Squeezing the news pimple on the arse of Thanet since January 2006
SCROLL DOWN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN FOR THANET EVENTS, RESTAURANTS AND ATTRACTIONS
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Separated At Birth?
Reader Samantha writes:
I wonder if anyone else has spotted a similarity between the new design for Margate's Turner Contemporary and the disused power station on the other side of the island at Richborough? Are they by any chance related?
Richborough
Turnip
25 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Richborough with its three towers would have made quite a sensational arts centre don't you think? I've commented on the new Turnip design elsewhere. Even a building designed like a Turnip would have been more interesting.
I quite like seeing Richborough looming from the mist. And I believe it now has some sort of heritage protection status. So why shouldn't it become something arty? After all, the Tate Modern is an old power station.
I agree. After all Tate Modern does not have three cooling towers! Instead of starting to knock it down and just leave it looking an eyesore they could have planned it there from the start.
They said the Turner would have a 'staff' of 35 people, exactly what would those publically funded jobs be for? Public (art) funds which should be going directly to Artists, not 'managers' or 'teachers'.
Close the road along the front. Pedestrianise everything from the clock tower to the Arlington arcade. Run the road along the back of Dreamland through and round the site, revitalising not only Arlington house and surrounds where the road would join up with the main road by the station but also the giant unused space at the back. Get rid of the old rusty railway (sorry). Grass and flowerbeds everywhere. (Cheap). Thankyou, Mark Hewins.
As a biker who enjoys sedately riding up and down the front on sunny Sunday afternoons I'd say that plan is bollix. They didn't do thatin Hernia bay, did they? Why? Because cruising is part of the life blood of the front.
Its a nice idea mark and something that would make a great improvement, but just look at who owns the land, NCP carparks who want millions for the land on which the car park sits despite it not making a penny, even Godern and co couldn't raise the cash to buy the car park dito the owners of Arlington, who also wouldnt sell to water closet for any less than a billion billion (or something) its all sewn up behind closed doors my friend, the likes of you and i can come up with good ideas for our town but these people are all about profit and do not give a monkeys about its future, long term or otherwise, bottom line for them is money. The only thing that could save Margate is if we had a Roger da harn (x saga bloke) how invests in Folkestone because A he has the money and B he loves it, he doesnt see his ideas and investments as instant wins to line his pockets... if only.
Compulsory purchase. NCP have no right to the land if they are letting it decay. There is a PROD instrument as far as buildings are concerned, maybe there is something like that for 'disused' land and 'undeveloped' spaces. I am not an expert in things legal council related though. Maybe someone on the TDC is, what do you think? MH
As a working professional Sound designer, Composer and Musician, (worldwide), who lives locally I wrote a formal letter of introduction to Ms Pommery over a month ago.
I had been introduced (by Miria Swain an assitant curator from Oxford) to the 'soundartist' who had been comissioned (from Estonia) to install his work on the seafront as per the publicity for the >arrivals series for 'contact' with local artists. She has strongly suggested I contact Ms Pommery if I had any 'ideas' as she put it.
Although no reciprocal arrangement was forthcoming from Estonia for any of the local Artists from here I was promised some sort of involvement there (a festival inclusion, or something). I heard nothing apart from the fact a festival was arranged subsequently without my knowlege so I was not able to even submit work for consideration.
So, I offered to present to her board and directors a realistic concept to draw ALL the local people (of whom I am one) directly into the building of the Turner Contemporary. However I have not even had the courtesy of an acknowlegement, as yet. I will let you know when, or if, I do. Thankyou Mark Hewins
Sounds like they're being rather ivory tower, Mark old sport. Time for another musical protest, perhaps? Thursday would be a good day, with these journos in town.
Nobody could argue I never stir things up around here!
For info, the ex NCP freehold is owned by Freshwater, the company that own Arlington House and arcade. The lease is owned by Dreamland Leisure Ltd (Jimmy G). I expect it will soon be owned by MTCRC as compulsory purchase on this piece of neglected land wouldn't be too hard, unless Freshwater announce any redevelopment plans.
Arlington House looks more dirty and run down every time I see it. I appreciate it is unlikely to be demolished in the near future but the council should force them to give the outside of the building a facelift, like the council have done for Invicta, Stanner, Kennedy etc.
Dear Eastcliff, old chap! So kind of you to suggest some sort of worthy 'intervention' over here in the North of the Isle (Mar-git to us locals). I would like to, of course, always up for a challenge, you know me.
