Rejuvenation or more dross?

Have heard nothing regarding the plans for the town centre or - I dread to ask - another shopping centre disaster????

Atlas wrote:Have heard nothing regarding the plans for the town centre or - I dread to ask - another shopping centre disaster????

Last i heard it was passed, but not in the form that it was originally pushed upon us. But nothing more.

Thanks for that chill37. I would like to know more when available. Time someone in Rochdale started banging heads together and put an end to ALL this nonsense and stupidity. Beggars belief it really does.  

Atlas wrote:Thanks for that chill37. I would like to know more when available. Time someone in Rochdale started banging heads together and put an end to ALL this nonsense and stupidity. Beggars belief it really does.   

Careful dont be negative!!      

Aye I know what you mean. We dont need a new shopping centre. We have two half empty ones, one of them is bust and in the hands of the receiver.

Still Lamberts Folly has a good ring about it for the name of the new shopping centre.

Atlas:   Another 'proposed segment' for you ... There's supposed to be glass viewing panels, somewhere     




http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/84848/winning-design-proposal-selected-for-town-centre

Designs that look absolutely wonderful in an architects impression may turn out to be a fair effort, but usually with some problems.

Designs that look reasonable in an architects impression may turn out to be rather disappointing with a lot of problems.

This looks like a reasonable design. The  ha-ha 'green areas' are a joke of course, far too small to be sustainable and will soon serve as litter bins.

Every journey requires a first step. It's a step in the right direction. Following an successful bid from Heritage Lottery a more detailed plan should be available. It is at that time pressure should be put on for those items that would make or break the project. Johnb joins my sad sack list for this month following a hollow and somewhat negative remark at these initial proposals - an alternative with some detail might have improved the remarks, but alas, there were none. Reminds me of many of my society members - oh dear how do we survive as a species?

This is a big project, and needs the people who are making the decisions to understand, and to see well beyond the process by which such designs are arrived at.

Architects will draw up a design which will satisfy the judgement of those whom make the decisions, rather than drawing up the design which will best serve the purpose. The architects drawing is a device to get the work. Just look at how much badly designed 'modern' architecture has messed up the landscape of towns.

These projects are greeted with political fanfare and great expectations. If politicians, advisors and consultants who know the right buttons to press to get political approval make the decisions, the actual reality that eventually emerges will reflect that mediocre process.

The design presented is too timid, too well presented with it's unconvincing stick on trees, and lacking in substantial vision. Yes, it's a step in the right direction to get the project underway, but it needs a lot more realism and guts to turn out really well.

If the final design reflects the political thought and process of Rochdale, as it inevitably will, it will need a damn good thrashing before it is fit to present to the world at large.   

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/84848/winning-design-proposal-selected-for-town-centre

In its initial stages of re-construction there is only so much that can be done. Especially when finances are so restricted. The river opening and a safe pedestrian surround is limited within the area available and as such I think the proposal as shown has done the best it can under the circumstances. Think of a Christmas tree before it is decorated. Its the imaginative way the decoration is done and tweaking of the expected margins that gives the observer his final satisfactions or not as the case may be. For instance - the glass panel viewing areas need not all be the same plain structures. And I dare say with some thought the final concrete works could be varied throughout - even to large mosaic reliefs depicting the past, present and future etc etc. Together with riverside café, book/reading emporium, public toilet, and even down to sufficient refuse bins, life-saving equipment, good lighting etc etc (no take-aways) all going towards a sense of vibrancy and worthiness could produce something quite extraordinary for a town centre in the wastelands of the North West. Glass half-full please everybody. And go forward.

The greenery side of things could be better without much expense. Riverside trees need space for their roots. A few weeping willows and a couple of small pond areas connected into the river could bring the area to life.

And there you go. It's beginning to look better already.      

The new bus station is so much brighter, more comfortable AND warmer Atlas, so I guess that is at least one positive!

Atlas wrote: ---Together with riverside café, book/reading emporium, public toilet, and even down to sufficient refuse bins, life-saving equipment, good lighting etc etc (no take-aways) all going towards a sense of vibrancy and worthiness could produce something quite extraordinary for a town centre in the wastelands of the North West. Glass half-full please everybody. And go forward.

Atlas: Appreciate your comments about life-saving equipment and no Take Aways   

If nothing else, there seems to be an increasing abundance of social media available for consulting (? ?) on the Town Centre changes Rejuvenation.  

Designed and sponsored by RO, with integrating events and business information listing via Rochdale Online.

      Fulsome praise documented for the Town Centre Management CEO by RO’s MD.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/85040/new-website-for-rochdale-town-centre-management