Dragon Posted 17 April , 2008 Share Posted 17 April , 2008 Please can I draw attention to this post and the one preceding it in the Drill Halls thread? The former drill hall at 115 Pound Lane, Willesden Green, is to be demolished very shortly. Would anyone be able and willing to take its photograph before it is too late? This is urgent. At this stage, given the limited time left, I am making a working assumption that it is the rather fine building with mansard roof shown in Brent's archive images dated 1911, and therefore within the project's scope. Any information would be appreciated. Many thanks Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudsonswhistle Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Please can I draw attention to this post and the one preceding it in the Drill Halls thread? The former drill hall at 115 Pound Lane, Willesden Green, is to be demolished very shortly. Would anyone be able and willing to take its photograph before it is too late? This is urgent. At this stage, given the limited time left, I am making a working assumption that it is the rather fine building with mansard roof shown in Brent's archive images dated 1911, and therefore within the project's scope. Any information would be appreciated. Many thanks Gwyn I will do that for you Gwyn, i work in West hampstead and im over that way on monday so if its not to late consider it job done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 18 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2008 What a star! Thank you very much. It's nice to have photos of crests, panels, insignia, foundation stones, etc wherever possible, as well as façades. Good luck. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 20 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2008 Hello Hudsonswhistle In view of the imminent demise of the building, and because some people have told me they never look at the Drill Halls thread, I asked here as well as putting the request in the Drill Halls thread, and Myrtle has taken some pictures. I'm drawing your attention to this as I don't want you to waste your time. I'm very appreciative of your offer. What would be of interest, if it's at all possible, is a record of the demolition of the building. Such images are often very poignant and we're planning to have a Drill Halls at Risk page to highlight the need to record this often overlooked buildings, so images would be effective. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudsonswhistle Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Hello Hudsonswhistle In view of the imminent demise of the building, and because some people have told me they never look at the Drill Halls thread, I asked here as well as putting the request in the Drill Halls thread, and Myrtle has taken some pictures. I'm drawing your attention to this as I don't want you to waste your time. I'm very appreciative of your offer. What would be of interest, if it's at all possible, is a record of the demolition of the building. Such images are often very poignant and we're planning to have a Drill Halls at Risk page to highlight the need to record this often overlooked buildings, so images would be effective. Gwyn No problem,I have been there today,and I have taken some nice pictures, it's a hostel now. I went in and spoke to the guys in charge and they said they have a few old pictures and maps of the building they could let me have,and they will pop them into my station asap so fingers crossed,for your information it will start to be demolished on Monday so ill keep you posted [ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudsonswhistle Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 23 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Thank you very much for going to the trouble, HW. The old pictures and maps sound fantastic and we'd be really interested in copies. I think the loss of the building is depressing, especially as it's locally listed. I accept completely that a purpose-built hostel for vulnerable people is better than a fudge-up. Brent's policy is that hostel accommodation mustn't be lost, so that if one is demolished another has to replace it and they say that no developer who undertook to restore this building for another purpose would agree to fund a new hostel somewhere else. Their own planning policy states that: "The special character of buildings on the local list will be protected and enhanced. Proposals for the demolition or unsympathetic alteration of locally listed buildings will be discouraged unless alternative use of the building is unviable or the planning benefits for the community substantially outweigh the loss resulting from demolition." I see. I quote the plan for the rear of the new building: The elevations would have a cladding system applied to it, formed from laser-cut translucent screens of expanded metal overlaying an internal screen of glass planks, the screens continuing the plant-like theme from the living screens on the other elevations. This feature is considered to add visual interest to an otherwise blank elevation. As an additional design benefit, the screens would be designed such that they could be internally illuminated to provide a soft, calming glow. The illumination would be controlled by wind turbines such that the colour and intensity of the illumination would be modulated by wind speed. It's so innovative that they can't decide whether it will work or not and if it doesn't, the glowing wall will be turned off. I'm sorry to be outspoken, but while I'm all for interesting architecture, a charity paying for the creation of what amounts to a public art form of an illuminated wall powered by wind turbines (in a building planned to prioritise homeless people and on the elevation facing a cemetery) seems off-scope to me. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Fisher Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Big thanks to Simon, Myrtle and Hudsonswhistle (and Gwyn!) for the heads up and input on this one. Although it can seem like too many people covering the same thing sometimes, this is never the case! The more involvement, the more results, especially when we're faced with an imminent demolition. It's a fine building. I'm sure there's potential for redevelopment of it rather than replacement with some ill-judged modern box that will only last for 15 years.... Thanks, people, for e-saving it. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 I quote the plan for the rear of the new building: The elevations would have a cladding system applied to it, formed from laser-cut translucent screens of expanded metal overlaying an internal screen of glass planks, the screens continuing the plant-like theme from the living screens on the other elevations. This feature is considered to add visual interest to an otherwise blank elevation. As an additional design benefit, the screens would be designed such that they could be internally illuminated to provide a soft, calming glow. The illumination would be controlled by wind turbines such that the colour and intensity of the illumination would be modulated by wind speed. IGwyn From what I could see on the plans of the new building the rear overlooks a Jewish Cemetery. Graeme Did you receive the phtographs that I sent you of Shepherd's Bush Drill Hall? Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 23 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 April , 2008 My understanding is that the rear does overlook a Jewish cemetery, which bounds the site to north and west, and that it is not appropriate for the residents to have a view on to the cemetery. Therefore, there will be no windows on that elevation. The glowing wall is the solution to be applied to the blank wall. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Gwyn I understand there not being windows on the rear elevation but who is going to benefit from the "special effects" on the rear facade? Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 24 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 24 April , 2008 I'm not defending it! I'm merely reporting. I find it surprising that a charity can justify spending on an architectural adventure of this character. I also find it somewhat odd considering the sensitive nature of the surroundings. I am saddened that a hundred years of history has been written off yet again. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 24 April , 2008 Share Posted 24 April , 2008 Gwyn I understood that you were not defending. I was just discussing. From what I read on the plans it seems that initially many different building materials were considered but the final decision seems to have moved towards brick and concrete. Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Fisher Posted 25 April , 2008 Share Posted 25 April , 2008 Myrtle - can you resend the pics to caretaker [at] drillhalls.org - thanks your input to this and other stuff has been invaluable - I am truly indebted. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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