St Ann's, Quayside
On the off chance I walked to look at St Ann's church on the Quayside. On the way I stumbled across St Ann's Close. It's an impressive example – and what's more, successful – example of post War architecture at scale; a planned estate of multi-storey living that in many other places didn't work, mostly discredited and demolished. Here however, it seems to have become a secret corner high above Ouseburn, hidden among trees.
What is inspiring has been the way the overall concept has been preserved and the clearly high building standards exe
mplified in fine brickwork, complete spall-free concrete, and intriguing walkways over head, linking angled housing blocks. The usual concomitants of other 'problem estates' – burnt rubbish, fly tipped domestic items and plain old household waste are entirely absent here.
In one corner an older survival from the 19th cum early 20th century has been artfully integrated into a recent scheme of apartments that would grace any city.
The trees planted at the time of building St Ann's Close have grown well. There is a sense of sylvan that also is rare in large scale developments. The whole plan seems to have produced in the fifty or so years since completion, a visionary harmony. That is something to celebrate and learn from.
Photo gallery here (off site link)
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