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REVIEW OF CURRENT ARCHITECTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND EVENTS IN THE CAMBRIDGE AREA PRODUCED BY MEMBERS OF THE CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS AS AN INTERNAL NEWSLETTER THE VIEWS IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS AND NOT OF THE ASSOCIATION PUBLISHED BY IAN STEEN ARCHITECTS, 48 MILL WAY, GRANTCHESTER, cAMBnIDGE Number 3 February 1988
CPD Centre for Cambridge On January 13 John Boon, RIDA Eastern Region CPD Convenor, addressed a small but VOCa1 group of local architécts. Nr Boon explained what he has been doing during the first 12 months of his appointment (a part-time position). "Concrete action" to date included a questionnaire sent )2OOO practices in the region, u of which were returned, and ae one-day Seminar.held at Newnham College on 28 October 1987. The purpose of the seminar was to gauge the reaction and expectations of members and to build upon this when formulating a manifesto for CPD in the Region. Mr Boon explained that with the help of an ad-hoc manifesto committee (mostly of academics), he was currently drafting this manifesto. The main conclusion so far is that a regional resource centre will be set up in the Martin Centre in cambridge. This will be manned by a part-time organiser, and a full-time secretary and its stated purpose is to build and administer a technical library, prepare courses, provide funds and administrative back-up for activities organised at branch ’yel and to initiate a Newsletter. ): majority of the funding for e centre is derived from an rn5C q r a nt . A
lively and sometimes heated discussion followed Mr Boon's report. The RIBA decision to back down and make CPD "obligatory" rather than mandatory caused some semantic based confusion. Concern was expressed about an apparent lack of authoritative direction from the RIBA as well as about the length of time it seemed to be taking to produce'a CPn network on the ground. Some members at the meeting also felt Mr Boon ought to have more practitioners on his ad-hoc Committee of advisers. Bob Thomson, CAA Chairman, closed the meeting with a summation of the views put forward and asked John Boon to report that the CAA wish the RIBA to provide the following : 1)A clear definition of its aims. 2) To identify a core curriculum
3) To identify and provide access I would value your and your to high quality speakers branch's comments. 4) To produce a coherent plan of action 3. I enclose a copy of Oliver 5) To provide practitioners with Willmore's paper approved by the RIBA the opportunity to be better COuncil which I hope clarifies the represented on the Regional RIBA's current policy. CPD steering committee. I note the confusion among members John Dlair about this, and shall be calling at the national CPD sub-committee John Doon writes : for a clear statement to your members, probably through the RIBA With regard to some of the issues journal. raised, I would report as follows 1. I shall request at the next 4. I also enclose a copy of the Open meeting of the CPD Resource Centre Learning project topics being develSteering Group that nominations be oped by the RIBA, the closes as yet invited from branches for a branch- existing to a perceived curriculum. elected member to join the SteerAgain, your comments on this would ing Group. be welcomed. (Copies of Network, Oliver Wi1lmore'< 2. I enclose an initial organisapaper and Open Learning Project tional chart for the CPD network topics are available from CAA.)
IBSTOCK SEMINARS /
EXHIBITIONS
Cambridge Assotiation of ArchitectsLunchtime Seminars: start 12.2O, presentation 12.40, luch 1.15 CPD PROGRA/LME OF EVENTS 1988 reserve a place telephone 116999 Each event will be confirmed by March RIBA Competitions (1) a poster shortly before the lO-25 Aston University appropriate date. West Yorkshire - New Life for Old Mills Meyer International '86 Mar 19 Clare College Library Building Visit March 23 Lunchtime Seminar 'Structura Brickwork' Peter Lombard May 14 Ely Cathedral Group Structural Engineer Building Visit Ibstock Sep 21 Fire in Buildings April RIBA Competitions (2) Simon Ham, RIBA 13-29 Visitors Centre Chepstow (Venue - Ibstock) Castle, Lifeboat Station Lyme Regis, St Thomas Street Nov 16 Conservation Housing, Bolton Ian & Barbara Crawford (Venue - Ibstock) April 27”’Lunchtime Seminar 'Brickwork Problems' B. Clamp MICeram Dec 14 Landscape in Architecture Technical Services Ian Bethell of A E Weddle Ibstock Landscape (Venue - Ibstock) May 3-14 Exhibition 'Art at Work' A Selection of Abstract Land CAA Travelling Exhibiti_on scapes - David Lendrum There is still time for you to include a display panel on the stands of the CAA Travelling Rxhibition In addition to the usual venues for the stand, the RIBA have agreed to pay for its inclusion in this year 's Cambridge Industry and Business Show in May. The cost for the panel is E34.SO including VAT. FOr further information contact David Hayes of Cambridge Design; Telephone 64366.
