黑洞社区

Truly a premier stadium

Good to see award-winning architecture making its presence felt in the Premier League. Huddersfield Town鈥檚 recent promotion to the Promised Land means that the stadium the Terriers play in 鈥� now named the John Smith鈥檚 Stadium (although older readers will know it as the McAlpine after the contractor that built it, Alfred McAlpine) is the first RIBA 黑洞社区 of the Year to grace the top division. Designed by HOK, the stadium won the award in 1995, the year before the RIBA replaced it with the Stirling prize. I fancy Herzog & de Meuron鈥檚 plans for fellow Premiership team Chelsea鈥檚 new stadium could end up being similarly garlanded 鈥� but here the similarity ends. Huddersfield鈥檚 stadium cost an estimated 拢40m while Chelsea鈥檚 is said to be pushing 拢500m.

Disturbing finds

As builders keep on digging at Willmott Dixon鈥檚 scheme to restore a Victorian theatreat Alexandra Palace in north London, they are finding more artefacts from Ally Pally鈥檚 long history. One unusual example was vials of tetanus used to immunise German, Austrian and Hungarian internees during the First World War. Readers may remember Manchester band the Stone Roses played a celebrated gig at Ally Pally back in November 1989 at the height of their powers. They were fond of wearing flares but as yet no jeans with 26-inch bell bottoms have been unearthed by the construction team.

Backhanded compliments

At what point does flattery descend into being patronising? In its latest online mag, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC describes the architect behind the masterplan to revamp the complex as 鈥渘o longer architecture鈥檚 superboy鈥�. I鈥檓 sure it meant this description of 42-year-old Bjarke Ingels as a compliment but who knows, given that it also refers to architecture as a 鈥渟low-moving profession鈥濃��

Hipster replacement

We all know the problems of the housing market in London, particularly with regard to young people not being able to get on the ladder. I was therefore intrigued to see a development by Hanover Housing Association slap-bang in the middle of that hippest of hipster areas, Hackney, that is being marketed to over-55s. Local young 鈥榰ns, many of whom hang out in trendy London Fields, are aghast, presumably at the prices 鈥� which start at 拢601,000 for a one-bedroom flat 鈥� and just as likely at the prospect of a bunch of oldies putting a downer on the area鈥檚 鈥渃ool vibe鈥�. Still, residents of the Quadra 鈥渄ownsizer鈥� estate will have a great view of all those twenty-somethings dipping their twirly moustaches into craft beer and debating the merits of cold brew coffee. That鈥檚 got to be worth 拢600k of anyone鈥檚 money 鈥�

The extra mile

I鈥檓 all in favour of promoting good causes and so have absolutely no qualms about highlighting Hawkins\Brown team鈥檚 425km cycle ride from London to Manchester to raise 拢3,000 in support of For Jimmy, a charity supporting street safety and awareness. They鈥檒l be joined by Louise Moriarty, a Part 3 student at Hawkins\Brown and former Irish national cycling team member, who has been giving tips on how to ride in a 鈥渢ightly-knit peloton鈥�, which I鈥檇 always assumed was a support garment for people of a certain age. Donate at: .