Squire and Partners in Lambeth

[ricbake]

(another restaurant within a new oak-framed upper floor is for the practice’s own use)

 

[editor]

(another restaurant within a new oak-framed upper floor is for the practice’s own use)

Several people have mentioned this member's club to me, so I guess it takes place in their lavishly kitted out private restaurant, do you think?

 

[ricbake]

I understood it to be the offices private entertaining space that privileged guests, clients, suppliers etc could be invited to - a sort of private members club that Messrs Squires might admit you to...

But no membership card as such

 

[urbanspaceman]

Grand revival: London's first department store in Brixton restored to former glory with workspaces, shops and restaurants | Homes and Property

A highly favourable piece in the Standard

 

[editor]

Grand revival: London's first department store in Brixton restored to former glory with workspaces, shops and restaurants | Homes and Property

A highly favourable piece in the Standard

This still sits uneasily with me:

Verdigris colour revealed and graffiti retained from the building’s previous life as a squat, the makeover is teamed with glossy contemporary inserts in black steel and anodised gold, and limited-edition furniture developed with designers Minotti, Samuel Heath and Carl Hanson.

 

[editor]

£12 gets you into a backslapping lecture about how Squire took over a building that apparently was falling to bits and saved it with artisans. Hurrah!

When Squire and Partners embarked on reviving the dilapidated Edwardian department store as their new workspace, they committed to allow the existing fabric and layers of history inform the new design. Once a prominent part of a thriving cultural neighbourhood, the building had fallen into disrepair and lost any relevance to the local community. Recognising the decayed grandeur of the raw space, which revealed an extraordinary commitment to craft by the original artisans of the day, the practice sought to highlight the building’s history in its found state, and introduce a layer of contemporary interventions by a new generation of artisans.

London Festival of Architecture: Reviving The Department Store, Brixton

 

[alcopop]

Looks like they're doing a superb job on that building. No doubt lots of you lot will have a moan when its all done though.

And so it came to pass that moans were had

 

[editor]

And so it came to pass that moans were had

I think it looks very grand indeed, but at a time when start ups and local independent businesses are desperately struggling to find space in Brixton, this lot sure have hogged a load for themselves, with vast empty rooms retained for award-winning visual effect.

And I'm not quite on board with this narrative they're spinning that suggests that the building was some sort of squat-filled, near-derelict shell either. And if you want to know what gentrification-speak sounds like, this is it: "Recognising the decayed grandeur of the raw space..."

Raw space, FFS.

 

[teuchter]

And so it came to pass that moans were had

Will no-one think of the startups

 

[alcopop]

I think it looks very grand indeed, but at a time when start ups and local independent businesses are desperately struggling to find space in Brixton, this lot sure have hogged a load for themselves, with vast empty rooms retained for award-winning visual effect.

Damn that award-winning visual effect. Damn it to hell

 

[alcopop]

Will no-one think of the startups

I’m confused now. I thought startups were bad?

 

[teuchter]

Who knows. Anyway, to align myself briefly with the moaning - last weekend (in the daytime) I witnessed an awful scene outside the bar on the ground floor; living, walking stereotypes of your worst imaginations, grasping champagne glasses and staggering around on the pavement and making comments at passers by. It's like 300m of West London transplanted onto that street.

 

[editor]

I’m confused now. I thought startups were bad?

No one has ever said that all start ups are "bad." You've just made that up, presumably because you think it's clever or something. Please stop.

 

[editor]

And for all their talk of being part of Brixton's community, take a stroll past their offices and associated restaurant in the day time and see just how incredibly 'Brixton' it looks.

 

[T & P]

Keep throwing mud Ed, I'm sure one day something will eventually stick.

 

[editor]

Keep throwing mud Ed, I'm sure one day something will eventually stick.

I'm expressing an opinion about our rich incomers, that's all. There's nothing I can do to harm multi millionaires and their multi million showcase offices.

 

[alcopop]

No one has ever said that all start ups are "bad." You've just made that up, presumably because you think it's clever or something. Please stop.

I didn’t make anything up. Stop gaslighting.

 

[editor]

I didn’t make anything up. Stop gaslighting.

Gaslighting? WTF! That's seriously unhinged stuff. Really.

