Blimey! Brixton and the unexpected Coutts Bank connection

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I work in it and it might be ugly but it is most certainly not unloved. The building manager and staff are constantly maintaining it and ensuring that it continues to serve a purpose as a vital resource for older and disabled people in Lambeth. You also get fantastic views out onto Brixton Rd which on a quiet Friday can be very entertaining . . . It's worth going into Reception and having a look at the ambitious plans for the building which( if the fundraising goes to plan) would make it into a state of the art eco building with accessibility for disabled and older people at its heart - something Lambeth can be proud of. Def an ugly duckling but watch this space . . .

Oh yes and the views from the roof are fantastic!

Yeah, I'm not bothered what it looks like, it's the good work that goes on inside it that counts, and yes, nice views as well. A lick of paint would be nice though

 

[ericjarvis]

It didn't look so bad back in 1986 when I first encountered it. Some good stuff has been done there over the years. I've got really vivid memories of a brilliant evening hosted by some groups of Vietnamese refugees in order to make contact with a wide range of local organisations all in one go.

It's all somewhat tatty now, though I have no doubt some good stuff still happens there.

 

[Rushy]

I like this building.

It somehow fits in even though its very different from the other buildings.

Its certainly more interesting than Olive Morris Council offices on Brixton Hill.

Am I the only person who actually quite likes Olive Morris House as well? Considering its size and bulk I think it sits relatively comfortably on the Brixton Hill streetscape - probably partly because of the choice of brick rather than cast material which helps bring a sense of scale to what might otherwise be a fairly brutal piece of architecture. That could also be a criticism - cast concrete might be a much more honest choice of material for the design. But on a practical note the choice of building materials means that it stays looking very tidy with minimal maintenance. I wish there were no visible railings/timber trellis on upper floor ledges and timber plank faced cast concrete had not been painted over in reception.

Sadly none of this makes queuing 2hrs at a time to buy scratchy car permits any more enjoyable though...

 

[Onket]

Aye, OMH could be a lot worse. But it's a council building, so it's considered fair game for people to have a pop at.

 

[Rushy]

Aye, OMH could be a lot worse. But it's a council building, so it's considered fair game for people to have a pop at.

Fair enough. I once considered buying a photo collage of central Brixton by a guy called Martin Thompson from the now gone Bettie Morton gallery on Railton Road. Absolutely stunning pic of the Town hall but in the end didn't because I couldn't face having a photo of Lambeth's head office on my wall.

 

[Mrs Redboots]

Its certainly more interesting than Olive Morris Council offices on Brixton Hill.

That would not be difficult!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

That would not be difficult!

Yeah, but it's a handy building when it's raining and snowing!

 

[Onket]

Fair enough.

I was actually being sarcastic. I don't think who owns the building should come into it really.

 

[Rushy]

I was actually being sarcastic. I don't think who owns the building should come into it really.

Fair enough again. I wasn't. Lambeth wriggles into one's life in too many tedious ways on a daily basis without having their HQ hung on my wall as a reminder. Clever pic and beautiful building though.

 

[greenfinch]

Old Coutts Building, Brixton

It's not an ugly building at all, I think it's beautiful and calls to have it demolished are ridiculous and wasteful and very short-sighted. It needs a facelift and a lick of paint - that will be a fraction of the cost for those who now own it.

What is this obsession with pullling buildings down which are perfectly sound? In these days of recession and deep cuts, we should be embracing buildings like this - go to Paris, got to Barcelona, buildings like this are well cared for and as cherished as much as older buildings.... we don't live in the bloody 19th Century (thank god.... no sanitation, no NHS, no Welfare, disabled people reduced to penury and begging) we live in the 21st century with all it's faults.

Don't call for the destruction of things you don't understand or have a knee-jerk reaction to.

Have we all turned into Prince Charles or something? After all, I find Buckingham Palace a bloody eyesore, but then, Charles has about 6 Palaces and Country Estates to choose from to rattle around in.

I've been in there. Disability/OAP and carers advice service is based there.

Coutts may have been rich, but he had no taste. It's downright ugly

 

[miss minnie]

It's not an ugly building at all, I think it's beautiful and calls to have it demolished are ridiculous and wasteful and very short-sighted. It needs a facelift and a lick of paint - that will be a fraction of the cost for those who now own it.

What is this obsession with pullling buildings down which are perfectly sound? In these days of recession and deep cuts, we should be embracing buildings like this - go to Paris, got to Barcelona, buildings like this are well cared for and as cherished as much as older buildings.... we don't live in the bloody 19th Century (thank god.... no sanitation, no NHS, no Welfare, disabled people reduced to penury and begging) we live in the 21st century with all it's faults.

