A Modernist Landmark — картинки NofolloW.Ru

Alan Stanton • London • 16-06-2018

Описание: Another photo in 16 June walking through the public square outside the former Hornsey Town Hall. The banner on the railings predicts "a Modernist landmark meticulously restored to its former glory". This refers to sale of the former Hornsey Town Hall and adjoining land in Crouch End. Haringey Council sold it to a commercial company - Far Eastern Consortium (FEC). This deal was highly contentious and may have been one of the factors which led to the loss of the three Council seats for Crouch End ward from Labour to the Liberal Democrat Opposition. Especially after some redacted (secret) figures on the deal were exposed to public gaze. Of course, not everyone agreed that the deal with FEC was poor judgement by Haringey Council. Some people stress the benefits of the planned restoration of the former Town Hall - a Grade II listed building - to its former glory. I've often heard this "former glory" stuff and it seems pretty meaningless since the "glory" of buildings is as much to do with their functions - the work and life of the people who use them - as their state of repair. I'm unclear whether Hornsey Town Hall is "Modernist" or "Art Deco". What I've seen inside suggested the latter. ______________________________ § It seemed to me that the most balanced and sensible view was taken by Catherine West, excellent member of Parliament for Hornsey Wood Green. In 2015 she made her own preferences clear: "... to see a not-for-profit, such as a housing association, step forward to take on this much-loved site so that the wider community benefits including the arts, local use and public access are central to any development plans. If there is to be any housing on the site, then I'd want to see a minimum of 50 per cent genuinely affordable housing as that's what our community needs." Link to her website. § Catherine West MP also wrote to Claire Kober a best-forgotten former leader of Haringey Council with these views. Her advice was ignored. The final deal on genuinely affordable homes was even worse than feared. Also here. www.flickr.com/gp/alanstanton/c4Ug55 § Link to some great photos of Hornsey Town Hall taken in 2015 by Fran Pickering. § The architect of Hornsey Town Hall was Reginald Uren. He designed his own house at 14 Kerry Avenue, Stanmore (Photo in blog by Dave Anderson). Its traditional brick contrasts strongly with other homes in this and nearby streets from the same period. (Stanmore's Metroland Modernism in Adrian Yekkes blog.) § Far Eastern Consortium is a participant in the public debate. Their website is keen to persuade us that Haringey and its residents got an extremely good deal. Please visit this and other websites they've put up and form your own view. N.B. MRDA.