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New council HQ design blasted
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| The design for City of York Council's new headquarters which York Civic Trust has condemned as "ugly" |
INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming. That's the scathing verdict of York's top conservation watchdog on City of York Council's proposed new £40 million headquarters.
York Civic Trust claims in its formal response to the planned complex in Stonebow that the authority risks repeating the mistakes made in the past with Stonebow House - which it says has long been viewed as completely unacceptable for York.
Company secretary Peter Brown says in a letter to the council that the headquarters would be a "formal box-like structure that bears little relationship with its immediate surroundings."
He says there is a "grudging acknowledgement" of the historic Black Swan pub next door through the style of glazing. "But the sheer verticality of the office block, rising so close and nearly three times the height, only goes to reinforce the sense of alienation created around this Grade II* listed building."
The trust is even more damning in its views on proposals for a timber-clad, seven-storey "eco-tower," saying: "This will not create a beacon to sustainability, as one councillor described it, but an ugly, unrelenting erection, totally out of place and next to a residential area."
The trust says the problems with the office complex start with an impossible brief, which appeared to be to cram as much as possible into the available space at the lowest possible cost.
"To try to accommodate 1,200 staff on a site of less than one hectare will inevitably lead to gross over-development which, apart from its effect on the size of the building, is not conducive to a happy, healthy working environment."
The trust claims the scheme will create a "one-site solution we will live to regret," and suggests that the council should design a building for fewer people, allowing the architects more freedom. Otherwise the offices could become a "text-book example of how not to design in relationship with the York vernacular."
The letter said one member of the committee had compared the "overbearing slab-like appearance" of the offices to Clifford's Tower, "an earlier attempt to stamp civil authority on the citizens of York
"Perhaps a modern open government would not wish to perpetuate such an image, but buildings are powerful weapons of subliminal communication and we fear that the citizens will read the proposed structure in just such a way - intimidating, alienating and unwelcoming."
The trust also criticised the use of reconstituted stone, saying: "Most of us know this as concrete, and we regard this as a wholly unacceptable material for fronting on to a Conservation Area, with its rich pallet of brick, stone, pantiles and slate."
Mr Brown said that the letter had been written after the proposals had been examined by the Trust's planning sub-committee, whose members included professors of architecture, architects of great stature and town planners.
Comments to be reviewed
CITY of York Council leader Steve Galloway said today that all comments received by the authority about the proposed HQ building would be carefully reviewed.
"Where possible, modifications will be made prior to a planning application being submitted," he said.
"What the council is able to do is influenced by the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available. This part of York is typified by modern architecture and this tends to polarise opinions."
He said he recognised the contribution made by the Civic Trust to the conservation of historic buildings in the city, but claimed:
"Its corporate view on modern architecture, sustainability and value for money may be rather less authoritative."
He said organisations such as English Heritage would also have an opportunity to offer a considered view - "hopefully without recourse to hyperbole."
The HQ was hailed by the authority's head of property services, Neil Hindhaugh, as "iconic" when the plans were unveiled earlier this month.
The eco-friendly design includes a green roof, rainwater-harvesting system and a raft of other environmentally-friendly features.
The complex will bring almost all council services under one roof, replacing 16 buildings around the city.
10:18am Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: bobby dazzler, york on 10:27am Thu 27 Mar 08
Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
Posted by: meme, york on 10:37am Thu 27 Mar 08
[bold]''What the council is able to do is influenced by the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available. This part of York is typified by modern architecture and this tends to polarise opinions."[/bold] This is the same for all developments but that is not an excuse to overdevelop and for once I agree with YCT. This is an example of overbearing and overdevelopment of a site. its just not possible to cram so much in on such a small site. This building will be here for years so it has to be right.