Don't call for the destruction of things you don't understand or have a knee-jerk reaction to.

Have we all turned into Prince Charles or something? After all, I find Buckingham Palace a bloody eyesore, but then, Charles has about 6 Palaces and Country Estates to choose from to rattle around in.

Wow, relax! She is entitled to her opinion just as you are yours! Most of the posts on this thread have been positive about the building, why are you so upset about the few people for whom it is not a visual delight?

Which post on this thread called for it to be destroyed, I must be going blind because I can't find one.

 

[Ms T]

Fair enough. I once considered buying a photo collage of central Brixton by a guy called Martin Thompson from the now gone Bettie Morton gallery on Railton Road. Absolutely stunning pic of the Town hall but in the end didn't because I couldn't face having a photo of Lambeth's head office on my wall.

View attachment 14421

I bought one of his photos as a present for hendo's birthday - considered that one but in the end went for one of the sea at Bournemouth. Have never regretted it - makes me feel happy and everyone who comes to the house loves it.

 

[editor]

It's not an ugly building at all, I think it's beautiful and calls to have it demolished are ridiculous and wasteful and very short-sighted. It needs a facelift and a lick of paint - that will be a fraction of the cost for those who now own it.

Where are these "calls to have it demolished" coming from because I can't see any people asking for such a thing here.

 

[Rushy]

I bought one of his photos as a present for hendo's birthday - considered that one but in the end went for one of the sea at Bournemouth. Have never regretted it - makes me feel happy and everyone who comes to the house loves it.

You are right. That seaside series is definitely cheery! My favourite was a photo of Walworth:
http://www.bettiemortongallery.co.uk/mthompson/london/walworth-rd.htm
Kinda regret not buying it now.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Eh? You're not very good at reading for meaning are you, grrenfinch? I bet your teachers despaired of you. No one on this thread has called for its destruction. In fact you're the only person who has mentioned destruction.

 

[lang rabbie]

HHR wins planning for Lambeth Accord scheme

(Architect's Journal article with images of the refurbishment - one time viewing only before firewall come in I think)

Henley Halebrown Rorrison (HHbR) has bagged planning permission for its competition-winning Lambeth Accord scheme, at 336 Brixton Road, south London


The project to overhaul and extend a disability care centre in London combines new conference space with offices for fourteen charities and seeks to ‘humanise the original Brutalist 1960s concrete building’.

The practice, then Buschow Henley, saw off more than 100 entries to land the RIBA-organised contest in December 2008.

The project team includes structural engineers Jane Wernick Associates, environmental engineers ZEF UK and cost consultants BPTW.

The architect’s view

The design transforms this community building into a truly public one, improving access to the conference facilities and office space. The scheme will create a public foyer, reception & bar, two conference halls (churches) and four further meeting rooms. The first to fourth floors are refurbished to re-provide the office space for the existing tenants and a two-storey bamboo-clad extension at the rear creates a further 400m² of office space. The basement accommodates parking and storage.

Our scheme will be, but more importantly will feel, sustainable. For much of the year spaces will be naturally ventilated and daylit minimizing energy consumption, which will reduce the demand and in turn make 100% on-site renewable energy generation feasible. All of this is designed to create a sustainable, humane and inclusive facility, which is flexible and secure in which landscape habitats will play a significant part.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It looks downright ugly as it is now. In Editor's original photo, it looks nicer, but still not really my taste at all, and I, and nobody on here has suggested it be demolished.

I'm sure with a lick of paint, it can be prettied up, but I still will not consider it "beautiful", but that's just me

 

[miss minnie]

HHR wins planning for Lambeth Accord scheme

Our scheme will be, but more importantly will feel, sustainable.

Whatever that means. Surely its more important to BE sustainable than FEEL sustainable but I'm not an architect so what do I know.

Henley Halebrown Rorrison 336 Brixton Road

 

[editor]

"Humanising the original Brutalist 1960s concrete building" is going to be an interesting task. Perhaps they'll stick a big smiley face on the front. And have it blowing bubbles from its mouth. With a window shutter automatically going up and down to 'wink' sporadically.

There. Sorted. Where do I collect my architect's fees?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

"Humanising the original Brutalist 1960s concrete building" is going to be an interesting task. Perhaps they'll stick a big smiley face on the front. And have it blowing bubbles from its mouth. With a window shutter automatically going up and down to 'wink' sporadically.

There. Sorted. Where do I collect my architect's fees?

I have a much cheaper idea. Paint a great big mural on it.