Iconic undercroft in London's South Bank under threat of 'redevelopment' by retail units

You may think that in London while deciding on redevelopment, construction, they would pay special attention to preserving historic, iconic parts. Partly - yes. But not so much. Few years ago they demolished Astoria theatre for a big transport redevelopment Crossrail  project. I will always remember Astoria: gigs, clubbing, my first boyfriend in London...

Now the so called 'redevelopment' (= relocation, and instead filling the space with even more shops and restaurants) threatens another iconic London place - undercroft on South Bank. A place filled with graffiti, skateboarders. A location for film settings etc.

If you ever been on South Bank, one of my fave parts in London, it would be impossible to miss the undercroft. It has very cool, alternative, counter-culture feeling.

I was there on Sunday, and joined the protest against re-location of undercroft by signing the petition. You may do so online too: petition

Yerevan diaries: Cascade - Cafesjian Centre for the Arts

After 2 years delay, with construction works still going on as per these pictures I took a month ago, Cafesjian Centre for the Arts (Yerevan MoMA) will have its Grand Opening on 8 Nov (fireworks display 7 Nov). Cascade has always been a favourite place for Yerevantsi and tourists alike. Soon to be opened Yerevan MoMA will make the place even more definite must see not only in Armenia, but in the whole South Caucasus too.

Yerevan: "No to demolition" (Picture of The Day)

@Asbarez News The last stronghold on Armenia's Northern Ave where residents have held out against gentrification of neighborhood http://twitpic.com/cma5s

Yerevan, block 16

"Perestroika era abandoned plot"

Block 16
Yerevan, Armenia

A visually dramatic part of the city, where construction of a housing block was stopped during perestroika after it turned out that the quality of material being used was very poor.

*source: Abitare - international design magazine

Film which they did not want you to see: watch Tigran Paskevichyan’s “Expropriation”

This film tells a story of ordinary people who were deprived of their houses and property rights to make a way for the construction of the Northern Avenue and elite flats in downtown Yerevan. According to the report and various evidence provided, people did not get adequate compensation and the whole process was conducted in breach of Armenian legislation. They tried using legal ways – applying to the courts, but as it’s common in Armenia, no single case was decided by the courts against the authorities. This fact was specifically mentioned in "Expropriation" by Armenia’s human rights Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan.

Film has been banned from the main Moscow cinema in Yerevan despite an initial agreement to screen it.

As I posted earlier, another Sardarapat film by well known Armenian film director Tigran Khzmalyan suffered the same fate. You may read the full script of the documentary Sardarapat on Hetq Online. I wish we could watch Sardarapat on YouTube too.

Censorship should have no place in Armenia. Censorship should be (and will be) defeated.

Expropriation
Written by Tigran Paskevichyan
Directed by Karen Adamyan
via A1+

Part 1


Part 2

Picture of The Day

*photo via Zhamanak

... a consequence of this (Liberty sq... cordoned off)

Liberty sq... cordoned off

Do not expect here any rally any time soon. The reason - construction works started to build up a kind of underground garage system under the Liberty sq.

Surrounding cafes have not been affected.

Yerevan - London, construction/road works - construction/road works...

There are construction/road works going on throughout central Yerevan and this became one of the central topics of discussion in Armenian blogosphere: here, here, here and here

I must say that nowadays similar situation you may observe in London too - throughout central London you may see construction/road works on main streets... Understandably, in both capitals, this creates significant inconvenience for people who live or work there, tourists and motorists. I cannot comment on differences in quality of construction/road works between Yerevan and London, since have no insight into the issue. However, when I said that there is "similar situation" in London, I was mainly referring to the fact of works taking place.

Below are my London pictures. Compare them to the pictures taken by Onnik Krikorian in Yerevan streets, and you will note one big difference. In Yerevan, as Onnik rightly pointed out, "building materials and debris left lying around have made a three or four minute journey a safety hazard for pedestrians and motorists alike." In London, all construction works are isolated by special road work barriers. Relatively simple thing to do, which will make Yerevan roads safer.

Yerevan:

London:

Yerevan:

London:

*source of Yerevan pictures - Onnik Krikorian/Oneworld Multimedia