Jump to content

Trellick Tower: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°31′25″N 00°12′20″W / 51.52361°N 0.20556°W / 51.52361; -0.20556
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
‘Purposefully’ means ‘he was acting determinedly while he did it.’ Changed to ‘purposely’ which means ‘he did it deliberately or on purpose.’
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(48 intermediate revisions by 27 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
{{Good article}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox building
{{Infobox building
|name=Trellick Tower
|name=Trellick Tower
|image=File:Trellick Tower front view.jpg
|image=File:Trellick Tower front view (colour brightness adjust).jpg
|image_size=220px
|image_size=220px
|caption=Trellick Tower showing detail of the various apartments and separate access tower with abutting plant house
|caption=Trellick Tower with its separate access tower with abutting plant house
|location=[[Kensal Green]], [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]], London
|location=[[Kensal Green]], [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]], London
|map_type=United Kingdom London Kensington and Chelsea
|map_type=United Kingdom London Kensington and Chelsea
|coordinates={{Coord|51|31|25.6|N|00|12|19.8|W|type:landmark_scale:3000|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates={{Coord|51|31|25|N|00|12|20|W|type:landmark_scale:3000|display=inline,title}}
|completion_date=28 June 1972
|completion_date=28 June 1972
|floor_count=31
|floor_count=31<ref name=grauniad/>
|building_type=Residential flats
|building_type=Residential flats
|roof={{convert|98|m|ft|0}}
|roof={{convert|98|m|ft|0}}
Line 20: Line 20:
{{Designation list
{{Designation list
| embed = yes
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II Listed Building
| designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Trellick Tower
| designation1_offname = Trellick Tower
| designation1_type =
| designation1_type =
Line 31: Line 31:
}}
}}


'''Trellick Tower''' is a Grade II* [[listed building|listed]] [[tower block]] on the Cheltenham Estate in [[Kensal Green]], London. Opened in 1972, it had been commissioned by the [[Greater London Council]] and designed in the [[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist]] style by [[architect]] [[Ernő Goldfinger]]. The tower was planned to replace outdated [[social housing|social accommodation]], and designed as a follow up to Goldfinger's earlier [[Balfron Tower]] in East London. It was the last major project he worked on, and featured various space-saving designs, along with a separate access tower containing a [[mechanical room|plant room]].
'''Trellick Tower''' is a Grade II* [[listed building|listed]] [[tower block]] on the Cheltenham Estate in [[Kensal Town]], London. Opened in 1972, it was commissioned by the [[Greater London Council]] and designed in the [[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist]] style by [[architect]] [[Ernő Goldfinger]]. The tower was planned to replace outdated [[social housing|social accommodation]], and designed as an improvement on Goldfinger's earlier [[Balfron Tower]] in East London. It was the last major project he worked on, and featured various space-saving designs, along with a separate access tower containing a [[mechanical room|plant room]].


High-rise apartments and Brutalist architecture were falling out of favour by the time the tower was completed, and it became a magnet for crime, vandalism, drug abuse and prostitution. Its fortunes gradually improved in the 1980s after the establishment of a residents' association. Security measures were put in place and a [[concierge]] was employed, which led to lower crime levels. By the 1990s, the tower had become a desirable place to live, and although it still contains predominantly social housing, demand for private flats has remained high. A local landmark, it has been Grade II* listed since 1998, and has retained its distinctive concrete facade as a result. A fire broke out in 2017, but the concrete structure meant damage was limited, unlike the nearby [[Grenfell Tower fire|Grenfell Tower]]. Trellick Tower has featured on film and television several times.
High-rise apartments and Brutalist architecture were falling out of favour by the time the tower was completed, and it became a magnet for crime, vandalism, drug abuse and prostitution. Conditions gradually improved in the 1980s after the establishment of a residents' association. Security measures were put in place and a [[concierge]] was employed, which led to lower crime levels. By the 1990s, the tower had become a desirable place to live, and although it still contains predominantly social housing, demand for private flats has remained high. A local landmark, it has been Grade II* listed since 1998, and has retained its distinctive concrete facade as a result. A fire broke out in 2017, but the concrete structure meant damage was limited, unlike the nearby [[Grenfell Tower fire|Grenfell Tower]]. Trellick Tower has featured in film and television several times.