We all I think appreciate budgets etc have to be stuck to but given the importance of this building possibly YCC should reconsider their entire plan and leave some staff in other locations in York letting the development of this site be less dense
''What the council is able to do is influenced by the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available. This part of York is typified by modern architecture and this tends to polarise opinions." This is the same for all developments but that is not an excuse to overdevelop and for once I agree with YCT. This is an example of overbearing and overdevelopment of a site. its just not possible to cram so much in on such a small site. This building will be here for years so it has to be right.
We all I think appreciate budgets etc have to be stuck to but given the importance of this building possibly YCC should reconsider their entire plan and leave some staff in other locations in York letting the development of this site be less dense
Posted by: jollygreenp, York on 10:43am Thu 27 Mar 08
Taking into consideration that artists impressions of proposed buildings always look better than the building that finally gets erected this one is going to be a contender to take the the title of "York's ugliest building" away from Stonebow House or else it is going to come a gross (oops sorry, ment close, or did I)second!
Taking into consideration that artists impressions of proposed buildings always look better than the building that finally gets erected this one is going to be a contender to take the the title of "York's ugliest building" away from Stonebow House or else it is going to come a gross (oops sorry, ment close, or did I)second!
Posted by: Stephen, York on 10:47am Thu 27 Mar 08
YC Council may still be forced to re-design the building especially after the Government announces its new ECO-Carbon estates initiative in April not only for all UK Government buildings but also local authority buildings.
No more bottled water for YC council meetings either.
YC Council may still be forced to re-design the building especially after the Government announces its new ECO-Carbon estates initiative in April not only for all UK Government buildings but also local authority buildings.
No more bottled water for YC council meetings either.
Posted by: misskittie, York on 10:52am Thu 27 Mar 08
Spot on Mr Brown! It is Orwellian in apperance and is about as appropriate to it's surroundings as a space ship in the Jorvik Centre. When will CYC realise that they work for US. They need to get three sympathetic yet inspirational designs to be put on display in the library and let the people who count choose. US. The people that have to walk past it, work near it and live near it. Galloway seems to think he's some kind of Tsar of York. I have a newsflash for him, he works for me and his job depends on my vote, he needs to start acting like it.
Spot on Mr Brown! It is Orwellian in apperance and is about as appropriate to it's surroundings as a space ship in the Jorvik Centre. When will CYC realise that they work for US. They need to get three sympathetic yet inspirational designs to be put on display in the library and let the people who count choose. US. The people that have to walk past it, work near it and live near it. Galloway seems to think he's some kind of Tsar of York. I have a newsflash for him, he works for me and his job depends on my vote, he needs to start acting like it.
Posted by: Angry and Frustrated, York on 10:54am Thu 27 Mar 08
"Its corporate view on modern architecture, sustainability and value for money may be rather less authoritative."
Does anybody recognise a pattern here? If anyone has the timerity to criticise an action of this council and in particular, it's leaders, Galloway launches into unnecessary criticism and insults about the person or body that voices it's opinions.
York Civic Trust have been around a lot longer than you Galloway so shut up and listen for once!! They are a well respected organisation that have no axe to grind with you. One of their roles is to comments on these types of issues.
The only people that appear to think that spending millions on a new office block is a good idea is the council themselves - with any luck Galloway, by the time this white elephant is completed, you'll be history!!
"Its corporate view on modern architecture, sustainability and value for money may be rather less authoritative."
Does anybody recognise a pattern here? If anyone has the timerity to criticise an action of this council and in particular, it's leaders, Galloway launches into unnecessary criticism and insults about the person or body that voices it's opinions.
York Civic Trust have been around a lot longer than you Galloway so shut up and listen for once!! They are a well respected organisation that have no axe to grind with you. One of their roles is to comments on these types of issues.
The only people that appear to think that spending millions on a new office block is a good idea is the council themselves - with any luck Galloway, by the time this white elephant is completed, you'll be history!!
Posted by: Cyber-Dyne systems model 101, The future on 10:59am Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.[/quote]
Its a building for god sake.
Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake.
Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
Posted by: Manwithaview, York on 11:12am Thu 27 Mar 08
It is an ugly looking building and is certainly not within keeping of the majority of buildings in York - infact the only resemblance it has to any building in York is that Monstrosity in Stonebow (Stonebow House) - if you are intent on going through with purpose built Council offices all in one place then get it re-designed
It is an ugly looking building and is certainly not within keeping of the majority of buildings in York - infact the only resemblance it has to any building in York is that Monstrosity in Stonebow (Stonebow House) - if you are intent on going through with purpose built Council offices all in one place then get it re-designed
Posted by: Ted, Huntington on 11:20am Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Cyber-Dyne systems model 101[/bold] wrote:
[quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.[/quote]
Its a building for god sake.
Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.[/quote] Interesting then how they still appear to have a better grasp of the English language than you.
Cyber-Dyne systems model 101 wrote:
INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake.
Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
Interesting then how they still appear to have a better grasp of the English language than you.
Posted by: Captain Jack Sparrow, Strensall on 11:42am Thu 27 Mar 08
Architectural design in a historic city like York should be paramount. Norwich Union (private company) should be applauded for their efforts with their new(ish) building by Lendal Bridge.
Indeed, we know that CYC behave like the Borg from Star Trek NG but that doesn't mean that their base has to look like a borg cube.
If you read this Galloway, I will not be assimilated. Remember this, the Borg were defeated in the end.
Architectural design in a historic city like York should be paramount. Norwich Union (private company) should be applauded for their efforts with their new(ish) building by Lendal Bridge.
Indeed, we know that CYC behave like the Borg from Star Trek NG but that doesn't mean that their base has to look like a borg cube.
If you read this Galloway, I will not be assimilated. Remember this, the Borg were defeated in the end.
Posted by: misskittie, York on 11:57am Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Captain Jack Sparrow[/bold] wrote:
Architectural design in a historic city like York should be paramount. Norwich Union (private company) should be applauded for their efforts with their new(ish) building by Lendal Bridge. Indeed, we know that CYC behave like the Borg from Star Trek NG but that doesn't mean that their base has to look like a borg cube. If you read this Galloway, I will not be assimilated. Remember this, the Borg were defeated in the end.[/quote] Mint!! I wish I had a picture of Galloway, the Borg Queen and a copy of Photoshop...
Captain Jack Sparrow wrote:
Architectural design in a historic city like York should be paramount. Norwich Union (private company) should be applauded for their efforts with their new(ish) building by Lendal Bridge. Indeed, we know that CYC behave like the Borg from Star Trek NG but that doesn't mean that their base has to look like a borg cube. If you read this Galloway, I will not be assimilated. Remember this, the Borg were defeated in the end.
Mint!! I wish I had a picture of Galloway, the Borg Queen and a copy of Photoshop...
Posted by: R.S., Leeds on 12:09pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]"The trust ... suggests that the council should design a building for fewer people, allowing the architects more freedom."[/quote]
So if they design it for fewer people, where are the rest of them going to go? take their desks outside and sit on the pavement to work, and run a lottery to see which lucky employees get to sit indoors?
If the Civic Trust are going to make comments about proposals, they need to think things through a bit before putting pen to paper.
"The trust ... suggests that the council should design a building for fewer people, allowing the architects more freedom."
So if they design it for fewer people, where are the rest of them going to go? take their desks outside and sit on the pavement to work, and run a lottery to see which lucky employees get to sit indoors?
If the Civic Trust are going to make comments about proposals, they need to think things through a bit before putting pen to paper.
Posted by: Mullarkian, York on 12:32pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Why do they need this anyway, there is stacks of empty office space avaiable in & around York. The offices off the a1237 at the back of the Wetherby Whaler have been empty since they were put up 7 or 8 years ago.
Council offices do not have to be in the centre of York.