If you can't back up your claims, just say so. I certainly don't recall anyone here saying that they were against all start ups.

 

[Gramsci]

I agree with Teuchter it does now look like west London as I pass by. Completely uninviting imo. It's yet another bit of Brixton I try to pretend is not there as I walk by.

Makes me glad I live in LJ now. Most of the week I don't have to see this.

Though I was up at Exmouth Market today. A depressing sight to see what's happened to it. Sure Squires lovers here would like it. The cheap cafe I used to use went some time ago.

I would not "moan" about the likes of Squires if London left spaces for the likes of me. But that's not happening.

The comments above make me like it even less.

Posters here might all find this amusing. It's not when you are priced out and lose your cheap down to earth places.

 

[urbanspaceman]

It looks like they are using that ground floor space:
www.badgersvelvetunderground.com
today 1800-2100 and tomorrow. As far as I can see, it's a "curated" "pop-up" featuring 40 "designers". So it could be good or it could be rubbish. I'll go along tomorrow to have a look at it.

 

[happyshopper]

It looks like they are using that ground floor space:
www.badgersvelvetunderground.com
today 1800-2100 and tomorrow. As far as I can see, it's a "curated" "pop-up" featuring 40 "designers". So it could be good or it could be rubbish. I'll go along tomorrow to have a look at it.

I thought about having a look but then discovered there was a £2 charge to get into what was essentially a shop.

 

[ricbake]

I thought about having a look but then discovered there was a £2 charge to get into what was essentially a shop.

It's a shop in a very expensive building - £2 please

 

[editor]

I thought about having a look but then discovered there was a £2 charge to get into what was essentially a shop.

Two fucking quid to get into a pop-up shop? I suppose that's one way to keep out the poor riff raff.

They've managed turn that part of Brixton into something that makes Clapham look rough and ready.

 

[editor]

So their vast self-investment in their multi-million showcase property has reaped loads of client-luring, back-slapping publicity for themselves. Whoopee-fucking-do.

 

[CH1]

In case anyone is interested in the RIBA description of the Department Store it is here:
The Department Store

I would say it deserves to be recognised. Unfortunately when the space (or part of it) was used by the Refugee Council it was at the mercy of government grant - which no doubt shrank rapidly under Madam May. Didn't notice anyone on here crying even crocodile tears when Refugee Council moved out though.

 

[Gramsci]

In case anyone is interested in the RIBA description of the Department Store it is here:
The Department Store

I would say it deserves to be recognised. Unfortunately when the space (or part of it) was used by the Refugee Council it was at the mercy of government grant - which no doubt shrank rapidly under Madam May. Didn't notice anyone on here crying even crocodile tears when Refugee Council moved out though.

Quite.

I had a friend who worked for Refugee Council teaching English. She loved the job. And they paid well in comparison to private schools.

This did shrink under Tories. Argument being that why should immigrants get free English classes.

Example of how immigrant bashing was done in gradual low key way.

What gets me is that this isn't just May. May could argue that what a lot of public wanted.

Except they didn't want to see effects of it. Like Windrush. "Fair" minded people wanted immigration controls. But didn't want to know how this worked in practice.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Tim Gledstone from Squire and Partners is on the panel at a discussion considering: Regeneration and Growth - Good for Who?

12 June.

 

[CH1]

Tim Gledstone from Squire and Partners is on the panel at a discussion considering: Regeneration and Growth - Good for Who?

12 June.

I'm kind of interested but am a non member (£14).
Maybe I should ask about disability or pensioner rates?
Or perhaps they take Ritzy Silver Screen cards - especially as it's a bit infra dig to use them for their intended purpose right now?

 

[editor]

Tim Gledstone from Squire and Partners is on the panel at a discussion considering: Regeneration and Growth - Good for Who?

12 June.

Given his company's contribution to Brixton, I can't see how he can answer anything but an emphatic 'yes' to the question posed:

Is the planning and regeneration system operated by the middle classes for the middle classes?

Besides, how many working class people can spunk £14 to watch people chat about changes that they have precious little say in? Why the fuck does it cost so much?

It's just a talk so all they need is some chairs, a table and a small PA.

 

[Tricky Skills]

No surprises that recent Nu Labour convert Dave Hill is involved.