Remember the architecture/planning fail that I wrote about in January -- the sharply sloping sidewalk in front of Five Guys on the high street? Well, the hideous plastic barriers have disappeared (after months) and in their place are these two massive wooden planters.
(I took one picture walking to work and one walking home, so you're seeing them from both directions, in morning and evening!)
I suppose this is aesthetically better than the barriers, but they look a little precarious, don't they? I hope that wood is strong. Also, they look like they've been outside for a while already, so I suspect they came from somewhere else. They are used planters -- or perhaps I should say pre-owned. Repurposed.
If I'd built them I'd have specified a sloping bottom so the planters themselves sat even. But maybe that would have been more money than anyone wanted to invest.
Today I'm back at work for that conference. In fact I'm about to get ready to leave. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m.!
Or at least something to wedge it up to level!
ReplyDeleteThat's just what I was going to say 😁
DeleteAs planters go they are not very attractive! I see that they have brackets on the bottom, presumably to attach to the ground......I doubt if anyone will try and steal them!
ReplyDeleteThe phrase 'could have tried harder' comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn’t have been too much of an investment, I’m sure, to at least build a base to level them off. That looks ridiculous AND precarious (and much too weathered already). Hope the conference is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a richly fulfilling training day - learning things you didn't know about librarianship - such as how to remove chewing gum from the inner pages of a book and how to redact rude words using a suitable marker pen. Do you need a two day weekend anyway? This might be the start of something.
ReplyDeleteThose planters are what an old friend would have called a brother in law job! Someone with more connections than ability. At least wedge it up!
ReplyDeleteThey should be level; it seems a bad solution to a bad problem.
ReplyDeletePlus, you;re right, they look used already.
I hope the contents of the wonky planters overcome the unpleasing aesthetic by producing wonderful flowers. I don't think they will, though. Bit more thought required in future.
ReplyDeleteThat's an insult to the London citizenry.
ReplyDeleteThe planters do look odd, like they are on the verge of tipping over. I wonder if the job is complete or if the installers will be back to level them up. Hope you have a good day and feel it was worth it. Somehow I can't imagine anything ticking that box. Our days off are a precious commodity.
ReplyDeleteReally strange choice of plants, I wonder what the real story is there.
ReplyDeleteIt looks silly and makes the sidewalk crowded. I'm always surprised to see our fast food chains in London. Your restaurants should be classier.
ReplyDeleteThose planters are just compounding the initial stupidity of the sloped sidewalk. Better I suppose than the barriers but only just a little. As if they weren't big enough to be easily seen they put those red edges on the corners so, what, you don't walk into them?
ReplyDeleteThat's a weird and inefficient planter job all right, Steve, but I'm still impressed and amazed by the variety of interesting things you notice on your walks!
ReplyDeleteHow very jarring! It looks rustic in a place where 'rustic' doesn't fit. The whole thing looks precarious and strange.
ReplyDeleteThat IS jarring. Even putting some kind of shim-type riser underneath the slope would help. But the plants are nice!
ReplyDeleteThe planters look terrible. Low-cost improvements could be made by putting bricks under the low end to level the boxes. Then I'd paint the boxes black to make them disappear. Plantings should include some color and blooms. These changes would make the display aesthetically attractive. Not perfect but somewhat improved.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your conference.
The planter adds to the clutter of this street scene.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...at least it announces the sloping sidewalk in a visual way.
ReplyDeleteThe crookedness of those planters bothers me more than it should.
ReplyDeleteNope - they do NOT improve the situation. What the heck people!
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't fall and hurt someone...
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ReplyDeleteThose planters look like shit. As Jim said, some shims would solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteYikes.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It looks very much like a rushed job. I would have built them level with wide concrete perimeters good for sitting and taking it all in as the world walks by... an American chain restaurant in London.
ReplyDeleteThey look ridiculous. The higher wheels could be taken off and they may look almost level.
ReplyDeleteOne wonders why the installer did not shim them to make them level.
ReplyDeleteThose planters are hideous.
ReplyDeleteThose aren't very attractive planters. In fact, they just look like scrap wood thrown together.
ReplyDeleteI would have made sure those planters sat level even just by putting a support under the lower edge. The way they are now, if the plants grow top heavy they could topple.
ReplyDelete