LONDON, UK.- Heritage Minister Andrew McIntosh today announced that he was seeking the public's views on listing five buildings – four built in the 1960s and one in the 1970s – all at Grade II.
The structures include a University College Chapel, a 'weekend cottage' that expresses the designers Brutalist manifesto and a rare businessman's house of the 1960s.
Andrew McIntosh said: "These five buildings, all of which were designed by leading architects, have unique and distinctive architectural interest. Apart from St Mary's University College Chapel they were designed as residences each adapted to its particular environment and using innovative structures and materials often of the finest quality.
"This consultation will now allow all members of the public, including amenity bodies, architects and other specialists, the opportunity to comment on the merits of the buildings before I make my decision."
The buildings being considered for listing are:
• Upper Lawn Cottage (Solar Pavilion), West Tisbury, Wiltshire
Designed as a weekend cottage by Alison and Peter Smithson, this is a beautifully preserved example of the work of this internationally renowned practice when they were at the height of their powers.
Originally an 18th century structure, the Smithsons incorporated elements of the old building in their new construction which dates from 1961-2. The upper floor is a glazed box giving views of the surrounding countryside, including the estate of Fonthill landscaped by William Beckford, like a true pavilion. The building expresses what the Smithsons meant by Brutalism which looks to honesty of materials and suggests Japanese buildings, with their simple timber construction.
• Chapel, St Mary's University College, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham
Built in 1962-3 to the designs of Sir Albert Richardson, Houfe and Partners the chapel was part of an expansion of St Mary's Roman Catholic Teacher Training College which occupies Strawberry Hill the Grade I villa developed by Horace Walpole in the 18th century.
The chapel is capable of accommodating 640 people seated, in a broad five-bay nave flanked by passage aisles. The tall, gaunt idiom was inspired by the medieval brick cathedral at Albi in southern France which influenced English church design in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The building is remarkably opulent and well-appointed for its date and includes stained glass windows in the chancel produced by the master glazier to Chartres Cathedral.
• 38 Millfield Lane, Camden Town, London
The proposal is for the house, staff flat and garage to be listed. These were built in 1968-9 to the designs of Philip Pank, an architect noted for his private house design in the 1960s. The house is two storey and of brick and timber.
Pank was described as a 'true artist-architect' and 38 Millfield Lane was one of his most luxurious and well-appointed designs, richly fitted out and with little alteration.
• Wildwood, 12A Western Avenue, Poole, Dorset
Wildwood was built in 1973-4 to the designs of Richard Hordern for his parents. Hordern had travelled in the United States and had been particularly influenced by Craig Ellwood who produced rectilinear steel-framed houses in California.
Sometimes known as the 'Courtyard House', the courtyard is an integral part of the design. There is a also garden with a screen wall which adds to the transparency and flow of space through the house.
Due to the cost, steel houses are relatively rare in Britain, and this building's scale and completeness make it exceptional compared to other British steel houses.
• South Winds, Cryfield Grange Road, Coventry
This house was built in 1965-6 by Robert Harvey, of the firm Yorke, Harvey and Harper, in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is regarded as a rare unaltered businessman's house of the 1960s using the finest materials and beautifully finished.
All the buildings will have the usual 3 month consultation period except for South Winds in Coventry which will be 2 weeks.
The public and other interested parties should forward their views to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by 27 May 2005. These should be sent to:
Elaine Pearce
Historic Environment Designation Branch
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
