Gabriela gazes up at the top of the Bigod Tower, Britain's first flat-roofed porch extension.
Nobody's been able to see this properly since the 1700s but we're changing that. Where I'm standing is in the upcoming, glass-walled Education Centre atop what was the old 1960s block (currently being smashed to bits for which HUZZAH!); Gabriela is floating æthereally in the air just outside.
Hokay, so she's actually standing on some scaffolding and leaning on a safety rail but were that not there she'd be floating somewhat æthereally … or falling with a scream … er …
Betwixt us and the keep, one floor down will be a spiffy glass-roofed atrium so visitors will be able to see the east keep wall and the Bigod Tower in all their glory once more.
While we're here, let's nip up on the roof and see what we can see …
Quelle surprise: it's Norwich Cathedral.
This is from the south-west; I usually see it from the east end out of my office windows.
…and here's my office from the castle keep roof.
An award-winning 1969 Brutalist "masterpiece" overlooking the river and Pull's Ferry. I'll be moving out of at the end of the month as it needs a complete overhaul which will take at least a year.
The temporary office we're renting is only a two-minute walk from the castle which should make things a whole lot easier for my creaky old hips. It also has the unheard of luxuries of heating and cooling! No more scarves, woolly hats, thermals, lap-blankets and hot-water bottles in the winter and the ability to breathe in the summer.
When we - eventually - move back those amazing things will have been added to our old office. I can't wait! In the meantime, look out for more Norwich Castle updates.
4 comments:
Wow, Gabriela has an awesome job! Imagine getting to float up in space and see such an amazing structure. The detailing is really wonderful, especially around the windows. And how cool that there will be a glass-walled area where this cool view will be accessible to all. And that's a spectacular view of Norwich Cathedral from the roof. Fun that you can see your office from there too. Glad they are upgrading your office (No heat? Unreal!) and providing you with a temporary space so close to the castle.
It's a gorgeous building. What a great job you have. Er. Except in the office, in the winter. My god, what are they thinking? I wouldn't work in an unheated office even in Los Angeles!
Poor Gabriela is currently fuming at our dumb government. She wants to visit her parents this Christmas but the Tories have put the Dominican Republic on their Red List (as they share the island with Haiti) even though there are virtually no Covid cases there.
It's pretty autumnal here at the mo, so it's plug-in fan heaters and thick woolly jumpers all round. We're outta here in November though; it'll be weird working in a heated office.
Erhm ... How were the Bosses ever convinced that the "masterpiece" could be renovated to include such modern "conveniences" as heating and AC? And will the birds finally get double-paned windows to crash into? After all, what's the point of up-to-date HVAC w/o sufficient insulation?
Post a Comment