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Join us for an West London extravaganza as we explore the iconic Trellick Tower and delve into the world of brutalist architecture. Our guest, Sam Gerson, is not only Ben's school friend but also his former housemate of 8 years. We discuss the history, significance, and unique features of Trellick Tower, a symbol of brutalist design that has left a lasting mark on London's skyline. Sam also takes us on a journey to another remarkable alternative landmark: Paddington Station. This is an episode for the architecture lovers as we chat about the station's rich history, architectural beauty, and its connection to transportation and literature. We hope you enjoy!You can now buy us a coffee if you enjoy our episodes - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/benjaminsbritainWe'd love you to subscribe and rate us on when you listen to your favourite podcasts. Follow us at @benjaminsbritainpod on Instagram for social content and updates.
Marie Carlisle is CEO and co-founder of social enterprise (and Material Matters exhibitor), Goldfinger. The organisation opened its doors at the foot of West London's Trellick Tower in 2013 and makes high end furniture from wood – that has often been reclaimed or ‘treecycled' – in its workshop. Not only that but it has a showroom and cafe, as well as an academy that teaches marginalised young people the craft of wood working through its apprenticeship programme. It is a fascinating and, I think, important place.In this episode we talk about: how Trellick Tower shaped the business; making waste aspirational; bridging North Kensington's social divide; why Goldfinger works with wood; the relationship between wood and wellbeing; the importance of ‘treecycling'; collaborating with the likes of Arup and Tom Dixon; her fascination with food and setting up the cafe; the once a month community meal; how the pandemic changed the People's Kitchen model; working with young people in the academy; how the social enterprise has changed over the past decade; Goldfinger's future. Our thanks go to the headline sponsor for this series of the podcast – and the Material Matters 2023 fair – the brilliant lighting specialist, Bert Frank. For more details go to: bertfrank.co.uk And to register for the Material Matters fair, which runs from 20-23 September at Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/material-matters-2023-tickets-591491014547Support the show
New office plans threaten to flatten Powell and Moya's landmark Museum of London; Government accused of collusion with industry over flammable cladding used at Grenfell; Lambeth Council shortlists three architects to clear away and redevelop the acclaimed Central Hill estate; Trellick Tower residents call on Kensington and Chelsea Council for meaningful co-design of new estate additions; And Open City launches the Academy of British Housing. This week Merlin speaks with Ella Jessel - features and investigations editor at the Architects Journal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The staggering scale of London's ‘golf belt' revealed, a redevelopment row erupts next to Ernö Goldfinger's iconic Trellick Tower, a fortnight of Extinction Rebellion climate protests target the City, and Croydon Council abandons its Westfield dream after a decade of disputes.Merlin gets the community perspective from Robin Hutchinson; activist and director of The Community Brain.As ever, listen, like, share, subscribe and this week complete our survey and tell us what you think.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects' Journal. If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Trellick Tower is a Grade II* listed tower block on Cheltenham Estate in Kensal Green which was designed in a Brutalist style by architect Ernö Goldfinger and opened in 1972. The base of the tower is renowned as a centre for urban arts and is another example of one of London's legal ‘Graffiti Halls of Fame', where graffiti artists can paint without the risk of arrest and, consequently, have a safe space to hone their skills. In the Autumn of 2020, it was revealed that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council were taking steps to implement a new development onto the grounds of the Trellick Tower which would leave the graffiti hall of fame at risk of destruction. In response to the plans, Anna Gudbrands created a documentary film, ‘Trellick: The Writing is on The Wall' highlighting the importance of both the tower and the Graffiti Hall of Fame.
