Coles Corner 50 years ago

[BrianE]

I was reading the article in last night's Star about Cole's Corner. Does anyone know the reason why the building was demolished so soon after the move to Barkers Pool?

[david weston]

It's called 'change for the sake of change' Brian, not forgetting the profit motive. We are in the grip of those who regard iconic buildings, loved by generations, as being a link to a past and a continuity they seem to despise. The same breed being responsible for the creation of the concrete monstrosities of the 60's and 70's which are now largely hated and demolished. Not for them the appreciation of difficult, ornate stonework lasting for centuries, theirs is the architecture of 'Brutalism' and un-appealing simplicity, including their dominating corporate structures in glass and aluminium which are international, not national, in style to meet their globalist, one world ideals. Let's face it, with today's architecture you could be in any city in the world rather than recognising the unique national styles each region once had.

[Texas]

Amen to that David.

[Elwood]

And another "Amen" to that.

[Falls]

It's called 'change for the sake of change' Brian, not forgetting the profit motive. We are in the grip of those who regard iconic buildings, loved by generations, as being a link to a past and a continuity they seem to despise. The same breed being responsible for the creation of the concrete monstrosities of the 60's and 70's which are now largely hated and demolished. Not for them the appreciation of difficult, ornate stonework lasting for centuries, theirs is the architecture of 'Brutalism' and un-appealing simplicity, including their dominating corporate structures in glass and aluminium which are international, not national, in style to meet their globalist, one world ideals. Let's face it, with today's architecture you could be in any city in the world rather than recognising the unique national styles each region once had.

 

Hi,

 

It was in pretty bad shape at the end of Coles occupancy (1963). If you remember, the china department was on the top floor - under a sort of sky light. You almost had to tiptoe across the floor or all the fixtures and dishes would start swaying and rattling. Even back then, the building never really had the necessary emergency exits or met the fire code.

 

Having said that, I agree some of these old structures can be rehabilitated. You might recall the old YMCA building at the top of Fargate (between Norfolk Row and the Yorkshire Bank Building) Here they kept the façade, supporting, it with a steel structure, while they gutted and rebuilt the inside.

 

Regards

[Elmambo]

It's called 'change for the sake of change' Brian, not forgetting the profit motive. We are in the grip of those who regard iconic buildings, loved by generations, as being a link to a past and a continuity they seem to despise. The same breed being responsible for the creation of the concrete monstrosities of the 60's and 70's which are now largely hated and demolished. Not for them the appreciation of difficult, ornate stonework lasting for centuries, theirs is the architecture of 'Brutalism' and un-appealing simplicity, including their dominating corporate structures in glass and aluminium which are international, not national, in style to meet their globalist, one world ideals. Let's face it, with today's architecture you could be in any city in the world rather than recognising the unique national styles each region once had.

 

Whilst there is a deal of truth if what you say and there is no doubt our Council and others have done and continue to do much damage to our heritage, you are speaking with the benefit of hindsight. It is important to place the sixties in their correct context.

You must remember that people had lived through the thirties and through WWII- times of comparative hardship which continued into the fifties. When finally things began to pick-up in the late fifties and early sixties and people had money to spend, they wanted a new start. Out went the old furniture to be replaced with G plan style, plain clean Scandinavian style was all. Door were flushed with hardboard. Out went the old dark brown or green paint - in came white etc.

The sixties building style and building boom was an extension of this. It was welcomed after decades of gloom. It was not necessarily about profit or exploitation then. With hindsight we see that little sixties architecture has aged with dignity. May be you could call it a failure or may be society failed but remember it was all about creating a brave new world.

[david weston]

I can agree with you on interior choices moving away from the drab colours and styles of earlier periods, and well remember the impact Barry Bucknall had with his DIY TV programmes, but here we are talking not about the obvious need for re-building at the time, but the direction it took. It was not evolutionary ( a gradual development of existing, national styles ), but totally revolutionary, with its Blitz-like imposition of Soviet 'brutalist' styles overnight. Remember that some MP's and members of local councils, including Sheffield Council, had been to Russia to inspect such blocks at the time. Now, in the past there has certainly been such diversions from the general, national styles, with examples such as Art Deco buildings ( one example being on Abbeyfield Road and many to be seen on the 'Poirot' TV series ), but these were insignificant in number and impact. The 1960's was a time for necessarily massive developments in social housing nationwide, developments which were to change the landscapes, and the question has to be asked 'Why was this alien style triumphant over the rejected, 'British' styles submitted in the competitive clamour for a piece of the development cake ?'