Unfortunately I have a prior engagement to provide soundscapes for that epitome of modern town planning Milton Keynes, and the good people, (and concrete cows) thereof, so I will be unavailable this time. Maybe I can help on another occasion; perhaps with the benefit of "SURPRISE!!!!".
Why the downer on Arlington House everyone? While other resorts eg Brighton are desperately spending huge sums putting up tower blocks we've got our own ready made. All it needs is some TLC it's a great example of 50s/60s high rise.
It looks good when the sea mist is covering most of it. We could furnish it with special effects to shroud it in fog all day. Heck, if we called it an installation we'd probably even get a grant!
As Promised; After sending a 'round robin' mailshot, as a reminder, I was called today by a curator from Turner wanting to arrange a meeting so I can a least pitch my idea to them. Watch this space. Thanks for the oxygen of publicity Thanet Bloggers, and all the other local well wishers. I will do my best to include everyone whether chav, eastcliff, or even disinterested. I think/hope you will all like what I will be proposing to Turner Contemporary! Cheers all, Mark Hewins
BTW I have left this message around the bloggiverse might as well go here too. Mark Hewins I control the margate.tv and thanet.tv web domains and would like to contact people who are interested in developing a real local TV station (one click away from ITV and BBC) I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has ideas in this direction. Unfortunately Bobs negated my ability to go to KCC for realistic funding. Thankyou Mark Hewins
Arlington House and the surrounding site including Arlington Square and the former NCP car park are actually owned by the Council. TDC is the freeholder.
Freshwater holds a 199 year lease issued in 1961.
Frshwater currently proposes (March 2010) to charge the leaseholders £2.4m (yup £2,400,000.00) to make the building look good - but that is only to instal double glazing and stain the concrete. It does not intend to overclad and provide insulation as on the Council blocks.
Oh! and yes - the separate residents car park is to be demolished and 20-30 parking spaces will be provided for the 142 flats.
Richborough
Turnip
25 comments:
Richborough with its three towers would have made quite a sensational arts centre don't you think? I've commented on the new Turnip design elsewhere. Even a building designed like a Turnip would have been more interesting.
I quite like seeing Richborough looming from the mist. And I believe it now has some sort of heritage protection status. So why shouldn't it become something arty? After all, the Tate Modern is an old power station.
I agree. After all Tate Modern does not have three cooling towers! Instead of starting to knock it down and just leave it looking an eyesore they could have planned it there from the start.
I found it fascinating that the architect is working for (with?) a Mr Gormley too, he was here for a funding frenzy last year too wasnt he?
They said the Turner would have a 'staff' of 35 people, exactly what would those publically funded jobs be for? Public (art) funds which should be going directly to Artists, not 'managers' or 'teachers'.
Close the road along the front. Pedestrianise everything from the clock tower to the Arlington arcade.
Run the road along the back of Dreamland through and round the site, revitalising not only Arlington house and surrounds where the road would join up with the main road by the station but also the giant unused space at the back.
Get rid of the old rusty railway (sorry). Grass and flowerbeds everywhere. (Cheap).
Thankyou, Mark Hewins.
At last someone who has actually thought about how the Dreamland and seafront space might work if planned properly.
As a biker who enjoys sedately riding up and down the front on sunny Sunday afternoons I'd say that plan is bollix. They didn't do thatin Hernia bay, did they? Why? Because cruising is part of the life blood of the front.
Its a nice idea mark and something that would make a great improvement, but just look at who owns the land, NCP carparks who want millions for the land on which the car park sits despite it not making a penny, even Godern and co couldn't raise the cash to buy the car park dito the owners of Arlington, who also wouldnt sell to water closet for any less than a billion billion (or something) its all sewn up behind closed doors my friend, the likes of you and i can come up with good ideas for our town but these people are all about profit and do not give a monkeys about its future, long term or otherwise, bottom line for them is money. The only thing that could save Margate is if we had a Roger da harn (x saga bloke) how invests in Folkestone because A he has the money and B he loves it, he doesnt see his ideas and investments as instant wins to line his pockets... if only.
Compulsory purchase. NCP have no right to the land if they are letting it decay. There is a PROD instrument as far as buildings are concerned, maybe there is something like that for 'disused' land and 'undeveloped' spaces. I am not an expert in things legal council related though. Maybe someone on the TDC is, what do you think?
