One of her commenters even called it "architecturally moribund"!
This is City Hall earlier this morning with part of the Christmas Market in front of it.As it cannot defend itself (and lamentably, the majority of Norwich residents hold equally philistine views on it) I am forced to leap, somewhat pedantically and boringly, to its defence.
Here's what I wrote in Joy's comment box yesterday (you can really tell I couldn't think of anything to post about today, can't you?):
"Oh, Joy. You really must go inside and explore. The place is an Art Deco masterpiece!
First up: Nikolaus Pevsner (THE MAN where architectural history is concerned) described this as “the foremost English public building between the wars”, and rightly so.
In an era of austerity it was proposed to build a “national monument” and after fierce competition between the country’s architects, Atkinson, James and Robert-Pierce won the commission and gave us this magnificent, almost brutal masterpiece, glaring across the marketplace at the splendid Norman castle on the opposite promontory.
It has the longest balcony in England (which was used to glorious effect at the recent Remembrance Day Service) and the bell (known as Great George) in the austere yet beautiful clock tower has the deepest tone of any in East Anglia.
On the down side, Hitler greatly admired it and intended it as a seat of government should the Nazis manage to invade.
But it is inside where the building truly shines.
Enter through the monumental bronze doors - depicting Norwich history - and you are in an art deco wonderland. Fabulous rooms with marble and bronze detailing and stunningly realised sculptures abound.
City Hall is a much maligned building in a Norwich obsessed with its - admittedly glorious - mediæval past, but is has its own serene beauty and I love it."
And I'm an Architect … so there!
Anyhoo … I was meandering about the city as it is such a lovely day and I found that the streets all around the centre and the mediæval marketplace have been transformed into a Christmas Market.
Very festive, but how come all the fruit doesn't roll down St. Peters' Hill? I couldn't figure that one.
And (sorry, Joy; I know you want to post this, too) Royal Arcade is all festive, too.
I don't know … I'm beginning to feel my grinch-gland itching. We may well have some sweary Scrooge-fest posts closer to the event.
11 comments:
Joy is right..it is rather ugly on the outside (my opinion and hers)It looks like some of the many building we have in Washington DC rather square and dull.
I can't wait for your scoogie post dive...bring em on!!!
To employ one of the most overused clichés out there: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some people really like the plain lines and simplicity. Some folks think that Ranch style houses are beautiful. I'm not one of them, but to each his own.
To me, the city hall building and square are a lot nicer to look at than many other locations that are considered magnificent works of architecture. There is nothing worse than a institution/prison building construction. You see far too much of it in the States.
Slide into your grinching boots, Dive. I love it when you go all ranty!
I propose coffee and bile on Saturday in order to set the mood for the festering season.
I like City hall too.
Contrast is important.
England always does this to me. I start feeling all Dickensish. I look for Tiny Tim to come out of door spaces, held by his loving father and wishing "God Bless Us, Everyone!"
And, wow...Hitler sitting in that beautiful place with his blowsy friend, Eva? Not a pretty thought, eh?
I like cottages, myself. Anything that looks quaint and small will do. Of course, I live in what looks to be a knock off of Marcia Brady's house, so I am not known for my taste....
Hurrah for Great George. I guess I must have heard him, but never knew his name. And hurrah for the encylopaedia that is your head.
Now don't get upset - but the people who appreciated the "architecture, the strength and the beauty" of city hall seemed to be, er, well into their 60's and up :p
But you know what they say - beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I suppose, it's ok that you find it pretty and I don't :D
You were in the city today??? I was there, too! You should have said. We ought to exchange mobiles. But my photos will be a bit colourful. I'm saving my photos for a later date - that's when I'm enjoying powder-fine white sand and aqua blue water in tropical Philippines!
And yes, it was capitalism at its best. And you know what, I love it! People should have the freedom to trade. And others should have the sense that just because the vendors are French, that doesn't mean their macarons will be edible!
See ya,
joy
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Nope, i'm with you Dive; it's a grand, regal looking building, looking down on most others. Not pretty at all, but it has import and stands proud and is now dec'd out with glitter. What better?
Rich: It is deliberately austere. It was designed as a piece with the war memorial that sits in front of it at the top of the marketplace as a national monument after the Great War. Inside, though, it is like the Chrysler Building; Art Deco heaven.
Fresh: Thanks. My grinching boots are ready and waiting.
Phil: We'll have to see. The thing that sets off my Christmas rants is the day the coffee shop starts playing Christmas muzak. We've been lucky so far.
Maria: check out the oldest posts in my Norwich labels in the sidebar if you want a real Dickensian wallow. Mediæval houses and cobbled lanes aplenty.
The Encyclopædia Profanica? Hoorah indeedy.
Hee hee, Joy. Make that 49 and up and you'll be spot on.
Yes, I was in the city yesterday but I am the only person in the world who doesn't have a mobile phone. Check my rants on the subject to discover why.
I didn't try the macarons, but the garlic and the cheeses are good, as is the Corsican wild boar ham. If it's not raining too much on Saturday I may well buy a load more stinky foodstuffs.
And thank you for the reminder of your sunny Christmas. Grrr!
Lynn: It is - as Phil says - a nice contrast with the two mediæval sides of the market square and the Georgian buildings on the opposite side.
And it echoes the massive square Norman keep of the castle on its mound. If you stand at the door of city hall you look down over the market and then along a boulevard to the opposite hill with the castle standing proudly on top. It's quite spectacular.
"Grinch gland?" But it really does look festive, and I didn't see one piece of purple plastic to tacky things up.
Your city hall sounds wonderful. I'll have to post a picture of ours, if you want to see something hideous. I'll wait until dark so all you can see are the giant Christmas bells that are lit in green and red lights just above where the police cars park.
Hee hee, Robyn, Thank you for putting into my head the lovely image of police cars tearing through the streets with Christmas bells instead of sirens.
Cool!
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