Why do they need this anyway, there is stacks of empty office space avaiable in & around York. The offices off the a1237 at the back of the Wetherby Whaler have been empty since they were put up 7 or 8 years ago.
Council offices do not have to be in the centre of York.
Posted by: David H, York on 12:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The proposed building is just horrible. Steve Galloway says the factors are "the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available". He should certainly add "architectural merit" to his list. And if the site isn't big enough for a building of real architectural merit, he should find another site, somewhere else.
The proposed building is just horrible. Steve Galloway says the factors are "the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available". He should certainly add "architectural merit" to his list. And if the site isn't big enough for a building of real architectural merit, he should find another site, somewhere else.
Posted by: ghost of oscar deutsch on 12:38pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Get the council out to poppleton road business park. There's been office buildings to let for years so save yourself 40mill.
As for Galloway stating that 'all comments received by the authority about the proposed HQ building would be carefully reviewed' basically is the usual hyperbole which really means 'complain all you want, we've already agreed on it and the foundations start going in on Monday.
If this building represents an exciting example of modern architecture then I'm a monkeys uncle!!!
Get the council out to poppleton road business park. There's been office buildings to let for years so save yourself 40mill.
As for Galloway stating that 'all comments received by the authority about the proposed HQ building would be carefully reviewed' basically is the usual hyperbole which really means 'complain all you want, we've already agreed on it and the foundations start going in on Monday.
If this building represents an exciting example of modern architecture then I'm a monkeys uncle!!!
Posted by: Uncle Tony, York on 12:38pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]The eco-friendly design includes a green roof, rainwater-harvesting system and a raft[/quote]
What's the raft for? Transport to and from Starbucks when it floods?
The eco-friendly design includes a green roof, rainwater-harvesting system and a raft
What's the raft for? Transport to and from Starbucks when it floods?
Posted by: TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land on 12:38pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Cyber-Dyne systems model 101[/bold] wrote:
[quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.[/quote] Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.[/quote] Unless of course it's the Bates Motel or that place with the teeth lying round outside from the Texas Chainsaw massacre. Or any number of haunted houses from Scooby Doo.
Cyber-Dyne systems model 101 wrote:
INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
Unless of course it's the Bates Motel or that place with the teeth lying round outside from the Texas Chainsaw massacre. Or any number of haunted houses from Scooby Doo.
Posted by: Uncle Tony, York on 12:43pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
Unless of course it's the Bates Motel or that place with the teeth lying round outside from the Texas Chainsaw massacre. Or any number of haunted houses from Scooby Doo.[/quote]
Or Amityville, the house on the hill.
INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
Unless of course it's the Bates Motel or that place with the teeth lying round outside from the Texas Chainsaw massacre. Or any number of haunted houses from Scooby Doo.
Or Amityville, the house on the hill.
Posted by: ACE 1, york on 12:49pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Listen to you all moaning and complaining, get a [bold]life[/bold] !
Listen to you all moaning and complaining, get a
life !
Posted by: Uncle Tony, York on 12:52pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]Listen to you all moaning and complaining, get a life ![/quote]
Sez you! You're posting comments on here just like the rest of us. Glass houses and all that...
Listen to you all moaning and complaining, get a life !
Sez you! You're posting comments on here just like the rest of us. Glass houses and all that...
Posted by: Cyber-Dyne systems model 101, The future on 1:02pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Ted[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Cyber-Dyne systems model 101[/bold] wrote: [quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.[/quote] Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.[/quote] Interesting then how they still appear to have a better grasp of the English language than you.[/quote] Whats up your nose matey???
Ted wrote:
Cyber-Dyne systems model 101 wrote: INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
Interesting then how they still appear to have a better grasp of the English language than you.
Whats up your nose matey???
Posted by: Axe Man Jack, York on 2:22pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Cyber-Dyne systems model 101[/bold] wrote:
[quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.[/quote] Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.[/quote] I imagine that's what they said about the stonebow before they built that.
