TV Home Forum

Which TV buildings should be listed?

(October 2007)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
IS
Inspector Sands
Pootle5 posted:

I think the frontage of the ATV Centre to Alpha Tower Plaza is interesting, and fits well with Alpha Tower's design - which of course was built as part of the ATV complex - and I think the tower is worthy of Listing, as indeed do the Council as it is at the top of their "Local List" - so if it were ever under threat it could be Statutorily Listed.


Yes, that bit round that side with the pointy roof is the only bit worth saving

Quote:

For the record, I think TV Centre should be Listed in part. Wasn't it the first purpose-built TV Centre?


It holds some sort of 'first' but I can't remember what - Granada's studios were first in the 'purpose built' category.

TV Centre should have all the extraneous parts removed and the main block listed
BA
bilky asko
jrothwell97 posted:

  • The News 24 countdown has to be revised to get rid of the shots of TVC (costing goodness knows how much)



What? For a few seconds footage? Well, the BBC could always spend their £300,000,000 on it.
IS
Inspector Sands
tvarksouthwest posted:

As for Elstree being a "nondescript 1960s office block", look at all the TV shows it's appeared in - UFO (as SHADO HQ), EastEnders, Grange Hill, Holby City...if the BBC exits Elstree (God forbid) someone else could surely have a use for it.


Neptune House (which you mentioned in your original post) is a very dull utilitarian 1960's office block.

It's only interesting as a exterior location, where it has played the part of lots of utilitarian 1960's office blocks! The only programme that's actually been made there is Newsroom Southeast!

Would you suggest that all buildings featured in popular TV programmes were kept? The building used in the titles of The Office is a good example - should that have been spared?
IS
Inspector Sands
jrothwell97 posted:

[list][*]The News 24 countdown has to be revised to get rid of the shots of TVC (costing goodness knows how much)


Yeah, I'm sure that's a big part of their consideration for the move Rolling Eyes

They've got to change it soon to remove Ms Kaplinsky, do you reckon they told her 'you can't go because we'll have to change the News 24 countdown' Laughing
TV
tvarksouthwest
I'm no expert on The Office but that was ONE particular programme which otherwise was not a regular or a world-famous television centre.

Neptune House is actually a very good choice for Holby City since its architecture and size make it very believable as a large city hospital. I actually had more trouble perceiving it as the school in Grange Hill - the same entrance that works well as a "hospital" just seemed too big, somehow.
JO
Joe
Inspector Sands posted:
jrothwell97 posted:

  • The News 24 countdown has to be revised to get rid of the shots of TVC (costing goodness knows how much)


Yeah, I'm sure that's a big part of their consideration for the move Rolling Eyes

They've got to change it soon to remove Ms Kaplinsky, do you reckon they told her 'you can't go because we'll have to change the News 24 countdown' Laughing


I think Jonathan's comments were meant as a joke.
IS
Inspector Sands
tvarksouthwest posted:
I'm no expert on The Office but that was ONE particular programme which otherwise was not a regular or a world-famous television centre.


It was in fact made in Teddington Studios - but not in a studio, in one of their offices in part of the building that was sold off to Haymarket Publishers. But that isn't a reason for saving that office* or the exterior location for the titles

But you've missed my point, That building at Elstree is just offices, it's just an exterior location


Quote:
Neptune House is actually a very good choice for Holby City since its architecture and size make it very believable as a large city hospital. I actually had more trouble perceiving it as the school in Grange Hill - the same entrance that works well as a "hospital" just seemed too big, somehow.


Yes it did look too big for a school, and it is perfect in terms of age and architecture, but any one of a number of similar office blocks could have been used


*as for Teddington Studios themselves, they maybe worth protecting
IS
Inspector Sands
Jugalug posted:

I think Jonathan's comments were meant as a joke.


I hope so!
JR
jrothwell97
Inspector Sands posted:
Jugalug posted:

I think Jonathan's comments were meant as a joke.


I hope so!


Of course they weren't. </sarcasm>
TT
Tumble Tower
The old Westward / TSW building at Derry's Cross, Plymouth. For some years it's been occupied by Foot Anstey Solicitors, but sadly it's due for demolition next year.

It should be saved, and when Foot Anstey vacate it, the South West Film and Television Archive could have it.
TV
tvarksouthwest
They are now firmly installed in the Royal William Yard, I believe, But as their holdings increase it might be a good idea to return to their original standing ground Laughing
PO
Pootle5
noggin posted:
Pootle5 posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
deejay posted:

I also think ATV Centre has some merit, though it's being (been?) demolished soon.


I don't really think it has much merit really. It's not got a clever uniquie design like TV Centre, it's just a big grey concrete box the type of which Birmingham is doing so well to get rid of. It's the TV equivalent of New Street Station - functional but nothing special.


I think the frontage of the ATV Centre to Alpha Tower Plaza is interesting, and fits well with Alpha Tower's design - which of course was built as part of the ATV complex - and I think the tower is worthy of Listing, as indeed do the Council as it is at the top of their "Local List" - so if it were ever under threat it could be Statutorily Listed. At present most of the Tower is occupied anyway and is being internally refurbished.

However, the rest of the ATV Centre is bloody awful. There's work underway at the moment to remove all the plant and services from under the old studios (as they're shared with the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Alpha Tower - which are installing new independent plant) - once this is done (around February next year) then the ATV Centre will be cleared to make way, in part, for a 50+ storey tower - "V-Building".

For the record, I think TV Centre should be Listed in part. Wasn't it the first purpose-built TV Centre? It is certainly an iconic building and a good quality example of architecture from that time. The central "doughnut" and the wall of Studio 1 (with the lights and "BBC TELEVISON CENTRE" should be retained and I imagine could be easily converted to apartments - with a fantastic USP. The remainder of the studios and rest of the site could be cleared and freed up for other development.

Somehow, the BBC won't be the same for me once it's gone - I can't quite explain why I feel this, but I'm sure other Forumers understand?!


Yep - though looking at the original "back of envelope" design for TVC - you really have to retain the Spur (aka Stage IV) and Stage V bits for the question mark to appear!


That's true I guess! The form of any new development could perhaps take the footprint of those areas in order to retain the "?".

Newer posts