Battlefield the Beautiful: April 2015

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Ouseburn Walk Part the Three

The final part of an early year check up on what has been happening in the Lower Ouseburn.

Some new developments – the Byker Bridge Housing Association apartments for one – are welcome. Lower down besides the infamous barrage, sustainable housing has created a blot on the landscape. Whatever the merits of the buildings as energy efficient dwellings, the architectural short comings are obvious, and at this date, somewhat puzzling. How did the plans get approved? Desperation might be the answer.

Sustainable 'architecture'

After all, the Council needs to generate a lot of income to pay the charges on the debt run up by the 6 million plus GBP Ouseburn Barrage.

Otherwise the photographs show why Ouseburn has been a wasting asset in this city. A wonderful combination of topography, industrial heritage and natural regeneration. It seems able to cope with whatever is thrown at it by those without eyes to see.

Link to photographic slideshow here.

WELCOME

I began this blog in order to have a say in the future of a piece of open ground close to my home in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Using this humble area of 'green space' with it's view across the city as a sounding board for thoughts I have had for most of my adult life about how our built and informal environment comes together; how the places where we live need to be cherished for what they are rather than disregarded for what they are not.

Now, in 2010, I am branching out to include other parts of the city where I live and use daily.

My approach is simply that of a reasonably intelligent spectator; one who may at times be plain wrong but, hopefully, more often just frustrated. Between those twins I hope also to record my affection for and draw attention to what is too little considered; the beauty of ordinary places.