The remaining stub of what began as the Lansdowne picture house has just reappeared from behind its curtain of restoration as part of the accomodation development. They appear to have cleaned the facade back to its original faience, a jaunty two tone stripy affair in white and minty green, setting off the dark roofs (rooves?) of the pagoda. It looks great, and a fresh, distinctive beacon to anyone making their way up London Road, or coming along Boston Street. I love having it in my neighbourhood - she's scrubbed up a treat!

However...

This little gem is completely dwarfed by the block-u-like edifice breathing down its neck. It was always obvious that the scale and shape of the new block and the old club would be somewhat incongruous, and I wondered how the developers would sensitively bring the two parts together to create a sympathetic whole, and now I know.

They have made literally no effort whatsoever to find an imaginitive solution. No effort at design harmony has been made. The restored Pagoda is beautiful, but completely bullied by the thuggish mediocrity of the main block. No element is echoed in the new block that might serve to tie the two together. The new edifice could have been designed to act like a frame for the little curio, each part enhancing the other. But as it is, the clash is horrendous.

Imaginitive architecture and sympathetic, exciting design are not necessarily a luxury. It is entirely possible to create interesting eclectic streetscapes that respect neighbouring styles. We have plenty of rude, ugly apartment boxes already. And now we have another where we could have had something a bit different.

I feel really upset about this. It's aesthetic illiteracy. What do you think?

I agree with all you say about the new block being insensitive to the old club facade and I wish they had done more to blend old and new, as has happened at, for instance, the Zion Hall near Division Street. However I am overjoyed that the black has gone and that what is left looks fresh, yet original. It's possibly better than I had hoped for.

I understand a Wetherspoons is going in there as well, so any attempt at imagination and sympathetic design are all a little pointless anyway.

For what its worth, I think that the restored fascia (if that is the corrct term?) is lovely, but, Wetherspoons?? Seriously?? I thought they were attempting to gentrify London Road...

I agree with you that it is a wonderful reuse of the neglected Lansdowne Cinema frontage.
Here are the photos of the place I have recently published on skyscraper city.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=317591

Thanks for linking to your photos, Muddycoffee. Some interesting points on that thread too. I also never knew that the turrets that cinemas had were for air conditioning purposes. And is it really true that cinemas will not now be listed, because what has been listed becomes neglected? Isn't that just giving in to shyster tactics? If owners don't maintain a listed building they're beaking the terms of their lease, but they never appear to be pulled up on it.

I thought the pagoda edifice/ (facade?), when it was painted black, looked absolutely dreadful.

it looked okay when it was plain white.

The restoration, revealing the original decorative stripe, IMO, looks really nice. I agree with some, that the modern flats joined on look horrid.

I just hope that the pen-and-spray-can-wielding scroates can leave "well alone".

i must also add the facade does look great, but with the large bit behind dwarfing it it looks odd, im not sure i dont like it, it just looks odd.

i used to love going to the locarno, palais, music factory too, still a shame for it to be gone :(

Thanks for linking to your photos, Muddycoffee. Some interesting points on that thread too. I also never knew that the turrets that cinemas had were for air conditioning purposes. And is it really true that cinemas will not now be listed, because what has been listed becomes neglected? Isn't that just giving in to shyster tactics? If owners don't maintain a listed building they're beaking the terms of their lease, but they never appear to be pulled up on it.


You're welcome.
One of the problems they had in the old cinemas in the early 20th century was they had to let the smoke out, because in those days almost everyone smoked all the time.
If the smoke became too dense it would have affected the view of the film. Also people were much smellier and good ventilation was fairly essential.

As for listing. It can cause massive problems if the building is privately owned. Suppose you had a mortgage on a large building and someone listed it. Because it restricts what you can do with the building it will make the value plummet. Not nice if you have a mortage for 1 million for a building that is now worth 100k.

I am so glad that the pagoda has been restored and I think it looks great, the stained glass windows are back as well. I rememebr the building as a child, I grew up in the area, and remember it having a light in the top part, hope they restore that as well.

As for Weatherspoons, I welcome one on London Road, it will bring trade in and I would rather the pagoda be a living, breathing local focal point than a pile of rubble.

Well at least there is some thinking going on in the Kremlin (whoops, sorry Town Hall). It's a great pity that it didn't start in the 60's when they demolished Cole Brothers, surely they could have rescued the facade and built behind it?

What annoys me is that I as a card bearing silly old bugger cannot remember it ever looking that good. I agree that the apartment block dwarfs it but the developers have had to comply with the preservation order that I hope was at their expence.

