I speak as someone who has never visited – and will never live here: for a new estate I think it looks great. Imagine if the housing stock was composed of the usual identical boxes, the sort that will be springing up all over the country now the planning regs have changed? Yuk.
It's probably a bit unreasonable to expect that everything will be right straight off. Buildings and communities take time to age – there is bound to be a slightly artificial feel to the place at first, the mix of shops won’t be right – and yes – there won’t always be the right type of “chipping” or correct number of ‘doggie refuse bins’ and telephone boxes etc. Growing pains.
Traditional architecture is delightful, but there is something claustrophobic and unnerving about Poundbury. The buildings crowd sidewalks and each other, with a paucity of lawns and trees. Nature seems as unwelcome as Modernism. And rather than pretend that cars don't exist, designers should have considered attractive and efficient ways to accommodate them -- even Ancient Roman axial planning. Poundbury is the world's most scrubbed mill town without a mill. But who wants to live in a mill town?
I have mixed feelings baout Pundbury. Some streets make a very good point, and some leave the demonstration vulnerable to accusations of midless and tasteless nostalgia.
i would just like to say i live in poundbury and one thing that reallllllllllllllllllllllly does my head in is the bloody stones everywhere!!!grrrrr its a nightmare you can't wear sandels or you get stones in them and when you get into your home you take half the stones with you it's soooo annoying grrrrr p.s it iain't that good living here i mean for a start where the hell are the telephone boxes?????
@mammatirs85 I quite agree with you and notice that before Prince Charles visits fresh little scalpings are put on the pathways! I also notice that around the Colten care home the scalpings are determinedly brushed away - it must be hell pushing a wheelchair (or even a baby buggy, come to that). It kind of takes the gilt off the gingerbread, as it were, and seems such a pointless, rather costly exercise.
@mammatirs85 Poundbury is a beautiful place, but it needs is a proper infrastructure to make it viable. Yes, there are no telephone boxes, too few doggie refuse bins, only one general store, no chemist etc etc (although Waitrose will be open by the end of the year). There was a good delicatessen/cafe which closed (rates too high?), we are left with niche shops like a bead shop, bridal wear, wedding gifts and an unacceptably large amount of nursing agencies/mobility aids (for old folk).
look at the real town of dorchester theses buildings have nothing similar its just a money making scheme to build on green belt the locals dont benifit if he wanted to build his own town build it off shore away from local inhabitants who think its a mess
I understand the 'why' and I wholeheartedly endorse the sentiments but personally I'm very queasy about the whole thing. The fabric (or a large part thereof) of buildings that look old needs to be actually old. For me it just doesn't work if five buildings arranged in proximity to each other look old but are all just new.
The buildings are all beginning to 'soften' and mature now which is good. However what is not so good is that it remains a vast building site while the next phases are being built. Also, there are already many empty retail outlets and if Poundbury is to be a truly outstanding success these shops need to be offered at vastly reduced introductory rates to retailers selling a wide variety of interesting goods as well as basic necessities.
Its called New Urbanism , and PC was ahead of his time in promoting it. That said I'd like to see these ideas applied somewhere more urban----at the end of the day this is a suburb of a nice market town. To those who say it looks incongruous , I say give it time. I think the buildings will age much better than the modernist monstrosities which blight so many UK towns and cities
Quite agree, would prefer cutting edge design like Holland's new builds, for instance but we in the UK seem to lag behind. This was a bold move by Prince Charles, and it is quite a lovely place to live. That is, when the infrastructure of shops is put in place and working.
what a shame that this energy and useful ideas about community and materials could not have been applied to some really interesting and creative new design. Historicism done with bad workmanship and modern industrial materials always looks third rate.
@climategeorge Quite agree, would prefer cutting edge design like Holland's new builds, for instance but we in the UK seem to lag behind. This was a bold move by Prince Charles, and it is quite a lovely place to live. That is, when the infrastructure of shops is put in place and working.
i am currently researching this project and i have to say that although in pictures Poundbury looks good and is based upon ideas which alot may like, living there and being there is different it has the feeling of the Truman Show about it, i like the ideas behind the design and like Leon Krier but i believe this design no longer works in the modern day.
The Prince is correct, imagine if this housing was built in the modernist style? It would all have to be torn down within the next few decades, this could remain standing for centuries.
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I speak as someone who has never visited – and will never live here: for a new estate I think it looks great. Imagine if the housing stock was composed of the usual identical boxes, the sort that will be springing up all over the country now the planning regs have changed? Yuk.
hawking8 2 months ago
Comment removed
hawking8 2 months ago
It's probably a bit unreasonable to expect that everything will be right straight off. Buildings and communities take time to age – there is bound to be a slightly artificial feel to the place at first, the mix of shops won’t be right – and yes – there won’t always be the right type of “chipping” or correct number of ‘doggie refuse bins’ and telephone boxes etc. Growing pains.
hawking8 2 months ago
Traditional architecture is delightful, but there is something claustrophobic and unnerving about Poundbury. The buildings crowd sidewalks and each other, with a paucity of lawns and trees. Nature seems as unwelcome as Modernism. And rather than pretend that cars don't exist, designers should have considered attractive and efficient ways to accommodate them -- even Ancient Roman axial planning. Poundbury is the world's most scrubbed mill town without a mill. But who wants to live in a mill town?
bscottb8 3 months ago
hideous
CJQuinn 4 months ago
nostalgia's not a bad thing. And it's an improvement on many of the hideous new builds we see around Britain.
