Reading Chronicle | News | First pictures of new civic centre

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 26th March, 2008 11:45

First pictures of new civic centre

By Lucy Thorne

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Artist's impression of the new civic offices as seen from the churchyard of the Minster Church of St Mary's in the Butts

THESE are the first images of what the new civic centre could look like if it given the thumbs up by planners.

Reading Borough Council officials revealed the artist’s impressions after submitting the planning application last week.

The sleek building in Hosier Street will replace the dilapidated asbestos-ridden civic offices in adjoining Dusseldorf Way.

The plans also include the redesigning the public square outside the Minster Church of St Mary’s in the Butts.

What do you think of the design of the new civic offices? Leave your comments below or email lthorne@berksmedia.co.uk

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Comments

Damocles

Mar 28 08 09:47

Our Ref: 55

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Is there not something missing from the pictures, like the very tall buildings which I believe are a part of the plans? It all looks a bit John Lewis to me and difficult to see what the benefit is over the other proposal which apparently saves us £15,000,000.

If Berkshire is to revert back to a County Council and it grows more likely each day because of the workings of Greater Reading, this development becomes a lame duck and not fit for purpose; other than as a shopping centre. And we have too many of those already.

Back to the drawing board, I suggest - starting with the need to accomodate more Council staff not less.

Anyway it makes no difference, what we see today is not what we will end up with and the presentation is to sell a half-baked vision to us.

Aesthetic comments: Dated, unimpressive, bland and lacking landmark status. Will look tired in a short period of time thus fitting in with the rest of the town. However, with the tall buildings surrounding it, it does make a statement about the Council which is that it is inconsequential and at the mercy of the property speculators - dwarfed in stature and looked over with disdain.

However, if there are no tall buildings then the Council has got the scale right and in keeping with a market town. So its 'snaps' for the Council planners.

Buildings should be designed to last more than 30 years and this one will not stand the test of longevity

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