"That kitchen counter and backsplash are literally bonkers" says commenter

In this week's comments update, readers are discussing the renovation of a 1960s bungalow in Bath by UK studio Forgeworks.

Aptly named A House of Wood Shingle, the entire exterior was re-clad with a skin of cedar shingles, while bright colours were added to the bungalow's interior spaces.

"A very pleasing, relatively modest and simple house"

Readers failed to reach a consensus over the materials used for the kitchen surfaces. Ken Robertson remarked "nice proportions, nice palette, nice external textures, but what on earth happened with the kitchen surface?"

Similarly scathing was Tom Roberts, who determined that "in the kitchen and hallway, more is definitely less."

HeywoodFloyd felt that "that kitchen counter and backsplash are literally bonkers."

However, on the other side of the coin, Jb proposed that "the kitchen and a few inspired bright colours save this from the grey doom".

Another advocate for the design was AlfredHitchcock, writing "it's a very pleasing, relatively modest and simple house." "I could live there," they said, before adding "love the weathered shingles."

What do you make of it? Join the discussion ›

"Well overdue – let's get it done"

Dezeen readers were also responding to London mayor Sadiq Khan's announcement that plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street will move forward.

Several commenters were in favour of the decision, with Chris D suggesting the decision was "well overdue".

On the same page, Rd argued "once you've experienced it you'll never go back". "Every city should do this," they added.

However, others were less sold. "Removing traffic from Oxford Street isn't going to reverse 30 years of decline," determined AlfredHitchcock. "All it will do is create an even tackier tourist trap, with the traffic forced down narrow side streets".

They put forward that "absolutely no thought has gone into this scheme and its wider impacts".

Whateverandeveramen was similarly scathing, commenting "great – it will be even easier to access the dozens of money-laundering candy shops installed there."

To pedestrianise or not to pedestrianise? Join the discussion ›

"Glad someone likes it, I guess"

Also providing plenty of fodder in the comments section was a report about urban foxes digging burrows in the rooftop gardens of Google's upcoming office in Kings Cross, London, designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio.

"In a way, it's a sign of genuine ecological design," reflected Dixie Normous. "Animals don't fake habitat – so it's a real compliment, notwithstanding the issues it may cause," they wrote.

Baid Isle agreed, calling the design "a good example of integrating natural features into the built environment to create habitats for wildlife".

"Glad someone likes it, I guess," sneered LoveYourHairHopeYouWin.

"Good! Animals are far better than most people," was the reaction of Apsco Radiales.

Joe Public, meanwhile, wasn't overly phased. "In other news, I saw a hedgehog in someone's front garden a couple of weeks ago," he said.

Have you had your say? Join the discussion ›

Comments update

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