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Leinster Gardens
I had a few minutes in Bayswater to kill yesterday and decided to take a
look at the famous dummy houses in Leinster Gardens. I must say that the false facades still work well, and are maintained (by LU?). Even the pigeon deterrents are in place, exactly the same as on the adjacent properties. In fact, I actually walked right past, distracted by the building work next door. But I wonder why the gap has been retained in the century plus since the lines below were electrified. It's no longer needed for venting steam engines, and I'd have thought there would be pressure to reconstruct genuine buildings over the tracks, just as happens over stations. Have there been such plans, or is there some major technical/financial reason for not doing so? For those not familiar with the site, see www.urban75.org/london/leinster.html http://golondon.about.com/od/thingst...terGardens.htm |
Leinster Gardens
Recliner wrote:
I had a few minutes in Bayswater to kill yesterday and decided to take a look at the famous dummy houses in Leinster Gardens. I must say that the false facades still work well, and are maintained (by LU?). Even the pigeon deterrents are in place, exactly the same as on the adjacent properties. In fact, I actually walked right past, distracted by the building work next door. But I wonder why the gap has been retained in the century plus since the lines below were electrified. It's no longer needed for venting steam engines, and I'd have thought there would be pressure to reconstruct genuine buildings over the tracks, just as happens over stations. Have there been such plans, or is there some major technical/financial reason for not doing so? For those not familiar with the site, see www.urban75.org/london/leinster.html http://golondon.about.com/od/thingst...terGardens.htm Emergency exit, perhaps? |
Leinster Gardens
wrote in message ... Recliner wrote: I had a few minutes in Bayswater to kill yesterday and decided to take a look at the famous dummy houses in Leinster Gardens. I must say that the false facades still work well, and are maintained (by LU?). Even the pigeon deterrents are in place, exactly the same as on the adjacent properties. In fact, I actually walked right past, distracted by the building work next door. But I wonder why the gap has been retained in the century plus since the lines below were electrified. It's no longer needed for venting steam engines, and I'd have thought there would be pressure to reconstruct genuine buildings over the tracks, just as happens over stations. Have there been such plans, or is there some major technical/financial reason for not doing so? wild guess Assuming they could ever come to an amicable financial arrangement between themselves and LU, the owners\residents of the adjacent properties would suffer considerable disruption during the course of any construction work for a start. Without sufficient clearance at the sides of the track for supporting pillars at that point, its likely part of the existing properties would need to be remodelled maybe losing half their existing ground floors so to accomodate the ends of a concrete platform to straddle the track. They would probably also lose their basements. While any new property would probably require extensive sound proofing on the lower floors for them to be habitable. The loss of amenity in the adjoining properties in financial terms, combined with construction costs given the difficult site, is probably far greater than any gain to be made from a new property especially given it would be need to be split three ways. If not necessarily equally. /wild guess michael adams .... For those not familiar with the site, see www.urban75.org/london/leinster.html http://golondon.about.com/od/thingst...terGardens.htm Emergency exit, perhaps? |
Leinster Gardens
michael adams wrote:
wild guess Another wild guess, but perhaps they're listed? Is it possible that the whole street is listed, including the non-buildings? Theo |
Leinster Gardens
In message , Theo Markettos
writes Another wild guess, but perhaps they're listed? They are indeed. English Heritage ID 413898 shows that numbers 19-22 Leinster Gardens, "including 19a and screen wall forming equivalent of nos 23 and 24" have Grade II listed status. Most of the properties in Leinster Gardens are listed, and the entire street is in the western part of the Bayswater Conservation area, so development would not be at all easy. -- Paul Terry |
Leinster Gardens
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Leinster Gardens
wrote in message
In article , (Paul Terry) wrote: In message , Theo Markettos writes Another wild guess, but perhaps they're listed? They are indeed. English Heritage ID 413898 shows that numbers 19-22 Leinster Gardens, "including 19a and screen wall forming equivalent of nos 23 and 24" have Grade II listed status. Most of the properties in Leinster Gardens are listed, and the entire street is in the western part of the Bayswater Conservation area, so development would not be at all easy. I was assuming the existing facade's appearance would be preserved if something was built behind. If so there should be little problem with the listed status. It's pretty clear from the photos from the back that it's only the facade that's worthy of listing. Yes, I was assuming that a new building would have a facade identical to the adjacent real buildings. In other words, it would look more genuine than the current fake, with real windows, real doors and a full roof. As such, it would improve the look of the street, which is largely full of tourist hotels these days. |
Leinster Gardens
"michael adams" wrote in message
wrote in message ... Recliner wrote: I had a few minutes in Bayswater to kill yesterday and decided to take a look at the famous dummy houses in Leinster Gardens. I must say that the false facades still work well, and are maintained (by LU?). Even the pigeon deterrents are in place, exactly the same as on the adjacent properties. In fact, I actually walked right past, distracted by the building work next door. But I wonder why the gap has been retained in the century plus since the lines below were electrified. It's no longer needed for venting steam engines, and I'd have thought there would be pressure to reconstruct genuine buildings over the tracks, just as happens over stations. Have there been such plans, or is there some major technical/financial reason for not doing so? wild guess Assuming they could ever come to an amicable financial arrangement between themselves and LU, the owners\residents of the adjacent properties would suffer considerable disruption during the course of any construction work for a start. Without sufficient clearance at the sides of the track for supporting pillars at that point, its likely part of the existing properties would need to be remodelled maybe losing half their existing ground floors so to accomodate the ends of a concrete platform to straddle the track. They would probably also lose their basements. While any new property would probably require extensive sound proofing on the lower floors for them to be habitable. The loss of amenity in the adjoining properties in financial terms, combined with construction costs given the difficult site, is probably far greater than any gain to be made from a new property especially given it would be need to be split three ways. If not necessarily equally. Yes, those are very good points. I had sort of assumed that the new building might be constructed in conjunction with or by the owners of the neighbouring buildings, perhaps as an extension. I think at least one of those buildings is a hotel, so it could use the new space as an extension. |
Leinster Gardens
On 10 Dec 2009 01:56:08 +0000 (GMT), Theo Markettos
wrote: michael adams wrote: wild guess Another wild guess, but perhaps they're listed? Is it possible that the whole street is listed, including the non-buildings? Listing wouldn't necessarily prevent redevelopment, especially if the new retains the appearance (or even the facades) of the old. I have worked on many projects in London where a listed facade was retained to front a thoroughly modern building built behind it. I think Michael Adams had it right. He self-deprecatingly termed his post a "wild guess" but I think he hit the nail on the head. |
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