what to build?

So, on to 2011. First problem: what to build?

The choice had been widened to North Yorkshire and the NE of England. I decided to choose a landmark I could visit easily. I was tempted by various craggy islands and romantic castles, but went for something far more industrial: the Wills Building.

The Wills Building is on the Coast Road going out from Newcastle, a former cigarette factory, the main manufacturing area behind was cleared, leaving the listed art deco building. It remained empty for a few years until it was developed into apartments.

I emailed both the development company and the owners of the building for plans, but received no reply from either. Perhaps they did not take a request for plans to build a cake seriously?

Next step, the plans...

welcome to let them build cake

Welcome. Over the next few weeks I will document the heroic design, build and installation of my construction for Cakebook2011.

But first, a quick look back to last year: I chose the Tyneside Cinema, more for love of attending viewings, than any care for the external architecture. If you know the cinema you will be aware that it is partly hidden behind other buildings, which made for a slightly strange shape, and walls which cannot in reality be seen.

I was very kindly supplied plans by the architects who masterminded the renovations; this proved a double-edged sword. Having complete scale drawings meant I felt compelled to be as accurate as possible to as many details as I could using fruit cake and ready-to-roll icing.

The cut-out roof was a late thought. The part of the cinema I love is the interior: the renovated art deco details, and the screens of course. Having the plans I realised I could make the Electra screen if I took a section out of the top. The screen was accurate down to the number of individual seats (although I did change their colour).

Praised by the organisers for it's accuracy and detail, it was generally (and literally) over-looked by most people, being dwarfed by the buildings around it, a lesson learned for this year...