Anyone visited the Winter Gardens yet?

Geoff · 11-01-2003, 17:03

Have you visited the new Winter Gardens yet? I managed to "pop in" today and was pleasantly surprised. My first impression was it looked very much like a "Millennium Fund" type of development (i.e. similar to the Eden project and the National Maritime Museum). I was impressed with the way it smoothly led visitors on to the Millennium gallery, but I wasn't so keen that the exit led to a huge carpark and then a fairly long walk back to the centre.

What are your thoughts on it? Press 'Reply' to add them.

nomme · 13-01-2003, 15:18

I nipped in briefly on Saturday. I had walked up from the Showroom, and it makes a pleasant route back into the town centre if you go through the Millenium Gallery and then out into the Winter Gardens.
I agree with you that the 'car park' end is disappointing, though I guess its still work in progress. It really needs to go 'somewhere' so that people will use it regularly as a thoroughfare.
Shouldn't it link up with the Peace Gardens somehow?

Sidla · 13-01-2003, 15:20

I thought the Winter Garden and the Peace Garden were the same thing??

nomme · 13-01-2003, 15:22

I thought there was a big gap between them where they are planning to build a hotel!

Geoff · 13-01-2003, 16:50

Yes the 'Peace Gardens' are still there, they are the ones with the waterfalls and fountains (in front of the old 'egg box' council offices). The 'Winter Gardens' is the news, glass and steel contruction just behind them.

As the for the hotel - I heard there was a big debate about this?

nomme · 16-01-2003, 09:24

Apparently 4 out 5 people asked are opposed to the hotel.

See
http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/

On another issue I think the above URL would be good on the links page of this forum. Also you might want to see it you could get the above page to link here.

cheers
Nomme

nomme · 16-01-2003, 09:29

Quote:

Originally posted by "nommedenet"

See
http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/

On another issue I think the above URL would be good on the links page of this forum. Also you might want to see it you could get the above page to link here.

Duh! Should have checked first - it already is.

ops:

Still it may be worthwhile trying to get them to link here (maybe under the community section). I would guess it would up the number of subscribers.

Nomme

RPG · 16-01-2003, 20:32

hi, ive joined from the DVD Forums where i posted some pics:

http://www.enterprise.dynip.com/forum_stuff/RPG/outside.jpg
http://www.enterprise.dynip.com/forum_stuff/RPG/wintergarden1.jpg
http://www.enterprise.dynip.com/forum_stuff/RPG/wintergarden2.jpg
http://www.enterprise.dynip.com/forum_stuff/RPG/wintergarden3.jpg

Geoff · 17-01-2003, 00:56

Thanks for those pictures RPG - they look great! Shame you didn't get any of the big hole in the ground

I should get to sleep now, it's 2am - talk about a dedicated admin :shock:

Ravenger · 18-01-2003, 18:02

Enjoy the view while you can - they're about to build a great big hotel right in front of it, blocking the view of it from the peace gardens!

halevan · 01-02-2003, 18:15

Yes I have visited the winter gardens a number of times,in my opinion it is very inspiring and informative. Full marks to the ruling labour council for their innovative and fresh ideas,the winter gardens in particular are something we have needed in this city for a long time. I found the information to be fascinating,and I was impressed by the wonderfull variety of plants from all over the southern hemisphere of the globe. Halevan. 1/2/03.

06-02-2003, 16:52

my girlfriend works in there at zoobies :p

11-02-2003, 19:47

Pleasant enough but there surely was better things to spend £8m on. Large visitor numbers are the result of putting entrance to Millenium Galleries in Winter Gardens.....which is also used as a through route for Hallam Uni students.

Chris · 11-02-2003, 21:54

You need to spend money to attract money - I agree that there's plenty of places that £8m could have been spent on at a grass-roots level, but after it's been spent where's the next £8m going to come from? Building something that will boost the city's image and improve the quality of public space in the city centre and you've got an extra string in your bow for targetting the people who can bring more money into the city. Ironically, these money-bringers include a mis-guided hotel company who plan to damage the civic value of the Winter Garden that's key to attracting them!

The issue of there being other things to spend the money on is somewhat irrelevant, though, bearing in mind the proportion that came from Lottery funding. Lottery money is specifically targetted at 'showcase' projects so I doubt you'd have got money out of them for upgrading council houses or roads, despite that being a valid use of £8m. These showcase projects can be very valuable in improving a space using a building that can't show it's value on an income spreadsheet (the Winter Garden's value can't be measured numberically) and which therefore many other funders would avoid. This showcasing can go to illogical lengths, though - the rediculous new Wembley stadium is an example of this and compared to the money wasted on that £8m seems like money extremely well spent.

Trekker · 15-05-2004, 17:18

Hi. this has been a longtime coming but apart from looking a bit like something from oz... whats it all about.

Threads merged - please search before posting

Andy · 15-05-2004, 20:18

Does anyone else feel that the Winter Gardens are being spolit by all the clutter that's in there now?

I'm talking about things like City Ambassador information stands, Tourist Information stand, displays about the Botanical Gardens etc.

I'd prefer to keep the Winter Gardens for plants, and put the other things either in a proper tourist information centre or failing that in the corridor that runs through the Millennium Galleries.

Plain Talker · 16-05-2004, 00:07

i suppose that the pretty wooden arches of teh winter-gardens roof do have a bit of "Sydney-Opera-House thing " going on, but by gum, they do not look anything as bad as the red-scaffolding monstrosity that houses mothercare and kingdom nightclub, in barkers pool.

they are pleasant to look at, and it is actually quite nice to sit and have a sandwich in there. it is peaceful.

I wish we had more pleasanat places like this to sit in around the city centre.

PT

dinp · 16-05-2004, 00:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Plain Talker
i suppose that the pretty wooden arches of teh winter-gardens roof do have a bit of "Sydney-Opera-House thing " going on, but by gum, they do not look anything as bad as the red-scaffolding monstrosity that houses mothercare and kingdom nightclub, in barkers pool.

Thankfully the scaffolding monstrosity will make way for the New Retail Quarter in a few years time.

I thought the Winter Gardens were nice, sadly the hotel will block some of the views to/from the Peace Gardens but they can't grass the land over, its worth too much money.

Ned Ludd · 17-05-2004, 10:11

Does anyone else think that the ratio of stone paving to plant beds is excessive? It seems to me that more space could have been devoted to planting than paving given the amount of space in there...........taking an example the ratio of planting to paving in the Botanical Garden glasshouses which looks spot on.

noseyrosie · 17-05-2004, 16:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Ned Ludd
Does anyone else think that the ratio of stone paving to plant beds is excessive? It seems to me that more space could have been devoted to planting than paving given the amount of space in there...........taking an example the ratio of planting to paving in the Botanical Garden glasshouses which looks spot on.

Exactly what I though first time I went there. It doesn't eeven compare to something like one of the houses in Kew Gardens, because it's more like an impressive walkway with some decorative plants either side. They didn't get that right.