Hidden Horsham - Horsham in 2008
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Horsham in 2008 |
Something Blue
The fourth and final page of the 2008 feature is looking at the buildings that have not been so successfully integrated into Horsham over the last ten years. Adopting the wedding phrase of something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue this feature discusses the recent architectural developments
In a town as diverse as Horsham it is always going to be difficult to blend new styles with the existing heritage. For the most part, as this feature highlights, Horsham is successful. Sometimes it is not and this page brings you those properties, in the view of Hidden Horsham, that do not blend in. That is not to suggest that they are not good buildings in their own right, more that they look out of place when put in the context of their neighbours. This is, of course, a subjective view and you may disagree with the choices on this page
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Dulcima House |
A testament to the town planners and The Horsham Society is that Hidden Horsham had great difficulty finding any properties erected in the last ten years that were worthy of negative comment. There are some older properties that are outside the scope of this article
Horsham is well served with an excellent architectural heritage, especially when compared to some of its neighbours. Hidden Horsham encourages you to look above the shop fronts to enjoy the workmanship, don't be tempted to do the same when in the Crawley shopping precinct!
Perhaps the biggest example of a clash is the flats above the Halifax in the Carfax. The top cladding in a striking blue it blends well with a clear summer sky but very little else. Perhaps it is the beige/yellow cladding on the main face that makes it look out of place. Perhaps we should be asking how it will look in 100 years time. Will the cladding have deteriorated and been replaced, will the building have been demolished or will the Horsham Society be fighting to save 'this fine example of early 21st century craftmanship?'
Another building that has removed itself from this category is the office block in Worthing Road, opposite the Argos store. It has redeemed itself by being reclad in a colour that blends with the sky. Even the 'car prison' at the ground floor does not look out of place
The three residential properties that have been put up in the vicarage gardens at the foot of the Causeway do little to add to the considerable architectural heritage of the road. It would seem that in 2007, the time of building them, £750,000 does not always buy you some style
As a closing comment it is worth noting that some of the buildings removed from Horsham over the years have been rebuilt at the nearby Singleton Museum, see external links below
External Links: Visit Horsham: Home |
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