albion place help

pablo leeds · Post by **pablo leeds** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 10:37 pm

link Si?

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 11:04 pm

Leodian wrote: I agree with Si that this is fascinating stuff. I've just been playing around with Google Satellite view to see how the area looks in an aerial view but I was surprised just how much the cranes of the Trinity Project development intrude in such views. If you use bing maps and the bird's eye view facility, you can rotate the image and get a better view.

Si · Post by Si » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 9:52 am

pablo leeds wrote: link Si? Err, I don't know how to do links, but if you Google New Conservatory Leeds on images, it's the third picture from top left.

Si · Post by Si » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 9:54 am

Comparing the Google images New Conservatory picture, and this 1937 one, gives absolute proof that the doorway has been moved!

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 10:22 am

Si, the 1937 picture emphasizes the difference in floor levels between the centre section and the rest of the building. I assume that this implies that the centre section contains the main staircase, and that the intermediate landings are to the front of the building, and that as constructed a centre entrance would have thus been impractical.Perhaps more recent modifications have been made in conjunction with other access alterations.

Si · Post by Si » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 10:41 am

The stairway theory makes sense, Jim.However, Baroque buildings were always built "from the outside in" (ie design a symmetrical facade and then fit everything inside.) I would have thought even architects designing a neo-Baroque building would follow the basic tenets of the genre. Imagine a copy of Leeds town hall with the dome off-centre because it got in the way of a staircase!I can imagine an architect walking along Albion Place in 1988, and going, "Ooh, that off-centre doorway really offends my eye. I'd better get it fixed!"

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 10:42 am

Remember alsothat this current, present 'doorway' isn't a doorway.http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Albion+ ... 1.25Rather a facade you pass through, forward down a couple of steps, then left down the main flight and entry to basement under ground floor left shop door.So assume during shopfit (when was a liquor licence first granted for basement?) it was slotted in middle. Austin Reeds I think used to be where Next are and moved to more trad premises over the road taking all of ground floor, upper retail. Country Casuals etc.

Si · Post by Si » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 10:46 am

Thanks Jogon. I was trying to remember how the entrance to the Conservatory worked. So the stairs pass under where the doorway used to be prior to c.1990.

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 12:20 pm

Si wrote: The stairway theory makes sense, Jim.However, Baroque buildings were always built "from the outside in" (ie design a symmetrical facade and then fit everything inside.) I would have thought even architects designing a neo-Baroque building would follow the basic tenets of the genre. Imagine a copy of Leeds town hall with the dome off-centre because it got in the way of a staircase!I can imagine an architect walking along Albion Place in 1988, and going, "Ooh, that off-centre doorway really offends my eye. I'd better get it fixed!" Exactly the point I (clumsily) tried to make in my post of 24/01/2012 13.47 Si!

pablo leeds · Post by **pablo leeds** » Wed 25 Jan, 2012 1:49 pm

it's certainly an interesting find. would be great to find someone who worked on the alterations.may take a look inside next time i pass. remember drinking in the Conservatory around 2000. oh and yep it certainly looks better on the eye in the centre