by crusty_bint » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:48 pm
Tehe am sorry Ken, I jest, I jest. I’m just surprised at you of all folk regarding this project!
I don’t see the problem in spending possibly £100m on a new home for the much beloved Transport Collection. I’m sure the Great and Empire Exhibitions, which left us with the legacy of the Kelvin Hall and Kelvingrove, had its nay-sayers at the time, probably with disdainful remarks aplenty along the lines of “this money would be better spent alleviating the suffering of the poor and ridding this city of the scourge that is cholera”, and they were probably correct, but would anyone here rather the money was spent otherwise?
In regards to expanding into and redeveloping the entire Kelvin Hall complex for use as the Transport Museum, I doubt it would cost any less in the end. The site at present just isn’t practical and couldn’t suitably accommodate the collection without major restructuring of the site which would be tantamount to demolition and façade retention. Not that I think that’s a particularly bad idea as the rear and side elevations of the site have a really negative impact on the surrounding streetscapes as the building is like, as has been pointed out, some large manufactory, but I don’t think this could be done any cheaper than a new build. Add to the work involved the fact that the entire collection would have to be moved out and stored and paid for, then there would be the usual wranglings over listed building consent and the disturbance caused by the program of works itself and on top of that the sports facility would have to be relocated in a new facility. So there you have untold £millions having to be spent before you touched a brick in the Kelvin Hall complex.
I think its great that we have the aspiration (and for once; the money!) to add to the cultural and architectural legacy of Glasgow. This new museum will be a world class attraction, something that can’t be said for the Kelvin Hall, and will also act as the centre-piece for the redevelopment at this part of the Clyde.
I do have my reservations over this design now though and how Hadid’s reputation on her ability to deliver a project seems to have been called into question. I’m not a fan of Hoskins design though and do think the best scheme won the design competition. And I think its important to remember that it was a competition – entering these design competitions cost architectural practices money and so its just isn’t feasible to work up a detailed design and costing as theres no guarantee of winning the commission and this is why, in addition to rising material and labour costs, initial estimates rise.
I think you’re all being really harsh and just not giving the subject any rational thought. Every large-scale building project in history has overrun initial estimates, why on earth would anyone be surprised that this has.
Be happy it’s happening, support it, get involved at the earliest time and maybe, just maybe, you’ll all get what you want from it!
Go peacefully amongst the things…
here i go, it's coming for me through the trees