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The threatened fountains at the base of the Grade-II listed building |
Insensitive, gross and ham-fisted: the bid to demolish fountains
Architects rally to protect iconic Centre Point feature
THE iconic Grade II-listed fountains at the foot of Centre Point are set to be demolished because of building work for the new Cross Rail train programme.
The water feature on the corner of New Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, which dates from 1962, has been earmarked for the wrecker’s ball as the new underground train link tunnels its way beneath central London.
The fountains were part of the original design of the 32-storey building, but with new ventilation chutes and a massive ticket hall due to be built under the fountains, engineers say they have to go.
The 20th Century Society’s John Wright says the plans to demolish the fountains are symptomatic of post-war art being dismissed as of little value by today’s planners.
“We have said from the start that they should be built into the plans for the new plaza at the entrance of the ticket halls.” he said. “The heritage of the recent past is often not as well understood as the heritage of older periods. It is not seen as important.”
His views have been backed by leading design critic Stephen Bayley. Mr Bayley, who writes for the Observer, said: “I always had a sneaking respect for Centre Point and its architect.
“As a visiting provincial student I recall being enthralled by that vertiginous vista you get up the steps from Tottenham Court Road Tube. But Seifert and Centre Point spent a long time being vilified as insensitive, gross and ham-fisted.
“We see things rather differently now: architect and building have been rehabilitated. People can now see that Richard Seifert had a remarkable sense of architectural design which adds something almost romantic to London.
“The fountains are an integral part of this quaint late-1960s vision: it is insensitive, gross and ham-fisted to remove them”.
Despite being listed, new legislation passed two years ago to help speed up potentially knotty planning problems with Cross Rail means designers can push through usual planning restrictions.
And the area has been described in the past by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) as a design disaster .
CABE have said the fountains make crossing the road at the busy junction of Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road and Charing Cross Road dangerous.
Town Hall environment chief Tory councillor Andrew Marshall said the loss of the fountains may have to be accepted because of the benefits Cross Rail offered.
“I do like modern architecture and Centre Point is redolent of the modernist phase,” he said. .
“Ideally, the fountains could be moved – but I do not think they should inhibit the work to get Cross Rail built. It will bring huge new benefits.”
Cllr Marshall added that with architect Renzo Piano’s new designs for St Giles Circus well under way, the area east of Tin Pan Alley was changing.
He said: “In terms of the whole area we have a planning brief and we want to work with the owners of Centre Point.
“It would be ideal if the fountains could be preserved or re-incorporated into a new design.”
Meanwhile, the fountains could temporarily provide the backdrop for happy couples getting married. The Paramount Club, based on the top three floors of Centre Point, have applied for a marriage licence.
Club manager Pierre Condou said: “It is a great venue – on a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle.
“Nowhere in London can match the views we have.” |
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