| Training ground architecture 11:42 - Oct 18 with 2104 views | nrb1985 |
Been a very busy few weeks so only just catching up on the training ground stuff now.
My word, what an incredible facility - it really does look obscene! Something for all of us and the county to be so so proud of. Will be paying dividends for decades I'm ceratin.
Slight dissapointment (if you can even call it that) - does anybody else think the exterior looks quite modular and functional? Not particularly inspiring given the inside looks like NASA.
Would have been nice to see the arhictect have a bit more creative licence and do something a bit out of the ordinary.
P.s. yes I'm aware we were in League 1 five years ago and therefore moaning about a training ground exterior is laughable in that conext. [Post edited 18 Oct 18:15]
|  | | |  |
| Training ground architecture on 10:09 - Oct 19 with 409 views | urbanpenguin |
| Training ground architecture on 09:43 - Oct 19 by nrb1985 |
This is a really silly, lazy post.
If that's all buildings need to be let's do away with acrchitects and make everything out of lego. |
TBH this is the way it's going. Most buildings do not use the services of an architect. Most big house builders just stick together lego-like lumps from a catalogue then add some random details to pretend there's a vernacular. |  |
| |
| Training ground architecture on 10:14 - Oct 19 with 397 views | Rozz |
| Training ground architecture on 09:43 - Oct 19 by nrb1985 |
This is a really silly, lazy post.
If that's all buildings need to be let's do away with acrchitects and make everything out of lego. |
I think the pot's calling the kettle black here.
The client (ITFC) will have briefed the architect to maximise functionality for the available budget. Imagine how much that huge glass frontage with panoramic views over the practice pitches would've cost if each massive panel all had custom curves, dimensions, lift and access requirements.
It's a purpose built facility designed to perform a very specific function, on a private complex which isn't open or even particularly visible to anyone but those who use it.
It's not the same as plonking this in the middle of town. |  | | |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 10:16 - Oct 19 with 395 views | urbanpenguin |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 18:18 - Oct 18 by nrb1985 |
So are the houses of parliament - doesn't stop them being a thing of beauty. |
One of my most hated buildings in London (except Westminster Hall).
Pugin really pushed the Victorian gothic up to 11 on that one, and none of it makes much architectural sense. It's overwhelming, gaudy, and ostentatious for no reason other than it was one dude's idea of what big power looked like.
If you look at the detailing and gilding of the top of Elizabeth Tower it's really trashy, like something you would expect in a Dubai nightclub.
Also, inside, I don't think it's remotely fit for purpose for the modern age. If I had my way, instead of spending billions refurbing it, we should flog it to Merlin Entertainments to put in a "museum to englishness" alongside some 7 star hotel and a Shrek's Adventure for all the tourists. Then we should create a state-of-the art national parliament somewhere near Coventry with a circular debating hall for a modern political system.
It should also have really well-designed housing and facilities around it in a new-town approach so that MPs and staff can choose to live there if they wish, like as halls of residence, and if they don't want that they can pay for their housing with their own money. If they choose not to want to work in Coventry for Parliamentary matters they can resign, we only need MPs who actually want to do the work and not just get drunk in Westminster before going to a million quid bedsit nearby.
But yeah, the Houses of Parliament is a ghastly building in my view. | |
| |
| Legend. on 10:18 - Oct 19 with 380 views | Benters |
| Legend. on 10:03 - Oct 19 by NthQldITFC |
Have you got that tattooed on your bum?
 
Or maybe cut into a potato as a stamp like wot we used to make as kids? |
Yes and yes. |  |
| |
| Training ground architecture on 10:18 - Oct 19 with 384 views | nrb1985 |
| Training ground architecture on 10:08 - Oct 19 by urbanpenguin |
Architecture critic and educator here. It is not remotely brutalist. If I had to give such non-style a name I would say "late-stage capitalism modernist", but generally labels don't help.
I mentioned a year or more ago whenever the plans were revealed that I thought it was dirge as architecture, but obviously as long as it's functional that's important. The architects the club uses, KKA, are also behind the recent West Stand works, and I think also the earlier works on the South Stand (memorial garden, opening up the Portman Road corner, ex-Staples etc).
KKA also worked for Ashton at Bristol City, so I guess he went straight to them as a trusted partner not for any design reasons.
Look, I can't get too wound up about it. The stuff inside the building looks top notch and if that helps players recover and a few points, great. But, generally, I care greatly about the quality of design and architecture in this country. It's what I do for all my work. And this is just so unremarkable as a building it could be a low-range Airport lounge, a budget out-of-town centre chain hotel, or a light-industrial storage facility.
There's no interest given to elevating this beyond bland, having any personality other than some stuck-on horses, and nothing that says what the programme of the place is. |
Brilliant insights, thanks.
Any view as to why we went down that route for the exterior? I guess cost would be one issue.
I look things like that space ship type structure at Lords cricket ground and think something bold and futuristic like that would have been really cool. | | | |
| Training ground architecture on 10:20 - Oct 19 with 371 views | nrb1985 |
| Training ground architecture on 10:14 - Oct 19 by Rozz |
I think the pot's calling the kettle black here.
The client (ITFC) will have briefed the architect to maximise functionality for the available budget. Imagine how much that huge glass frontage with panoramic views over the practice pitches would've cost if each massive panel all had custom curves, dimensions, lift and access requirements.
It's a purpose built facility designed to perform a very specific function, on a private complex which isn't open or even particularly visible to anyone but those who use it.
It's not the same as plonking this in the middle of town. |
Point well noted on budget, on your point re visibility though - it’s on YouTube… | | | |
| Training ground architecture on 10:26 - Oct 19 with 362 views | urbanpenguin |
| Training ground architecture on 10:18 - Oct 19 by nrb1985 |
Brilliant insights, thanks.
