VAF up for architecture gong (From Essex County Standard)
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VAF up for architecture gong
5:20pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News
VAF up for architecture gong
THE Visual Arts Facility has been nominated for a top architecture award.
Firstsite’s multi-million pound building has been shortlisted in the regional Royal Institute of British Architects awards.
Often labelled the “Golden Banana”, the VAF is up against 18 other buildings for the East region award.
The buildings will now be assessed by a panel of judges, with the winner announced on Wednesday June 12.
Comments(22)
Dazza2009
says...
7:01pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Who wanted it? not that many? Massively over budget, major failings plus it has been released in the gazette that it has been a success with 170,000 visitors... that equates to about 465 people per day without it being closed.
Everyone I have talked to about it that have visited the VAF say it is a dead venue... I think is it just the staff going in & out a lot so the counter shows more???
Barside1
says...
9:20pm Thu 21 Mar 13
We have an average of around 675 people per day for the months of September, October, November and December 2012.
As yet, as far as I am aware, Firstsite have not released this data to the press and media.
I wonder why not?
This is an interesting subject that a few of us are working on.
An increase in visitor numbers after reducing the opening hours is very difficult to fathom.
I requested that Arts Council England should seek verification of any data released by Firstsite after the first 12 months.
There were a fair number of people going into the building for the 'Church Service' on Sunday morning.
The latest show by Richard Hughes is ok - but it's sparse in the extreme, however, having said that, it's probably best viewed when there are not too many folk around.
The best thing about the VAF is the good nature and spirit of some of the younger staff members and the influx of students who hang out there.
Back to data.
I am assured that Firstsite staff do not enter the building at the main entrance, and as such, are not included in visitor data.
It has also been pointed out to me that daily visitor totals are 'adjusted' by a factor of minus 3% to allow for deliveries etc.
Hamiltonandy
says...
10:32pm Thu 21 Mar 13
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So depressing when you look over the abandoned bus station, derelict waiting rooms and the crumbling St James/.Roman House. Hitler caused less damage to Colchester than this Council with their "cultural quarter" delusions.
Hamiltonandy
says...
11:05pm Thu 21 Mar 13
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The VAF has negligible national significance and is ignored by national media. The Colchester Council say Firstsite has created lots of viable "cultural businesses" and are doing important "outreach work". Untrue claims that do not justify £1.1million of public money. Why do the Mercury Theatre and Colchester Arts Centre have their funding cut to prop up the failed project blocking up the bus park?
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We have homeless people offered unfit council accommodation and a rapidly expanding Food bank. We don't have spare council funds to waste on "iconic" white elephants. When will our deluded councillors face reality and put the interest of the public first? Let the Art Council prop up the VAF, they wanted it, they can have it!
PROOFREADER
says...
11:33pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Boris
says...
12:07am Fri 22 Mar 13
PROOFREADER wrote:Yes, that photo was clearly taken soon after the VAF opened to the public, so no wonder there was a good crowd, on a pleasant September day.
Looks like an old photo. People standing outside watching buses come and go was a regular occurence.
And the BBC arts correspondent, who reviewed the VAF in the Culture Show a few days after it opened, pointed out that the most interesting part of his visit was the view of the buses manoeuvring in the adjacent bus station. People will miss it when it's gone, he said.
Boris
says...
12:16am Fri 22 Mar 13
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And while I agree with most of what Andy says, the VAF is not hideous. It is an attractive building, but hopelessly impractical, pretty much useless in fact, except for the auditorium and the toilets. A folly.
It is like the Guggenheim in Bilbao: magnificent to look at, but utterly underwhelming when you go inside.
And of course, unlike the Guggenheim, it is in the wrong place.
Such a shame that our crass councillors foisted this thing upon us.
super waluigi
says...
7:11am Fri 22 Mar 13
The title and its contents are about the building going up for a top regional award for architecture, not visitor numbers etc.
I happen to think much like Boris that it is a great building to look at from the outside. The fact that it is not flat pack like our football stadium is probably the reason.
If it wins the award there will be more angry people in Colchester than happy. It that is what's really sad.
hughie-s
says...