== Location ==
== Location ==
Trellick Tower is on the Cheltenham Estate in [[Golborne Road]], [[Kensal Town]], [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]] (RBKC). It is bounded to the north and east by the [[Grand Union Canal]] and to the south by the [[A40 road (Great Britain)|A40]] [[Westway, London|Westway]] and the [[Great Western Main Line]] leading from [[London Paddington station]].<ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=Fisher|title=The joys of living in a tower block|newspaper=The Times|location=London, England|date=3 November 1993|p=37|access-date=21 January 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500636529&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Trellick Tower is on the Cheltenham Estate in [[Golborne Road]], [[Kensal Town]], [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]] (RBKC). It is bounded to the north and east by [[Meanwhile Gardens]] and the [[Grand Union Canal]], and to the south by the [[A40 road (Great Britain)|A40]] [[Westway, London|Westway]] and the [[Great Western Main Line]] leading from [[London Paddington station]].<ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=Fisher|title=The joys of living in a tower block|newspaper=The Times|location=London, England|date=3 November 1993|page=37|access-date=21 January 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500636529&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|url-access=subscription }}</ref>


The nearest stations are [[Kensal Green station|Kensal Green]] ([[Bakerloo line]] and [[London Overground]]), [[Ladbroke Grove tube station|Ladbroke Grove]] and [[Westbourne Park tube station|Westbourne Park]] ([[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]] and [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] lines).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf|title=Standard Tube Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The tower is served by [[London Buses]] route [[London Buses route 23|23]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf|title=Key Bus Routes in Central London|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>
The nearest stations are [[Kensal Green station|Kensal Green]] ([[Bakerloo line]] and [[London Overground]]), [[Ladbroke Grove tube station|Ladbroke Grove]] and [[Westbourne Park tube station|Westbourne Park]] ([[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]] and [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] lines).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf|title=Standard Tube Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The tower is served by [[London Buses]] route [[London Buses route 23|23]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf|title=Key Bus Routes in Central London|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=21 January 2018|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122072345/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Design ==
== Design ==
[[File:Balconies of the Trellick Tower.jpg|thumb|left|All apartments in Trellick Tower have a balcony and large windows to let in as much sunlight as possible.]]
[[File:Balconies of the Trellick Tower.jpg|thumb|left|All apartments in Trellick Tower have a balcony and large windows to let in as much sunlight as possible.]]
The tower is {{convert|98|m|ft|0}} tall<ref name=trip>{{cite journal |url=http://tripmag.co.uk/in-brutal-presence/ |title=In Brutal Presence |work=Trip Magazine |date=8 October 2017 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> ({{convert|120|m|ft|0}} including the communications mast)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/property/how-i-learnt-to-love-the-council-estate-8050289.html |title=How I learnt to love the council estate |newspaper=The Independent |date=18 August 2012 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> and is a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-40728732 |title=Notting Hill's famous Trellick Tower |work=BBC News |date=2 August 2017 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The design is based on Goldfinger's earlier and slightly smaller [[Balfron Tower]] in [[Poplar, London|Poplar]], East London.<ref>{{cite book |title=London High |first=Herbert |last=Wright |publisher=Frances Lincoln |p=89 |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-711-22695-1}}</ref> It has a long, thin profile, with a separate lift and service tower linked at every third storey to the access corridors in the main building, which overall has 31 floors. Flats above and below the corridor levels have internal stairs, while the 23rd and 24th floors are taken up by maisonettes split over the two floors. Overall, the building contains 217 dwellings and was originally owned by the [[Greater London Council|GLC]] with the flats rented as [[council house|council flats]]. All the apartments have balconies. The other building, containing shops and amenities has seven floors.<ref name=he>{{NHLE |num=1246688 |desc=Trellick Tower |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref><ref name=grauniad/>
The tower is {{convert|98|m|ft|0}} tall<ref name=trip>{{cite journal |url=http://tripmag.co.uk/in-brutal-presence/ |title=In Brutal Presence |journal=Trip Magazine |date=8 October 2017 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> ({{convert|120|m|ft|0}} including the communications mast)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/property/how-i-learnt-to-love-the-council-estate-8050289.html |title=How I learnt to love the council estate |newspaper=The Independent |date=18 August 2012 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> and is a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-40728732 |title=Notting Hill's famous Trellick Tower |work=BBC News |date=2 August 2017 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The design is based on Goldfinger's earlier and slightly smaller [[Balfron Tower]] in [[Poplar, London|Poplar]], East London.<ref>{{cite book |title=London High |first=Herbert |last=Wright |publisher=Frances Lincoln |page=89 |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-711-22695-1}}</ref> It has a long, thin profile, with a separate lift and service tower linked at every third storey to the access corridors in the main building, which overall has 31 floors. Flats above and below the corridor levels have internal stairs, while the 23rd and 24th floors are taken up by maisonettes split over the two floors. Overall, the building contains 217 dwellings and was originally owned by the [[Greater London Council|GLC]] with the flats rented as [[council house|council flats]]. All the apartments have balconies. The other building, containing shops and amenities, has seven floors.<ref name=he>{{NHLE |num=1246688 |desc=Trellick Tower |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref><ref name=grauniad/>


