Charles Pigott’s Post

For many years I’ve had an ambivalent relationship with a poem by Philip Larkin entitled ‘Going, Going’. Written in the year of my birth (1972) , it was a commissioned work that was meant to evoke an image of England that was rapidly disappearing, under the weight of ‘split level shopping, bleak high-risers, concrete and tyres’. Whilst it pines for an old England that has been seemingly lost (if indeed it ever existed), it neglects the cultural force of what replaced it. Larkin often played the game of despising Modernism, whilst deploying its devices, neatly camouflaged in his deft prose. England has changed, and in some cases for the better, and Modernism, whether you like or loath it, left us with a plethora of great things that were never meant to be so. Growing up in and around Birmingham, with its unique mix of the old and the new, it was buildings such as the New Street Signal Box (Bicknell and Hamilton), as well as Madin’s Central Library (demolished 2016) that made ‘Brum’ my kind of town (as Telly Savalas once famously put it), despite its excess of ‘concrete and tyres’. However, at times such as these, when our parliamentary cycle goes into overdrive, I always think of Larkin’s apt description in the poem of the governing class as a ‘cast of crooks and tarts’. This week we all get to decide whether we want them to continue to create the ‘first slum of Europe’ as ‘old Larks’ saw it, or something radically different, something that could be forged out of old England, and not just the misplaced nostalgia for its supposed loss! #heritage #conservation #architecture #modernism #birmingham #election2024 #thefabricofplaces

Note the image chosen for this article about international public realms that need to address their struggles is… Downtown Houston. 👀 This article (and the piece from Wired that it referenced) is (1) exactly why my team pursues planning and economic development in tandem and (2) exactly why we have been working with the referenced expert, Jan Gehl’s Gehl - Making Cities for People team, to realize a soon to be published Public Realm Action Plan and new methodologies for measuring success for Downtown Houston+ and our partners. Notable excerpt for fellow city leaders: “Meanwhile, progressive city leaders are beginning to link the obsession with economic growth to human well-being. In the UK, Rokhsana Fiaz, the mayor of Newham in East London, has made happiness and health one of the key performance indicators for her economic strategy. And now that we can measure health in more sophisticated ways, I’m convinced more will follow. People will realize the direct contribution of building facades to public health and human prosperity and start to spread the word.”

Who built New York City & how? On our blog, read an interview with Alexander Wood, author of BUILDING THE METROPOLIS, a sweeping history of New York that chronicles the construction of one of the world’s great cities:

Everywhere Except Kansas 10 days, 6 cities, 12 " Wizard of Oz" Presos: - Vegas: Urban Land Institute - DC: CoreNet Global - Baltimore: NAIOP - Cleveland: Citymark Capital - Denver: McWHINNEY (Union Station, their redevelopment, pictured here) & CBRE Event - NYC: Cornell Real Estate Council Getting my money's worth out of the Wizard of Oz preso sharing the pre and post-election outlook for commercial real estate with about 2,000 of my closest friends in 10 days. While the expectation is now that rates will be higher for longer, demand expected to strengthen and new supply low helping existing #CRE values. Labor availability remains biggest question mark and will impact construction, hospitality and medical CRE the most.   Thx to Jeff Woolson, Ben Brudney, Barbara Perrier, Benji Baer, Gensler, Mallory Baches AICP, LEED-AP, CNU-A, Calvin Gladney, LEED AP, Sofia Song, Sheryl Schulze, Tim O'Ferrall, Larry Lichtenauer, Andrew Coleman, Alan Tantleff, FTI Consulting, Danny Queenan , Jessica Ostermick, McWHINNEY, William Grubbs, Daniel Walsh, Tristan Neeb (Go Blue!), Joseph Khouri, Jamie Dunford.  SGL

🏙️ The City of London is increasingly looking like a scene out of a science fiction movie. But is this a good thing, and what does the future hold? This photo was taken from the south bank of the river Thames, close to Tower Bridge. From this viewpoint, lower-rise, more traditionally designed buildings in the foreground give way to ever more futuristic-designed glass towers, which rise higher and higher like a wave towards the rear. I remember when the city’s skyline was transformed with the completion of the Gherkin back in 2004. However, the scale of development in the 20 years since then has just been incredible, and you can’t even see the Gherkin from this viewpoint anymore! Unbelievably, there are plans for another tower in the city that will become its tallest and equal the Shard in height, which at 310 m high is the UK’s current tallest building. It’s already looking pretty packed in there; where on earth are they going to find the room for this new tallest tower? On one hand, I quite like the futuristic look of the city cluster with so many dramatically designed towers competing for attention next to each other. But is it all looking a bit too busy, and what about the impact of all these tall buildings clustered together at street level? What do people think?

Catch Ted Landsmark on WBUR’s Radio Boston as he discusses the transformation of Boston’s Hurley and Lindemann buildings. “It was an intention to transform the neighborhood from what it had been as a kind of vibrant, run down area of housing and shops into an area that could be viewed as the same as the center of government not just for the city but for the region.” #UrbanRedevelopment #Architecture #PublicPolicy #UrbanPlanning #C2CImpactEngine https://lnkd.in/eqm586Q4

Our tall buildings quiz is back! 🏗️ After inspirational talks at the Tall Buildings Conference in June, we learned more about how planning of tall buildings within London's Square Mile works. Our question for you today is: 🤔 Which 2 historical listed buildings have protected pathways to maintain their views? Let us know below ⬇️ #TallBuildingsQuiz #London #SquareMile

Chicago is the "City of the Century" for its legacy of innovation, resilience, and impact. Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871, it pioneered the modern skyscraper and set global standards in architecture. During the Industrial Revolution, Chicago became the country’s railroad center, driving the economy through manufacturing and trade. Culturally, the city shaped American music, introducing jazz and blues legends like Louis Armstrong. The 1893 World’s Fair showcased groundbreaking achievements, cementing Chicago as a leader in arts and industry. Social reformers like Jane Addams transformed the city, leading labor and civil rights movements that left a national imprint. Chicago’s constant reinvention—from revitalizing its waterfront to leading in tech and healthcare—reflects its resilience and ambition. Today, it stands as a symbol of progress, diversity, and innovation. #CityOfTheCentury #Chicago #Innovation #UrbanDevelopment #Architecture #Resilience #CulturalImpact #Leadership #Reinvention

Historic England published their updated guide this year to repurposing old historic buildings, including a roadmap and key technical considerations for each stage of the development process. As specialists at The Westcombe Group in restoring listed buildings to create beautiful homes and spaces fit for modern day life, we’re pleased to see these skills championed by such an important public body. Their platform ‘Heritage Works for Housing’ is available to view at https://lnkd.in/eTXbTnqF   #HistoricEngland #HistoricBuildings #Development #Housing #Property

Pre-registrations are open for the online launch event of a new report by the Place Alliance: 'How high-quality housing can be delivered in less well-off areas in England' Date: early Feb (more info to follow) This report, produced by Professor Matthew Carmona, Place Alliance is based on a detailed assessment of 20 housing development case studies drawn from across England. It identifies ten best practice routes to success in creating high quality development in areas where the housing market is relatively weak. The study has been supported by Civic Voice, the TCPA and Urban Design Group. Register: https://lnkd.in/e3KgteAf