Carbuncle Cup: 465 Caledonian Road, London
August 30th, 2013
Building Online -> A triumph for the dark side (this is not paywalled, you have only to register to read the article)
The building in its original form
To inflict on students a presumed way of life is both patronising and ignorant to say the least. A basic rule of life is “do as you would be done by” or the more pithy version from E.M. Forster “only connect” i.e. try to stand in the other persons shoes.
One of the many pleasures of student life is when you sit by a window in a comfortable chair, or lie on your bed reading a book often for hours. This is an activity that needs adequate space, comfort, and above all light. You ought to be able to read by daylight whenever possible always dependent on the time of year of course.
In addition, student life is a time when people develop socially. They may wish to invite chosen others back to their room for private conversation, not in “far more social common space” which isn’t the same thing at all.
People’s social development varies enormously. Some are late starters and not all are extroverts. This ridiculous idea of exchanging private space for social space as if the two were interchangeable is ludicrous and lacks thought. The two things provide for different activities and each needs to be addressed on its own merits, which is clearly not what the architect quoted below thinks.
Mike Skilton, a director of Architecture PLB, which designs student housing, said the trend for high-end accommodation aimed at foreign students and post-graduates appeared to be giving way to demand for cheaper accommodation with smaller rooms. But he insisted quality remained high.
“In London we are providing rooms of slightly less than the recognised minimum of 12sq m, which has been accepted by the local authority because we are providing far more social common space,” he said.
Is adequate provision made in these rooms for a desk, chair and ample light for private study? These are manifestly not rooms simply for sleeping but for social activity and private study. My own college room was no bigger (than 12sqm) but had a view, was not overlooked and was well lit. I think that last is the crunch point.
As rules are drawn up for Government regulation, as suggested, then to my mind each of the above criteria need to be considered.
Where’s Lasdun when you need him? University of East Anglia
This is a good article from the Guardian on the same subject:-
Carbuncle Cup student housing problems
This is a good comment from Building Design:-
Ra Biswas | 30 August 2013 7:39 am
University life should be more than studying and sleeping. Interaction and discussions with other students (from other faculties) could be a huge plus point in student housing, if only pleasant spaces such as a lounge, roof terrace or garden were provided for them.
However, they are not, as small-minded clients and architects simply don’t think, or do not want to spend even a little effort and money on attractive public/semi-public spaces, or both of the above.
How to make good student rooms worse:-
This is the UCL press release:-
New UCL student residence Caledonian Road
From Building Design online:-
Architects call for review of student housing standards
No paywall, just register to read it.
History
Having looked at the original planning application documents I find I rather like what was there before:-