for advice

Spawnjohn,I thought you would have been at the conference,its nice and handy for you!

hi jo

,what conference pls