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Central Square

if it's about Cardiff.. Sport, Entertainment, Transportation, Business, Development Projects, Leisure, Eating, Drinking, Nightlife, Shopping, Train Spotting! etc.. then we want it here!
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Kyle

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Re: Central Square

PostWed Apr 17, 2019 11:49 am

paul cardiffwalesmap wrote:I know I go on about this a lot, but does anyone out there know if and when the approved plans for the transport exchange will get underway? or will the next we hear about this be another re-design yet again? WTF is going on? :roll: walesonline reported that work would be starting in march it's now the 2nd half of april and nada!!
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/work-new-bus-station-centre-15918898


My money is on another re-resdesign to extend the office space.
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Karl

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Re: Central Square

PostWed Apr 17, 2019 4:41 pm

Had a walk over Central Square earlier. It was looking good in the sunshine, particularly with Central Station being spruced up. I thought the lack of greenery in the actual square would bother me but I suppose the wide circulation area outside the station makes sense. There isn't actually a focal point however and I can't recall plans for any public art outside the station. The scale of the buildings are approriate and I'm quite glad that there hasn't been a 'statement' building as such. I like the relatively sober design/quality materials approach.

More problematic is Wood Street. Here I am disappointed by the lack of greenery. The pavements are wide and could accomodate trees. A line of trees either side of Wood Street would have made that particular vista much more appealing and would have broken up the 'corporate' feel. Also the ground floor of the BBC and the Hugh James building has no commercial activity and quite a lot of blank space. I know there will be a mini square of sorts across the road with commercial activity but it does seem to be a wasted opportunity.
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Ash

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Re: Central Square

PostWed Apr 17, 2019 5:40 pm

Karl wrote: There isn't actually a focal point however and I can't recall plans for any public art outside the station.


The Betty Campbell statue is due to be located in Central Square but it's still at the design stage at the moment. Other public art needs to very carefully chosen to be gum and vandal-proof. Remember the Cader Idris disaster a few years back?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46924839
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Karl

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Re: Central Square

PostThu Apr 18, 2019 8:31 am

Maybe I got hold of the wrong end of the stick but I thought the Betty Campbell statue was going in the small square in front of the HMRC offices rather than in the square in front of the station. Happy to be proved wrong.
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Ash

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Re: Central Square

PostThu Apr 18, 2019 8:48 am

It's being paid for by Rightacres and the BBC so it's in front of the BBC building as described below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46508398
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amp

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Re: Central Square

PostThu Apr 18, 2019 2:24 pm

Yes it’s going in front of Hmrc now.
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DavidH71

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Re: Central Square

PostThu Apr 18, 2019 10:25 pm

In painting, there is a concept called "negative space" - the spaces between objects are as important as the objects themselves. The same concept can be applied to our cities, with the streets and squares being just as important as the buildings surrounding them. I rather enjoy the empty space in front of the station; it makes it easier to appreciate the buildings, and you can walk from A to B in a straight line. Compare and contrast with Queen Street, a wide street made to feel narrow and awkward by the accumulation of clutter: benches, advertising hoardings, bins, railings, bollards and various metal cabinets compete with each other to get in your way.
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penarth bloke

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Re: Central Square

PostThu Apr 18, 2019 10:38 pm

DavidH71 wrote:In painting, there is a concept called "negative space" - the spaces between objects are as important as the objects themselves. The same concept can be applied to our cities, with the streets and squares being just as important as the buildings surrounding them. I rather enjoy the empty space in front of the station; it makes it easier to appreciate the buildings, and you can walk from A to B in a straight line. Compare and contrast with Queen Street, a wide street made to feel narrow and awkward by the accumulation of clutter: benches, advertising hoardings, bins, railings, bollards and various metal cabinets compete with each other to get in your way.


I understand what you are saying, but in an urban context, there is a danger that such spaces can become sterile.
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Ash

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Re: Central Square

PostThu Apr 18, 2019 10:49 pm

amp wrote:Yes it’s going in front of Hmrc now.


It's not. Time will tell which one of us is right.
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paul cardiffwalesmap

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Re: Central Square

PostSat Jun 01, 2019 2:13 am

Kyle wrote:
paul cardiffwalesmap wrote:I know I go on about this a lot, but does anyone out there know if and when the approved plans for the transport exchange will get underway? or will the next we hear about this be another re-design yet again? WTF is going on? :roll: walesonline reported that work would be starting in march it's now the 2nd half of april and nada!!
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/work-new-bus-station-centre-15918898


My money is on another re-resdesign to extend the office space.


Well done Kyle, it looks like you were quite right! with one floor of offices to be added for L&G. So just maybe we just might see some activity soon perhaps - (just an element of caution in my words! :lol: ) But it does seem like the pressure to get things underway is reaching breaking ground point!

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/cardiff-bus-station-work-date-16361872
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