The service tower has two additional floors higher than the main building, which includes a projecting [[plant room]] that holds the main heating system. It is fully linked by stairs in addition to the lifts, and also has a refuse chute mechanism.<ref name=he/> The majority of the plant and the [[hot water storage tank]] is located in the plant room, which reduces the need for pumps and reduces the amount of pipework needed. Shorter pipe runs also reduce heat loss. The oil-fired boilers originally used became obsolete due to the [[1973 oil crisis]], the year after the tower opened. The flats now have electric heaters and the plant room, although disused, still houses most of the now defunct mechanism.<ref name=thornton>{{cite book |title=Open House London: An Exclusive Insight Into 100 Architecturally Inspiring Buildings in London |first=Victoria |last=Thornton |p=102 |publisher=Random House|year=2012 |isbn=978-0-091-94362-2}}</ref>
The service tower has two additional floors higher than the main building, which includes a projecting [[plant room]] that holds the main heating system. It is fully linked by stairs in addition to the lifts, and also has a [[refuse chute]] mechanism.<ref name=he/> The majority of the plant and the [[hot water storage tank]] is located in the plant room, which reduces the need for pumps and reduces the amount of pipework needed. Shorter pipe runs also reduce heat loss. The oil-fired boilers originally used became obsolete due to the [[1973 oil crisis]], the year after the tower opened. The flats now have electric heaters and the plant room, although disused, still houses most of the now defunct mechanism.<ref name=thornton>{{cite book |title=Open House London: An Exclusive Insight Into 100 Architecturally Inspiring Buildings in London |first=Victoria |last=Thornton |page=102 |publisher=Random House|year=2012 |isbn=978-0-091-94362-2}}</ref>


