Jonathan Meades on Cuthbert Brodrick

Post by **dsco** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 4:23 pm

And the usual deafening silence from English Heritage when it comes to modern architecture I see... If it doesn't appeal to Daily Mail readers, then don't bother about it.

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 6:31 pm

I'm afraid I regard the YEP monstrosity to be the most appalling Leeds building to be constructed in my lifetime, with all the grace and beauty of a Stalinist era political prisoner "re-education "facility. I won't be the slightest bit sad to see it razed to roadfill.

Post by **dsco** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 7:12 pm

Which is exactly the sort of thing folk said about Brodrick's "Victorian monstrosities" around the time that the YEP was being built... and round and round it goes!Next you'll be telling me you don't like the Kremlin Jim

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 8:29 pm

We all have our own opinions Duncan, it's one of the last things we have left! I find the "Kremlin" dull but innocuous, whereas YEP is a brutal overweening blot on the way I have travelled in and out of Leeds for the majority of my life since1949. To each his own, but wouldn't want anyone think everybody loves it.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 9:23 pm

jim wrote: We all have our own opinions Duncan, it's one of the last things we have left! I find the "Kremlin" dull but innocuous, whereas YEP is a brutal overweening blot on the way I have travelled in and out of Leeds for the majority of my life since1949. To each his own, but wouldn't want anyone think everybody loves it. Personally, I'd rather save one YP building than any of the mind numbingly dull generic buildings that have been thrown up in the last 10 - 15 years. With the possible exception of BWP (and the well publicised problems that came with it...) the planners have blighted the city with buildings that could well come to be viewed with the same distain as the worst of the 60's had to offer.

Post by **dsco** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 9:50 pm

Absolutely Jim, I'm well aware my taste in architecture isn't shared by everyone! Never thought of the Kremlin as dull though... overwhelming, intimidating, oppressive... but never boring The Brits Who Built The Modern World (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03vrz4f) is another good architecture programme on at the mo by the way. Don't recall any pieces in Leeds but there are some lovely buildings in there and it's interesting to see the architects themselves talking about it all, rather than the pundits and cultural observers who usually populate this sort of show. Not sure about Terry Farrell's post modernist stuff mind you, all a bit fussy and garish for me!

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 10:22 pm

Ninety per cent of everything is dull, but that is why we react so strongly to our perceptions of good and bad. At least dull generally goes unnoticed unless we want something to complain about. And the "Kremlin" looks to me like someone tried to do "Metropolis" in Lego - and fell somewhat short.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 10:25 pm

jim wrote: Ninety per cent of everything is dull, but that is why we react so strongly to our perceptions of good and bad. At least dull generally goes unnoticed unless we want something to complain about. And the "Kremlin" looks to me like someone tried to do "Metropolis" in Lego - and fell somewhat short. Well put about the Kremlin. Probably due to it being built at around the time the council were trying to promote the "Leeds brick" style - which also gave us the toytown Magistrates Court....

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 25 Feb, 2014 10:33 pm

Actually after first disliking the Magistrates Court intensely, I find I would quite like it if they hadn't chosen the colour scheme from the architect's daughter's "My Little Pony" collection.