A photography portfolio of the City and County of Swansea by the author/photographer Chris Elphick
Old Pizza Hut Building, Kingsway
More change spotted on the Kingsway today - looks like there is work going on inside the old Pizza Hut building:
Oceana Road Signs
The road signs outside the Oceana complex are now in place along the Kingsway and when I walked past the site this afternoon there was a cacophony of hammering and demolition sounds emanating from inside the building. Work taking down the external walls of the building is currently scheduled for the end of this month. Watch this space for further images of the last few weeks of this much-loved building...
Let the Dragon's Blood Flow
Credit where credit is due, Swansea Council do some pretty cool things at times. One of these things is adding red dye to the Castle Square water fountain on St. David's Day:
At the moment I am awaiting a new pair of glasses so didn't notice the guy in the background of the above shot taking a selfie lol.
There were signs around the fountain today, warning people that the dye used in the water today could stain clothing. I wonder if this particular seagull finds his feet stained red for the next few days.
At the moment I am awaiting a new pair of glasses so didn't notice the guy in the background of the above shot taking a selfie lol.
There were signs around the fountain today, warning people that the dye used in the water today could stain clothing. I wonder if this particular seagull finds his feet stained red for the next few days.
Oceana Complex
This has got to be one of Swansea's most iconic buildings. People have fond memories of it in each of its various guises - The Top Rank, Odeon, or Ritzy's with Tesco stretching out along the bottom floor or Oceana, occupying the entire building. I remember it endearingly for being Odeon and Tesco, though also Ritzy's throughout my early student years. It feels sad that it is about to be demolished! Work on the rear and the interior of the building has already started and it won't be too long now before the building disappears from Swansea forever. Here it is though, as it stands on Saturday 27 February 2016:
The place is barricaded up ready for demolition but I managed to find a few spots on its facade where I could sneak a couple of interior shots of the building.
I remember queuing up all these stairs to see Close Encounters of the third kind and numerous other blockbuster films, as a child in the 1970s. My memories of using them when the place was Ritzy' s however are a bit blurred lol.
Seems strange seeing the old Kingsway Tesco I frequented in this state:
Waiting for oblivion - old advertising signs for the Icehouse Bar in the Oceana complex:
Villa Tahiti, located at the far left extremity of the building awaiting demolition:
As they seem to be taking this building down from the back to the front, when they finally get to work on the front of Oceana I imagine the thing will come down very fast indeed. I will try and keep my eye on the building over the next few weeks and hopefully will get the chance of further pictures before it is lost to us forever.
The place is barricaded up ready for demolition but I managed to find a few spots on its facade where I could sneak a couple of interior shots of the building.
I remember queuing up all these stairs to see Close Encounters of the third kind and numerous other blockbuster films, as a child in the 1970s. My memories of using them when the place was Ritzy' s however are a bit blurred lol.
Seems strange seeing the old Kingsway Tesco I frequented in this state:
Waiting for oblivion - old advertising signs for the Icehouse Bar in the Oceana complex:
Villa Tahiti, located at the far left extremity of the building awaiting demolition:
As they seem to be taking this building down from the back to the front, when they finally get to work on the front of Oceana I imagine the thing will come down very fast indeed. I will try and keep my eye on the building over the next few weeks and hopefully will get the chance of further pictures before it is lost to us forever.
Man on the Run
Just a short minute's walk from the lane where I photographed yesterday's graffiti pics, I stumbled upon seeing this piece. Simple, yes. But it made me smile.
Shopper's Walk
l love Swansea's arcades and wish there were a lot more of them in the city. I can't really see that happening any time soon though as lots of these small units currently stand empty - like way too many of the shops in Swansea as a whole. Unfortunately, the city shopping centre has been in this state for the last couple of years. And when talking about shopping in Swansea, I hear more and more people saying they no longer bother coming here.
I have to admit that I rarely shop here myself these days. I find that, of the shops that do remain open in the city centre, too many of them are familiar national chain stores you see in every other shopping centre across the the country. I hope that the council, as they develop the city centre ready for a hopeful boom in the economy (fingers crossed), possess the foresight to build lots more arcades, where smaller business can move in and try and make a go of adding interest and variety to a city desperate for rejuvenation. At the moment, just a couple of shop draw me in to spend a little time shopping here - one of them being featured in the pic below - the very friendly Comix Shop. Long may it thrive.
I have to admit that I rarely shop here myself these days. I find that, of the shops that do remain open in the city centre, too many of them are familiar national chain stores you see in every other shopping centre across the the country. I hope that the council, as they develop the city centre ready for a hopeful boom in the economy (fingers crossed), possess the foresight to build lots more arcades, where smaller business can move in and try and make a go of adding interest and variety to a city desperate for rejuvenation. At the moment, just a couple of shop draw me in to spend a little time shopping here - one of them being featured in the pic below - the very friendly Comix Shop. Long may it thrive.
On Guard at Swansea Museum
Swansea Museum is currently guarded by the giant figure of a World War I soldier. His presence marks the museum's current exhibition about the Great War, which focuses on the impact the hostilities had on the people of Swansea - both those who went to fight and also those people left behind to keep the country running.
The soldier strikes an imposing figure and serves as an effective advertisement on the exhibition on show within the museum. I still haven't found the opportunity of taking a look at exactly what features in the display, but hope to do so in the very near future...
The soldier strikes an imposing figure and serves as an effective advertisement on the exhibition on show within the museum. I still haven't found the opportunity of taking a look at exactly what features in the display, but hope to do so in the very near future...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)