Listings report, Autumn 2004

Added to the list:

St Michael’s College Chapel, Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales; George Gaze Pace, 1957-59, Grade II*

Now up for sale together with the College the still completely intact chapel is one of the very few outstanding twentieth century churches in Wales. It is a remarkable expression of the architect’s preoccupation with both Le Corbusier and the Gothic tradition and was considered by the architect as one of his best works.

Beacon House, Hindhead, Surrey; Blunden Shadbolt, 1926, Grade II

A highly elaborate Arts and Crafts house that is dramatically situated in the sloping landscape.

Former Ampthill Rural District Council Offices, Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire; Sir Albert Richardson and E A S Houfe, 1963-4, Grade II

An excellent example of post-war Neo-Georgian architecture, described in Pevsner as ‘quite unbelievable for its date, … symmetrical (and) simplified’.

Regent Palace Hotel (with Atlantic Bar & Grill), Glasshouse Street, Westminster, London; WJ Ancell and later Henry Tanner and FJ Wills, 1914; Bar: Oliver Bernard, 1934-35, Grade II

Located in the heart of the tourist district and visible from Piccadilly Circus the hotel has a good faience baroque façade. At the time of its completion it was the largest hotel in Europe with more than 1000 beds. Inside there are some truly outstanding Art Deco interiors by Oliver Bernard dating from the 1930s that remain amazingly complete. The Atlantic Bar retains its wood panelling, bronze banding, columns, lighting, feaux windows and grilles. The Titanic Bar has stunning plasterwork, reminiscent of cinema buildings, that decorates the entire ceiling. The original light fittings, mirrors, metal work and glass are all still intact.

Lower Hill Branch Library, Wolverhampton, Midlands; H B Robinson, 1930, Grade II

Octagonal brick structure with three stepped tiers. This interestingly shaped building is described in the listing description as ‘a logical and inspired answer to the requirement for a branch library.’

PUT FORWARD

St Michael’s College Chapel, Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales; George Gaze Pace, 1957-59, II*

See above for details.

Grey Wings, Ashtead, Surrey; Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, 1913, unlisted

Intriguing early private commission by the famous architect showing strong Art Deco influence on façade whilst the plan retains the popular Edwardian butterfly plan.

Kneeton Road, East Bridgford, Nottingham; George Dickinson, 1960s

An innovative architect designed house that has been proposed for demolition.

Commercial Union Assurance and Peninsular & Oriental Line (P&O) Buildings, Leadenhall Street and St Mary Axe, The City, London; Gollins Melvin Ward Partnership, 1968-69, unlisted

The lower P&O Building with its horizontal emphasis is arranged at a right angle to the tall Commercial Union Assurance Tower around a generous irregularly shaped piazza. It is the best example of a Seagram type development in London and indeed the whole country. The highly successful scheme was covered widely in the architectural press at the time of its completion. The P&O building is to be demolished as a part of the scheme to build a 800ft tower by Richard Rogers.

Car Showroom, Wimbledon Hill Road, London; R M F Huddart, 1928

A rare example of its type, this showroom addresses its site exceptionally well. The building is well composed and mainly intact.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Harbourne Road, Birmingham, Midlands; John Madin Design Group, 1958-61

An elegant office building featuring an impressive mural by John Piper, the building is subject to a redevelopment scheme for the area.

TURNED DOWN

Lucozade Sign, Great West Road, London; 1950s

The Lucozade Sign is one of the few very good road sign advertisements. Its illuminated bubbles lead the way into London at night. The sign is attached to a building that has been scheduled for demolition and we hope that it will be relocated to the Gunnersbury Museum.

Multi-Storey Car Park, Trinity Square, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear; Owen Luder Partnership, 1967

The local council was not prepared to include the building in the local list because demolition had been granted. The building also features on our Risky Buildings website.

Fire Station, Canning Place, Liverpool, Merseyside; Kingham Knight Associates, 1962

A quirky and unusually proportioned example of its type; the fire station will now make place for Liverpool’s massive redevelopment scheme.

Community Centre, Loughborough Park Estate, Brixton, London; E Armstrong, 1938

The entire estate is subject to a redevelopment scheme by its owner, the Guinness Trust. The Community Centre is the architectural focus and the best of the estate’s buildings. Its shiplike shapes are well designed and truly modernist.

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