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Eyesore or gem: Milton Court Eyesore or gem: Milton Court
(10 minutes later)
(Picture: Sarah Duncan) BUILDING SITE Five controversial buildings - should they stay or go? The maxim of beauty being in the eye of the beholder is no more true than in people's estimations of modern buildings. To mark Architecture Week, the Magazine is taking some of Britain's most controversial buildings to task. (Picture: Sarah Duncan) BUILDING SITE Five controversial buildings - should they stay or go? The maxim of beauty being in the eye of the beholder is no more true than in people's estimations of modern buildings. To mark Architecture Week, the Magazine takes some of Britain's most controversial buildings to task.
The Barbican is one of the UK's most controversial collections of buildings, a massive concrete city within a city, squatting in an area of London flattened during World War II.The Barbican is one of the UK's most controversial collections of buildings, a massive concrete city within a city, squatting in an area of London flattened during World War II.
Its famous arts centre has been voted London's ugliest building, but the fanatical support of residents in the complex and its Grade II-listed status means its future is assured. It remains a symbol of the previous generation's efforts to change the way we live through architecture, a concept still cherished by some, but loathed in equal measure.Its famous arts centre has been voted London's ugliest building, but the fanatical support of residents in the complex and its Grade II-listed status means its future is assured. It remains a symbol of the previous generation's efforts to change the way we live through architecture, a concept still cherished by some, but loathed in equal measure.
But before the Barbican was built, there was a little brother. Milton Court, designed by the same architects, housed both a fire station and a weights and measures office. Now much of its structure is deserted, and it is heading for demolition.But before the Barbican was built, there was a little brother. Milton Court, designed by the same architects, housed both a fire station and a weights and measures office. Now much of its structure is deserted, and it is heading for demolition.
The structure has echoes of Le Corbusier (Picture: Sarah Duncan)Owned by the City of London, it will make way for a block containing tuition and rehearsal space for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as well as flats. Unlike its celebrated brother, Milton Court is unlisted, but campaigners are still trying to save it.The structure has echoes of Le Corbusier (Picture: Sarah Duncan)Owned by the City of London, it will make way for a block containing tuition and rehearsal space for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as well as flats. Unlike its celebrated brother, Milton Court is unlisted, but campaigners are still trying to save it.
Here Eva Branscombe, of the Twentieth Century Society, argues it is an important building that can be rescued by redevelopment, while architect Guy Booth, says Milton Court is symptomatic of the bad, egotistical architecture of the 1960s and 1970s and should be flattened.Here Eva Branscombe, of the Twentieth Century Society, argues it is an important building that can be rescued by redevelopment, while architect Guy Booth, says Milton Court is symptomatic of the bad, egotistical architecture of the 1960s and 1970s and should be flattened.
KEEP IT - EVA BRANSCOMBE, 20TH CENTURY SOCIETYKEEP IT - EVA BRANSCOMBE, 20TH CENTURY SOCIETY
We have been worried about this building since it was not listed together with the rest of the Barbican in 2001. It has been at risk of demolition ever since.We have been worried about this building since it was not listed together with the rest of the Barbican in 2001. It has been at risk of demolition ever since.
It was the first phase of the Barbican development but was built as an island site that is connected to the residential development via a footbridge. This position has made it extremely vulnerable and there are now plans to demolish this really outstanding concrete structure.It was the first phase of the Barbican development but was built as an island site that is connected to the residential development via a footbridge. This position has made it extremely vulnerable and there are now plans to demolish this really outstanding concrete structure.
FLATTEN OR SAVE? Gateshead's Get Carter car park Slough's Brunel Roundabout Northampton's Greyfriars Bus StationFLATTEN OR SAVE? Gateshead's Get Carter car park Slough's Brunel Roundabout Northampton's Greyfriars Bus Station
Milton Court was designed in 1959 by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon who had first designed the Golden Lane Estate and then went on to build the Barbican. This was its first phase. It is an extremely important building in its own right, entirely apart from the role it plays as a part of the already Grade II-listed Barbican Complex.Milton Court was designed in 1959 by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon who had first designed the Golden Lane Estate and then went on to build the Barbican. This was its first phase. It is an extremely important building in its own right, entirely apart from the role it plays as a part of the already Grade II-listed Barbican Complex.
The public services of the building - fire station, coroner's court, office of weights and measures, civil defence school and mortuary - are successfully integrated within its architectural form, as well as the residential component and public walkways.The public services of the building - fire station, coroner's court, office of weights and measures, civil defence school and mortuary - are successfully integrated within its architectural form, as well as the residential component and public walkways.
This was later explored further at the Barbican on a much larger scale. The scale and facade design of the building, as well as the way that its concrete mass appears to hover over the pilotis [columns that raise the structure above ground level] show a striking similarity to the work of influential modern architect Le Corbusier. This is a highly sculptural building with an exciting and restless interplay of mass and space.This was later explored further at the Barbican on a much larger scale. The scale and facade design of the building, as well as the way that its concrete mass appears to hover over the pilotis [columns that raise the structure above ground level] show a striking similarity to the work of influential modern architect Le Corbusier. This is a highly sculptural building with an exciting and restless interplay of mass and space.
We are not saying that this building has to remain completely unchanged in form or function. On this site there is a lot of flexibility because there is the courtyard of the former fire station that was a part of the original use. In addition to the existing building and on top of the new facilities for the planned music school, 35,000 square feet of residential space could easily be created within a new drum-shaped glass structure.We are not saying that this building has to remain completely unchanged in form or function. On this site there is a lot of flexibility because there is the courtyard of the former fire station that was a part of the original use. In addition to the existing building and on top of the new facilities for the planned music school, 35,000 square feet of residential space could easily be created within a new drum-shaped glass structure.
