New Tower For Portsmouth?

The ongoing student population boom looks set to continue in Portsmouth with proposals for a new tower of 33 floors that will stand 100.8 metres tall if built, called The Blade. The development is being done for the University of Portsmouth who aim to replace the old Victoria Swimming Baths on Angelsea Road with accommodation for 600 students.

As well as the residential space, there will be an attached building that will offer six floors for educational use that directly bounds the southern part of Victoria Park, complete with a glazed façade that will provide a light man-made backdrop amongst the trees.

Aluminium cladding with a mixture of different finishes from reflective to matte feature on the sculpted angular tower helping make it look like a metallic prism rather than the usual poor quality post-modern designs that have come to be associated with much of the high-rise student housing built throughout the UK with their cheap panels and tiny windows.

The building also stands only a stones throw away from other high-rises, both existing and proposed – the completed Zurich House (due for redevelopment) and planned Number One Portsmouth are both set on the eastern side of Victoria Park.

Vintage Photography – Sunny Southsea

Big thanks to Khalid who sent over these vintage photographs scanned from The Images of Portsmouth (1993). We have a small selection so I’ll put one page up each week.

Love this first shot of the band stand on the common in the 1920s showing how the site was originally used before the Skatepark was built around it in the 70s. So many deckchairs, it must have been big business back then. It’s a shame they didn’t keep the bandstand as it was with the little steps and iron railing. It’s a little different NOW as Marcus’s ariel shot shows. Click the image to see the high res scan up close.

Vision for The Hard

“Establishing a strong role for The Hard as a distinctive city gateway and vibrant waterfront destination is a central component of the vision for the area.”

“Vision: to shape The Hard into a vibrant waterfront destination, building on its function as a key city gateway and its reputation as an area of historic character and charm. New passenger facilities, cultural opportunities and places to live, to work, to stay, to eat and to relax will enhance the experience of visitors and residents alike. The creation of a distinctive public realm will revitalise and transform the area.”

Overview details include, materials, architectural lighting, designing out crime, green infrastructures, conservation, cycling and so forth as well as proposals for individual areas including the long row of arches on Ordnance Row and opening galleries and cafes on Queen St & College St whilst maintaining all the original characteristics of some of the buildings.

Some pretty interesting proposals are available to view and read HERE.

Tags: Vision for The Hard

The Tricorn

It’s fair to say that we all loved The Tricorn outside of it’s it intent. A classic example of people reinventing architecture far beyond it’s original purpose. This short film doesn’t delve too deeply in to the many uses and inspirations The Tricorn had to offer, but it’s still a nice watch.

“An imaginative portrait of a futuristic concrete experiment of a shopping centre (‘the ugliest building in the world’ according to Prince Charles), built in the 1960s coastal town of Portsmouth, England. Loved or loathed, it developed a passionate cult following of artists and skateboarders but has now lost the battle for life.”

Directed by David Ferrone and Martin Fickling.

Edit: Strong Island reader Martin sent us this. The Tricorn lives on, in LEGO. Outstanding.

Tags: The Tricorn

Inside the Memorial

Due to possible damage due to the storm and the high winds it was possible to access the inside of the war memorial down on Southsea seafront the other day. I always though it was a solid structure but it turns out it is hollow with sunken foundations and access to the top. From the plaque inside, it looks like the ladder is for maintenance if there is a lightning strike (the top of the memorial has a huge copper globe).

No disrespect was meant by taking a very brief look inside, just architectural curiosity and finding out something not commonly known about a Southsea landmark.

Tags: War Memorial

Inside the Round Tower

The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth is an often visited landmark but few people get a look at what lies inside those walls. On Friday a few lucky members of The Solent Camera Club (on one of it’s Friday evening meets) were able to explore it’s cavernous interior including the brick arches, rusted cannons and stalactites.

Photos kindly supplied by Duncan Allan.

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Tags: Old Portsmouth, Round Tower

Square Tower Tours

The Square Tower in Old Portsmouth is one of the oldest parts of Portsmouth’s fortifications (built in 1494) and will have it’s second public open day of the summer on Wednesday 17th. Entry is free and the old doors are open from 4pm to 7pm. The next open day will be Wednesday 15th July.

For more information see www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk.

Tags: Old Portsmouth

Architecture Exhibition Open Evening

The Portsmouth University Architecture courses are having an exhibition of student work from across all years including projects that have seen students working with the local community, e.g. designs for a Health and Wellbeing Centre at St Francis Church, Leigh Park and other projects have included ideas for a seafront shelter, designs for a new fish market as well as a visitors centre.

The opening is on Friday 19th June at the Portland Building and the exhibition is open for the following week. For more information see the flyer below:

Tags: Portsmouth University