Goldfinger designed the entire tower block freehand on [[butcher's paper]]. He planned various communal areas, and purposefully put slight variations in the structure so that each apartment would look different.<ref name=grauniad/><ref name=high_rise_hell/> He included a number of space-saving designs, such as using sliding doors to access bathrooms, and light switches embedded in the door surrounds. All apartments have large windows facing the balconies, in order to let in as much natural light as possible. As well as residential accommodation, there are a variety of shops, an office, and a youth centre.<ref name=he/><ref name=thornton/> Throughout, quality materials were used in construction, including better fixtures and finishing the balconies with [[cedarwood]]. It was intended to be a good example of social accommodation alongside modern design.<ref name=mcnay/><ref>{{cite book |title=Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat |first=Lynn |last=Beadle |p=68 |publisher=CRC Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-203-46754-1}}</ref>
Goldfinger designed the entire tower block freehand on [[butcher's paper]]. He planned various communal areas, and purposely put slight variations in the structure so that each apartment would look different.<ref name=grauniad/><ref name=high_rise_hell/> He included a number of space-saving designs, such as using sliding doors to access bathrooms, and light switches embedded in the door surrounds. All apartments have large windows facing the balconies, in order to let in as much natural light as possible. As well as residential accommodation, there are a variety of shops, an office, and a youth centre.<ref name=he/><ref name=thornton/> Throughout, quality materials were used in construction, including better fixtures and finishing the balconies with [[cedarwood]]. It was intended to be a good example of social accommodation alongside modern design.<ref name=mcnay/><ref>{{cite book |title=Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat |first=Lynn |last=Beadle |page=68 |publisher=CRC Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-203-46754-1}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
=== Planning ===
=== Planning ===
[[File:Trellick Tower Plant Room 03.JPG|thumb|Inside the plant room in Trellick Tower]]
[[File:Trellick Tower Plant Room 03.JPG|thumb|Inside the plant room in Trellick Tower]]
Construction of Trellick Tower began in 1968, in order to replace sub-standard local Victorian housing.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/Trellick%20and%20Edenham%20listed%20status.pdf |title=Trellick Tower and the Cheltenham (Edenham) Estate |publisher=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea |date=March 2013 |p=5 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> The tower was one of several such buildings, and was initially welcomed as a way of resolving the crises of post-Second World War housing. Goldfinger said "the whole object of building high is to free the ground for children and grown-ups to enjoy Mother Earth and not to cover every inch with bricks and mortar".<ref name=grauniad/><ref name=bl>{{cite web |url=https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/photograph-of-trellick-tower-designed-by-erno-goldfinger |title=Photograph of Trellick Tower, designed by Ernö Goldfinger |publisher=British Library |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>
Construction of Trellick Tower began in 1968, in order to replace sub-standard local Victorian housing.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/Trellick%20and%20Edenham%20listed%20status.pdf |title=Trellick Tower and the Cheltenham (Edenham) Estate |publisher=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea |date=March 2013 |page=5 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> The tower was one of several such buildings, and was initially welcomed as a way of resolving the crises of post-Second World War housing. Goldfinger said "the whole object of building high is to free the ground for children and grown-ups to enjoy Mother Earth and not to cover every inch with bricks and mortar".<ref name=grauniad/><ref name=bl>{{cite web |url=https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/photograph-of-trellick-tower-designed-by-erno-goldfinger |title=Photograph of Trellick Tower, designed by Ernö Goldfinger |publisher=British Library |access-date=21 January 2018 |archive-date=16 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216154412/https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/photograph-of-trellick-tower-designed-by-erno-goldfinger |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Goldfinger had been encouraged to construct Trellick Tower by the [[London County Council]] (LCC) following the success of Balfron Tower, which had been commissioned in 1963 and opened four years later.<ref name=grauniad/> He took his inspiration from Balfron, where he had moved into one of the apartments in order to experience what life would be like for the tenants, and invited residents round for regular cocktail parties to tell him their likes and dislikes.<ref name=thornton/> This feedback was incorporated into the design of Trellick Tower.<ref name=mcnay>{{cite book |title=Hidden Treasures of London |first=Michael |last=McNay |p=248 |publisher=Random House |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-847-94617-1}}</ref> Many immigrants from the [[West Indies]] and the Caribbean settled in Trellick Tower, as for them it was one of the few affordable places to live in London.<ref name=trip/> The tower opened on 28 June 1972; construction costs ran to £2.4 million.<ref name=bl/> It was the last major project Goldfinger worked on; his reputation suffered as concrete tower blocks became unfashionable, and he died in 1987 before it could be restored.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/architecture-goldfinger-hes-the-man-with-the-modern-touch-1174530.html |title=Architecture: Goldfinger. He's the man with the modern touch |newspaper=The Independent |date=27 August 1998 |access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref>
Goldfinger had been encouraged to construct Trellick Tower by the [[London County Council]] (LCC) following the success of Balfron Tower, which had been commissioned in 1963 and opened four years later.<ref name=grauniad/> He took his inspiration from Balfron, where he had moved into one of the apartments in order to experience what life would be like for the tenants, and invited residents round for regular cocktail parties to tell him their likes and dislikes.<ref name=thornton/> This feedback was incorporated into the design of Trellick Tower.<ref name=mcnay>{{cite book |title=Hidden Treasures of London |first=Michael |last=McNay |page=248 |publisher=Random House |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-847-94617-1}}</ref> Many immigrants from the [[West Indies]] and the Caribbean settled in Trellick Tower, as for them it was one of the few affordable places to live in London.<ref name=trip/> The tower opened on 28 June 1972; construction costs ran to £2.4 million.<ref name=bl/> It was the last major project Goldfinger worked on; his reputation suffered as concrete tower blocks became unfashionable, and he died in 1987 before it could be restored.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/architecture-goldfinger-hes-the-man-with-the-modern-touch-1174530.html |title=Architecture: Goldfinger. He's the man with the modern touch |newspaper=The Independent |date=27 August 1998 |access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref>


