55 Broadway
Encyclopedia
55 Broadway is a notable building overlooking St. James's Park
in London. It was designed by Charles Holden
and built between 1927 and 1929, and in 1931 the building earned him the RIBA London Architecture Medal. It was built as a new headquarters building for the Underground Electric Railways Company of London
(UERL), the main forerunner of London Underground
.
Faced with Portland stone
and covering a site with an irregular footprint, the upper office floors of the building are on a cruciform plan, stepping back towards the central clock tower at the top. The cruciform design afforded the optimum level of natural light to the offices. The ground floor now contains a shopping arcade and many art deco
details. Previously the ground floor was also given over to London Transport
offices, including a travel information centre, cash office and a library. The whole building straddles St. James's Park tube station
, the east and west wings being immediately above the railway tunnel. When finished it was the tallest steel-framed office building in London, until another Holden building, the University of London
's Senate House
, (based on similar designs and materials) took the accolade.
On each elevation, the pediment above the sixth floor is decorated with a relief, collectively known as 'the four winds', although the four points of the compass are repeated twice for a total of eight reliefs. Each relief was carved by an avant-garde
sculptor of the day.
Halfway along the north and east facades are a matched pair of sculptures, Day and Night by Jacob Epstein
. The modernism and graphic nakedness of these sculptures created public outrage on their unveiling. Newspapers started a campaign to have the statues removed and one company director, Lord Colwyn
even offered to pay the cost. Frank Pick
, the managing director of the UERL at the time, took overall responsibility and offered his resignation over the scandal. In the end, Epstein agreed to remove a 1.5 inches from the penis of the smaller figure on Day and ultimately the furore died down.
The function suite on the 10th floor of the building was formerly set up as a dining room for the Chairman and senior executives. At this level there are also two roof gardens, one of which was dedicated to the wife of a former Managing Director in recognition of her enthusiasm to encourage this early form of environmental work.
The building, first listed as Grade II in 1970, was re-graded to Grade I in 2011.
St. James's Park
St. James's Park is a 23 hectare park in the City of Westminster, central London - the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the southernmost tip of the St. James's area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less.- Geographical location :St. James's...
in London. It was designed by Charles Holden
Charles Holden
Charles Henry Holden, Litt. D., FRIBA, MRTPI, RDI was a Bolton-born English architect best known for designing many London Underground stations during the 1920s and 1930s, for Bristol Central Library, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London's headquarters at 55 Broadway and for the...
and built between 1927 and 1929, and in 1931 the building earned him the RIBA London Architecture Medal. It was built as a new headquarters building for the Underground Electric Railways Company of London
Underground Electric Railways Company of London
The Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited , known operationally as The Underground for much of its existence, was established in 1902. It was the holding company for the three deep-level "tube"A "tube" railway is an underground railway constructed in a circular tunnel by the use...
(UERL), the main forerunner of London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
.
Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
and covering a site with an irregular footprint, the upper office floors of the building are on a cruciform plan, stepping back towards the central clock tower at the top. The cruciform design afforded the optimum level of natural light to the offices. The ground floor now contains a shopping arcade and many art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
details. Previously the ground floor was also given over to London Transport
London Transport
London Transport could refer to:*London Transport Transport authorities that operated services under the brand:*London Passenger Transport Board *London Transport Executive *London Transport Board...
offices, including a travel information centre, cash office and a library. The whole building straddles St. James's Park tube station
St. James's Park tube station
St James's Park is a London Underground station near St James's Park in the City of Westminster. It is served by the District and Circle Lines and is between Victoria and Westminster stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1....
, the east and west wings being immediately above the railway tunnel. When finished it was the tallest steel-framed office building in London, until another Holden building, the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
's Senate House
Senate House (University of London)
Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of London, situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, London between the School of Oriental and African Studies to the north, with the British Museum to the south...
, (based on similar designs and materials) took the accolade.
On each elevation, the pediment above the sixth floor is decorated with a relief, collectively known as 'the four winds', although the four points of the compass are repeated twice for a total of eight reliefs. Each relief was carved by an avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
sculptor of the day.
Halfway along the north and east facades are a matched pair of sculptures, Day and Night by Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
. The modernism and graphic nakedness of these sculptures created public outrage on their unveiling. Newspapers started a campaign to have the statues removed and one company director, Lord Colwyn
Frederick Smith, 1st Baron Colwyn
Frederick Henry Smith, 1st Baron Colwyn PC , known as Sir Frederick Smith, 1st Baronet, from 1912 to 1917, was a British businessman....
even offered to pay the cost. Frank Pick
Frank Pick
Frank Pick LLB Hon. RIBA was a British transport administrator. After qualifying as a solicitor in 1902, he worked at the North Eastern Railway, before moving to the Underground Electric Railways Company of London in 1906...
, the managing director of the UERL at the time, took overall responsibility and offered his resignation over the scandal. In the end, Epstein agreed to remove a 1.5 inches from the penis of the smaller figure on Day and ultimately the furore died down.
The function suite on the 10th floor of the building was formerly set up as a dining room for the Chairman and senior executives. At this level there are also two roof gardens, one of which was dedicated to the wife of a former Managing Director in recognition of her enthusiasm to encourage this early form of environmental work.
The building, first listed as Grade II in 1970, was re-graded to Grade I in 2011.
Commissioned art work
- Day and Night, Jacob EpsteinJacob EpsteinSir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
- North Wind, A.H. GerrardAlfred GerrardAlfred Horace "Gerry" Gerrard RBS was an English modernist sculptor. He was head of the sculpture department at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1925 and professor of sculpture there from 1949 to 1968, where he taught a number of well-known sculptors.-Early life:Gerrard was born on 7 May 1899 in...
- North Wind, Eric GillEric GillArthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
- East Wind, Eric GillEric GillArthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
- East Wind, Allan Wyon
- South Wind, Eric GillEric GillArthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
- South Wind, Eric AumonierEric Aumonier-Life:Aumonier was born in Northwood, Middlesex . his family name is Huguenot . Eric's grandfather, William, founded the Aumonier Studios in 1876, an architectural sculpture firm in London, initially located at New Inn Yard off Tottenham Court Road, then at 84 Charlotte Street. His son, also called...
- West Wind, Samuel RabinovitchSamuel Rabin (artist)Samuel Rabin, originally Samuel Rabinovitch, was an English sculptor, artist, teacher, singer, wrestler and Olympic bronze medalist.-Family and early life:...
- West Wind, Henry MooreHenry MooreHenry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
External links
- London Transport Museum Photographic Archive
- Building
- Sculptures
- Building
- Underground Journeys: The Heart of London Illustrated history of 55 Broadway, from the Royal Institute of British ArchitectsRoyal Institute of British ArchitectsThe Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...