The One Poultry painting depicts a curious London landmark that reminds me of Western trains and Lego bricks, let me explain…
The name itself feels wrong, but that is the address, a strange reference to the farmyard in the heart of the business centre of London. No doubt a reference to trade or a market, dedicated to the sale of poultry. London has numerous ancient specialised markets, but I’ll have to do my research first.
One of the last creations of the Postmodernist Style
The distinctive building was designed by James Stirling. The design was refined over three decades and finished in 1997, five years after his death. A controversial building with mixed reviews, it became a listed building in 2016.
The building at One Poultry gives a curious impression of being simultateously carefully designed, and yet slapped together haphazardly. The colours and pattern suggests the former, the odd mix of shapes and curiosity, err towards the latter. It must have been designed, since it’s impossible to build something in the area without submitting plans, but what were they thinking? I’ll leave you to place emphasis on those words wherever you choose, and to infer any meaning that you wish. In the meantime. just appreciate the oddity that is shown in this One Poultry painting.
Looking at One Poultry, it’s hard to escape the impression that one is looking at a child’s set of building blocks, a giant sets of Legos or a building inspired by them… or maybe wooden blocks?
Imagine children sitting on the floor and listening to them at play. Easily done as children like to talk about what they’re doing. Thoughts occur at random;
‘Let’s make a triangle shape so high. Oh, I don’t have enough brown/red or orange bricks, so I’ll make it stripy.’
‘I want a tower or tall chimney!’
‘Let’s make it square? Oh, I’ve run out of bricks. Let’s try round then. Bother I’ve run out of those as well.’
‘Maybe I should put them together? Nope, Still not tall enough.’
‘Put an arch at the bottom then. Perfect!’
‘Still needs to be taller.’
‘I have these other round blocks. And how about two viewing platforms, so all of the people can see around?’
That was always the problem with blocks.
There were never enough of the ones you wanted, so you are forced to be imaginative. It’s a secret that’s familiar to all creatives, give yourself some limitations, and you have to think creatively.
Thats not all that strikes me about this building. I’m a reminded of railway trains, like the old US Western train. It’s something about the tower at the front reminds me of the funnel, and the little shaped platform behind on the little tower looks like the cab roof. My imagination takes massive detours sometimes.
And what did I find in my research?
I quote:
“Poultry takes its name, like other roads nearby such as Milk Street and Bread Street, from the various produce once sold at Cheapside (meaning “market-place” in Old English).”
Hi Cathy
Thank you for your painting of Number One Poultry. I can assure you that the building was very very carefully designed absolutely nothing is ‘haphazard’. I can also add that Jim would have really liked your interpretation that it appears “haphazard” – Why? Because when we completed a project Jim would say, “lets see what they make of that”. Over the last 25 years artist have drawn and painted the building and architects and historian interpreted the buildings in various ways. This is exactly what you have done (by the way the design had nothing to do with a US western train). I trust you will agree it does not fall into the boring bland category of many buildings and is an inspiration to artist like yourself.
Thanks
Regards
Laurence M . Bain
Project architect for Number One Poultry – Associate and Director in the office of James Stirling (JSMWAL)
Hello Laurence,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, especially with your connection to the creation of One Poultry. Having the perspective of one of its creators, on both the building itself and my interpretation of it, is a wonderful gift. One of the reasons I’m so drawn to painting architecture is a curiousity about how they came to be. As you know, nothing is created without first being imagined and that vision is shaped further during the creative process. I love seeing architecture that embraces style as well as functionality and especially the eccentric. Your creation checks those boxes perfectly. Thank you for presenting me with the inspriation to create something that allowed me to explore my own imaginative abilities and proving, yet again, that creativity builds on creativity.
With love from the studio,
Cathy Read
Oh yes, and I agree. Definitely NOT bland or boring.