Qugust 17-26
"4O under 40" Exhibition
Cambridge Forum of the Construction Industry (details DB8E 351258) March 12 March 19 April 14
BROADGATE PETERBOROUGH Building Visit 9.00 am Sindalls PETERBOROUGH HOSPITAL Building Visit lO.3O am at the Hospital SEMINAR 'How to buy and sell a House' ROBINSON COLLEGE
É*OFlH11 ViS i(S The Forum building visits on Saturday mornings seem tO attract surprisingly few architects. Deing interdisciplinary visits it is particularly interesting to 1ist en t o o nd dis ouss reactions with Others and for many it is not only enjoyable but valuable as a learning experience.
Accepting the need to retain cloister linking Cripps with New court and the need to enclose this splendid court opening from the river between the two frontages, were adequate studies made initially of the impact of various building forms before proceeding with this design?
The final result will Ohviously not please all tastes but I am content to let it speak fOr itsell over the years.
DaVid Raven
Stdohns
Peter Doston
In his description of the building Peter Doston writes : "It was simply not possible to provide the R accommodation required by The College without either abutting New On 2lst November R T( Partnership Court or invading the lawn of Cripps Court. also with Vernon McElroy led a tour around the new innovation On the west side the new buildcentre on Cowley Road adjoining ing is somewhat detached both from New Court and from the Cripps the Business Park. The purpose of the centre is to provide Building but on the east side, in Cripps Court, the building direct- accommodation (with 3 month licences for a maximum of 3 years) ly links these two extremes and for growing technological On 7th November, Peter Boston the resolution of scale becomes companies together with back-up with Vernon McElroy representing more important. services of various kinds provided the client led a tour around the by College Fellows and others new Fisher Building at St John's The cloister facia on the east technical and financial advice, College - the linking building elevation is carefully aligned computer services, conference between Cripps and New Court with the edge of the first floor facilities... in 'a climate of which replaces Powell and Moyas' slab over the cloister of the mutual encouragement and suppr Junior Combination Room. Cripps Building itself, The This building is viewed as th The new building houses a scale of the window mullions is first stage of an Innovation conference suite with multi-use similar to that usedin New Court with additional buildings provided hall for 300 and associated and is continued northwards from facilities - as an income raising New court along about three quar- as needed within a landscaped facility - together with ters of the east elevation - that setting. specifically student accommodation is to say as far as the end of the - common room, art room, music clerestory windows. Reading from Accommodation is provided for some practice rooms etc. The study the other end the shafts supportin 41 lettable units most of which bedrooms of Cripps are being the cloister march southwards with are now taken ranging in floor area from 2Om2 to l3Om2. Some separately refurbished and exactly the same tread as the flexibility is also achieved in upgraded by the Estate Management piers of the Cripps Building and the partitioning system to suit abd Building Servise so that they this rhythm continues for most changing requirements all within are suitable for use in association of the east elevation as far as a formal plan symm,etrical about an with conferences when required. the east staircase tower. The entrance atrium. Units are on two different rhythms therefore 2 floors with a third above the The accommodation in the new overlap in the centre of the atrium. all have internal building is extensive for the site building like ripples from corridor and service access and area available and this with the opposite sides of calm water, an external walkway to ground and retention of the existing and each dies away before reachfirst floor gives direct exterior basement and live services gave ing the source of the other. access to individual units and the architects a difficult and fire escape. The interior surface exacting task. Externally the The walls of the new building and structural elements are new building has sweeping horizare faced in Portland stone, painted in cream and a ontal lines and bold forms continuing the material of the sophisticated, relaxed and reminiscent of F.L.Wright. Cripps Building; whereas the roof pleasant working environment har Internally the planning is complex is covered with slate in common been created marred slightly and not always articulate and in ,with New Court. The rooflight rather poor fair faced blockww my view far too many materials shafts are covered in lead coated and concerns over effective have been used creating a rather stainless steel which will weather ventilation and cooling (although cheap and claustrophobic effect. similarly to the leat water tank the option of mechanical ventilThis is in marked contrast to housings on the roof of the Cripps ation is apparently available). the digni ied slightly austere Building, with which they are and monastic flavour of