The Portsmouth Society - News
| News | Tricorn as an Inspiration | |
| Earlier news | In 2003, the world-famous architect, Daniel Liebeskind, congratulated Portsmouth
on possessing 'this gem of the 1960s'. In his book Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs published by the City Of Portsmouth In 1972, the distinguished architectural historian and co-author of the Hampshire volume of Pevsner's Buildings of England, wrote this about the Tricorn: "In form it is a romantic piece of 'concrete sculpture' on a huge scale ... The shape of the Tricorn as seen from the road to the north-west suggests allusions both to an Arabic city and to an oil refinery, expressed in the medium of concrete. The effects of the horizontal 'trays' of car parking space separated by dark space are dramatically exploited as are the concrete driveways up the round towers at the angles. The main building is massively chunky in form, and the irregular skyline is punctuated by round-topped turrets…" Some years later he wrote: "Looking again at the building ... I realise what a superb piece of architectural massing it is - with the varied skyline and elevations in the main part of the structure; the dramatic rounded shelving on the[ multi-storey car park; and the spiral approach to the car parking. . . If only the building were painted in white . . its wonderful sculptural form would be even more emphasised". Action Now If you made a video, film, painting or other art work about the Tricorn, went to the clubs and pub, lived in the flats or worked or traded there, please let us know as soon as possible. Centros Miller have agreed to fund a Tricorn Fest, provided it does not endanger their proposals! We believe it should be on site, to celebrate all the diverse things it means to people. John Thomson told us of a film which won the 1993 BFI award, shown at Sundance Festival; there are TV programmes and videos which we are tracking down. Lighting the Tricorn excitingly could have an enormous impact on its image. Jeannie Kerswell is designing hoardings, paid for by Centros Miller. David Adjaye, architect on Dreamspaces BBC3 TV show about it, has been asked for what we really need: good images of how it could look. Since we discovered at our meeting with Centros Miller et al that there is no plan for what is to replace the Tricorn - only its destruction - we have increased our efforts to keep the building and modify it to today's needs. In response to Celia's letters published in the Architects' Journal and Building Design we have received several offers of help to design something that reuses, extends or modifies it. Architects Mick Morris, Kate Mackintosh and George Finch are both redesigning the Tricorn, to meet the uses the developers intend, retaining particularly the car park, north spiral ramp and seven storey trays and adding housing, with shops at ground level. We will submit these proposals to the developers. Mick is working in conjunction with graphic designer Tim McGinley who is to produce a virtual model of the Tricorn as a design tool, record, and as a setting for gameshows. We need to understand the economics and use the sustainability arguments for reuse of existing fabric. Chapman Taylor are designing a shopping centre called Princess Hey in Exeter with an oval multi-storey car park which looks very like the Tricorn! Do please respond to the invitation in the Northern Quarter consultation leaflet to "Have your say", at least by simply ticking the Yes or No boxes (no stamp needed). Even more important, please write to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1 5DH supporting our application asking the minister to spotlist it. Even if it is listed, the Tricorn still can be modernised. |