The Barbican proper is safeThe Barbican proper is safe
Assael Architects have come up with just such a sleek and contemporary design. They have chosen a shape and material that is in striking contrast to the brutalist concrete building by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon - a highly successful scheme that shows that there is scope to develop and even enhance Milton Court.Assael Architects have come up with just such a sleek and contemporary design. They have chosen a shape and material that is in striking contrast to the brutalist concrete building by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon - a highly successful scheme that shows that there is scope to develop and even enhance Milton Court.
It is completely possible to accommodate the City of London's brief within the existing site and without tearing down Milton Court in doing so. It is an incredibly wasteful approach to simply dispose of an excellent and viable building in the name of profit-making.It is completely possible to accommodate the City of London's brief within the existing site and without tearing down Milton Court in doing so. It is an incredibly wasteful approach to simply dispose of an excellent and viable building in the name of profit-making.
There is no doubt that Milton Court contributes significantly to the fabric and historic context of the City and we consider it a major oversight the building has not yet been placed under historic protection. We had recommended that it be listed last summer and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport is still considering whether to do so or not.There is no doubt that Milton Court contributes significantly to the fabric and historic context of the City and we consider it a major oversight the building has not yet been placed under historic protection. We had recommended that it be listed last summer and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport is still considering whether to do so or not.
DEMOLISH IT - GUY BOOTH, ARCHITECTDEMOLISH IT - GUY BOOTH, ARCHITECT
Never mind saving this building, blow it out of the ground.Never mind saving this building, blow it out of the ground.
You have this pink concrete frame that has this top floor on pilotis. The fenestration [distribution of windows] down below doesn't work. It is as dull as dishwater.You have this pink concrete frame that has this top floor on pilotis. The fenestration [distribution of windows] down below doesn't work. It is as dull as dishwater.
[Grand Designs presenter] Kevin McCloud said 'in the shifting sands of city building, it looks like an eroded boulder, a sculpted lump of igneous rock'. But if this is sculpture, it is sculpture in a ditch.[Grand Designs presenter] Kevin McCloud said 'in the shifting sands of city building, it looks like an eroded boulder, a sculpted lump of igneous rock'. But if this is sculpture, it is sculpture in a ditch.
It is out-scaled by the rest of the Barbican. It was a try-out, but now nearly 45 years later, I would have the thing ripped down. It doesn't contain beautiful cafes and restaurants. It's just a non-space.It is out-scaled by the rest of the Barbican. It was a try-out, but now nearly 45 years later, I would have the thing ripped down. It doesn't contain beautiful cafes and restaurants. It's just a non-space.
Demolition and replacement beckons (Picture: Sarah Duncan)Demolition and replacement beckons (Picture: Sarah Duncan)
The theory of modernism was more powerful that the practical result. The theory was superb but a lot of it was politically motivated by communists. Socialist theory said this would be great architecture and this is how people will live. Rarely do these master plans ever work.The theory of modernism was more powerful that the practical result. The theory was superb but a lot of it was politically motivated by communists. Socialist theory said this would be great architecture and this is how people will live. Rarely do these master plans ever work.
You had these reinforced concrete blocks, and the problem is that in England things go green in the winter because it goes slimy.You had these reinforced concrete blocks, and the problem is that in England things go green in the winter because it goes slimy.
You go into a building and there is this acreage of open plan non-entity. You look out of a window and there is this dead pigeon on a concrete slab. That is what Milton Court ended up as being. It never, ever was attractive to people.You go into a building and there is this acreage of open plan non-entity. You look out of a window and there is this dead pigeon on a concrete slab. That is what Milton Court ended up as being. It never, ever was attractive to people.
What architects wanted to do by the mid-1970s was get away from this and make human corners. You go into a building and it's cosy and lovely and human. Successful modern shopping centres have cosy corners where you can sit down and have a coffee.What architects wanted to do by the mid-1970s was get away from this and make human corners. You go into a building and it's cosy and lovely and human. Successful modern shopping centres have cosy corners where you can sit down and have a coffee.
It doesn't matter as an architect how much money you are earning and how many prizes you win, if you haven't got the human touch. The architects [of the era] were so arrogant, they just wanted to get in the architecture glossies. It is all for other architects to look at. It is a backslapping society.It doesn't matter as an architect how much money you are earning and how many prizes you win, if you haven't got the human touch. The architects [of the era] were so arrogant, they just wanted to get in the architecture glossies. It is all for other architects to look at. It is a backslapping society.
The Barbican always reminds me of a giant reinforced concrete club sandwich with skewers sticking out of it. The Barbican has a certain mystique, but Milton Court doesn't. It has no mystique whatsoever.The Barbican always reminds me of a giant reinforced concrete club sandwich with skewers sticking out of it. The Barbican has a certain mystique, but Milton Court doesn't. It has no mystique whatsoever.
Let's just take some good photographs, put them in an album and get the thing razed to the ground and do something amazing that is going to last. Milton Court is totally separate from the Barbican so it can have surgery... the bulldozers.Let's just take some good photographs, put them in an album and get the thing razed to the ground and do something amazing that is going to last. Milton Court is totally separate from the Barbican so it can have surgery... the bulldozers.

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