But hey, you're right. It's only a public building paid for by our council tax. Why would we want a say in it's design? It's not like it's going to be there for scores of years to come is it?
Cyber-Dyne systems model 101 wrote:
INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
I imagine that's what they said about the stonebow before they built that.
But hey, you're right. It's only a public building paid for by our council tax. Why would we want a say in it's design? It's not like it's going to be there for scores of years to come is it?
Posted by: voiceoreason, york on 2:39pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Captain Jack Sparrow[/bold] wrote:
Architectural design in a historic city like York should be paramount. Norwich Union (private company) should be applauded for their efforts with their new(ish) building by Lendal Bridge.
Indeed, we know that CYC behave like the Borg from Star Trek NG but that doesn't mean that their base has to look like a borg cube.
If you read this Galloway, I will not be assimilated. Remember this, the Borg were defeated in the end.[/quote] Absolute unadulterated rubbish. We should not applaud people for b uilding simulacra. In a 100 years time what do we want people to think of Elizabethan architecture, it was just a peiod of shoddy pastiches of the past. The city is a blend of different architecual styles, Tudor Georgian Edwardian and we should be contributing to this. It should be a matter of whether it is good design not whether it is a tawdry copy of something that went before
Captain Jack Sparrow wrote:
Architectural design in a historic city like York should be paramount. Norwich Union (private company) should be applauded for their efforts with their new(ish) building by Lendal Bridge.
Indeed, we know that CYC behave like the Borg from Star Trek NG but that doesn't mean that their base has to look like a borg cube.
If you read this Galloway, I will not be assimilated. Remember this, the Borg were defeated in the end.
Absolute unadulterated rubbish. We should not applaud people for b uilding simulacra. In a 100 years time what do we want people to think of Elizabethan architecture, it was just a peiod of shoddy pastiches of the past. The city is a blend of different architecual styles, Tudor Georgian Edwardian and we should be contributing to this. It should be a matter of whether it is good design not whether it is a tawdry copy of something that went before
Posted by: voiceoreason, york on 2:40pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote:
Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
bobby dazzler wrote:
Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
Posted by: voiceoreason, york on 2:43pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Mullarkian[/bold] wrote:
Why do they need this anyway, there is stacks of empty office space avaiable in & around York. The offices off the a1237 at the back of the Wetherby Whaler have been empty since they were put up 7 or 8 years ago.
Council offices do not have to be in the centre of York.[/quote] Hmmmm, very environmentally conscious. Lets have all council staff travelling on the Northern Ringroad to the Wethyerby Whaler every day. Not to mention making council offices nice and accesible to all residents. Why should elderley and disabled residents catch the bus from Strensall in to town, when they could tray and get themselves all the way round the ring road to see council officers
Mullarkian wrote:
Why do they need this anyway, there is stacks of empty office space avaiable in & around York. The offices off the a1237 at the back of the Wetherby Whaler have been empty since they were put up 7 or 8 years ago.
Council offices do not have to be in the centre of York.
Hmmmm, very environmentally conscious. Lets have all council staff travelling on the Northern Ringroad to the Wethyerby Whaler every day. Not to mention making council offices nice and accesible to all residents. Why should elderley and disabled residents catch the bus from Strensall in to town, when they could tray and get themselves all the way round the ring road to see council officers
Posted by: TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land on 3:22pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote] [bold][bold]'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'[/bold][/bold]
But I thought this was going to be a Council building.
Wait a minute - VOR(Mk 73) are you Steve Galloway?
voiceoreason wrote:
bobby dazzler wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'
But I thought this was going to be a Council building.
Wait a minute - VOR(Mk 73) are you Steve Galloway?
Posted by: Stephen, York on 4:06pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Is CYC bucking the trend and building a concrete palace when other councils are doing the following.
lgcplus.com Local Government Cronicle web site seems to indicate they are.
