in praise of ordinary things (a thread about streets and buildings)

[MontyVeda]

The London Bibendum Building has just been mentioned on the wireless - look at the stained glass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_House

It's nice to see stained glass on that scale which isn't dedicated to some bygone saint

 

[threebikesmcginty]

What is that? It's horrible! The front gables look brand new; the side gable is clearly not. That execrescence on the roof adds a note of comedy. It's like a Teutonic nightmare transplanted into Oxfordshire - quite out of keeping with the local area because of the bizarre roofline angles.

Well it's out of keeping with everything really. However, although the pitch is very steep it's not the roofscape that's out of keeping as >50 degree and 'busy' roofs aren't unheard of in the area.

 

[upsidedown]

Not an impressive structure in itself, but these pepperpots as they are known locally provide light and ventilation to the 2.4 mile long Netherton canal tunnel under the housing estate. I love the way the estate has grown up around them over the last 150 odd years.

 

[subaqua]

unable to get a pic , but replying to another post by dell reminded me of redbridges eastern avenue pumping station. a grand victorian building .

 

[wobbler]

I love this building in our village. Not sure what it used to be but it has a lovely 50's (?) feel about it.

I am fairly sure it started life as an MEB showroom.
MEB stood for Midlands Electricity Board.
Now NPower, they may have a record of it.
Apologies if someone has already told you this. I have not had time to read the whole thread.

 

[MontyVeda]

Somebody mentioned a Ford Cortina in another thread, which reminded me of this...

When they were (sadly) pulling down the old Regal Cinema in Lancaster...

...they removed the big bill boards from the side of the building to reveal this gem which had been hiding since the early seventies....

the construction company left it in place for as long as possible and before long it looked like this...

them were the days.

 

[subaqua]

manor park library. the panels with the wordings are names of writers poets etc. the stonework is stunning. only saw it from this angle on Saturday after making a wrong turn on the bike and following a one way system !!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Saw this sub-station in Stourbridge yesterday - lovely relief panels to put in such a small building.

 

[Aperitif]

I moseyed through Bayswater one Sunday in January and stumbled across the Bayswater Children's Centre. Quite nicely detailed and must be identifiable and exciting for the children...I know I would be!

 

[rich p]

This shows an interesting change of use..

..."What Cod has joined together, let no man put asunder"

I took it on the way to TC's fnrttc just before the Severn Bridge

 

[User10571]

Art deco elephantry above the shop line in Streatham High Road.
Used to be a branch of Burtons tailors.

The first domestic project in the UK undertaken by Berthold Lubetkin (he of London Zoo's, now defunct, Penguin Pool fame).
Four terraced houses in Genesta Road, Plumstead. What cannot be seen in the photograph is the vertiginous drop on the other side of the houses, affording magnificent north-facing views over the Thames.

Archi-fact alert: threads passim
At the time of it's construction, the roof of Stockwell bus garage spanned a larger unsupported area than any other building in Europe. Grade II listed since 1988.

 

[dellzeqq]

Why have you never taken me to Genesta Road? Are we not friends?

 

[User10571]

Why have you never taken me to Genesta Road? Are we not friends?

 

[User10571]

Now I'm on my Lubetkin roll....
Six Pillars in Sydenham, built in 1935 for the headmaster of Dulwich College Preparatory School.
This is how it looks to passers by:

I am fortunate enough to have seen it from this aspect...

... when several years ago, the previous owners opened their doors for London Open House.
They had taken advantage and purchased some period fittings from The Savoy Hotel when it was undergoing refurbishment. Amongst which is included a massive 2.5 metre diameter mirror which adorns the living room wall.

 

[MontyVeda]

Art deco elephantry above the shop line in Streatham High Road.
Used to be a branch of Burton's tailors.

Gorgeous