Architect and geographer Nicholas Wood

• I HAVE known the architect and geographer Nicholas Wood since the date the HS2 bill was cobbled together and later passed equally by the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, (Nicholas Wood, architect with a foot in the future… and in the past, October 14).

This was a signal to him and he got flying into an instant planning action, of the pro-active persuasive kind, because the area at Old Oak Common was identified as having only a minor function for the new train line in total contrast to Euston with the associated huge proposed land-grab areas and community displacement. No, no, where is the direct link to the Eurostar, he would lament.

The King’s Cross Railways Lands Group (KXRLG), had some years earlier objected to the proposed volume of the rear extension building to the historic St Pancras station, principally owing to the unnecessary height of the roof over the 13 platforms and the widths, necessitating the demolition of sturdy and historic residential buildings.

Nick recognised the potential immediately. Find a bit of land at the derelict rear KX site and elevate HS2 tracks onto a new upper deck and platforms above the recently-completed 13 platforms. So HS2, Eurostar, and the Kent commuter line and Thameslink are all in one shed.

Then connect the line from Old Oak Common to this new deck in St Pancras station or indeed run every so often a HS2 train through to the Stratford station in shared new Eurostar tunnels; through-trains from the north to Kent and Europe, a possibility now without cumbersome interchanging in London between Euston and St Pancras stations.

Nick Wood was also seeing potentials for safe cycling on purpose-built tracks “in the air”, criss-crossing Camden, namely in the airspace above electric life train lines in the deep Victorian period-built cuttings. Note Leonardo Da Vinci envisaged aeroplanes and helicopters 500 years ago going over ground, sea, rivers and mountains!

Utilise the airspace in and above the existing historic railway cutting and develop over, including ribbons of cycle tracks. Do it sensitively and do not totally obstruct the Victorian achievement of these gigantic brick-built retaining walls.

All the tracks out of Marylebone station to the Finchley Road station and beyond have “something” built over; parts of the Lord’s Cricket Ground is above the tracks, then the recently-constructed special treatment Wellington private hospital, a large 1930s block of flats, all along Wellington Road, NW8, a school, and various buildings including the Frank Barnes department store on the Finchley Road next to the Finchley Road station.

This is my brief tribute to Nick, his work and interests on his home ground. This aspect of his personality does not come through clear enough in his published obituary.

However in the announcement of his death in a short CNJ report on October 7 it does mention his attitude and disapproval of “two-tier” housing provisions.

I am wondering how he would perceive the design of the current scheme, soon to be before Camden planning, of the entire redevelopment of the Finchley Road O2 Centre and site for nearly 2,000 new flats and little open space? We remember when the centre was built.

In absolute horror, I guess. I do agree, and I am now heading there to view the “wonderful” model of it offered for viewing at restricted hours only.

HERMAN TRIBELNIG
Camden Town Urban Design Improvement Society
PO Box 10850, NW1