Karl wrote:There is an application for the demolition of the University buildings in Splott to be redeveloped into 32 flats.
A bit gutted by this. The main building is one of the nicest in that area. In fact that part of Splott - don't snigger - stands comparison with Penylan or the better parts of Canton. Lovely double Bay fronted Edwardian terraces, tree lined streets, and some very nice period buildings in the University Buildings, the Grosvenor pub and St Saviours Vicarage. Once upon a time the nearby Splott Park, with it's bowling greens, bandstand, rose garden and playground with it's own steam engine was also the equal of more celebrated parks.
The proposals are gut wrenchingly anodyne as well. I'm all for development in Splott/Adamsdown but not at the expense of the few decent buildings that are left.
Strangely enough, I had a tour around the inside of those very University Buildings in Splott last year (like you do!). It was a real eye opener. The outside is indeed rather elegant, but the inside is a head spinning array of crazy, random clutter filled rooms and accumulated junk. Many of the rooms appear to have been frozen in a time capsule and give the casual visitor the appearance that they are 'as they were' - almost as if everyone had had to suddenly leave the building in an emergency. Very X files /Torchwood indeed.
There are some large photographic / printing machines in the building which look like they have come straight out of a Fritz Lang film set.
I could see that there would be no way that any developer would be interested in converting the existing building as it stands - which of course is of cold comfort if you regard the building as part of your childhood memories as you do.