=== Decline ===
=== Decline ===
By the time Trellick Tower opened, high-rise tower blocks were becoming unfashionable.<ref name=thornton/> The LCC had been replaced by the [[Greater London Council]] (GLC) by the time construction started, who put more stringent construction and financial constraints on the project.<ref name=grauniad/> Shortly after its completion the building was transferred to the RBKC local council. Goldfinger had intended that tenants should be vetted for suitability and petitioned the GLC for the building to have proper security and a concierge, but the council declined his request. This meant that the building was open access and rough sleepers and drug criminals took up residence in its corridors.<ref name="high_rise_hell">{{cite news |title=High-Rise hell: the doomed tower blocks that inspired Ben Wheatley's new film |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/high-rise/trellick-tower-history-jg-ballad/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=13 November 2016}}</ref> Drying rooms on the ground floor, designed by Goldfinger to stop tenants hanging laundry on the balconies, were vandalised before the tower block opened.<ref>{{cite book |title=The House of Fiction: From Pemberley to Brideshead, Great British Houses in Literature and Life |first=Phyllis |last=Richardson |p=287 |publisher=Random House |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-783-52381-8}}</ref>
By the time Trellick Tower opened, high-rise tower blocks were becoming unfashionable.<ref name=thornton/> The LCC had been replaced by the [[Greater London Council]] (GLC) by the time construction started, who put more stringent construction and financial constraints on the project.<ref name=grauniad/> Shortly after its completion the building was transferred to the RBKC local council. Goldfinger had intended that tenants should be vetted for suitability and petitioned the GLC for the building to have proper security and a [[concierge]], but the council declined his request. This meant that the building was open access and rough sleepers and drug criminals took up residence in its corridors.<ref name="high_rise_hell">{{cite news |title=High-Rise hell: the doomed tower blocks that inspired Ben Wheatley's new film |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/high-rise/trellick-tower-history-jg-ballad/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=13 November 2016}}</ref> Drying rooms on the ground floor, designed by Goldfinger to stop tenants hanging laundry on the balconies, were vandalised before the tower block opened.<ref>{{cite book |title=The House of Fiction: From Pemberley to Brideshead, Great British Houses in Literature and Life |first=Phyllis |last=Richardson |page=287 |publisher=Random House |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-783-52381-8}}</ref>


By the late 1970s Trellick Tower was a scene of crime and [[public order crime|anti-social behaviour]], and many tenants were very reluctant to move in. On one occasion in 1975 vandals set off a fire extinguisher on the 12th floor, with water from the sprinkler system flooding the lifts and leaving the tower without electricity, heat or running water over the Christmas period. A pensioner was forced to use the stairs after all the lifts were out of order, and subsequently collapsed and died. On the 15th floor, a 27-year-old woman was dragged from one of the lifts and raped. The tower became nicknamed "The Tower of Terror" and residents attempted to be re-housed.<ref name=grauniad/> The GLC spent more than £300,000 on an [[intercom]] system and wholesale electrical repairs, but reliability and management problems made them counterproductive.<ref name=grauniad/>
By the late 1970s Trellick Tower was a scene of crime and [[public order crime|anti-social behaviour]], and many tenants were very reluctant to move in. On one occasion vandals set off a fire extinguisher on the 12th floor, with water from the sprinkler system flooding the lifts and leaving the tower without electricity, heat or running water over the Christmas period. A pensioner was forced to use the stairs after all the lifts were out of order, and subsequently collapsed and died. On the 15th floor, a 27-year-old woman was dragged from one of the lifts and raped. The tower became nicknamed "The Tower of Terror" and residents attempted to be re-housed.<ref name=grauniad/> The GLC spent more than £300,000 on an [[intercom]] system and wholesale electrical repairs, but reliability and management problems made them counterproductive.<ref name=grauniad/>


