Brutalism passes as art nowadays
AS a Lewes born resident I have watched with horror some of the achitectual blemishes inflicted on this town in the past few years and I wonder how the District Council Planning Committee's collective minds work and what qualifications the individuals possess.
Let's take three examples in an ascending order of ghastliness:
The new houses in Albion Street (a conservation area?) described as a 'mews' development, I guess that helped, but as yet I have seen no sign of a horse or horse and carriage.
The HQ ex-art gallery which looks like a KGB building used by the secret police to interrogate suspected deviants and parking ticket offenders.
A classic example of brutalism which passes as art nowadays. The only possible merit is that it is hidden away from sight although its neighbours must wish it could disappear.
The last and worst to hit us are the alterations to the Lewes Castle green and the improved access to all levels up to the keep. This has been carried out by English Heritage with the 'help' of the Health & Safety Executive.
The green now has a bright yellow path at least four feet wide, there is a wooden shed built against the street wall leading to the Barbican with a flat metal roof level with the wall top and must be at least 20' long x 10' wide.
The steps zig-zag all the way to the keep must have satisfied the H&SE, the handrails and posts are a creamy yellow with shiny metal infills and could seen from the golf course.
Where there are new steps and other brickwork new red bricks have been used.
Have Friends of Lewes an opinion on this and were we, the public, given notice of these proposals
The sad thing is that when I spoke to a member of the committee about the castle he said the problem is that you can't know what it looks like untill it's built.
Well I never!
Brian Beck, Lewes
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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