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| Five architectural treasures we must save from the UK’s heritage war | Five architectural treasures we must save from the UK’s heritage war |
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| The UK’s approach to preserving its built history has always been hit and miss. This week, Historic England – the government-run organisation charged with deciding what to save and what to leave to decay or demolition – released the full list of structures and objects it has granted protected status in the past year. It includes a cold war missile command centre, a Victorian gin palace in Essex, and a climbable piece of modern sculpture, as well as some mid-century architectural gems such as a unique concrete house designed by Brian Housden for his own family in north London. | The UK’s approach to preserving its built history has always been hit and miss. This week, Historic England – the government-run organisation charged with deciding what to save and what to leave to decay or demolition – released the full list of structures and objects it has granted protected status in the past year. It includes a cold war missile command centre, a Victorian gin palace in Essex, and a climbable piece of modern sculpture, as well as some mid-century architectural gems such as a unique concrete house designed by Brian Housden for his own family in north London. |
| Their new heritage status will largely prevent them from being destroyed by money-grubbing developers who might want to clear them away to build yet more “luxury” housing that local people can’t afford. Or from cash-strapped councils who’d like to replace them with something cheaper to maintain. Or even from well-meaning owners who’d like to add an off-the-rack glazed extension. All well and good, unless you own one of these structures, in which case you’re going to be saddled with a maintenance bill that might make you weep. | Their new heritage status will largely prevent them from being destroyed by money-grubbing developers who might want to clear them away to build yet more “luxury” housing that local people can’t afford. Or from cash-strapped councils who’d like to replace them with something cheaper to maintain. Or even from well-meaning owners who’d like to add an off-the-rack glazed extension. All well and good, unless you own one of these structures, in which case you’re going to be saddled with a maintenance bill that might make you weep. |
| But there are some obvious omissions from the list: much loved national icons or key examples of our country’s illustrious architectural past that you might assume are already protected. | But there are some obvious omissions from the list: much loved national icons or key examples of our country’s illustrious architectural past that you might assume are already protected. |
| London, in particular, is in the throes of a heritage war. This is partly because the city is at the sharp end of the development wedge. There simply isn’t enough space for all the luxury apartments, skyscrapers with huge trading floors and “public” lookout points that you have to pay to access. Small buildings that no one really notices, but are hugely important to London’s character, are often first in the line of fire. So are the big ones. With this in mind, here are five places that should be protected: | London, in particular, is in the throes of a heritage war. This is partly because the city is at the sharp end of the development wedge. There simply isn’t enough space for all the luxury apartments, skyscrapers with huge trading floors and “public” lookout points that you have to pay to access. Small buildings that no one really notices, but are hugely important to London’s character, are often first in the line of fire. So are the big ones. With this in mind, here are five places that should be protected: |
| Robin Hood Gardens, London | Robin Hood Gardens, London |
| Loved by architects and hated by nearly everyone else, the Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Tower Hamlets has been at the centre of a tug of war for more than five years. Despite being rejected for listing in 2009, campaigners haven’t quite given up trying to save the 1970s estate, designed by the influential British architects Alison and Peter Smithson. It’s currently due to be demolished to make way for a huge new housing development, but the 20th Century Society – which battles to protect modern architecture – has fought to have the case re-opened. The starry list of supporters, which includes Richard Rogers and Zaha Hadid, may swing it for a last-minute rescue. | Loved by architects and hated by nearly everyone else, the Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Tower Hamlets has been at the centre of a tug of war for more than five years. Despite being rejected for listing in 2009, campaigners haven’t quite given up trying to save the 1970s estate, designed by the influential British architects Alison and Peter Smithson. It’s currently due to be demolished to make way for a huge new housing development, but the 20th Century Society – which battles to protect modern architecture – has fought to have the case re-opened. The starry list of supporters, which includes Richard Rogers and Zaha Hadid, may swing it for a last-minute rescue. |
| Deptford Dockyard, London | Deptford Dockyard, London |
| One of the most important historic sites in south-east London, built 500 years ago by Henry VIII for his royal docks – where Captain Cook would berth his ships and Frances Drake was knighted – it has suffered an ignominious fate in recent years. Most of the site has already been covered in concrete, and it’s about to get worse. Convoys Wharf – a £1bn redevelopment plan pushed through by Boris Johnson, overruling the local council and opposition from residents – will feature a series of towers (yes, more “luxury flats”), swamping what remains of the original docks. | One of the most important historic sites in south-east London, built 500 years ago by Henry VIII for his royal docks – where Captain Cook would berth his ships and Frances Drake was knighted – it has suffered an ignominious fate in recent years. Most of the site has already been covered in concrete, and it’s about to get worse. Convoys Wharf – a £1bn redevelopment plan pushed through by Boris Johnson, overruling the local council and opposition from residents – will feature a series of towers (yes, more “luxury flats”), swamping what remains of the original docks. |
| The Southbank Centre, London | The Southbank Centre, London |
| A hugely important icon of architecture’s brutalist era, the Southbank Centre is a network of elevated walkways, spiralling stairwells and cultural buildings built between 1963 and 1968. Depending on who you talk to, the complex is a concrete monstrosity or one of the best things about London. Although the Royal Festival Hall and National Theatre are individually protected, the centre was controversially granted exemption from listing in 2012. Its managers are now considering adding a massive glass extension as part of a “modernisation” plan. | A hugely important icon of architecture’s brutalist era, the Southbank Centre is a network of elevated walkways, spiralling stairwells and cultural buildings built between 1963 and 1968. Depending on who you talk to, the complex is a concrete monstrosity or one of the best things about London. Although the Royal Festival Hall and National Theatre are individually protected, the centre was controversially granted exemption from listing in 2012. Its managers are now considering adding a massive glass extension as part of a “modernisation” plan. |
| Century House, Manchester | Century House, Manchester |
| Like many threatened buildings in the UK, Century House feels like a natural part of the city it sits in. It’s not a shouty piece of architecture, or an especially important example of its type. But that’s partly why it’s worth keeping. The neo-classical Portland stone building was built in 1934 by an architect who is no longer very well known – AW Roques. It wasn’t listed in 2012, despite being considered “a prominent building of strong local interest” by English Heritage, and demolition to make way for an 11-storey office block has already begun. | |
| Hove town hall | Hove town hall |
| Built in the 1970s to a design by John Wells-Thorpe, the concrete and glass brutalist town hall replaced an earlier gothic-style building that was destroyed by a fire. Its unexpected highlight is the faceted wooden ceiling in the great hall. The building was recently denied listed status after campaigners tried to protect it from a £16m development plan, which includes chopping up many of the internal spaces to make more offices. In an odd turn of events, the building caught fire in April, with a faulty solar panel on the roof blamed for the blaze. | Built in the 1970s to a design by John Wells-Thorpe, the concrete and glass brutalist town hall replaced an earlier gothic-style building that was destroyed by a fire. Its unexpected highlight is the faceted wooden ceiling in the great hall. The building was recently denied listed status after campaigners tried to protect it from a £16m development plan, which includes chopping up many of the internal spaces to make more offices. In an odd turn of events, the building caught fire in April, with a faulty solar panel on the roof blamed for the blaze. |
| • Tell us the buildings that you would like to see listed in the thread below. |