In 1982 a man was killed after jumping off the top of Trellick Tower when his parachute failed to open. He was a member of a group of dangerous sports enthusiasts who were interested in [[BASE jumping|jumping off fixed objects]]. The action was condemned by the [[British Parachute Association]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower parachutist killed |newspaper=The Times |location=London, England |date=4 June 1982 |p=2 |access-date=21 January 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS34441924&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 1982 a man was killed after jumping off the top of Trellick Tower when his parachute failed to open. He was a member of a group of dangerous sports enthusiasts who were interested in [[BASE jumping]]. The action was condemned by the [[British Parachute Association]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower parachutist killed |newspaper=The Times |location=London, England |date=4 June 1982 |page=2 |access-date=21 January 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS34441924&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>


=== Revival ===
=== Revival ===
[[File:Trellick Tower aisle.jpg|thumb|left|One of Trellick Tower's interior corridors]]
[[File:Trellick Tower aisle.jpg|thumb|left|One of Trellick Tower's interior corridors]]
With the introduction of the "[[Right to buy scheme|right to buy]]" council homes, several of the flats were bought by their tenants.<ref name="high_rise_hell"/> On 8 October 1984 a new residents' association was formed. As a result of pressure from the occupants, several security improvements including a door entry intercom system were installed,<ref name=thornton/> and a [[concierge]] was hired in 1987.<ref name=calder>{{cite book |title=Raw Concrete: The Beauty of Brutalism |first=Barnabas |last=Calder |p=78 |publisher=Random House |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-434-02244-1}}</ref> In 1994 residents in the tower, along with other residents in Kensington & Chelsea council properties, elected to self-manage the properties, in order to avoid increased rents and the threat of eviction.<ref>{{cite news |title=A fresh lease of life for council estates |newspaper=The Times |location=London, England |date=13 April 1994 |p=35 |access-date=21 January 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500661702&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
With the introduction of the "[[Right to buy scheme|right to buy]]" council homes, several of the flats were bought by their tenants.<ref name="high_rise_hell"/> On 8 October 1984 a new residents' association was formed. As a result of pressure from the occupants, several security improvements including a door entry intercom system were installed,<ref name=thornton/> and a [[concierge]] was hired in 1987.<ref name=calder>{{cite book |title=Raw Concrete: The Beauty of Brutalism |first=Barnabas |last=Calder |page=78 |publisher=Random House |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-434-02244-1}}</ref> In 1994 residents in the tower, along with other residents in Kensington & Chelsea council properties, elected to self-manage the properties, in order to avoid increased rents and the threat of eviction.<ref>{{cite news |title=A fresh lease of life for council estates |newspaper=The Times |location=London, England |date=13 April 1994 |page=35 |access-date=21 January 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500661702&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>


Four low-power television relay transmitters with aerials were added to the communications equipment on top of the lift tower in December 1989, to solve reception problems for some residents of adjacent districts, including [[Notting Hill]] and [[Westbourne Grove]]. The transmitter installation is referred to by the [[BBC]] and [[Ofcom]] as "Kensal Town".<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.bbceng.info/Information/eid/press-releases/Transmitter_Press_Releases_16Feb1990_to_29July1987.pdf |title=Kensal Town TV Relay Now Open |publisher=BBC |date=30 November 1989 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>
Four low-power television relay transmitters with aerials were added to the communications equipment on top of the lift tower in December 1989, to solve reception problems for some residents of adjacent districts, including [[Notting Hill]] and [[Westbourne Grove]]. The transmitter installation is referred to by the [[BBC]] and [[Ofcom]] as "Kensal Town".<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.bbceng.info/Information/eid/press-releases/Transmitter_Press_Releases_16Feb1990_to_29July1987.pdf |title=Kensal Town TV Relay Now Open |publisher=BBC |date=30 November 1989 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>