Our city fathers may at long last have learned the very important lesson that demolishing well known city features gets up the noses of it's citizens.

Also people were much smellier and good ventilation was fairly essential.



Come on, you've just made that up!

I haven't seen it, does anyone have a picture of it they can post please?

In Barnsley, a good proportion of the '70s pre-fab concrete municipal-socialist-brutalist town centre is due to be demolished to make way for something hopefully rather better, at great expense.

In 30 years time in Sheffield, the demolition balls will be swinging full tilt at all the hideoulsy unimaginative Lego apartment blocks before they start dropping their cheap orange bricks on the heads of passers-by; at great expense. No-one ever learns, do they?

In Barnsley, a good proportion of the '70s pre-fab concrete municipal-socialist-brutalist town centre is due to be demolished to make way for something hopefully rather better, at great expense.

In 30 years time in Sheffield, the demolition balls will be swinging full tilt at all the hideoulsy unimaginative Lego apartment blocks before they start dropping their cheap orange bricks on the heads of passers-by; at great expense. No-one ever learns, do they?

Yep, you do have to wonder about the future of these lifeless blocks...another park hill listed building fiasco / weight around the cities neck!

Do planners actually study planning anymore, or does the country have such a shortage that anyone can be a planner these days?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_planning

I absolutely agree with everything you so eloquently said, Purdy. But sadly, I think it goes further than this. This approach to designing and planning seems to be endemic in our city, with the resulting jarring cityscape which has been emerging over the past 10 years or so. I love Sheffield's natural, beautiful landscape but am horrified by what the planners and architects are doing to it, with no attempt to create harmony or cohesion between old and new, or to allow a "statement" building ( Winter Gardens for example) space to breathe. I dread to think what they might do next.

It's aesthetic illiteracy. What do you think?

I agree. It's good that this facade has been restored but the effect is rather ruined by the backdrop. It's a bit like the Roebuck Tavern incongruously located beneath the new council offices.

Then there's that arch at the back of Ponds Forge. On second thoughts, maybe we could have a whole collection of 'follies' which could become a Sheffield sightseeing experience....

You could add in the frontage of the old building that was built into the 'bread bin' UfI building at Moorfoot!

Hmmm, it's becoming an architectural trend in Sheffield - the idea that an old building is preserved by retaining a handful of the original brickwork within a new concrete anono-building. ;)

Can you still see that Jarvis Cocker 'trashed on cider' art installation on The Forge? I can't. That lasted a long time, didn't it?!

Anyway, looks to me like London Road is becoming the 'new Ecclesall Road' now that the original has become too expensive for the students.

This approach to designing and planning seems to be endemic in our city, with the resulting jarring cityscape which has been emerging over the past 10 years or so. I love Sheffield's natural, beautiful landscape but am horrified by what the planners and architects are doing to it, with no attempt to create harmony or cohesion between old and new, or to allow a "statement" building ( Winter Gardens for example) space to breathe.

I was just thinking this very same thing over the weekend. I went up to Norfolk Park for the Fayre (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=250631). From there, you have a potentially marvellous vantage point over the city centre, but what do you see? Tedious box design buildings, one after another, and only the Town Hall to add any contrast. At least from the Heeley Festival (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=226564), you could see the new Mosque.

We're so lucky with our geography - the planners and architects need to think about all of it.

Anyway, looks to me like London Road is becoming the 'new Ecclesall Road' now that the original has become too expensive for the students.

Well surely thats a good thing !

And yes the remnant of Bed does look very good now its cleaned and painted up ... I really do hope this area gets a lift and reduces the boy racers, graffitists, delapidated buildings, kebab shops etc in the area - though yes a new wetherspoons does not look promising ....

There's a place for kebab shops too..

Just don't see how they thrive when they are next door to one another.

Noticed the refurbed "Bed" last night...amazing how you drive past things daily and don't notice until you walk and it looks quite tidy as a compromise deal with the new student boxes.

The Roebuck someone mentioned earlier always reminds me of the film "Batteries Not Included" with the little building dwarfed by it's neighbours.

There are some decent places down London Road already at reasonable prices, the Tim Po and Dim Sum for instance. Not top class but good value and decent quality.

I hope this "Ecclesall Road-ising" of London Road doesn't push decent basic places out altogether until London Road too becomes more expensive. A balance would be nice.

