The fourth episode of this first series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John looks back to history to try and understand why people have issues with modern architecture. Travelling across the Northeast and North Yorkshire he picks some of his favourite modern buildings as well as pointing out some truly awful designs especially from the 1960s that go under ‘Grundy’s Great...

The fourth episode of this first series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John looks back to history to try and understand why people have issues with modern architecture. Travelling across the Northeast and North Yorkshire he picks some of his favourite modern buildings as well as pointing out some truly awful designs especially from the 1960s that go under ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History.’ An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders A montage of both the exteriors and interiors of various modern buildings from across the region. As presenter John Grundy stands on the Newcastle Quayside he explains that he does loves modern architecture, more views of various modern office buildings including the Pitcher and Piano pub along the quayside itself. Over a collage of images showing examples of modern buildings including a supermarket, hospital, hotel and office block John explains that we spend a lot of time inside modern buildings. However, he explains, despite being surrounded by and living with them people still claim the have not gotten use to modern architecture. The animation of a wrecking ball knocks John out of the way as he puts a question to the audience. Title: Why are we all so suspicious of modern architecture? Over a montage of various historical buildings John explains that all buildings were considered modern once. Standing on Palace Green in Durham he uses it as an example to explain that all through history people have been putting up brand new buildings beside other buildings of different periods without it causing an issue. Taking a few steps forward brings Durham Cathedral into view with John explaining that when construction first began in 1093 it was considered the most modern building in Europe, ‘utterly high-tech absolutely revolutionary.’ Over views of the cathedral exterior John explains that it has been altered by many later generations of architects with people accepting the different periods and styles next to each other. As John states that we love this mixture of styles today as it makes our townscapes so varied and fascinating a montage of various architectural styles living side-by side with each other in towns across the region. The sequence ends abruptly on The Pearl or Pearl Assurance House on the corner of Northumberland Street and New Bridge Street West in Newcastle with John stating that suddenly a time came when people agreed that they no longer liked what was being put up beside other buildings. Three young men are asked their opinion on this 1960s concrete building, they see it as ‘grotty.’ Standing beside The Pearl John explains that this period began in the 1960s when town planners were looking for ways to revolutionise and remodel towns and cities. John is negative about their output describing it as ‘gunk’ and with several noticeable examples existing only a few hundred yards away. A montage of said structures follows including Swan House at the bottom of Pilgrim Street. Walking along a road beside a high stone wall carrying a stepladder John explains that there is an interesting view of Newcastle on the other side of wall. After asking te viewer to imagine what this view might be a series of views of the city including the Quayside, Grey’s Monument and the Theatre Royal. Standing on the steps he looks over the wall and points out the Central Motorway below and the eastern edge of the city centre with two remarkable features. The first is that the view contains only one building built more than fifty years ago, a brick building of around 1830, the second feature explains John is that it is all horrible, ghastly and very depressing. Returning to John still standing on the steps he apologies for ‘ranting and raving about bad architecture’ but explains he wants to get the ‘bad bits’ out of the way before the commercial break. A montage of some of his least favourite modern buildings that he believes should be crushed by ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ including Westgate House on Westgate Road in Newcastle described by John as ‘repulsive’ and a ‘intrusive lump’ followed by Trinity Square Car Park in Gateshead ‘big, very grey and desolate’ but John does admire it’s strong shapes. Over views of Betty’s Tea Rooms and other Georgian properties in and around the centre of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, John provides his ‘personal poison biscuit’ of a building, the nearby Harrogate House which John describes as something that ‘representative of all the crass insensitive and depressing buildings that have almost spoilt the northeast towns.’ An animation of ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ coming down on it. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Coming down a set of stone steps John apologies again for appearing to criticise both modern and 1960s architecture, he doesn’t as he lived through the era. With students at Durham University crossing Kingsgate Footbridge and walking past the brutalist Dunelm House John remembers back to the 1960s and his teacher training days when he greatly admired both structures. Over views of both the exterior and interior of Dunelm House John points out many of the features he likes, the essence of the 1960s. Standing on the roof of St Aidan’s College with Durham Cathedral in the distance, John explains that while Durham University was formed in 1832 it wasn’t until the 1950s and 60s that it grew up. A montage of 1950s science buildings built as part of the universities expansion south of the city built in the Festival of Britain style ‘very English, quite light-hearted but still very modern.’ Views of St Aidan’s College designed by Sir Basil Spence in the 1960s as well as other colleges built during the same period proving that architects from the 60s were just as capable as another other in history of producing nice places. Walking through St Peter’s Campus at Sunderland University built along the banks of the River Wear, John explains that since the 1960s universities continued to expand putting high quality architecture at the top of their list of priorities. Over a montage of both the exterior and interiors of campus buildings John goes into detail about some of its architectural features concluding it is all very, very creative and architecture as entertainment. Next door to St Peter’s Campus is the National Glass Centre described by John as architecture as engineering, the highest of hi-tech in steel and glass and appropriate to Sunderland being touch, modern and industrial as well as being beautiful and exciting. John walks across the glass roof and wonders around inside the centre watching intricate pieces of glass being created. Sitting in the café holding a cup of coffee John asks the viewer to do something really silly, go visit a business park. At Doxford International Business Park also in Sunderland John is impressed with the office buildings, a brand-new turn of the millennium environment and really, really, high-tech. Exterior and interior views of Solar Office which consists of 858 solar panel making it energy efficient as possible with a sleek and futuristic appearance. Over views of other office buildings in the park John is also impressed with its mixture of old and new materials done in satisfying ways making it impressive and welcoming at the same time, easy going and confident architecture. Returning to John in the café at the National Glass Centre he explains his love of high-tech places such as those featured as they are exciting with marvellous spaces inside. He believes that architecture at the turn of the millennium is as good as it gets. A montage of examples of this new architecture featuring buildings along the Newcastle Quayside, The Tees Barrage along the River Tees at Stockton-on-Tees and the nearby Durham University Queen’s Campus built at Thornaby-on-Tees. Standing back on the roof of the National Glass Centre John explains his decision as to what piece of modern architecture he has picked as his favourite, going for something that is older than what has featured at Sunderland, but something he has liked for some time. Over a view of the semi-circular extension to Newcastle University Library built in 1959 John provides details of why this was on his list but not selected. However, he explains that he has instead gone back to the ‘big, bad, brash 60s’ for his selection. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Standing on a hillock beside it, John explains why he has choose the Gas Council Engineering Research Station at Killingworth in Northumberland as he favourite piece of modern architecture as it is the coolest, simplest and most elegant buildings of any period in the Northeast. Over the closing credits a montage of the building’s exterior. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera Dave Dixon Additional Photography Mike Parker, Steve Anderson, Steve Falvey Sound Paul Graham, Lighting Lew Hedley, Ken Hird, Ron Angus Production Assistants Margaret McKie Title Music and Sound Dubbing John Cook Graphics Dave Richardson Editor Mike Pounder Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer & Director Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. © Tyne Tees Television MM