Euston Arch may rise again as lost stones are recovered

Architects' Journal 21 September, 2009
by Meredith Hull

The Euston Arch Trust has revealed new plans for the forgotten landmark, including a nightclub, as lost stones are raised from an East London river

The Euston Arch, the largest Doric arch ever built, was constructed in 1837 was demolished 125 years later in 1962 despite a major public conservation battle.

Led by Dan Cruickshank in the early 1990s, a group of historians, architects and journalists founded the Euston Arch Trust following several episodes of 'One Foot in the Past' where Cruickshank tracked down the arch's remains.Read more

Top museums lose out in public spending squeeze

Evening Standard (online) 16 July 2009
by Joe Murphy, Political Editor

A series of major London arts projects face the axe in the public spending squeeze, including a new exhibition area for the British Museum.

An extension to Tate Modern and proposals for a national film centre on the South Bank are also among the schemes under threat.

A warning that money was running out was sounded by culture minister Barbara Follett, who said that the £22.5million promised to the £135 million British Museum scheme in December 2007 could no longer be guaranteed. "It's very much on my mind," she told the Times. "Both the Secretary of State and I are in discussions with them. It's a great idea and we would love to support it, but it's very difficult at the moment."

Ms Follett made clear that more big ticket investments could be kicked into the long grass and those deemed to be good for job creation were more likely to survive.

She said: "There are too many schemes bidding for too little money. There are several excellent schemes that will help with the economy, would be a stimulus and will create more jobs and wonderful visitor attractions. We just have to weigh them up."

The British Museum's Northwest development, which is intended to create more space for special collections, conservation and collections storage, has raised about two-thirds of the money needed, providing the Government does not withdraw its promised share. Building could start in the autumn.

A museum spokesman said it would be a "great disappointment if the funding that has been promised was then not forthcoming". The new building would also host major temporary exhibitions, such as the 2007 visit of the Chinese Terracotta Army.

Tate Modern has received the first instalment of a promised £50million towards a £215million brick and glass extension. More than half of the money pledged, amounting to a third of the cost, has come from Government.

The British Film Institute applied for £45million of government funding last year towards a planned £150million multi-screen film centre. It said it was "incredibly aware" the funding climate had changed although the institute believes it has a strong business case.

If the Government steps back from the projects, the venues would increasingly rely on private donors to fund the expansions. Britain's most senior civil servant today warned that there may be sweeping cuts in some Whitehall budgets to protect key programmes.

Sir Gus O'Donnell said the need for major plans in areas such as elderly care, obesity and climate change could mean deeper cuts in other departments.

Westminster Abbey to launch architectural competition

from Building Design 29 June 2009
by Anna Winston

Westminster Abbey is to launch an architectural competition to design a new £10 million corona for the roof of the building which will be built for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2013.

The competition is conditional on a positive response from a public consultation which was announced today (Monday June 29) by the dean of Westminster, John Hall.

The new corona would replace a small pyramid structure built in 1958 on top of the abbey's Lantern, after the building was damaged by an incendiary bomb during the second world war.Read more

Londoners get first look at police museum

from Evening Standard (online)
by Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent

A museum of London's policing history opened to the public for the first time today.

The "mini-museum" is taken from a huge collection of 15,000 artefacts of policing stored by Scotland Yard.

It is the first time that the capital has a police museum on permanent show to the public.

The exhibits are displayed at the Met's recruitment centre at the Empress State Building near Earl's Court.Read more

Architecture minister lays into unacceptable condition of West End theatres

from Building Design 19 June 2009
By Will Hurst, Ruth Bloomfield

Architecture minister Barbara Follett has attacked the state of London's historic theatres

Follett said world-class productions in the capital were being let down by unacceptable conditions endured by audiences.

Experts have called for a £250 million investment to bring them up to scratch.

"London theatres put on the best shows in the world: marvellous plays, actors, directors and staging," Follett told the Theatres Trust annual conference last week.Read more

Seven bridges for six boroughs become London's latest listed landmarks

English Heritage release 26 November 2008

Seven of London's bridges spanning over a hundred and forty years of Thames crossings were today (26 November 2008) listed by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, acting upon the advice of English Heritage.

Chelsea, Lambeth and Richmond Railway Bridges have all been listed at Grade II, whilst Cremorne, Hammersmith, Twickenham and Vauxhall Bridges have all been listed at, or upgraded to, Grade II*.

Announcing the listing of the bridges, which will give them greater protection against unsympathetic development, Andy Burnham said:Read more

Major restoration of Chiswick House gardens going ahead

English Heritage has welcomed a £7.6 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will enable an £11.7 million restoration scheme for Chiswick House gardens to go ahead.

The scheme, intended to return the gardens to a more historically authentic condition, has caused great controversy among local people, on the grounds that it will remove familiar features and affect much valued facilities within the gardens.Read more