In 1991, [[Sand Helsel]], Professor of Architecture at [[RMIT University|RMIT]], made a BBC documentary praising Trellick Tower, which helped to change public opinion in its favour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01rr0yh |title=BBC Building Sights |date=1991 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref> The tower subsequently became more respectable owing to its location in [[Notting Hill]] and the gentrification of Golborne Road.<ref name=moran/> Property prices rose and flats in the tower came to be regarded as highly desirable residences; requests to sell flats began to be posted on the tower's communal noticeboard. By 1999 a flat in the tower could sell for £150,000 (£{{inflation|UK|150000|1999|fmt=c|r=-3}} as of {{inflation-year|UK}}).<ref name=grauniad/> In 2013 a three-bedroom end apartment (with views on three sides) was let for £2,600 pcm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-41434139.html |title=3 bedroom apartment to rent – Trellick Tower, Golborne Road, London |publisher=Rightmove |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The tower itself is a local landmark and was awarded a [[Listed building|Grade II* listing]] in 1998, which included the main building and the adjacent row of shops and amenities. Also included is a doctor's surgery with the original shop front and layout.<ref name=he/> Most of the flats are still social housing, but a significant minority are now privately owned.<ref name=calder/>
In 1991, [[Sand Helsel]], Professor of Architecture at [[RMIT University|RMIT]], made a BBC documentary praising Trellick Tower, which helped to change public opinion in its favour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01rr0yh |title=BBC Building Sights |date=1991 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref> The tower subsequently became more respectable owing to its location close to [[Notting Hill]] and the gentrification of the neighbouring Golborne Road.<ref name=moran/> Property prices rose and flats in the tower came to be regarded as highly desirable residences; requests to sell flats began to be posted on the tower's communal noticeboard. By 1999 a flat in the tower could sell for £150,000 (£{{inflation|UK|150000|1999|fmt=c|r=-3}} as of {{inflation-year|UK}}).<ref name=grauniad/> In 2013 a three-bedroom end apartment (with views on three sides) was let for £2,600 pcm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-41434139.html |title=3 bedroom apartment to rent – Trellick Tower, Golborne Road, London |publisher=Rightmove |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The tower itself is a local landmark and was awarded a [[Listed building|Grade II* listing]] in 1998, which included the main building and the adjacent row of shops and amenities. Also included is a doctor's surgery with the original shop front and layout.<ref name=he/> Most of the flats are still social housing, but a significant minority are now privately owned.<ref name=calder/>


On 19 April 2017 the top floors of the tower caught fire, believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette. There were no injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39649930 |title=Trellick Tower flat blaze sees 200 people evacuated |work=BBC News |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The building's listed status meant that the concrete facade could not be covered over, which is thought to have prevented a far worse fire similar to [[Grenfell Tower fire|Grenfell Tower]] which happened a few months later.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/15/grenfell-tower-fire-residents-fear-kensington-chelsea-tenants-management-organisation |title=London's high-rise tenants cite concerns in wake of Grenfell Tower fire |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 June 2017 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>
On 19 April 2017 the top floors of the tower caught fire, believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette. There were no injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39649930 |title=Trellick Tower flat blaze sees 200 people evacuated |work=BBC News |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The building's listed status meant that the concrete facade could not be covered over, which is thought to have prevented a far worse fire similar to [[Grenfell Tower fire|Grenfell Tower]] which happened a few months later.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/15/grenfell-tower-fire-residents-fear-kensington-chelsea-tenants-management-organisation |title=London's high-rise tenants cite concerns in wake of Grenfell Tower fire |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 June 2017 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

