Signs, Signs, Signs

Like many a local authority, the City of London loves putting up signs.  It seems to be almost a pathology.  It doesn’t matter if there is already a sign – another is always nice. The Risk Assessors have been out to see how many there are …

The City of London Corporation always prefers to say it twice

…. even when doing so is likely to confuse

Graphics plus words, belt and braces. And the City of London encourage others to follow in their enthusiasm … the more signs the better…

Signs everywhere …. its such wonderful fun.

 

 

Never Mind The Guidelines……

The Golden Lane Estate boasts its own planning guidance. The Risk Assessors do not find the Golden Lane Estate Listed Building Management Guidelines to be a very snappy title. Nevertheless, its a fine and important document.

At the time they were first produced way back in  2007, the Guidelines were regarded as a benchmark in how to manage listed buildings. Consultant for the preparation of the Guidelines was historian and architect John Allan of Avanti Architects.

The Guidelines were adopted as supplementary Planning Guidance after 18 month’s work which means they are supposed to inform all planning decisions that have an impact on the character of the Estate. The Guidelines were reviewed after five years in 2013 and tweaked in small details.  They are still in force as Supplementary Planning Guidance.  They can be downloaded as a pdf from

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/planning/heritage-and-design/listed-buildings/Pages/Golden-Lane-Listed-Building-Management-Guidelines.aspx

On page 175 of the Guidelines it states in respect of the retail arcade that runs along Gowell Road frontage of the Estate that ‘changes to original glazing lines and detail of the shop fronts and backs’ is … ‘unlikely to be granted’.

Further, on Page 175 of the Guidelines the Risk Assessors read that ‘any permanent or temporary new enclosures at ground or lower ground level’ is also unlikely to be granted.

So imagine the surprise and concern when the Risk Assessors discovered City of London planning officers chose to ignore their own Guidelines and give listed building consent to the Shakespeare public house to construct a poorly detailed, permanent semi enclosure around their premises so that the publican could serve food and drinks on an area that had previously been open pavement.

Appropriate to a Grade II* posted building it is not. Decision-making of a mysterious kind it certainly is.

Branding Accident

In the 1990s the Corporation of London (as it then liked to be called) decided to erect large plastic crests at all its sites. Whether they were car parks or blocks of flats or large open spaces like Epping Forrest they all got the treatment. Most crests were unnecessarily large and few were well-positioned from the architectural point of view. Eye-jamming visibility was everything.

Often this resulted in name plaques that were already in place being duplicated. This was brand reinforcement of an unsubtle sort.

This plastic sign is on the Golden Lane Estate and didn’t last well – it partly blew down in a 2012 gale, has not been repaired so there is an ugly scar. The Risk Assessors observe that this sign is on the most visible corner of the Estate – so it now effectively draws public attention to the poor maintenance standards on the Golden Lane Estate.

Our Secret Garden

One of the most wonderful places in London is the residents’ roof Garden of Great Arthur House on the Golden Lane Estate.  The Risk Assessors have had special access to it – as have some residents when it was opened specially on a rare open day. The views are great – especially over the Barbican, designed by the same architects as the Golden Lane estate: Chamberlin Powell and Bon – but North to Highate and East to the Olympic stadium.

There is a wonderful rooftop pergola and a balcony above that – for the roof garden extends over three levels. The pergola was restored with English Heritage grants ten years ago but the Risk Assessors now spot signs of serious wood rot in several areas.

The roof garden has pools intended to be filled rainwater rainwater from the extraordinary canopy which looks a bit like a nun’s wimple in reinforced concrete and was intended as a ‘flag’ for the estate. The pools are now permanently drained but they once reflected rippling reflections on the huge curved canopy of Great Arthur House.  There were large concrete planters with grass – so you could once have sunbathed on the lawn… on the roof! The planters are still there but emptied of soil and looking rather sad.

Above all, nobody is allowed up there!  It was originally open to all estate residents and was intended to make up for the high density of the estate with small areas for sitting out in; a majority of flats don’t even have their own balconies. Residents simply took the lift from the bottom to the roof garden which had its own lift door.

This remarkable garden has sadly now been closed to all for at least 15 years. The City of London told the Risk Assessors that they have no intention to re-open it.  What a waste and what a scandal.

We demand our roof garden back from the City of London!

Accessible and Dangerous

There is a lot of expertise and many examples of good practice about making listed buildings such as the Golden Lane Estate accessible.

Whoever is responsible for this arrangement is clearly not familiar with any of them. The City of London has not applied for Listed Building Consent.

The Risk Assessors’ photo shows that it not safe for someone of limited mobility since the rail stops where it is needed.