Any view as to why we went down that route for the exterior? I guess cost would be one issue.
I look things like that space ship type structure at Lords cricket ground and think something bold and futuristic like that would have been really cool. |
It's just cost. As someone said above, Ashton would have said to KKA that the brief is:
- it is a place of work, so it is only about function
- it needs to do these things
- it needs to fit this specialist equipment in
- there needs to be some slack space or potential to expand (ie, not a closed building like Apple's HQ that can't be added on to easily).
- It has to look smart, but I am not spending a penny extra on aesthetics or anything that is not functional
- it has to be delivered by XX date, no overruns
- i recently visited the Aspire Lounge at Gatwick South Terminal and LOVED the aesthetic, it looked so professional and smooth, let's do that.
- it is a place of work, did I mention that?
re Lords - that was Future Systems and was perhaps a high-point of blobbism (a niche term nobody really used). Same architects as Brum Selfridges and this unbuilt sky-dildo: https://londonist.com/london/h
Anyway. There is a range of architecture between sci-fi fantasy and light industrial unit, and I wish that the training centre was somewhere in that wide spectrum. I mean, we are in the Anthropocene so even quite basic nods to modern architectural thinking along these lines such as seedum roof, water-runoff and SUDs, photovoltaics, stone and/or timber structure etc etc. But, shed it is. [Post edited 19 Oct 10:37]
| |
| |
| Training ground architecture on 10:33 - Oct 19 with 353 views | Rozz |
| Training ground architecture on 10:20 - Oct 19 by nrb1985 |
Point well noted on budget, on your point re visibility though - it’s on YouTube… |
True, but 99% of us will never see more than a passing glance of it in person.
It'd be a bad investment to make the place objectively less functional or dramatically increase the project spend to appease people on the internet. They're better off putting the money into fit-out and better equipment.
If it was built next to the corn exchange I'd have a different view! | | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 12:21 - Oct 19 with 281 views | WeWereZombies |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 10:16 - Oct 19 by urbanpenguin |
One of my most hated buildings in London (except Westminster Hall).
Pugin really pushed the Victorian gothic up to 11 on that one, and none of it makes much architectural sense. It's overwhelming, gaudy, and ostentatious for no reason other than it was one dude's idea of what big power looked like.
If you look at the detailing and gilding of the top of Elizabeth Tower it's really trashy, like something you would expect in a Dubai nightclub.
Also, inside, I don't think it's remotely fit for purpose for the modern age. If I had my way, instead of spending billions refurbing it, we should flog it to Merlin Entertainments to put in a "museum to englishness" alongside some 7 star hotel and a Shrek's Adventure for all the tourists. Then we should create a state-of-the art national parliament somewhere near Coventry with a circular debating hall for a modern political system.
It should also have really well-designed housing and facilities around it in a new-town approach so that MPs and staff can choose to live there if they wish, like as halls of residence, and if they don't want that they can pay for their housing with their own money. If they choose not to want to work in Coventry for Parliamentary matters they can resign, we only need MPs who actually want to do the work and not just get drunk in Westminster before going to a million quid bedsit nearby.
But yeah, the Houses of Parliament is a ghastly building in my view. |
Interesting bit none of that helps in my design to Foster the thread towards architectural puns... |  |
| |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 12:30 - Oct 19 with 270 views | hoppy |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 12:21 - Oct 19 by WeWereZombies |
Interesting bit none of that helps in my design to Foster the thread towards architectural puns... |
You’ll just have to wren it in a bit with regards puns then, won’t you? |  |
| |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 12:42 - Oct 19 with 246 views | SenatorBlue |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 12:21 - Oct 19 by WeWereZombies |
Interesting bit none of that helps in my design to Foster the thread towards architectural puns... |
Surely not trying to Fabre - cate this thread into something other than intriguing architectural insight? |  | | |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 13:09 - Oct 19 with 226 views | urbanpenguin |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 12:42 - Oct 19 by SenatorBlue |
Surely not trying to Fabre - cate this thread into something other than intriguing architectural insight? |
I *think* this is a pun on Faber, as in Willis Faber, then Willis Faber and Dumas, then just Willis, and now I guess about to be renamed as Halo own it.
If so, fantastically tortured, congratulations! | |
| |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 14:29 - Oct 19 with 183 views | WeWereZombies |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 13:09 - Oct 19 by urbanpenguin |
I *think* this is a pun on Faber, as in Willis Faber, then Willis Faber and Dumas, then just Willis, and now I guess about to be renamed as Halo own it.
If so, fantastically tortured, congratulations! |
I suppose we should really stick to football and ask questions like 'Why didn't we sign Niemeyer ?' | |
| |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 14:45 - Oct 19 with 168 views | hoppy |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 14:29 - Oct 19 by WeWereZombies |
I suppose we should really stick to football and ask questions like 'Why didn't we sign Niemeyer ?' |
I don't think signing him would be a gaud i-dea, personally, although I'm not THAT familia with the new signing process. | |
| |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 14:57 - Oct 19 with 158 views | WeWereZombies |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 14:45 - Oct 19 by hoppy |
I don't think signing him would be a gaud i-dea, personally, although I'm not THAT familia with the new signing process. |
Hmmm, maybe urban penguin was right and these puns are just too tortuous, I think I've Hadid with them... | |
| |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 15:38 - Oct 19 with 123 views | Miaow |
| It's a place of work!!! (n/t) on 14:57 - Oct 19 by WeWereZombies |
Hmmm, maybe urban penguin was right and these puns are just too tortuous, I think I've Hadid with them... |
You think these architect puns are tortuous? Er, nő! |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