"It also highlights a potential flashpoint, with 68% reducing staff to make their efficiency numbers add up. With industrial relations already fractious and with councils as a key employer in local economies, this could have a huge impact."
All councils are providing improved front line services to the general public through new IT initiatives such as paying council tax on line or remote office working thus less staff needed on one central site.
Potentially sounds like Galloway and other future leaders could be working from their garden shed in future and not needing to commute from home to work anymore.
Is CYC bucking the trend and building a concrete palace when other councils are doing the following.
lgcplus.com Local Government Cronicle web site seems to indicate they are.
"It also highlights a potential flashpoint, with 68% reducing staff to make their efficiency numbers add up. With industrial relations already fractious and with councils as a key employer in local economies, this could have a huge impact."
All councils are providing improved front line services to the general public through new IT initiatives such as paying council tax on line or remote office working thus less staff needed on one central site.
Potentially sounds like Galloway and other future leaders could be working from their garden shed in future and not needing to commute from home to work anymore.
Posted by: bobby dazzler, york on 4:12pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote] Ha yes it does it gets a 40m pound luxury office for its workers! I dont see the need to be honest and efficent and council cant be used in the same sentence!
voiceoreason wrote:
bobby dazzler wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
Ha yes it does it gets a 40m pound luxury office for its workers! I dont see the need to be honest and efficent and council cant be used in the same sentence!
Posted by: voiceoreason, york on 5:24pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote] Ha yes it does it gets a 40m pound luxury office for its workers! I dont see the need to be honest and efficent and council cant be used in the same sentence! [/quote] People complain councils aren't efficient then complain when they do something to improve their efficiency. Seems a logical strategy to me!
bobby dazzler wrote:
voiceoreason wrote:
bobby dazzler wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
Ha yes it does it gets a 40m pound luxury office for its workers! I dont see the need to be honest and efficent and council cant be used in the same sentence!
People complain councils aren't efficient then complain when they do something to improve their efficiency. Seems a logical strategy to me!
Posted by: voiceoreason, york on 5:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]TheManWithTheFuManchuMoustache[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote] [bold][bold]'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'[/bold][/bold]
But I thought this was going to be a Council building.
Wait a minute - VOR(Mk 73) are you Steve Galloway?
[/quote] See comment above.
And if your seeing Steve Galloway everywhere you look I suggest you might have a problem!
TheManWithTheFuManchuMoustache wrote:
voiceoreason wrote:
bobby dazzler wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'
But I thought this was going to be a Council building.
Wait a minute - VOR(Mk 73) are you Steve Galloway?
See comment above.
And if your seeing Steve Galloway everywhere you look I suggest you might have a problem!
Posted by: TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land on 5:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]TheManWithTheFuManchuMoustache[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote] [bold][bold]'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'[/bold][/bold] But I thought this was going to be a Council building. Wait a minute - VOR(Mk 73) are you Steve Galloway? [/quote] See comment above. And if your seeing Steve Galloway everywhere you look I suggest you might have a problem![/quote] Nope not everywhere.
Just when someone claims that CYC are offering or will offer [bold]'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'[/bold]
You're either Steve Galloway or away with the fairies.
voiceoreason wrote:
TheManWithTheFuManchuMoustache wrote: voiceoreason wrote: bobby dazzler wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.' But I thought this was going to be a Council building. Wait a minute - VOR(Mk 73) are you Steve Galloway?
See comment above. And if your seeing Steve Galloway everywhere you look I suggest you might have a problem!
Nope not everywhere.
Just when someone claims that CYC are offering or will offer
'the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.'
You're either Steve Galloway or away with the fairies.
Posted by: DAVID BAKER, AYCLIFFE VILLAGE CO DURHAM on 5:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Why dont the Council organise a Design competition which can be open to both UK and overseas Architects, it could be run by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Why dont the Council organise a Design competition which can be open to both UK and overseas Architects, it could be run by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Posted by: Moron, York on 6:02pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote]
Why does York need such a huge building. Couldn't the staff be reduced and most work from home?
