14 C .,, .. w .... , .. 1 • Top: the existingview of Downing College. Centre left: the architect'smodel Centre right: overlayof balloonphoto showingnew building,from entrance. Bottom: Postsshowingnew building at Baflenberg OpenAir Museum. le was regrettable chat the Downing Library model appeared to be seen only as an aid to the presentation of a finished scheme, rather than as a working cool. This contrasts strongly with Jeremy Dixon's new Library and Study Centre for Darwin College, recently allowed on appeal. This scheme, again in a Conservation Area, was contentious because of rhe effect of any development on a very important riverside sire. There was general agreement rhar, if rhe sire were ro be developed, Dixon's scheme would be ideal. A key ingredient in achieving this consensus was rhe use of a working model to develop and refine rhe proposal, and present rhe archirecr's approach and evolving ideas. Good models are extremely expensive and, however accurate, usually only allow assessment of how a proposal relates to its immediate environment. This has been highlighted by a third Cambridge scheme, involving rhe extension of rhe Arts Theatre (by Bland Brown & Cole) and a new residential building (by Nicholas Hare Associates) for Corpus Christi College. The theatre needs improved backstage accommodation. Ics existing fly cower is irregular in plan, and requires extension into a rectangle and raising to ensure chat sets ar the back are out of sight. The Theatre is within a central city block immediately opposite King's College and in the hearr of the Conservation Area. Corpus Christi College owns the open area (the rear part of the Eagle yard) in rhe centre of rhe block and any extension to rhe Theatre had ro be on Corpus land. The College made rhe extension conditional on a new residential building being wrapped around the extended fly rower (and over the green room extension at basement level). The residential building was contentious because of its impact on the amenities of the buildings around the edge of rhe block, and on the character and setting of the famous Eagle pub and its yard. The raised fly rower and plant room would have a wider impact on city views, particularly from King's College. A very good model was supplied showing the scheme in relation to the whole city block, and this provided a Gasis for the ensuing 3-dimensional chess as we negotiated the size of the College accommodation down ro reduce its impact on rhe neighbouring buildings (the model was amended several times). The model could nor allow accurate assessment of the impact of the fly rower on the wider views; we asked for posts to be erected to indicate the additional height, and comparison drawings were then provided to show the likely impact on important views. The scheme has been approved, subject to very strict conditions on the design of rhe fly rower and plant room within the approved volume. These schemes were all expensive and prestigious, but have lessons for normal Conservation Area work. The Downing Library highlighted the problems of obtaining adequate information to allow proper assessment of an application. In retrospect, the applications should probably not have been accepted as submitted, but the inadequacy of the information provided was only fully evident on site inspection. The balloon exercise was helpful but costly in staff time, dependent on weather conditions, and while useful within the department did not allow on-site assessment by consulcees and the public. The timber posts on the theatre fly-rower were a similar 'one-off, but timed to allow assessment by the Council's Listed Buildings Panel. What would be required in these and similar cases to allow effective assessment, and public consultation, is the erection of timber posts, at the expense of the applicant for the duration of the consultation period, to show the location and outline of a proposed building, and allow its impact from all viewpoints. This may seem an extreme (and expensive) suggestion, but it is standard practice in Switzerland for both complete buildings and additions, Would it be so expensive here if it saved long delays as planning authorities tried to obtain adequate information, and not only in relation to Conservation Area and listed building issues (just think of all those neighbour impact arguments which could be clarified!)? John Preston is with Cambridge City Council. CONTEXT 36
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=