Granary Square, King’s Cross, London, fronting the University of the Arts, opens this week. The Guardian yesterday (Sold-off cities, 12 June) heralded this by warning that large chunks of Britain’s cities like this are falling into private hands. One danger of this, according to an Occupy activist is: "a vision of society in which you work and you shop. At times when you are not working or shopping, you may go to restaurants. You may possibly go to some officially sanctioned kind of entertainment activity which is sponsored by X but there's no scope for people to do something of their own – to do something spontaneous."
At the King’s Cross development there are so far no shopping malls, although these will follow. The first big site to open was the London College of the Arts, bringing together four art schools, including the legendary Central St Martin’s. Just across York Way is the King’s Centre, a premier arts venue and home of the Guardian itself. Next to the British Library, just down the road, the new Francis Crick Institute is being built. This will be Britain's major biomedical research facility. The site includes Camley Street Natural Park.
The King’s Cross development is building towards being an intellectual and creativity hub. As for the offices, when they arrive, Google are slated to be one of the first occupants. The idea that no one will be able to do their own, creative, thing in this complex is ludicrous. I have no brief for the developers but, having watched this site slowing being transformed from decay and degradation, over the last 15 years, I have to say that I like what I see so far.
At the King’s Cross development there are so far no shopping malls, although these will follow. The first big site to open was the London College of the Arts, bringing together four art schools, including the legendary Central St Martin’s. Just across York Way is the King’s Centre, a premier arts venue and home of the Guardian itself. Next to the British Library, just down the road, the new Francis Crick Institute is being built. This will be Britain's major biomedical research facility. The site includes Camley Street Natural Park.
The King’s Cross development is building towards being an intellectual and creativity hub. As for the offices, when they arrive, Google are slated to be one of the first occupants. The idea that no one will be able to do their own, creative, thing in this complex is ludicrous. I have no brief for the developers but, having watched this site slowing being transformed from decay and degradation, over the last 15 years, I have to say that I like what I see so far.
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