And as far as £40m goes I would expect a better design for that money.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
Why does York need such a huge building. Couldn't the staff be reduced and most work from home?
And as far as £40m goes I would expect a better design for that money.
Posted by: Peter, york on 6:22pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote]"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote]
Councils being efficient what are you on
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
Councils being efficient what are you on
Posted by: CHRIS YORK BORN&BRED, YORK on 8:55pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Well said Capt Jack,
In ten years it will cost £50 million to update this monstrosity just like the defra building down the road, A new building full of the latest tecnology will only need a quarter of the w4nkers to run the place saving a mint on wages,the council tax would be cut by half....
I wonder how much money has been wasted on this monstrous design,????????
Well said Capt Jack,
In ten years it will cost £50 million to update this monstrosity just like the defra building down the road, A new building full of the latest tecnology will only need a quarter of the w4nkers to run the place saving a mint on wages,the council tax would be cut by half....
I wonder how much money has been wasted on this monstrous design,????????
Posted by: York Urbanite, York City on 10:51pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Given the 'efficiencies' consist of discriminatory reduction of vital services to minority parts of the community, putting your lives at risk in the process - the building of this egotistical edifice is astoundingly beyond scandalous.
There are some serious questions need asking like: why is money being spent on this thing when the appropriate quality of vital service cannot be provided to all who pay for it?
-------------
For the background to this comment:-
Put in the search box at the top of this page: remote bin collection - and read the comment I posted there today in order to understand the implications of a money saving decision in disguise which it seems, disappointingly, few have grasped.
Given the 'efficiencies' consist of discriminatory reduction of vital services to minority parts of the community, putting your lives at risk in the process - the building of this egotistical edifice is astoundingly beyond scandalous.
There are some serious questions need asking like: why is money being spent on this thing when the appropriate quality of vital service cannot be provided to all who pay for it?
-------------
For the background to this comment:-
Put in the search box at the top of this page: remote bin collection - and read the comment I posted there today in order to understand the implications of a money saving decision in disguise which it seems, disappointingly, few have grasped.
Posted by: mivvi, near York on 12:08am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]"What the council is able to do is influenced by the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available."[/quote].
It's the typical quart into a pint-pot dilemma, but then all the above factors were well known in advance. Could not the Council, knowing their requirements, have allowed more space for their building? Or would that have reduced the income from the site by too much? Given the circumstances, why not start from the reverse position? Design a building which fits sympathetically, then see what it can accomodate, and locate the overspill elsewhere. No worse than than the current situation. The Council has a desire to house all their staff under one roof. An admirable strategy, but not sustainable if the result is the eyesore that is proposed. It is truly horrible and not something York will be proud of. I ask the Council to please rethink this. At the very least, move it elsewhere in Hungate and build something more appropriate next to the Black Swan.
"What the council is able to do is influenced by the size of the site, the number of staff to be accommodated and the funding that we have available."
.
It's the typical quart into a pint-pot dilemma, but then all the above factors were well known in advance. Could not the Council, knowing their requirements, have allowed more space for their building? Or would that have reduced the income from the site by too much? Given the circumstances, why not start from the reverse position? Design a building which fits sympathetically, then see what it can accomodate, and locate the overspill elsewhere. No worse than than the current situation. The Council has a desire to house all their staff under one roof. An admirable strategy, but not sustainable if the result is the eyesore that is proposed. It is truly horrible and not something York will be proud of. I ask the Council to please rethink this. At the very least, move it elsewhere in Hungate and build something more appropriate next to the Black Swan.
Posted by: York Urbanite, York City on 12:31am Fri 28 Mar 08
Given the 'efficiencies' consist of discriminatory reduction of vital services to minority parts of the community, putting your lives at risk in the process - the building of this egotistical edifice is astoundingly beyond scandalous.
