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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 25 July 2008

Fitzrovia’s identikit office blocks deserve demolition

• THE Charlotte Street Association (CSA) as accumulated a wonderful photographic archive of buildings in Fitzrovia past and present (Letters July 18).
Last weekend’s exhibition in Warren Street underscored that if more of Fitzrovia’s heritage is not to prematurely go then the CSA must change its approach.
The “unique character” of Fitzrovia stems from its historic buildings. The CSA is run by a core group of architects who apply their expertise to cherry-picking buildings which they consider to be of architectural merit for which they present arguments in favour of preservation.
There are old buildings in Fitzrovia which may not, to the professional architect, be of great architectural significance but which do fit in with the feel of Fitzrovia.
By contrast, modern architecture may technically be brilliant but not be appropriate in Fitzrovia.
Is Fitzrovia renowned for any of its modern architecture?
The CSA would do well to use their photographic archive to emulate the St James Conservation Trust who have established development guidelines: “modern materials” and “glass frontages” are “detrimental to the spirit” of St James.
The St James group do not rule out all buildings in a modern style as long as they respect the history of that area.
Also, it has compiled a list of modern buildings which are drab and unworthy of St James and which would not be missed were they to be redeveloped.
Fitzrovia has some woeful 1960s NHS and office buildings which work against the standout Fitzrovian mishmash of styles.
Those oversized, brutal identikit buildings ought to be at the front of the queue to be redeveloped; and let’s keep the Georgian and Victorian streetscapes of historical character and present day worth.
name and address supplied, w1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
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Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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