Through the work of the sub-committee, the Society has been instrumental in saving many buildings of note including Addington Square, Denmark Hill Station and part of Windsor Walk. The Society has also been instrumental in influencing new development to make a positive contribution to the area, and works with local residents and tenants groups where there are common issues. The current composition of the Planning sub-committee is: Tim Gaymer, Anthony Kyrke-Smith, Elizabeth Borowiecka, Jason Leech, Robert Potz, Jonathan Hunt, Paul Cohoon, Somayya Yaqub, Michael Galt and Tom Harvey. Potential new members are welcome to attend a meeting as an observer initially. The Society is currently under represented by members from the Myatt Fields and Brunswick Park areas.
20/AP/1302 | FELIX POST UNIT AND OLD AGE PSYCHIATRY BUILDING MAUDSLEY HOSPITAL, DENMARK HILL, LONDON, SE5 8AZ
Demolition of existing buildings and construction of new centre for Children and Young People to include outpatients, inpatients, school, research and clinical floorspace, associated roof terraces, cycle parking, and landscaping.
The proposed Children and Young Peoples' Centre is a building in search of a design.
The circular stairway at the back of the building appears to be a significant feature on plan, but is concealed internally and externally by surrounding walls. The two different radius curves on either side of the back door seem inexplicable.
The staircase which runs diagonally across the centre of the building from basement to second floor could potentially be the focal point of an atrium at the heart of the building, except that the spaces around the stair are irregular in shape and in places concealed behind walls and no view out at the back of the building
There are many internal rooms and some rooms lit only by a small light well.
There seems no good reason for the eastern wing of the building to be angled sharply towards the west, thus putting the front door and half of the front elevation at an angle to the Green Campus Spine. This is the main pedestrian route across the site, and the obvious location for the front elevation of the building is alongside it, especially since there is a garden area belonging to the site on the other side of this route, which could be linked to the building's main elevation by landscape planting.
On the plus side there are strong indications that the Ortus building has been an inspiration for some of the materials and elevations, though not always with the same attention to detail, and the roof terraces are a welcome addition.
Proposed comment: Support