7:20am Fri 22 Mar 13
Boris wrote:Where is it is you can't really see the building to best effect, should have been at the Hythe where the business park is being built. Looking down from the Uni, with an unobstructed view, I think it would have looked impressive, until of course you went inside.
Congratulations to the Gazette for correctly calling the VAF the VAF, which is what everyone calls it.
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And while I agree with most of what Andy says, the VAF is not hideous. It is an attractive building, but hopelessly impractical, pretty much useless in fact, except for the auditorium and the toilets. A folly.
It is like the Guggenheim in Bilbao: magnificent to look at, but utterly underwhelming when you go inside.
And of course, unlike the Guggenheim, it is in the wrong place.
Such a shame that our crass councillors foisted this thing upon us.
Will they be putting the drafty shed in the bus street up for next years award?
Justice79
says...
9:14am Fri 22 Mar 13
super waluigi wrote:"It that is what's really sad"
Is everyone in Colchester illiterate????
The title and its contents are about the building going up for a top regional award for architecture, not visitor numbers etc.
I happen to think much like Boris that it is a great building to look at from the outside. The fact that it is not flat pack like our football stadium is probably the reason.
If it wins the award there will be more angry people in Colchester than happy. It that is what's really sad.
Seems the illiteracy may be catching.
It won't win the nomination merely acts as good pr, a press release is parped out to the gazette and we are all supposed to think that the nomination for a meaningless award somehow justifies squandering millions on a building that few wanted and even fewer use.
hughie-s
says...
9:26am Fri 22 Mar 13
http://tinyurl.com/d
2fkeof
Barside1
says...
10:55am Fri 22 Mar 13
We were nearly run over there yesterday morning by a van reversing quickly out of the side entrance to The Minories.
I'm not sure if Lewis Gardens is a road or a walkway, it seems to serve as both.
Well, either way, perhaps there should be some kind of pavement there.
I noticed this morning that the 10 mile per hour traffic sign is actually located out of view of anyone driving a vehicle - it's behind that hideous fence that borders the east side of Lewis Gardens.
Jess Jephcott
says...
12:49pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Hamiltonandy
says...
9:50pm Fri 22 Mar 13
someguyoverthere
says...
10:08pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Barside1 wrote:I drive in there a few times a day it's a great place to turn round to get on queen street
A word of warning for anyone walking towards the VAF along Lewis Gardens.
We were nearly run over there yesterday morning by a van reversing quickly out of the side entrance to The Minories.
I'm not sure if Lewis Gardens is a road or a walkway, it seems to serve as both.
Well, either way, perhaps there should be some kind of pavement there.
I noticed this morning that the 10 mile per hour traffic sign is actually located out of view of anyone driving a vehicle - it's behind that hideous fence that borders the east side of Lewis Gardens.
Boris
says...
12:00am Sat 23 Mar 13
Those Tories and Lib Dems who voted for the change of location and the present beautiful but stupid design have a lot to answer for.
Assimilation
says...
12:55am Sun 24 Mar 13
"Perhaps a little early, as the project is not yet finished."
Well they better get a move on, It`s only got a 25 year life span and a third plus of that has gone.
And Firstsite is a good name for it as it makes you want to throw up when you get your first sight of it
Red Tape 2
says...
4:28pm Tue 26 Mar 13
Catchedicam
says...
10:26am Wed 27 Mar 13
It has no appeal to ordinary people, and the building is so out of context where it is, in the university grounds for instance it would have some gravitas, where it is, hidden away, it is merely a tin shed unfit for purpose. As an aside the VAF was foisted on Colchester by Andrea Hill, who wanted "striking modern architecture" no matter the cultural or financial cost. The ruling Tory group went along with it and were swept up in the concept despite the reservations expressed by some council officers and Lib Dems.
mechanic7
says...
11:33pm Wed 27 Mar 13
Red Tape 2
says...
8:25pm Thu 28 Mar 13
jim_bo says...
5:32pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Horrifically over budget, falling apart and massively unfit for purpose as the gallery space that I useable I minuscule.