Don't remember the Landsdowne as a cinema but I do remember it as Marks & Spencers - that building has worn a lot of different hats in its lifetime. I suppose ending up as a Weatherspoons is better than being bulldozed :(

I absolutely agree with everything you so eloquently said, Purdy. But sadly, I think it goes further than this. This approach to designing and planning seems to be endemic in our city, with the resulting jarring cityscape which has been emerging over the past 10 years or so. I love Sheffield's natural, beautiful landscape but am horrified by what the planners and architects are doing to it, with no attempt to create harmony or cohesion between old and new, or to allow a "statement" building ( Winter Gardens for example) space to breathe. I dread to think what they might do next.

The Winter Gardens...so much potential for a focus point and they ruined it by building that monstrosity right next to it.

Sheffield Planning Department = incompetent!

Sheffield Planning Department = incompetent!

As has been said so many times on these boards, and so true (waits for shouty Planner to come along).

http://www.creativesheffield.co.uk/ (2007-present)

Creative Sheffield is the new incarnation of Sheffield One (2000-2007), which was itself previously Sheffield Development Corporation (1988-2000)

However, it is the planners and the councillors that okay the development, so they are ultimately responsible.

Wether Spoons - oh dear

Is it not a Jacksons convenience store opening in it? Where's Wetherspoons come from?

Is it not a Jacksons convenience store opening in it? Where's Wetherspoons come from?

I was told there are going to be a small supermarket (don't know if it's Jacksons, I thought they all belonged to Sainsburys now?) and also a Wetherspoons.

It would be nice if London Road had a few different drinking places to complement the restaurants there, but I really don't think Wetherspoons is going to add much, apart from maybe it's prices will move the crowd outside the Cremorne/pharmacist along the road a little bit? It'll be nice for them to have somewhere indoors to go when the weather gets cold........

Its good to see the old Locarno restored, some very fond and funny memories of the place, particularly on a saturday night walking home to Empire Rd, always open, good prices, never turned away and a good giggle in the mid 80s.

I have seen it now, and seen the pictures that were posted on the other site, and I think it looks fantastic.

Of course it is dwarfed by the halls behind it, but I'd rather see more of these than just flattening everything. I can only think of 3 such building in Sheffield, this one, UFI on Young St (as mentioned early) and Morton Works on West St.

Its good to see the old Locarno restored, some very fond and funny memories of the place, particularly on a saturday night walking home to Empire Rd, always open, good prices, never turned away and a good giggle in the mid 80s.

Only the facia has been restored and by the sounds of it, you would have to be about 90 years old to remember it in the original condition which it now resembles. :)

Only the facia has been restored and by the sounds of it, you would have to be about 90 years old to remember it in the original condition which it now resembles. :)

It probably looked like that in the late forties when M&S had it, albeit very grubby and soot stained ;) and I think the outside was steam-cleaned before it was re-opened as a dance hall.

I agree with most people here - the new front looks nice but it is really incongruous with the new flats, which I like, but not the combination of both. Mind you, I don't think it's any worse of a mess than the mish-mash they made of the Ward's brewery site...

This little gem is completely dwarfed by the block-u-like edifice breathing down its neck. It was always obvious that the scale and shape of the new block and the old club would be somewhat incongruous, and I wondered how the developers would sensitively bring the two parts together to create a sympathetic whole, and now I know.

They have made literally no effort whatsoever to find an imaginitive solution. No effort at design harmony has been made. The restored Pagoda is beautiful, but completely bullied by the thuggish mediocrity of the main block. No element is echoed in the new block that might serve to tie the two together. The new edifice could have been designed to act like a frame for the little curio, each part enhancing the other. But as it is, the clash is horrendous.

Imaginitive architecture and sympathetic, exciting design are not necessarily a luxury. It is entirely possible to create interesting eclectic streetscapes that respect neighbouring styles. We have plenty of rude, ugly apartment boxes already. And now we have another where we could have had something a bit different.

I feel really upset about this. It's aesthetic illiteracy. What do you think?

I saw this on Friday and your description is very accurate, it looks atrocious!

i only drove past briefly, but i'm sure i saw white upvc window frames and new 'stained glass' windows in there .... totally inappropriate

The remaining stub of what began as the Lansdowne picture house has just reappeared from behind its curtain of restoration as part of the accomodation development. They appear to have cleaned the facade back to its original faience, a jaunty two tone stripy affair in white and minty green, setting off the dark roofs (rooves?) of the pagoda. It looks great, and a fresh, distinctive beacon to anyone making their way up London Road, or coming along Boston Street. I love having it in my neighbourhood - she's scrubbed up a treat!

However...

This little gem is completely dwarfed by the block-u-like edifice breathing down its neck. It was always obvious that the scale and shape of the new block and the old club would be somewhat incongruous, and I wondered how the developers would sensitively bring the two parts together to create a sympathetic whole, and now I know.

