Appalling Neglect!

October 2007 was the last time I bothered to update the blog that nobody reads, so it's time for a new post, I think.

I moved into a new flat in October last year, quite probably just before my last post. It is in the One SE8 development in Deptford (the postal code is SE13, contrary to what the name of the development may infer). The video on the One SE8 website suggested that I was about to move to an urban Eden, where everyone was beautiful (as I would be), dinner would be delivered to my door, my apartment would be remarkably clean and tidy, I would regularly be massaged by a stunning man and life would generally be wonderful. It is fair to say that this has not been entirely borne out, though there are indeed many beautiful people who live there. It has ultimately transpired that whilst there are many pretty distractions in human form, the apartments and buildings are rather poorly manufactured and constructed.

The first sign that there was anything wrong with the apartment in which I now reside was that light bulbs would constantly fuse and, in doing so, trip the lighting circuit. This was frustrating but since incandescent light bulbs are rather incredibly cheap these days it wasn't hugely inconvenient or painful. To try to remedy this situation I have replaced those very bulbs with their 'energy efficient' cousins. I must admit that my understanding of their workings is rooted in GCSE physics and is therefore not worth mentioning, but I believe that they are not prone to 'fusing' in the way that incandescent bulbs are.

Anyway, moving on, the next thing that I noticed was that a couple of the light fittings in the flat did not work. They still don't work, in fact. Given that they are halogen and all interlinked via a transformer this is odd, to say the least. Since I dislike halogen 'spot lights' as a general illuminator it doesn't pain me particularly that they do not work, however it is another problem to add to the list.

When I go away I switch my boiler off completely in an attempt to save money and to not waste energy. Whenever I would return from a trip and switch the boiler back on (by using the master switch in its timer) the integrated fuse would blow (though the circuit breaker would not be activated). Eventually this timer actually caught fire, though not in a particularly dramatic manner (it extinguished itself). This is the last of the electrical problems that I have experience thus far, but they are part of a larger impression given by my apartment that indicates incredible cost cutting on the part of the developer.

What is particularly odd about this 'cost cutting' is that a great deal of money has been spent creating an impression of decadence and sophistication within the rest of the development. There is a pool and gymnasium, a 'corner' shop, a restaurant, large pieces of art work, glass sliding doors at the entrances to most of the buildings, pleasant and relatively expensive OTIS lifts, exterior decoration that wastes a great deal of space to the benefit only of the aesthetic, automatic gates, 5A lamp circuits in each apartment, etc. In essence there is a great deal of style but very little actual substance. This is in stark contrast to my favourite 'development' in London, the Barbican.

The Barbican is the most prominent and identifiable piece of brutalist architecture in London and it is, in my opinion (though not in that of many others) simply fabulous. It remains Europe's largest multi-arts complex and, most importantly, the residents there are treated to a way of life that few can enjoy.

When you live there one of the most noticeable things is the almost absolute absence of noise. Depending on where you live in the development you may hear the sound of fountains and a waterfall, or a little bustle from some of the public areas, but what you very rarely hear are the hallmark noises of almost any large city: sirens, horns, shouting, animals, children... essentially all of the little things that are annoying when on your doorstep. This is despite the fact that the development exists near the heart of the 'square mile', the original City of London.

Possibly more incredible is the fact that your neighbours rarely disturb you and vice versa. Most of the walls are made of rather thick concrete and whilst that makes hanging paintings a tedious process that requires a workman (contractually), the only noise that shall emanate from next door is the sound of their light switches.

It is more than a little sad that this fantastic piece of modern architecture is overlooked and derided by so many people, especially given that it works so well functionally speaking. Hopefully, one day, it shall receive the common recognition that it so richly deserves.