Above two - Midsomer Norton South signalbox 2008
Pontins' terraced chalet - 1950s
Multi storey car park - who cares?
Take a look at the signalbox at Midsomer Norton. Every aspect of it is human scale, attractive but functional. Inside it is cosy but also efficient, the large windows connect immediately with the outside world. The whole scene is one of pleasantness.
Contrast it with pics 3 and 4. The Pontins shot shows that it's not age that gives the built environment its attractiveness. And as for the multistorey - what were we thinking of?
The entire rail infrastructure in its classic form was a magnificent synthesis of humanity and engineering. What more attractive scene could there be than the wayside country station with a steam train at its platform?
Much of the nastiness of 'modern' life's infrastructure is the fact its been built around the car, it's been created with built-in obscelescence and with no care. Money is always involved, everything has to be done as cheaply as possible.
The future, the one the New S&D will be such a part of, will be totally different. With no cars or roads towns and villages will reorientate towards its railway stations. With labour freely and cheaply available, and the artisanal skills which originally created the built environment of the past back in favour big time, once again we'll be able to create buildings that people can relate to, that people want to work in and be near. The New S&D will be architecturally magnificent, from the humblest platelayers' hut to the mightiest viaduct.
Peak Oil isn't all bad by any means!
1 comment:
I think the signal box at MN is probably one of the iconic symbols of the Station and it is wonderful to see it back again, although most of it is I guess a replica of the original. This is perhaps a good opportunity for me to say that I have to come clean here and confess one of my sins to you all; shortly after the line to Kingham from Cheltenham was closed, I was taken one day with my family and a school friend to Notgove Station. Whilst the family chatted to a friend who lived in one of the old Station houses, my friend and I explored the Notgove site. The 1906 replacement signal box still stood although completely gutted inside. Of course, we decided to help finish things off by throwing stones at the remaining unbroken windows. Oh the shame of it! Many years later, when helping to restore the almost identical Signal Box at Toddington on the Glos Warks Rly, my father was asked to dispose of a large quantity of Edwardian cold frames and greenhouse panels which were full of glass. Needless to say the GWR received sufficient glass to wipe my slate clean I hope! I visited the GCR yesterday and saw what its like to play trains properly! Whilst there I saw the new station at Leicester North. The Station isn't exactly a gem but they are trying to improve it whilst giving it anti-chav protection. The new canopy frame is complete and includes the Leicester Rose badge in its handiwork. I think this is what makes some architecture look so good whilst some utilitarian stuff like multi-storey car parks, look so rubbish. It doesn't have to be that way. Who cares about multi-storey car parks? Well the Tricorn Centre at Portsmouth had a love-hate following but what's there now is much better than the concrete carbuncle which once occupied the site!
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