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FORMBY POOL COMMENDED IN NEW COPPER IN ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
WINNERS of the
2007 Copper in Architecture Awards have been announced at a
presentation ceremony in London on 25 September with Merseyside
project Formby Pool receiving a Commendation. The Awards
revealed an exceptional diversity of important buildings from around
Europe – many not widely known or published – amongst the 74
entries.
This design-led competition includes 2 separate awards for the best
recently completed buildings in the UK and in other participating
European countries, as well as a cash prize for the best student
project from UK schools of architecture and craftsmanship awards.
Commended in the UK was Feilden Clegg Bradley’s public swimming
pool, set in a new park in the centre of Formby.
“Sustainability was a key driver for both client and architect,”
say Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects of their innovative design.
“Environmental issues, our previous experience of pool buildings
and a love of natural materials led us to the principle of a timber
framed building clad in materials which will weather gracefully over
many years without the need for regular maintenance. We wanted
a building which would mature beautifully alongside the newly
planted park. One of the principle attractions of copper in this
instance was that it will continue to change over the years,
developing its own unique patina in the salty coastal air.”
The judges were impressed by this cool, elegant and understated
low-rise building, and how it enjoys a limited palette of natural
materials whilst generating impressive interior spaces.
Paving Way To Better Streets
A SCHEME aimed
at giving a better look to some of Liverpool’s busiest shopping
streets is set to get under way.The work on Parker Street , Elliot
Street and Houghton Street, involves putting tarmac on 4 areas and
using the paving flags taken up in those areas to improve the rest
of the streets.
“These streets currently look like a very badly worn patchwork
quilt” said Councillor Mike Storey, Executive Member for
Regeneration. “There are small patches which have been
reinstated using tarmac, some of the paving flags are cracked and
there are other areas where different coloured flags have been used.
For an area where a huge number of people walk through every day
this is not acceptable, so we have to look at a way in which we can
improve the look of the streets but do it quickly so that it is done
in time for the main period of Christmas shoppers and in time for
2008.”
The work , which will start early in October and take about 6 weeks
to complete in phases, involves putting tarmaced areas in the
carriageway areas of Houghton Street, at the junction of Elliot
Street and Parker Street and at the junction of Parker Street and
Church Street. Paving flags removed from these areas will be “recycled”
by using them to replace cracked flags and small areas which have
been previously reinstated using tarmac. The final cost of the
scheme is still to be determined but will be under £75,000.
“If we were able to do this work to the same standard of the
work in Church Street , using high quality materials it would cost
in the region of £2m but it would mean that we had these important
street dug up during Capital of Culture year, “ said
Councillor Storey “And we are aware there are plans to
carry out major works at the St John’s Centre and the Clayton Square
Shopping Centre. It does not make a great deal of sense to do major
repaving works if they have to be ripped up soon after for schemes
such as this,. It is far more sensible to provide an interim
solution which will look much better, improve safety and decrease
our maintenance costs and enable pedestrians and delivery lorries to
go about their business with the minimum of disruption.”
Street trading stalls will remain in the general area throughout the
works. Consultations are taking place with shops and other
businesses about temporary changes in arrangements for deliveries. |
BIG
BROADCASTING BREAK FOR NORTHWEST YOUNG PEOPLE
SOME of the
biggest names in TV have joined forces to offer 20, 16 to 22year olds
from the Northwest the chance to take their 1st steps on the career
ladder. The BBC, ITV Granada, Lime Pictures and the Red
Production Company are backing the country’s 1st, ground-breaking,
Advanced Apprenticeship in Media Production, which has been devised
by Northwest Vision and Media, Skillset, and the Learning and Skills
Council. Apprentices from Bolton, Preston, Manchester, Salford
and Southport are involved in the UK’s 1st-ever scheme.
“As this is the 1st time we’ve offered an apprenticeship of
this kind, we weren’t sure what kind of response it would get. But
it’s been phenomenal! This is
the 1st opportunity for young people who don’t have GCSE maths or
English, to still be able to apply for an apprenticeship which
offers so much potential for their future career.” says Lynne McCadden,
Managing Director of Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the
region’s TV, film, radio and digital content industries.
With over 300 applications to the new apprenticeship scheme, 20
young people from across the region have now been offered, and
accepted, a place on the training scheme – which starts this week.
The apprentices will study and work in TV, radio, post production,
on-line and on new devices such as mobile technology and gaming.
The apprenticeship is aimed at making the industry more accessible
and inclusive to young people who may not normally get a chance to
work in this sector, helping to provide the skilled workforce needed
for the development of mediacity:uk at Salford Quays, which will
include the BBC’s new headquarters in the north of England, as well
as hundreds of other media based businesses.
Funded by the Learning and Skills Council, BBC, Skillset and
Northwest Vision and Media, the development of the apprenticeship
has involved leading media organisations and agencies across the
Northwest working together to make their vision a reality. Other
partners include Connexions and the Manchester media Centre of
Vocational Excellence ( CoVE).
Margaret McClelland, Development Executive BBC North Project, says:-
“The BBC has been delighted to spearhead this industry
initiative, from its initial conception through to the
identification and recruitment of a new generation of exciting young
talent from across the Northwest. This is a fantastic example of a
true collaborative approach delivering results, with each of the
partners playing a pivotal role. Recruiting young people from
different backgrounds, different cultures and with different life
experiences will ensure that our programming continues to be
innovative and truly resonates with all our audiences”.
The 18 month programme will offer the selected young people the
chance to develop a wide range of skills through a combination of
college based learning and work experience to include the essentials
of journalism, technical skills and production. The apprentices will
work towards an NVQ Level 3 qualification...
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