New Court generally comparable in bulk. an* Cripps. For me the character the building has a bold Externally of the new buildinq is rather more Therefore both the scale and the and appropriate 'high-tech' suitcd to a modern roadside hotel materials of the new building character. Viewed from a distance on open land, than an academic represent a harmonious fusion of travelling along Milton Road and College which has been on the site elements from both sides. the A4S the folded roof form and for almost SOO years. The bulk emphasis on the main structural of the new building and its Although the Cripps Building has framework provides scale whiCh iS extremely close and uncomfortable massive vertical elements, the legible and appropriate. At proximitiy to Cripps (views from treatment of the spaces between present the formal and symmetrical one study bedroom are completely these consists of a multiplicity plan seems slightly artificial and obliterated) to quite an extent of thin horizontals and this unconvincing and will perhaps be mars the beautiful dialogue which horizontality is clearly reflected made more meaningful within a Powell and Moya achieved with the in the east elevation of the new larger complex of buildings and site. building and the stripes in the planting. The architects have The direct connection of the Fisher roof. apparently prepared a master plan Building to 1830's New Court given for the Innovation Park whiCh the enormous contrast in the The west elevation is more deeply gives guidance on the siting philosophy on the two buildings modelled and its setting precludes of further buildings and landis very unhappy and unconvincing. it from being comprehended in pure scoping which one hooes will elevational terms. The cluster of avoid the chaos which has steadily Aside from the chracter of the new octagonal towers at the south west evolved on the Science Park building one is left wondering corner forms a group with the towernearby. whether given its mass it was of New Court, with its broadly appropriate to treat it as a link. similar proportions. DaVid Raven
St d0hns Co1Ie e
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PARK& RIDE The City and County Council are currently consulting Cambridge residents and others on their proposed joint Park and Ride scheme añd related changes to on-street parking. The plan is to build 4 new carparks for a total of 2OOO spaces on the periphery of the City for commuters, tourists and shoppers, linked to the City Centre by buses every 10 to 15 minutes. Parking in the inner residential streets is to be divided roughly 50/50 between short term users and residents, controlled by a combination of meters and pay and display 11,2 or 3 hours according to location) and Residents' Permits. Special bays for the disabled and visitors are also being considered. It is intended that all the existing central carparks will provide short .term parking only. The traffic engineering department argue that by decanting 2OOO vehicles to the periphery and reserving the central area for short term users both residents and other essential traffic will be able to park more easily and congestion will be reduced. However, it remains to be seen if it works out this way. One feeis that the City with its narrow streets will continue to operate at its tolerable limit of congestion, that people will still queue for the central carparks and will only park out of town if they have to. To be successful the peripheral carparks will have to be made very attractive, well landscaped with covered areas where people will enjoy going to catch a bus to the centre. ' D av id
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Raven
Architectural Aiä
r h'tects
more, please contact Tim Brading 3 Harding Way, Histon, cambridge or telephone (0223)317327 (Work) or Histon 2442 (Home).
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Tim Brading
date for your diary :
The Cambridge Architectural Workshop is showing the RIBA's National Schools Exhibition entitled”Living with buildings”. This is being held at Cambridge Education Development Centre, Roger Aschem site, Aschem Road, (off Milton Road), Cambridge, from 12-?9 April 1933. Those interested are warmly welcome to the reception at 5.3O pm on 14 April. Tim Brading
lravelting
Exh Îb1410R The travelling exhibition displaying the work of local practices and other activities is about to start again but it hds been discovered that the display lighting which goes with it is missing. Would anyone who knows its whereabouts please contact David Hayes (Cambridge Design) as soon as possible.
Oraftmanshi Awazds
Architects please dig deep into your memory files to recall all those excellent examples of brickwork and masonry workmanship executed on your projects completed within the last 5 years. Nominations are invited for this year's CAA Award. craftsmanship The details and nomination forms should aCCOmpany this newsletter. Closing date 18 March 88. Tim Brading
For several years now some Cambridge Architects have contributed to the Cambridge Architectural Workshops. ThiS exists to promote an awareness of the built environment and Design concepts to school Children, in and around Cambridge in the hope that this awareness will improve our future quality of life.