They have made literally no effort whatsoever to find an imaginitive solution. No effort at design harmony has been made. The restored Pagoda is beautiful, but completely bullied by the thuggish mediocrity of the main block. No element is echoed in the new block that might serve to tie the two together. The new edifice could have been designed to act like a frame for the little curio, each part enhancing the other. But as it is, the clash is horrendous.

Imaginitive architecture and sympathetic, exciting design are not necessarily a luxury. It is entirely possible to create interesting eclectic streetscapes that respect neighbouring styles. We have plenty of rude, ugly apartment boxes already. And now we have another where we could have had something a bit different.

I feel really upset about this. It's aesthetic illiteracy. What do you think?

Yep. What a pity this Sheffield landmark couldn't have been totally restored to it's former glory. It would have looked fabulous. I have to admit, I think the planners got the town hall improvements right, and the peace gardens but as far as london rd is concerned, I think they should be made to pull down the awful new building and re-instate/re-build the beautiful building they've ruined.

Yep. What a pity this Sheffield landmark couldn't have been totally restored to it's former glory.
I agree. But my view is that what has been done is a great thing compared to it be knocked down completely, which I generally expect with so many old buildings in Sheffield.

but...


As for listing. It can cause massive problems if the building is privately owned. Suppose you had a mortgage on a large building and someone listed it. Because it restricts what you can do with the building it will make the value plummet. Not nice if you have a mortage for 1 million for a building that is now worth 100k.

...this made me think though. If I had the golden pen to list every building that I could if I chose, then I would probably list almost everything!!:hihi:

Yep. What a pity this Sheffield landmark couldn't have been totally restored to it's former glory. It would have looked fabulous. I have to admit, I think the planners got the town hall improvements right.

Town Hall improvements? Do you mean the 1923 extension? If so I agree that was an excellent addition and blended well with the original building. Also the new Peace Gardens and demolition of the ugly 1977 eggbox extension were inprovements.

Well its open now as Sainsburys, looks quite swish.

Town Hall improvements? Do you mean the 1923 extension? If so I agree that was an excellent addition and blended well with the original building. Also the new Peace Gardens and demolition of the ugly 1977 eggbox extension were inprovements.

I completely agree with you on this point, Alastair.

Unless you knew the TH had been extended in 1923, you'd be hard pressed to say where the original stopped, and the extension began. In fact, even today, it's difficult to differentiate between the work of the original and the newer. It certainly was aesthetic, and done in 100% sympathy to the original architecture.

I initially disliked the new Peace Gardens. Indeed, I was one of the protesters. I still have my reservations about the slightly forbidding layout, and am most unhappy that most of the mature tree planting was ripped out, expecially those that were memorials. It looks better than the initial plans gave it credit for being.

I agree with Purdyamos, about the identikit "Block-U-Like" architecture of the buildings behind, and them being bopth unsightly generally, and not much in keeping with the old buildings that were/ are around it.

can't believe it's going to be a Mcweatherspoons
LONG LIVE THE JAM FACTORY

can't believe it's going to be a Mcweatherspoons
LONG LIVE THE JAM FACTORY


I spoke to a man who works for the architects of this project this week and there definitely is not going to be a Wetherspoons.

There is Sainsburys and 6 shop units.

Now I have Waitrose AND Sainsburys as my corner shops. Spoilt for choice. :clap:

And I can't believe how good the Sainsbury-orange looks in the white and green/grey old bit.

I just hope we're now seeing a bit of an upturn in lower London Road. It should and could be thriving. I wonder what'll be next?

I completely agree with you on this point, Alastair.

Unless you knew the TH had been extended in 1923, you'd be hard pressed to say where the original stopped, and the extension began. In fact, even today, it's difficult to differentiate between the work of the original and the newer. It certainly was aesthetic, and done in 100% sympathy to the original architecture.

I initially disliked the new Peace Gardens. Indeed, I was one of the protesters. I still have my reservations about the slightly forbidding layout, and am most unhappy that most of the mature tree planting was ripped out, expecially those that were memorials. It looks better than the initial plans gave it credit for being.

I agree with Purdyamos, about the identikit "Block-U-Like" architecture of the buildings behind, and them being bopth unsightly generally, and not much in keeping with the old buildings that were/ are around it.

Yes, a great opportunity to make a brilliant set of buildings and a memorable urban townscape was lost when the incongruous "Block-U-Like" buildings were built behind the Peace Gardens, but that's the story of Sheffield planning and architecture.