Categories / Architecture, Art and Photography, Film and TV

Get Carter car park in Gateshead to be demolished next week

Gateshead_get_carter

Yes, the title says it all – Trinity Square car park in Gateshead, made famous by the movie Get Carter, will be demolished from this Monday, 26th July.

It's an icon of brutalist architecture, opened in 1969 and the work of Owen Luder. But like most designs in that style (and of that era), it's a building that divides opinion locally. The local council is obviously not keen and has decided to demolish it in favour of a new, large-scale development.

So we wave goodbye and remember the classic scene in the movie below. Oh yes, pictured above is Jonathan Wilkinson's art print of it – that sells for £20 from here.

Categories / Architecture, Art and Photography

Trellick Tower silkscreen print by Jo Peel

Trellick

The speciality of Jo Peel is capturing the everyday world and giving it her own distinctive spin, shown perfectly by this Trellick Tower silkscreen print.

Erno Goldfinger's brutalist masterpiece (or eyesore, depending on your view) is given something of a comic book twist by the artist, making it her own, but at the same time, keeping the unmistakable profile of the tower block.

The print is sized at 66 x 48cm and is only available as a run of 25 in the red here. If you want one, it sells for £65.

Find out more at the Art Republic website

Categories / Architecture, Property

For sale: Midcentury house in Little London near Longhope, Gloucestershire

London2

An interesting property that might appeal to lovers of the open country, this midcentury house in Little London, near Longhope, Gloucestershire.

Designed by the architect Gerry Jones for his own use back in the 1960s, the house doesn't look much from the outside, but it does sit on a 1/3 acre plot with spectacular views towards the Forest of Dean, which is certainly a massive selling point. But it's not the only one.

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Categories / Architecture, Kids

Eames House Blocks from House Industries

Eames house

Start teaching your kids about good design from an early age with these Eames House Blocks from House Industries

It's a set of 36 basswood blocks meant to form Case Study House no. 8, otherwise known as the Eames House. Designed by Ray and Charles Eames and constructed in 1949 in Los Angeles, it is held up as an landmark of mid-century modern architecture. Each block – 20 making up the house, 16 for their separate studio – is printed with part of the house's geometric facade. The non-toxic materials used makes it suitable for kids but I'd be tempted to keep it pristine and well out of their reach. 

An extra incentive to do that comes with the price. At $175, it's certainly not pocket money. 

Buy it from House Industries

Categories / Architecture, Watches

Swatch x Oscar Niemeyer Tracos de Um Arquiteto watch

Niem

We have featured Swatch on various occasions over the years, but I think this is perhaps the coolest design we've had so far – the Swatch x Oscar Niemeyer Tracos de Um Arquiteto watch.

'Tracos de Um Arquiteto' apparently translates to 'traces of an architect' and of course, the architect in question is Oscar Niemeyer. The watch was created for the 50th anniversary of Brazil's capital, Brasilia and is inspired by the architecture of its National Museum and the work of the architect himself.

So as well as offering up some retro cool, it just might get some knowing glances off fans of modernist design too. A limited edition, you can pick it up from Colette for 43 Euros.

Find out more at the Colette website

Categories / Architecture, Property

Park Hill 1960s housing estate in Sheffield – new pictures of redevelopment

Park1

It's something the locals either love or hate, but there's no denying that Park Hill in Sheffield is a modern-day icon. It's also undergoing a very modern renovation, courtesy of Urban Splash.

Described as 'streets in the sky' during its development in the late 50s and early 60s, the estate was initially popular in those post-war years, but with poor maintenance and an even poorer reputation as time passed, Park Hill's future was at a crossroads until Urban Splash stepped in with English Heritage, with idea of turning the now Grade II listed building into upmarket apartments, business  units and social housing.

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