Charlotte Fernández
UKIMEA Press Office,Leeds
English Heritage has announced the listing of 14 of the finest post-war office buildings in England.
The new additions to the National Heritage List for England include four buildings by Arup Associates. 1 Finsbury Avenue in London, Gateway House in Basingstoke, Central Electricity Generating Board in Bristol and Gun Wharf in Chatham, are all now listed at Grade II.
English Heritage was very selective in which buildings were recommended to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport because the threshold for special architectural or historic interest in recent buildings is particularly high.
Buildings generally become eligible for listing once they pass 30 years from the start of construction, and the earlier on owners can establish whether their building is likely to become listed, the earlier on they can start to plan. This is particularly desirable with commercial buildings which are especially prone to frequent adaptation.
Office buildings shape the face of our cities and today’s listings have ensured that this area of architectural achievement is recognised for future generations. Listing helps the nation acknowledge and understand its shared history. It marks and celebrates a building's special architectural and historic interest, and also brings it under the consideration of the planning system, so that some thought will be given to its future when change is underway.
“"Listed buildings are not just about historic houses and ancient monuments, they also serve to protect our recent heritage and preserve the best examples of our fantastic architecture. This group of listings reflect the changing face of our working environment and represent the very best in design and it's entirely right that they be listed Grade II." Ed Vaizey, Heritage Minister
“We design every single one of our buildings with the future in mind so that we leave a lasting legacy for future generations. It is a measure of their quality, excellence and innovation that four of these buildings have been recognised as meriting listing status. We and our clients and collaborators are very proud of this unique achievement. Declan O’Carroll, Arup Associates, Director