Dem

The restaurant at 11 Central Hill must be the largest in the area, the vast interior capable of seating well over 100 people. The premises have changed hands several times in recent years, having last been a Mexican restaurant. It was recently reopened by Kurdish brothers, Yuksel, and Serdal Akpinar. 'Dem' simply means relax in Kurdish, and while Kurdish restaurants are often referred to as Turkish, I guess to simplify things for us geographically challenged Brits, the brothers proudly proclaim that Kurdish cuisine is superior.
Having spent the previous 15 years running a restaurant on Shaftesbury Avenue, Yuksel moved to Gipsy Hill and opened the new restaurant all on the same day. And he's enjoying the change of scene; rather than feeding the tourists, as was the case in the West End, he enjoys having friendly locals coming in on a regular basis.
With the photography and interview done, Yuksel showed me to a table and generously provided me with an ample meal, all of which was exceptionally good. So if you're looking for the perfect place to relax over a long summer evening meal, try Dem!

Yuksel & Serdal 

Dem

11 Central Hill

Building Boom on the Triangle?

As with everywhere else in this vast city, Crystal Palace appears to be in the midst of a building boom. And with space become scarcer, and therefore more valuable, every scrap of land is now ripe for redevelopment, and every low-rise building seems to be extending upwards. Sadly the quality of much of the new building is not high, and more than one development on the Triangle has flouted planning permission and regulations. The Triangle is changing fast, and I just thought it was worth capturing things as they stand.
Although much of the development relates to new housing, there are retail and mixed use plans on the table, and visible from my balcony, a large new school is taking shape off Gipsy Hill. In the centre of the Triangle lies the Victory Place site which has been subject to several planning applications. Up until recently however, very little seems to have happened, except for a string of temporary users popping up on the open space fronting on to Westow Street. The latest being the highly rated Roti Brothers takeaway van. Then a month or two ago, after the closure of the neighbouring vintage shop, the rear of that building was demolished. Does this mean that works are finally under way, or will it remain a festering eyesore for months to come? 

Westow Hill meanwhile is enthusiastically embracing the trend for building upwards. The developers of the former Black Sheep bar, with total disregard for the planners, and the local conservation area, ripped out the old masonry pub frontage, replacing it eventually with a pale imitation in timber, while the lacklustre new-build above adds nothing of merit to the street.

Next door is getting similar treatment, although Superdrug who are reportedly taking on the retail unit, have withdrawn an application for a new shopfront.

Further along the street, the building which houses Winkworths has already extended upwards with warehouse style apartments, no doubt sending prices through the roof in the process.

Tucked just behind the library on Beardell Street, another development is rising, taking advantage of the spectacular views northward.

Probably the most awkward site, and one that's been crying out for development for decades, is the one just behind the Westow pub, which is to become 9 apartments and one business premises.  You get a great view of works in progress from the Farquhar Road bridge. Works are going at such a pace, that these images are already somewhat out of date.

Further down the hill, the new Paxton Primary school is taking shape, pre-fabricated block by pre-fabricated block. I could see them being craned into place from my balcony. 

Many of the neighbouring streets are seeing smaller works of their own, with scaffolding proliferating in every direction.

And building works are underway in countless shops around the Triangle, with signs of further works to come.

Well at least it's not another….

Start, stop, at the long empty former pet shop on Westow Street.

Dalhousie is now trading in what was Popiel (left), the bicycle shop, and works are ongoing in the former Blue Orchid.

Brasiliana on it's way to becoming the French House

What's the future for the site of Betty's?

While the upper floors have now, like everywhere else, become "luxury" apartments, there has sadly been little progress at the Cambridge.

And finally the news that the Triangle is now a bank free zone, although there has at least been a recent proliferation of cash machines. Expect new bars/cafes/restaurants to take their place before long.

Former Barclays

Former Lloyds

Of course, all the current building works around the Triangle, will look like a drop in the ocean, if Lambeth Council go ahead with their plan to erase the entire Central Hill Estate. I may revisit this theme in a year to see what's changed.

Central Hill Estate

Just facing the northwest corner of the Triangle, lies the Central Hill Estate, an award winning development of social housing, built between 1966-73, by Lambeth's architecture department lead by Ted Hollamby, and designed by Rosemary Stjernstedt, which is now, sadly under threat of possible demolition. Some of you may think that fate is no bad thing. Architecture of that period is not widely loved, but then 50 years ago nor was Victorian architecture. Amazing to think now that a building as magnificent and loved as St. Pancras railway station and its adjoining hotel, came close to demolition. And while of course that building is in a different league, there is a deep attachment to the endless streets of ordinary 19th century terraced homes up and down the country, plenty of which are in pretty shoddy condition. We wouldn't think for one moment of demolishing them though.
But this isn't just about architectural tastes, it's about a community and people. A couple of months ago, I went to meet Nicola Curtis, a council tenant on the estate, who earlier this year started a campaign to save it. Part of what motivated her was the complete lack of transparency on the part of Lambeth Borough Council. In fact the role of the council in the history of this estate has been poor from the very start. Decades of neglect have resulted in the situation the estate now finds itself, and having neglected things so long, the council now can't afford to address all the problems that the buildings face, and are therefore seeking to effectively sell off the estate to developers with deeper pockets. Initially residents were lead to believe that this involved refurbishment with some rebuilding, but the likelihood is that actually wholesale demolition will be proposed, forcing people, some of whom have lived there since the estate was built, to move away. The stress and frustration of many on the estate is understandable. Nicola herself is recovering from a stroke earlier in the year, so the upheaval is the last thing she needs. Not far away, the Cressingham Estate has undergone a similar exercise, and its fate has already been sealed.
On my tours around the neighbourhood, I discovered a collection of buildings which make the most of their landscape, topography, and views towards the city. Blocks stepping down the green hillside with generous balconies and terraces, and the rustic brick paths, the human scale, and the absence of cars from all but the periphery. I saw the pride residents have taken in their gardens, and the vision of the architects who created the estate. Yes, all is not perfect of course, but much of the trouble often associated with estates such as this, are mostly a thing of the past. People are seeing the positives of these well designed homes, and their perfect location on the doorstep of the Triangle. Slowly but surely it's becoming an increasingly desirable place to live. Why then can't it follow the example of the not dissimilar Alexandra Estate in Camden, which is now a listed structure, and with it's future assured, is thriving.

Nicola Curtis with her granddaughter

A view from the estate

One of the rather whimsical fort-like refuse points, taken during an Open House London tour lead by Senaka Weeraman.

Enclosed courtyard gardens with green roofs above the bin stores.

Through my research, I was fortunate enough to meet David Taylor, who moved onto the estate only a year or so ago. His home was in a pretty poor state when he bought it, but he has transformed it into cool and relaxed apartment, furnished sparingly with some suitably midcentury pieces. He kindly gave me permission to have a look around.

David on his balcony

London's skyline from the balcony

I would like to thank Nicola Curtis for talking to me, and for her tireless campaigning, David Taylor for allowing me to photograph his lovely apartment, and Senaka Weeraman who was a knowledgeable tour guide during London's Open House weekend.

Save Central Hill