 |  | We asked local architect Adrian Baynes to respond to Coventry’s Phoenix Initiative and Millennium Place.
He let rip with his own opinions and wrote an insightful description for us, linked here.
So, the controversial opinions:
Millennium Place: A personal opinion by local architect Adrian Baynes
|  | View showing Millennium Place and the bus station |
The overall master planning of Millennium Place, with vistas framed by the new apartments and the opening up of Trinity Street, has been a great success.
However, without regeneration of Hillfields, at present all this effort merely leads you to the truly dreadful bus station.
Devil in the detail
The Priory Cloister Garden is a magical experience, with rustling trees, whispering voices, set in a blue glow, to a backdrop of the rushing water from the fountain.
It’s a shame that somehow the red illuminated ‘Nando’s Chicken’ sign was allowed to spoil the effect.
Subtle design
|  | One of the apartments in the new place |
The whole apartments area is subtly designed and detailed, with some bravery in leaving steps and water unprotected, but well worth the odd twisted ankle!
Maybe more could have been made of Coventry’s mystery River Sherbourne, which can still be seen at the back of the fried chicken shop.
Temporary time piece
Whilst all the pre-publicity for Francois Schein’s Millennium Clock suggested the lighting would be set into the paving, it has been installed proud.
This is presumably for budget or practical reasons, but unfortunately gives it a temporary feel.
International disappointment
 The Future Monument ... design and detailing make it look like an ornament in a two star hotel forecourt.  | | Adrian Baynes |
The Jochen Gerz pieces have received the greatest publicity, as he is the probably the artist of greatest international stature.
However, despite the laudatory conference at Warwick University, the reality does not match the concept.
The plaques of The Public Bench are cheap looking, red engraved plastic, merely glued to the white painted concrete wall and are already being pulled off.
|  | The bridge and other features lit up at night |
This work will look a mess within weeks and whilst the piece may be strong conceptually, it is not practical.
The Future Monument is likewise a disappointment, being only about four metres high, it fails to have impact next to the arches. The design and detailing make it look like an ornament in a two star hotel forecourt.
Worries for the future
With the exception of David Ward’s sound and light piece in Priory Cloister Garden, all the works look very vulnerable to vandalism.
The graffiti on the sandstone wall in the Friendship Garden suggests that unless the council allocates substantial funds to maintenance, a lot of these works will not stand the test of time.
It is all very well for artists to create work in public places, but surely they must bear some responsibility for their future appearance?
Overall bravery
|  | Brave modern angles in the new architecture |
Coventry has been very brave in its approach to The Phoenix Initiative and the results are on the whole far more sophisticated than the tacky brashness of Birmingham’s efforts.
They have opted for lighting as a major effect, which is to be applauded, but as a pedestrianised city, many Coventrians will probably never get to appreciate the works, unless they make a special visit at night.
Likewise during the long summer evenings, at lot of the work will not really shine.
Your views
Have you seen the new development? Do you agree with any of Adrian’s views? Have your say on the message board.
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