Wednesday, 2 July 2008

'The Peasants Are Questioning The Wisdom Of Their Betters, M'Lord...'

The creators of such ghastly monstrosities as the Robin Hood Gardens housing estate have got in a strop over the plans to knock the ghastly edifice down:
One of Britain’s most prominent architects, Lord Rogers of Riverside, last night questioned the “authority and objectivity” of the body which makes listing recommendations to the Government.

His criticism of English Heritage came after a campaign by leading architects, seeking heritage status for a rundown east London council estate, was rejected by Margaret Hodge, the Culture Minister.

Ms Hodge took the advice of English Heritage before concluding that Robin Hood Gardens was “not fit for purpose”. The estate now faces demolition.
Well, well, will wonders never cease? Margaret Hodge listening to residents for once.

Number of architects living at Robin Hood Gardens…? Zero. Nevertheless:
Lord Rogers said in a statement tonight: “All the British winners of the Pritzker Prize, the highest international award for an architect, agree that Robin Hood Gardens is one of the greatest modern buildings in the UK.

“There is not one internationally recognised modern architect or academic included in making English Heritage’s recommendation on Robin Hood Gardens to the minister.

We should, therefore, deeply question the authority and objectivity of English Heritage in discussing contemporary architecture of this quality.”
What do the residents think?
English Heritage had recommended that the building should not be listed and a survey revealed that 80 per cent of residents wanted to be rehoused by the council while the structure was demolished and replaced with new apartments.
Well, Lord Rogers, if you like it so much, you live there…
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous2 July 2008 at 09:10

    "Well, well, will wonders never cease? Margaret Hodge listening to residents for once."

    There must be an election imminent!

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  2. Anonymous2 July 2008 at 09:41

    Heh! Indeed..

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  3. Anonymous2 July 2008 at 12:33

    The Pritzker Prize - and most similar prizes - are largely masturbation for the professionals. As far as these wunderkinder are concerned, the rest of us who have to look at, live in or use the stuff erected at enormous (usually taxpayers') expense can get f***ed while the self-described geniuses of the "built environment" play with their toys.

    Coming back to Robin Hood Gardens; from one reading of juliam's post (viz. "80 per cent of residents wanted to be rehoused . . while the structure was demolished") it seems that 20% of the current occupiers wish to remain in residence while this crap is torn down: that can't be right can it?

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  4. Anonymous2 July 2008 at 17:18

    "...it seems that 20% of the current occupiers wish to remain in residence while this crap is torn down: that can't be right can it?"

    Perhaps that 20% were so dulled by years of living there that they didn't fully understand the questionnaire!

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