There are some serious questions need asking like: why is money being spent on this thing when the appropriate quality of vital service cannot be provided to all who pay for it?
-------------
For the background to this comment:-
Put in the search box at the top of this page: remote bin collection - and read the comment I posted there today in order to understand the implications of a money saving decision in disguise which it seems, disappointingly, few have grasped.
Given the 'efficiencies' consist of discriminatory reduction of vital services to minority parts of the community, putting your lives at risk in the process - the building of this egotistical edifice is astoundingly beyond scandalous.
There are some serious questions need asking like: why is money being spent on this thing when the appropriate quality of vital service cannot be provided to all who pay for it?
-------------
For the background to this comment:-
Put in the search box at the top of this page: remote bin collection - and read the comment I posted there today in order to understand the implications of a money saving decision in disguise which it seems, disappointingly, few have grasped.
Posted by: steve_p, York on 10:21am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]voiceoreason[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]bobby dazzler[/bold] wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that. [/quote] "The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.[/quote] Ha yes it does it gets a 40m pound luxury office for its workers! I dont see the need to be honest and efficent and council cant be used in the same sentence! [/quote] Lets not forget that most of the current council bulidings are rented from landlords. The council does not own the buildings. So surley it is in the citys best interest to own the bulidings, protecting tax investments, and not just throwing money down the drain!
bobby dazzler wrote:
voiceoreason wrote: bobby dazzler wrote: Ha why does the council get a brand new 40m building? They have not earned it. How they even dare submit a plan like the above for a new flash state of the art building when the surroundings are a dump! Sort your city out before your self council...o wait a sec you never do that.
"The council" doesn't get anything. The people of York get a new £40m building that allows them to receive the most efficient level of service that can possibly be achieved.
Ha yes it does it gets a 40m pound luxury office for its workers! I dont see the need to be honest and efficent and council cant be used in the same sentence!
Lets not forget that most of the current council bulidings are rented from landlords. The council does not own the buildings. So surley it is in the citys best interest to own the bulidings, protecting tax investments, and not just throwing money down the drain!
Posted by: steve_p, York on 10:27am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Axe Man Jack[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Cyber-Dyne systems model 101[/bold] wrote: [quote]INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.[/quote] Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.[/quote] I imagine that's what they said about the stonebow before they built that. But hey, you're right. It's only a public building paid for by our council tax. Why would we want a say in it's design? It's not like it's going to be there for scores of years to come is it?[/quote] your point. it is a public building we elect members dont we? they are the people making the decisions. If we have a direct say in things like this should we have a direct say in ALL other decisions. No we elect people who we think are appropriate to do that for us
Axe Man Jack wrote:
Cyber-Dyne systems model 101 wrote: INTIMIDATING, alienating, unwelcoming.
Its a building for god sake. Anyone to scared to walk into a building because of what it looks like is too stupid to be there in the first place.
I imagine that's what they said about the stonebow before they built that. But hey, you're right. It's only a public building paid for by our council tax. Why would we want a say in it's design? It's not like it's going to be there for scores of years to come is it?
your point. it is a public building we elect members dont we? they are the people making the decisions. If we have a direct say in things like this should we have a direct say in ALL other decisions. No we elect people who we think are appropriate to do that for us
Posted by: Brian, york on 11:05am Fri 28 Mar 08
Most people seem to dislike the design,Steve Galloway thinks its ok ,maybe the Civic Trust and the rest of us dont have the same vision as Mr Galloway ,It looks to me like a cash and carry warehouse,what about a couple of dozen trees would screen it anyone got any giant redwoods going spare.
Most people seem to dislike the design,Steve Galloway thinks its ok ,maybe the Civic Trust and the rest of us dont have the same vision as Mr Galloway ,It looks to me like a cash and carry warehouse,what about a couple of dozen trees would screen it anyone got any giant redwoods going spare.
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