Emmy the Great is the moniker of Hong Kong-born, British singer-songwriter, Emma-Lee Moss. Her latest album April was written four years ago, after a British Council residency to China and a trip back to Hong Kong. For most of her adulthood, Emma felt she had transcended living in the former British colony. So she was surprised that after her trip, she felt the pull to return there. As soon as the album was recorded, Emma left New York where she was residing at the time and moved back to Hong Kong. For three years, she made a life there with her partner and had a baby daughter. In 2019, after pro-democracy protests broke out and were followed by the Chinese government crackdown, they made the difficult decision to leave. This episode is about finding a sense of belonging between different worlds. Many thanks for making this possible—Emma for your care with words, and your precious time. Sally Hedberg at [PIAS] for all the support. Bella Union for permission to use songs from the albums Second Love and April. And BMG America for song usage on the albums First Love and Virtue. Additional thanks to Gareth Jones and Euan Hinshelwood for use of songs "Trellick Tower" and "Paper Forest."Songs featured: "Your Hallucinations," "Mid-Autumn," "Two Steps Forward," "We Almost Had A Baby," "Paper Forest," "Trellick Tower," "Swimming Pool," "Social Halo," "Dandelions/Liminal," "Writer," "Okinawa Ubud" and "Chang-E."To share your thoughts on this episode, email: celine.teoblockey@undertheradarmag.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The show started late the first we hear from the Paul James show is at 7:20 which is where this recording starts. Mark tells us about the South Side Dynamos who he saw at a gig at the Kings Head in Fulham. They sent a demo tape which was played the following week. There's a re-recorded version of the Thameside theme about 40 minutes in. Still catchy and memorable - who did record it? Paul tells us about a Thameside benefit disco at the Shepherd's Bush village Hall next Friday - entrance £1. Some of the Thameside crew had split off to form Hilltop Radio which started at 6pm and finished at 8pm. This left the Hilltop listeners a chance to retune and catch to the Intrepid Birdman Show! Technical stuff: Thameside were under pressure. The previous week they had had two transmitters confiscated by the authorities in a major sweep of London pirates which also resulted in Radio Invicta, JFM and Radio Zodiac going off air. In addition Bob and Dave had been caught. This was the first time that any members of the Thameside crew had been caught in almost 4 years of broadcasting. Hence the benefit show in the following week! The team were late setting off and changed where they were going to set up their equipment from Trellick Tower to the South Acton estate. There were also gale force winds which made putting the aerial up more difficult. The first and last hour was broadcast from cassette, the middle two from 1/4" reel to reel. Mentions for SR Frejec of Lettice Street and Dave Booth
Bettany takes a tour of 2 Willow Road in Hampstead with National Trust volunteer John Escolme. The house was built by Hungarian architect Ernö Goldfinger both as family home and manifesto of his Modernist ideals. Goldfinger is famous for designing Trellick Tower in West London to solve the post-war housing crisis. Despite its nadir in the 1970s when Trellick became known as ‘the tower of terror’, it’s now something of a cultural icon, although Erno never lived to see its rehabilitation. Bettany explores the way this remarkable tweed-wearing émigré brought the Bauhaus to Britain with Goldfinger’s biographer Nigel Warburton, and how at 2 Willow Rd, he paid homage to our Georgian architectural tradition in what is now considered to be a Modernist masterpiece. For more information about 2 Willow Rd, including opening times and dates, go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/2-willow-road See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The week after the incredibly successful Thameside Radio third birthday party in Chiswick. Bob isn’t there for the start of the show so Dave takes the reins, with a just few technical hitches. Alex and Sarah fill in with an early and extended news section. John Lennon had been shot in the preceding week so Alex does a tribute to him before Bob finally gets to the studio. The lonely hearts club is going strong with a request for box number 69c since a and b have already gone. We hear Rossmore Road by Barry Andrews - yaay! Although the tape runs out at the end of the Bob Edwards show you might remember that the broadcast finished unexpectedly during the Intrepid Birdman Show because the Thameside Radio transmitter in Trellick Tower was raided by the DTI. Mentions for: Seth of Hounslow. Tim, Tony, Ralph, Hugh Jars, Lar Jars, Richard and Mike. Andrew Simpson, After the Fire. Chris Brown, John O’Hannon. Michael of Chalfont. Detores and Andrew. Paul Byrne, Francis King and Jeannie, Tahiti Syndrome. Keele University. Samantha from Holland Park. John from N15; Mandy Squires, Lynn Squires. Krishna and Stephen King.
Mobilising London's housing histories: the provision of homes since 1850
Institute of Historical Research Mobilising London's housing histories: the provision of homes since 1850 Session 5(a): Council housing and perceptions Listing social housing: Trellick Tower and Edenham Way by Erno Goldfinger Emma Dent Coad ...
