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Goldfinger's Alexander Fleming House finally gets Grade II listing Goldfinger's Alexander Fleming House finally gets Grade II listing
(about 11 hours later)
It was one of the largest, most lauded office complexes in Europe when it opened in the 1960s, and for Ernö Goldfinger, Alexander Fleming House was a crowning achievement. For others, the concrete high-rises in south London were a horrible place to work and represented one of the worst examples of soulless postwar development.It was one of the largest, most lauded office complexes in Europe when it opened in the 1960s, and for Ernö Goldfinger, Alexander Fleming House was a crowning achievement. For others, the concrete high-rises in south London were a horrible place to work and represented one of the worst examples of soulless postwar development.
Now, 50 years after they first opened, a government minister has decided that the buildings – today called Metro Central Heights – are deserving of major recognition and has announced their Grade II listing. Now a government minister has decided that the buildings – today called Metro Central Heights – deserve major recognition and has announced their Grade II listing.
The four blocks in London's Elephant and Castle housed the then Ministry of Health for 25 years, but are now residential flats. They have never been to everyone's taste but on Tuesday the culture minister, Ed Vaizey, said he was "pleased now to be able to give it the recognition it deserves". The four blocks in Elephant and Castle housed the then Ministry of Health for 25 years, but are now residential flats. They have never been to everyone's taste but on Tuesday the culture minister, Ed Vaizey, said he was "pleased now to be able to give it the recognition it deserves".
He added: "Goldfinger considered this to be his most significant work. Acclaimed when it was first built, it subsequently divided opinion but has now – 25 years after first being put forward for listing – clearly passed the test of time."He added: "Goldfinger considered this to be his most significant work. Acclaimed when it was first built, it subsequently divided opinion but has now – 25 years after first being put forward for listing – clearly passed the test of time."
The decision was based on advice from English Heritage, whose chief executive Simon Thurley called it "an excellent example of high-calibre postwar architecture". He said he was pleased the minister agreed with the advice, adding that it was "an accomplished building, it has proved highly influential for designs which followed". The decision followed advice from English Heritage, whose chief executive, Simon Thurley, called it "an excellent example of high-calibre postwar architecture". He said he was pleased that the minister agreed, adding it was "an accomplished building, it has proved highly influential for designs which followed".
The listing covers the four main blocks and linking bridges which were built in two phases, 1959-62 and 1964-67.The listing covers the four main blocks and linking bridges which were built in two phases, 1959-62 and 1964-67.
An inspector's report said Goldfinger, a Hungarian emigre who moved to London in 1934, considered Alexander Fleming House his "major work" which "endorsed his postwar interpretation for the city". It won him the RIBA bronze award for best building of the year in London in 1964 and led, in January 1963, to the journal Architectural Design devoting its entire issue to Goldfinger's career. An inspector's report said Goldfinger, a Hungarian émigré who moved to London in 1934, considered Alexander Fleming House his major work that "endorsed his postwar interpretation for the city". It won him the Riba bronze award for best building of the year in London in 1964 and led, in January 1963, to the journal Architectural Design devoting its issue to Goldfinger's career.
Not that he was a universally liked man. Ian Fleming so despised him that he named an unhinged Bond villain after him – played by Gert Fröbe in the eponymous movie with these immortal lines of banter: "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!" When the real Goldfinger threatened to sue, Fleming warned he would change the name to Goldprick. Not that he was universally liked. Ian Fleming so despised him that he named an unhinged Bond villain after him – played by Gert Fröbe in the eponymous movie with the immortal lines: "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!" When the real Goldfinger threatened to sue, Fleming warned he would change the name to Goldprick.
The ministry moved out of Alexander Fleming House in 1989 – ironically, the place was often cited as having sick building syndrome – and the blocks remained empty until developers took them on, giving them a name considered more attractive for young urbanites wanting to buy. Today, a one-bedroom flat in Metro Central Heights might set you back £300,000. The ministry moved out of Alexander Fleming House in 1989 – ironically, the place was often cited as having sick building syndrome – and the blocks remained empty until developers took them on, giving them a name considered more attractive for young urbanites wanting to buybuyers.
Today, a one-bedroom flat in Metro Central Heights might set you back £300,000.