10 Comments

• At 2009.11.15 21:41, Cassandra said:
  

  Wow, thats… weird. There was that dirt hole there for so long that it seems strange to have this modern building in it’s place.

  Do you think that the Haymarket area has lost some of it’s small town appeal now that this huge building is here and the new Haymarket Metro Station is just off the main pedestrian street? Of course, you could look at it as finally bringing the area up to speed on modernizing the look, finally making it seem like the large city that it is, too.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.15 23:55, alf stone said:
  

  I like the picture but I hate the building, it has no character, it is just another box of concrete and glass. Compare it with the previous pictures of the Grand Hotel and decide which you you prefer. How many of these monstrosities do they have to pull down before they realise that the beautiful city of Newcastle needs new buildings that blend in with the past? Why couldn’t they have taken a leaf out of the book of the architects of the Monument Mall and produced a building that was modern but didn’t jar with traditional Newcastle?

  End of rant.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.16 01:21, mrs K said:
  

  I like modern, state of the art, inside and old fashioned outside. Newcastle never was a big city in my eyes. You could walk across the whole lot in half an hour, providing you did not bump into friends and acquaintenances - which never happended - you always bumped into someone.

  Beth is it morning sickness, or what - some good old fashoined remedies around, like a cup of weak tea with two or three arrowroot bikkies. We want to be worried and share with you.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.16 17:36, ash said:
  

  Big changes have come to downtown Newcastle. The university will certainly benefit from the updated, state of the art facility for their students. Perhaps the more modern feel of the exterior is in keeping with the rest of the university campus? I am sorry to learn the Haymarket is no longer. I think Cassandra is right, the area may have lost some of it’s small town appeal and I agree with Alf why not produce a buildings with some of the same architectual elements of the past.
  Feel better, Beth!

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.16 19:57, PJF said:
  

  Modern and old can live side-by-side. I was just recently in Chicago and was left absolutely speechless by the architecture there, and how new and (relatively) old blend so well.
  Some newer buildings have an almost disposable feel to them; this goes for buildings where I live now (Toronto). The contrast between this building and the Grand Hotel is a striking one - any bets on which of the two buildings will be most likely to still be standing in 50 years time?

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.17 23:09, Beth said:
  

  Cassandra - I have to say I’ve never felt that the Haymarket area has any kind of small town appeal :) I don’t think it’s any different to how it ever was to be honest! Only that the Haymarket station is now far more pleasant than it was before (although still not finished - bare plaster still in places) but it’s still the same - it’s still the area with the highest concentration of students. And like Mrs K says, Newcastle isn’t a large city - never has been, never will be, I don’t think. The most important thing about this building to me (leaving its design aside; I don’t dislike it as much as Alf does, but it’s not exactly a demonstration of the best of modern architecture, is it?) is that the university has a main entrance, a main contact point. I’ve always felt it’s missing that. I realise not many unis do seem to have something like that, but there you go.

  Alf - to be fair, they didn’t pull down a lovely building to make this :) It IS a travesty that they pulled down the old Brewery buildings, but I think that’s the only thing that’s been pulled down while I’ve been here that really hurt to see. There were rumours that they were going to be made into a museum - that would have been a much better plan, even if it only saved some of the buildings. Ah well, who are we to argue with progress? (sniff, wipes away a tear)

  ah mrs k! you are lovely. i haven’t wanted to talk much about the pregnancy on here (or even on my other blogs really, i’m not sure why, although i have set up a private blog - let me know if you’re interested in reading) but no it’s not morning sickness. I got away very lightly there, just some queasiness, but i’ve been exhausted and stressed the last few days and have needed to give myself a break. i’m not very good at looking after myself but have finally realised that i do actually need to slow down. luckily everyone around me (both in work and out) have been telling me this for ages (i am VERY lucky in my workplace), so hopefully they will all be understanding.

  ash, no, funnily enough most of the rest of the university buildings (although by no means all) are lovely old brick buildings! so from that point of view it doesn’t really fit in. maybe it creates a bridge between the 60s modernism of the civic centre and the Grand Hotel next door…?! I’m not really sure :)

  PJF, i’ll be surprised if i come back in 50 years time and either of these are missing!! i think they’ll both last. maybe the new one just needs to wear in for a decade or so? Having said that, i think the law courts look pretty dated now, so maybe that won’t work….

  just a note - does anyone remember the old Odeon round here? My lovely husband can’t remember exactly where it was. Was it the Northern Stage building - has it been knocked down - or something else???

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.17 23:40, mrs K said:
  

  No, I do not remember and Old Odeon, but I do remember the Haymarket Cinema, which had ’sofa seats’ for courting couples in the back two rows. I also remember a variety theatre in the Haymarket as well, but cannot for the life of me remember its name.

  Beth thank you for your kind offer, but I don’t like to intrude.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.19 00:21, Beth said:
  

  The Haymarket Cinema is what he means I think! He thought it was an Odeon, but if it wasn’t that might explain why I can’t find anything. Tyne Bridge Publishing have a book of old Newcastle cinemas - I’ve put myself down on the waiting list at the Library :)

  Whereabouts was it Mrs K?

  You wouldn’t be intruding - but I realise people already have plenty to read so it’s entirely up to you :)

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.19 16:06, Dave said:
  

  In my day it was the ABC:

  http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3089/

  Take it easy Beth -
  Dave

  [Reply]
• At 2009.11.19 21:36, Beth said:
  

  Dave - THANK YOU!!! That’s the one!

  I will get him to look at that link properly when we have more time :)

  [Reply]