Wigans history.

The Architect was Will Alsop of SMC Alsop (he has now however moved to RMJM Architects) and he is famed for using odd geometrical form and colour on his projects. Basically, like it or loath it, the pavilion is typical of his style and as such Carnegie & Yorkshire Cricket will have know what they were going to get by appointing him in the first place!

I know him reasonably well professionally and have worked on a couple of projects with him. I also hosted him for a three day visit to Finland as part of one of the projects I did with him... it ranks as one of the most interesting business trips I have ever done and involved lots and lots of working & drinking, sometimes at the same time!

Nice guy with a real off the wall view on architecture!

Just because he is a nice bloke and likes a beer doesn't mean it isn't ugly! Frankly it looks like he had had a few when he designed this.

An Atmosphere would be nice.

Not really heard anything like that for last few years.

At the risk of sounding like HRH Prince Charles you can go two ways with architecture, you can appoint an architect who will design a building sympathetic to its surroundings which doesn't mean that it still can't be built from "modern" materials, or you can go for impact, almost shock and awe.

Alsop seems to have gone for the latter.

You won't find too many who would suggest that his design is complimentary in its surroundings or that riding past it on a bus you would hardly notice that its there - the photos on the previous page show how it blends so easily into its surroundings (not), its a statement from the commissioning owners and a statement from the architect ( I'm guessing that it will be outstanding in his portfolio and probably win some awards for him) and if thats what they wanted then they certainly have not failed in their commission.

Personally I would have preferred something that did not dominate the Headingley skyline so much, the frikkin thing hits you in the eye as far away as The Arc rather like a person with a facial birthmark walking down the pavement towards you would instantly draw your gaze from 500 yards away - personally I really like the "rusty" building on the BBC site opposite the Woodhouse multi storey car park, a building that dominates its skyline but does it without jarring its setting.

A Winter Shed and a Coconut Shy.

If we could add a few things it would be:

Redevelop the western terrace and get a cover over it.

replace the southstand but keep it as it is now if not bigger but all standing.

replace the main stand but have a couple of tiers so as to stop the need to have seating in the southstand. Maybe also have a small paddock of standing like in the old days for people who want to stand along the touch but not in the southstand

a scoreboard that can be used as a video board by sky but that is viewable from all angles of the ground, or maybe even two (one in the corner between the southstand and carnegie and one in the opposite corner)



then if I wanted to be really outlandish maybe a roof over the pitch so that we can have a dry track all year round

Greg Inglis