I agree with some of the criticisms here too.
kinkyplunk 4 months ago
I have mixed feelings baout Pundbury. Some streets make a very good point, and some leave the demonstration vulnerable to accusations of midless and tasteless nostalgia.
inkstersco 6 months ago
Both Poundbury and Kentlands share a very similar architectural style: Georgian.. if you all noticed..
Cyrus992 7 months ago
i would just like to say i live in poundbury and one thing that reallllllllllllllllllllllly does my head in is the bloody stones everywhere!!!grrrrr its a nightmare you can't wear sandels or you get stones in them and when you get into your home you take half the stones with you it's soooo annoying grrrrr p.s it iain't that good living here i mean for a start where the hell are the telephone boxes?????
mammatirs85 8 months ago
@mammatirs85 I quite agree with you and notice that before Prince Charles visits fresh little scalpings are put on the pathways! I also notice that around the Colten care home the scalpings are determinedly brushed away - it must be hell pushing a wheelchair (or even a baby buggy, come to that). It kind of takes the gilt off the gingerbread, as it were, and seems such a pointless, rather costly exercise.
lutestring 8 months ago
@mammatirs85 Poundbury is a beautiful place, but it needs is a proper infrastructure to make it viable. Yes, there are no telephone boxes, too few doggie refuse bins, only one general store, no chemist etc etc (although Waitrose will be open by the end of the year). There was a good delicatessen/cafe which closed (rates too high?), we are left with niche shops like a bead shop, bridal wear, wedding gifts and an unacceptably large amount of nursing agencies/mobility aids (for old folk).
lutestring 8 months ago
@mammatirs85 It's almost impossible to find telephone boxes in a great many major cities all over America now.
counterhon 7 months ago
look at the real town of dorchester theses buildings have nothing similar its just a money making scheme to build on green belt the locals dont benifit if he wanted to build his own town build it off shore away from local inhabitants who think its a mess
pristinebob 1 year ago
Re: Poundbury
I understand the 'why' and I wholeheartedly endorse the sentiments but personally I'm very queasy about the whole thing. The fabric (or a large part thereof) of buildings that look old needs to be actually old. For me it just doesn't work if five buildings arranged in proximity to each other look old but are all just new.
kevinindublin 1 year ago
The buildings are all beginning to 'soften' and mature now which is good. However what is not so good is that it remains a vast building site while the next phases are being built. Also, there are already many empty retail outlets and if Poundbury is to be a truly outstanding success these shops need to be offered at vastly reduced introductory rates to retailers selling a wide variety of interesting goods as well as basic necessities.
lutestring 1 year ago
Its called New Urbanism , and PC was ahead of his time in promoting it. That said I'd like to see these ideas applied somewhere more urban----at the end of the day this is a suburb of a nice market town. To those who say it looks incongruous , I say give it time. I think the buildings will age much better than the modernist monstrosities which blight so many UK towns and cities
james7696739 1 year ago 2
Quite agree, would prefer cutting edge design like Holland's new builds, for instance but we in the UK seem to lag behind. This was a bold move by Prince Charles, and it is quite a lovely place to live. That is, when the infrastructure of shops is put in place and working.
IceneBoudicca 1 year ago
what a shame that this energy and useful ideas about community and materials could not have been applied to some really interesting and creative new design. Historicism done with bad workmanship and modern industrial materials always looks third rate.
climategeorge 1 year ago
@climategeorge Quite agree, would prefer cutting edge design like Holland's new builds, for instance but we in the UK seem to lag behind. This was a bold move by Prince Charles, and it is quite a lovely place to live. That is, when the infrastructure of shops is put in place and working.
IceneBoudicca 1 year ago
wot? no people ..... but lots of cars
tonyinvan 1 year ago
Beautiful town!!
Audiomuse 1 year ago
i am currently researching this project and i have to say that although in pictures Poundbury looks good and is based upon ideas which alot may like, living there and being there is different it has the feeling of the Truman Show about it, i like the ideas behind the design and like Leon Krier but i believe this design no longer works in the modern day.
chrisdoyle0890 2 years ago
@chrisdoyle0890
And what kind of design does work in the modern world?
mindvox626 1 year ago
Comment removed
martinmartiini 2 years ago
@martinmartiini keep Marbella out of it you old DOG.
michaelwright999 1 year ago
Comment removed
martinmartiini 2 years ago
Anyone who sees something wrong with this modern town has had their mind poisoned by the cult of the bizaar.
inkstersco 2 years ago 2
I like it personally and agree with his HRH
top6ear 2 years ago
not a fan of English Palladianism and classicism. I prefet an over all Tuscan/French treatement.
guerino07 2 years ago
Prince Charles is on his way to sainthood.
mindvox626 2 years ago
The Prince is correct, imagine if this housing was built in the modernist style? It would all have to be torn down within the next few decades, this could remain standing for centuries.
NorthLimitation 2 years ago 3
Beautiful spot to live.
goldkhw 3 years ago 16
Fantastic. Good on Prince Charles.
stewartkee 3 years ago 15