Part of an extended broadcast from Thameside Radio 90.2 with Sarah taking calls. It’s so busy that we even get to hear Sarah answering the phone on air with a call from Howard for Dave, Ian Lawrence and Bernie.At this point Thameside Radio had installed a permanent transmitter in Trellick Tower and set up a live Band III link so could broadcast as long as they wanted. (Band III used to be home to low quality 405 line TV but there were a lot of clear channels. It’s now used for DAB.)The phone lines are very busy with an awful lot of dedications. Here are just a few Danny and Carrel in Swanley, Carl, Bruce Bill Dave and Anna; Andrew of Brentwood for Adam, Class 4D and Brentwood County High School; Bob Lawrence, The Royal Free Network, CMC motorcyclists, Mick of Carshalton, Carshalton 6th form, Neil Chris Arnold & Kevin. Rookie for his wife Lynne, Jim Jim, Gary, Jane, Christopher. Steve for Alex and Bamber; Alex for Rachel Inge Biddy and Rabbi; Liam Simon the quick brew kid Leon; Bamber for Susan, Alex, Amanda, the Tony Lloyd fan club, Ken of Brentwood for his mum and dad on their 31st anniversary, Claire, Johnny, Stand and the fans, Dave and Mark; Jackie Rosemund and carol; Emily for Hillam and the outdoor cat Alan; John of Beckenham for Dave Dave Barry, Beryl, Kevin Ken; Dave for Steve Bruce Carl, Harrow Motorcycle Club; Nigel Richard Sharon Tracy; Andy Martin Trevor and Alan; Renata for Hilary; Stuart of Chiswick; Steve from Stevenage and wife Sharon; Jerry for Tony and his Revox, Roger and Stuart; Dave Nicholls of North Kensington for ; Jim Clark, Leona Resumworth 5X Elizabeth; Andy Dixon , Mill Hill School Larch Nervous Complaint; Pauline to Dan and Sharon; Chris of Highbury for John Richard and Sheila; Darren to Liam, Robert of Swanely to Jim and Pam; John of Beckenham; Bruce Perkins from Martin of Brentwood; Margaret in Byfleet. That's all the people mentioned in just 45 minutes. Now I remember why I don't include all the people mentioned in the show notes each week!
This extended show came from the Notting Hill Carnival - which was smaller and a little more edgy in 1982 than it is now. The main Thameside Transmitter was on top of Trellick Tower in the middle of Notting Hill while the lower roof (still 35 stories up) was used by the police to watch what was going on in the carnival. Of course there was no interference between the police walkie-talkies and the Thameside Radio setup but still - it must have been "interesting" for the engineers.
Bob announces that there is a surprise outside broadcast – listeners meet at the Star and Garter pub at the north end of Kew Bridge where they will be escorted to the OB site. Alex is running the OB at Kew Green which is linked back live to the studio. He is joined by Bob Edwards, Sarah and Dave when they’re not actually doing their shows. There are games and competitions including a race to a mystery phone box with 20 people in the box. There’s fabulous music too. The Intrepid Birdman has a live superquiz. Someone made it from Brentwood in Essex. Pretty much the other side of London!There is an article about a new pub cinema called “The Hollywood Greats” in Acton – There was a Thameside listener visit there a few months later. The airwaves were busy that night with superbeams – There was a radio mic linking from Kew Green to the studio near Kew Gardens station, then the the studio linked to the transmission site (Trellick Tower) and from Trellick the signal was broadcast all over London. Thameside Radio listeners at the Kew Green OB include: Steve from Hayes. Victor from Ascot. Bamber from West Acton. Ian Buzwell, Peter Buzwell. Renata (who fancies Tom). Matthew from Greenford. Hilary (and Jeanette). Someone with a Thameside Radio sticker in Park Drive Harrow. Walthamstow Swimming Club. Pete from QEC. Tommy Graney from St Marks School Hounslow. Tim who works at Jayes. George Wood from Latymer. The wonderful Incognito (who sent a demo tape) comprising Sarah Connor, Andy Francis, Andrew Gibbons, Ian Grimble and Greg Shepherd. Cindy, Penny, Grace and Belle. Mick Taylor (who writes occasional jingles).
This recording starts with a some of the ten minute "warmup" which Thameside Radio used to broadcast before the official 7pm start. The warmup originally formed part of the early broadcasts because the entire transmission setup was portable and needed setting up afresh every week. The 10 minutes of music before the 7pm start time provided a few moments to verify that everything was working perfectly. It would be used to align the link aerial, check power supplies, make sure the leads were plugged in properly and to check the tape player if the show was prerecorded. After a few months there was a permanent transmitter installation in Trellick Tower and fixed studios in Kew, Chiswick and Ealing so you could be sure that everything would come to life at the flick of a switch. But by then warmup had proven itself useful in catching listeners tuning over from Radio 1 charts just after (or before) the Number 1 record was played (lets face it - there are only so many times that you want to listen to "Mull of Kintyre" and 9 weeks at number 1 was just too much and 9 weeks of You're the One that I Want " is pushing it a bit too. Oh and don't get me started on "Bright Eyes" please! So the warmup stayed and the music was carefully chosen to catch people tuning away from the Radio 1 First half of a 3 hour show. If you have any other Thameside Radio recordings please get in touch or leave a comment.