DAVID Robertson was very critical about the unadventurous design of recent buildings in Malvern (Malvern Gazette April 25).
He praises the Duke of Edinburgh Dome but fails to mention that it has been plagued with damp problems and the new Malvern St. James sports hall may be "one of Malvern's truly 21st century structures" but it is scarcely a thing of beauty.
Prospect View could be considered as being "adventurous and imaginative", it's certainly ugly enough and that vertical lettering - ugh!
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Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder and some of the "adventurous and imaginative" public buildings that have been built in recent years, such as the Scottish Parliament building, could well qualify as Carbuncle of the Year. Malvern is a conservative town and if the residents are happy with timid recreations of the past, then so be it. We don't need costly avant-garde structures with all their inherent problems.
Posted by: westmal, West Malvern Road on 9:22am Thu 8 May 08
Malvern is not a conservative town. And I agree with David Robertson that much of Malvern recent architecture is unadventurous.
Faux Victoriana in an age of new and more environmentally aware building techniques is a cultural crime.
Towns and cities such as Oxford and London have a wonderful mix of old and new. Respecting beautiful, established architecture whilst introducing well-designed new buildings into the mix. When done properly this can be inspirational.
Malvern could be a hive of cultural excellence in many respects. At the moment it seems to be stuck in the age of Elgar. 'Modern' and 'contemporary' can contrast and inform older buildings without destroying the atmosphere of a town at all.
Malvern is not a conservative town. And I agree with David Robertson that much of Malvern recent architecture is unadventurous.
Faux Victoriana in an age of new and more environmentally aware building techniques is a cultural crime.
Towns and cities such as Oxford and London have a wonderful mix of old and new. Respecting beautiful, established architecture whilst introducing well-designed new buildings into the mix. When done properly this can be inspirational.
Malvern could be a hive of cultural excellence in many respects. At the moment it seems to be stuck in the age of Elgar. 'Modern' and 'contemporary' can contrast and inform older buildings without destroying the atmosphere of a town at all.
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