New home for Black Cultural Archives - Raleigh Hall

[CH1]

Do not understand this.

Wouldn’t that have to be covered by the contract with the building firm who took on the contract to do the works?

The report is certainly obscure. The way is reads to me not £214,000 but twice £214,000 is required, partly because a performance bond is due but the performance hasn't fully come to fruition so to speak.

Added to this the report only seeks approval from a Cabinet Member (Rachel Heywood?). I would feel better about it if there was going to be a public discussion of why this has happened.

Obviously this is not on the scale of the £10 million overspend on Brixton Rec which resulted in is standing empty and uncompleted for several years before being bailed out by Ken Livingstone when the GLC was wound up.

But it is a warning that public works projects are notoriously prone to financial miscalculations/hitches/contractor problems.

 

[Crispy]

It really didn't help that they chose a dilapidated existing building to work with. Such things have "unquantifiable RISK" stamped all over them. It would have been cheaper to either a) give Raleigh hall another 5-10 years to self destruct and then new build, or b) move into an existing building that's fit for purpose.

 

[Gramsci]

It really didn't help that they chose a dilapidated existing building to work with. Such things have "unquantifiable RISK" stamped all over them. It would have been cheaper to either a) give Raleigh hall another 5-10 years to self destruct and then new build, or b) move into an existing building that's fit for purpose.

Its a Grade 2 listed building. Does not completely protect it. But would have thought that even if Council had sold site it would be a headache for a developer.

 

[leanderman]

Its a Grade 2 listed building. Does not completely protect it. But would have thought that even if Council had sold site it would be a headache for a developer.

Looks like work has ground to a halt

 

[Brixton Hatter]

It really didn't help that they chose a dilapidated existing building to work with. Such things have "unquantifiable RISK" stamped all over them. It would have been cheaper to either a) give Raleigh hall another 5-10 years to self destruct and then new build, or b) move into an existing building that's fit for purpose.

True - but ultimately, when the thing is finished, few will remember the wrangling over costs and the time-overruns.

Brixton deserves an iconic public building in a central location - and what better than providing a home for the Black Cultural Archives, right in the middle of the town square, in the spiritual home of black Britain?

This is one of the few things I am more than happy for the council to chuck our money at.

 

[Crispy]

Oh yes I agree. With my cynic hat off, I can't wait to see it finished. It will add so much to the square.

 

[technical]

Indeed - I'd congratulate the council for persevering and refurbishing/reusing a listed building in the heart of Brixton. I guess we have to wait until its finished to see what it will really look like in its context, but at the moment I'm not so keen on the design. But very pleased that the project retains a characterful building rather than a modern and potentially bland box.

Not so sure about the unquantifiable risk idea - there's plenty of things you can do to minimise risk in this kind of project. In fact, you could argue that the construction industry likes to play up the risk factor in order to be able to get an empty site and (in their eyes) a more straightforward project.

 

[leanderman]

Oh yes I agree. With my cynic hat off, I can't wait to see it finished. It will add so much to the square.

They were hard at it at lunchtime today. My idea that they had stopped must be based on going past, to work, at 4.45pm every day.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

They were hard at it at lunchtime today. My idea that they had stopped must be based on going past, to work, at 4.45pm every day.

good to hear it!

 

[Rushy]

They were hard at it at lunchtime today. My idea that they had stopped must be based on going past, to work, at 4.45pm every day.

Daylight generally helps on building sites .

 

[Rushy]

I hadn't clocked that the entire original hall was going to be rendered.

 

[snowy_again]

VERY BIG CRANE there today.

 

[leanderman]

VERY BIG CRANE there today.

It's all very exciting

 

[technical]

Still not sure about the new cube-like building, but the hall itself is looking good

 

[leanderman]

Still not sure about the new cube-like building, but the hall itself is looking good

I love the windows

 

[editor]

I'm not entirely convinced by the monolithic nature of the extension.

 

[Crispy]

It'll look better once the hoarding's down and you can see the big windows and how it links in to the orginal building on either side, I reckon.

 

[leanderman]

Lovely architectural detail on the main bit

 

[snowy_again]

Scaffolding was coming down this morning...

 

[technical]

Is it supposed to be two tone like that? It looks like some of the materials have failed to dry out

 

[trabuquera]

I hardly care about the architecture. What is this building actually going to DO and how well will it serve (what remains of) the black community in Brixton/Lambeth/London?
It'll be heartbreaking if after all this time the thing is a damp squib which ends up drawing in nobody.

 

[lefteri]

it's an archive - that'll explain the monolithic nature above ground level and the tiny windows - it will no doubt serve those people of any colour who are interested in black culture and want to access said archive fairly well. otherwise it won't have fulfilled its purpose - a tricky thing to get away with in a publicly-funded building
it's also a cafe which will almost certainly draw people in, if only for beverages and snacks
presumably there'll be offices as well for the people running it and some sort of exhibition space

 

[editor]

It's - finally - almost finished! I was talking to a worker who says there's very little of the original building left in the development.

http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/04/...al-archives-building-edges-closer-to-opening/

 

[Brixton Hatter]

excellent

 

[leanderman]

Scaffolding came down two weeks ago. Then went up again!

 

[passivejoe]

Looked really nice with the grey windows and cream walls... now its been repainted and its all cream.
MUCH preferred it a few weeks back.

 

[Rushy]

Looked really nice with the grey windows and cream walls... now its been repainted and its all cream.
MUCH preferred it a few weeks back.

Still looks good but I was thinking exactly the same.

 

[leanderman]

Looked really nice with the grey windows and cream walls... now its been repainted and its all cream.
MUCH preferred it a few weeks back.

While I liked the grey window trim too, the two buildings now look more 'together'.

 

[Rushy]

While I liked the grey window trim too, the two buildings now look more 'together'.

That's my main issue with it. I think they look too together. I preferred the contrast.
Don't want to moan though. So pleased to see it almost there.

 

[passivejoe]

That's my main issue with it. I think they look too together. I preferred the contrast.
Don't want to moan though. So pleased to see it almost there.

Me too. Can't wait to visit.
Did they do away with the cafe idea for the courtyard or is that still part of the plan?