Volunteer Architects are requested The surgery will be running again from Tuesday 8th March (noon - 2pm) to go into schools to assist and at fortnightly.intervals. A advise teachers on Architecturally request for volunteers has recently related subjects. been sent out to all practices. Please write oz telephone me by The number of visits, their Monday 29th February. duration and time is mutually agreed and all realise that If a good response is received Architects are extremely busy the commitment required from each people. architect may be no more than 4 hours or 2 lunch times per year. The input required of the architect will vary considerably. Dav id Rayen (€e lepho ne 3lS26S) It may involved talks, discussions and research or may undertake design proposals and attempt construction of ideas. The Cambridge Association is anxîous to form a list of Architects willing to go into that this educational schoolsso need can be met. If you are at all lnterested and wish to know
Arcliitects Benevolent É0Ci9È\’
The Society provides charitable relief for persons engaged in the architectural profession and for their dependants. If a cAA member becomes aware of any colleague or dependants in need, please contact George Hamilton, ABS Council member (T e l 0 223 840224) who will alert ABS permanent staff accordingly. George Hamilton
uv........cm•.o..,*.cmc.<. SI 9ILES PR0JE01 Possibilities for the development of a Heritage Centre in St Giles Church, Castle Street were tAe subject of a week's intensive study at the end of the Michaelmas term by students from the Cambridge School of Architecture. This unique design workshop was co-oldinated by Colen Lumley and brought together students from throughout the School with members of the Cambridge Heritage workshop rorum, Cambridge .4ssociatiOn of Architects and the Cambridge Architectural Workshop. The rector of St Giles, JOnathan ’Young, City Conservation Officer Officer Nick Hellawell and Director of Cambridge Heritaqe
Architects serving on the South Cambs Advisory Panel have recently been sent a copy of DOE circular 31/85 on 'Aesthetic Control' This gives general guidance to the Planning Authority on the extent to which aesthetic controls should be apolied when considering applications. This difficult subject and the general belief reinforced by the circular that good design is a matter of opinion has caused planning authorities to opt out of any form ofaesthetic control on buildings unless a scheme is blatantly bad. The results of this can be seen all around us. On reading the circular carefully although much of it is ambiguous and conIus inq, some princi pies do emerge. If a scheme is in a historical or otherwise sensitive location or when the quality of the environmentis particularly high, matters of detailed design are to be controlled. Otherwise generally the authority is to be concerned only with aspects of the design which are significant for the aesthetic quality of the area, when 'poor designs, out of scale and character with their surroundings should be rejected'. Planning Authorities therefore have a clear responsiblity, and they are advised by the circular to be 'closely guided' in such
David Hillelson participated in the review and briefing sessions with local architects. The week Culminated in a presentation of ideas by the students. Research had been made into 'heritage centre' and church conservation precedents. A site analysis illuminated the exciting potential for a heritage complex in the northern part of the city linking with the Castle Mound, the Folk Museum, Kettle's Yard and Gt Peter's Church. Suggestions were also made for incorporating the Stained Glass ’Museum from Ely. Inventive individual schemes were presented for the theoretical
redevelopment of 'St Giles, including a scheme nicknamed 'the City Wall', inserting a new facade which bisected the church interior. The workshop produced publicity for cambridge Heritage in the the Cambridge Evening News. More important, however, was the creation of a forum for wideranging, exciting discssion prompted by the harvest Of information and ideas, bringing together people from many different concerned groups.
Helen Grassly Rosy Nicholson
.:.ould be asked to justifv their matters by their professional proposals in drawn and written advisors. As planning authorities form - in terms of siting and usually contain few architects, general design principles if any, the architects' panel can make a contribution, albeit a small instead of sumitting just a set of drawings, perhaps after one given the limited number of a preliminary consultation. In schemes they see. this way a greater understanding of the issues would develop all It is often said by planners that round leading to an improvement aesthetic matters are not given in the quality of planning much weight on appeal and it is applications and in the planning thereforea waste of time refusing authorities appreciation of applications on these grounds. However, for many clients and their them. The drawing of associated agents delays involved in appealing buildings and the submissiOn ” photographs should also onaesthetic grounds would be thought unacceptable and unecessary mandatory. The present is too lax! any views from Thereforeit wouldseem tome that others? within government guidelines the planning authority could David Raven exert far more power and influence on the quality of the proposal than is presently executed. Arbitrary rules of land use, density, notional building lines, backland development etc.. are still applied when these criteria are irrelevant to the real A frce advisory sei‘vice forbuilding issue which may often be does problems and design offered by the the building proposal actually fit in (in terms of siting, form scale, massing materials, etc..) and are the important psychological problems of privacy, disturbance etc.. resolved.
RoyalInstitute of BritisllArchitects
Many architects may feel that they they should as a body be exempt from this kind of development control but sadly this Cannot be so while the quality of work submitted is so mixed. In view allbuilding designers submitting planning applications
At your local
Citizens Advice Bureau cz«ur