MH
As a working professional Sound designer, Composer and Musician, (worldwide), who lives locally I wrote a formal letter of introduction to Ms Pommery over a month ago.
I had been introduced (by Miria Swain an assitant curator from Oxford) to the 'soundartist' who had been comissioned (from Estonia) to install his work on the seafront as per the publicity for the >arrivals series for 'contact' with local artists. She has strongly suggested I contact Ms Pommery if I had any 'ideas' as she put it.
Although no reciprocal arrangement was forthcoming from Estonia for any of the local Artists from here I was promised some sort of involvement there (a festival inclusion, or something). I heard nothing apart from the fact a festival was arranged subsequently without my knowlege so I was not able to even submit work for consideration.
So, I offered to present to her board and directors a realistic concept to draw ALL the local people (of whom I am one) directly into the building of the Turner Contemporary. However I have not even had the courtesy of an acknowlegement, as yet. I will let you know when, or if, I do.
Thankyou Mark Hewins
Sounds like they're being rather ivory tower, Mark old sport. Time for another musical protest, perhaps? Thursday would be a good day, with these journos in town.
Nobody could argue I never stir things up around here!
For info, the ex NCP freehold is owned by Freshwater, the company that own Arlington House and arcade. The lease is owned by Dreamland Leisure Ltd (Jimmy G). I expect it will soon be owned by MTCRC as compulsory purchase on this piece of neglected land wouldn't be too hard, unless Freshwater announce any redevelopment plans.
Arlington House looks more dirty and run down every time I see it. I appreciate it is unlikely to be demolished in the near future but the council should force them to give the outside of the building a facelift, like the council have done for Invicta, Stanner, Kennedy etc.
Dear Eastcliff, old chap!
So kind of you to suggest some sort of worthy 'intervention' over here in the North of the Isle (Mar-git to us locals).
I would like to, of course, always up for a challenge, you know me.
Unfortunately I have a prior engagement to provide soundscapes for that epitome of modern town planning Milton Keynes, and the good people, (and concrete cows) thereof, so I will be unavailable this time. Maybe I can help on another occasion; perhaps with the benefit of "SURPRISE!!!!".
Best wishes, Mark Hewins
Yeah paint Arlington purple with yellow spots, people would come from miles to see that!
MH
Why the downer on Arlington House everyone? While other resorts eg Brighton are desperately spending huge sums putting up tower blocks we've got our own ready made. All it needs is some TLC it's a great example of 50s/60s high rise.
I think it should have cloud videos projected onto it so it would be invisible most of the time.
It looks good when the sea mist is covering most of it. We could furnish it with special effects to shroud it in fog all day. Heck, if we called it an installation we'd probably even get a grant!
Worth a try - no dafter than most of the other ideas put forward lately.
I can almost certainly say they wouldnt even listen to a 'realistic' grant application from local people.
As Promised;
After sending a 'round robin' mailshot, as a reminder, I was called today by a curator from Turner wanting to arrange a meeting so I can a least pitch my idea to them. Watch this space.
Thanks for the oxygen of publicity Thanet Bloggers, and all the other local well wishers. I will do my best to include everyone whether chav, eastcliff, or even disinterested. I think/hope you will all like what I will be proposing to Turner Contemporary!
Cheers all, Mark Hewins
Any space left over in your a*se for me too, Marky baby?
Cripes! He's back! Where you been, Justin my old moustachioed mucker?
See you in 'Sundowners' then Just.in
BTW
I have left this message around the bloggiverse might as well go here too.
Mark Hewins
I control the margate.tv and thanet.tv web domains and would like to contact people who are interested in developing a real local TV station (one click away from ITV and BBC) I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has ideas in this direction.
Unfortunately Bobs negated my ability to go to KCC for realistic funding.
Thankyou Mark Hewins
I see Arlington House still getting stick !
Can I just put a few things straight:
Arlington House and the surrounding site including Arlington Square and the former NCP car park are actually owned by the Council. TDC is the freeholder.
Freshwater holds a 199 year lease issued in 1961.
Frshwater currently proposes (March 2010) to charge the leaseholders £2.4m (yup £2,400,000.00) to make the building look good - but that is only to instal double glazing and stain the concrete. It does not intend to overclad and provide insulation as on the Council blocks.
Oh! and yes - the separate residents car park is to be demolished and 20-30 parking spaces will be provided for the 142 flats.
Well - thats Freshwater for you . . .
Post a Comment