=== Redevelopment plans ===
As of 2021, there are plans to demolish neighbouring buildings and to extensively alter the tower's immediate surroundings, including by adding a sixteen-storey block at an immediate right angle to the tower.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hopkirk2021-03-24T07:00:00+00:00|first=Elizabeth|title=Haworth Tompkins flats 'would block view of Trellick Tower', say opponents|url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/haworth-tompkins-flats-would-block-view-of-trellick-tower-say-opponents/5111079.article|access-date=27 November 2021|website=Building Design|language=en}}</ref> The charity [[Open House London|Open City]] described the plans as "the latest in an ongoing programme of incremental demolition of Goldfinger’s world renowned social housing estate which has already seen the neighbourhood’s Edenham Residential Care Home knocked down", adding the tower to its 'Buildings at Risk' list.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Press Release: Five London landmarks at risk to feature in the 2021 Open House Festival|url=https://open-city.org.uk/blog/five-buildings-at-risk|access-date=27 November 2021|website=Open City|language=en-US}}</ref> The plans would also involve destroying a graffiti wall, and a campaign has been started to oppose the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|title=We Must Save the Trellick Tower Graffiti Walls|url=https://fleajournal.com/summer-2021/we-must-save-the-trellick-tower-graffiti-wall|access-date=27 November 2021|website=The Flea Journal|language=en-GB}}</ref>


== Cultural references ==
== Cultural references ==
[[File:GU Canal Westbourne Park.jpg|thumb|right|Trellick Tower as seen from Westbourne Park]]
[[File:GU Canal Westbourne Park.jpg|thumb|right|Trellick Tower as seen from Westbourne Park]]
<!-- Please do not add content without citing a reliable source explaining its importance to Trellick Tower, otherwise your edit may be reverted -->
⚫
In recent years, Trellick Tower has become a London icon, appearing on T-shirts, featuring in adverts, films, and songs, and attracting visitors.<ref name=grauniad>{{cite news |first=Rory |last=Carroll |url=https://www.theguardian.co.uk/theguardian/1999/mar/11/features11.g28 |title=How did this become the height of fashion? |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 March 1999 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The tower was the filming location for ''[[Shopping (1994 film)|Shopping]]'' (1994), written and directed by [[Paul W. S. Anderson]],<ref name=thompson/> is featured in the film ''[[For Queen and Country]]'' (1988), starring [[Denzel Washington]].<ref name=james>{{cite book |title=London Film Location Guide |first=Simon |last=James |publisher=Anova Books |pages=68–69 |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-713-49062-6}}</ref> Additionally, it can be seen in the films ''[[Withnail & I]]'' (1987), ''[[London Kills Me]]'' (1991),<ref name=james/> ''[[Never Let Me Go (2010 film)|Never Let Me Go]]'' (2010) and ''[[Paddington&nbsp;(film)|Paddington&nbsp;]]''(2014).<ref name=thompson>{{cite book |title=Style Council: Inspirational Interiors in Ex-Council Homes |first=Sarah |last=Thompson |page=312 |publisher=Random House |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-473-52123-0}}</ref>


⚫
The tower is believed to have been the inspiration behind [[J. G. Ballard]]'s dystopian novel ''[[High Rise (novel)|High Rise]]'' (1975) and its [[High-Rise (film)|2016 film adaptation]] directed by [[Ben Wheatley]]. The tower also features in [[Martin Amis]]' black comedy novel ''[[London Fields (novel)|London Fields]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tames |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/londonculturalhi0000tame |url-access=registration |quote=trellick tower ballard. |title=London: A Cultural History |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-195-30953-9 |year=2006 |page=[https://archive.org/details/londonculturalhi0000tame/page/125 125]}}</ref> Several music videos have featured Trellick Tower, including releases from [[Blur (band)|Blur]] (which refers to the tower in their song "Best Days").<ref name=moran>{{cite book |title=Reading the Everyday |first=Joe|last=Moran |page=143 |year=2005 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-31709-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Mod!: A Very British Style |first=Richard |last=Weight |page=436 |publisher=Random House |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-224-07391-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/20/attack-the-block-how-grimes-visuals-went-pop |title=Attack the block: how grime's visuals went pop |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>
⚫
In recent years, Trellick Tower has become a London icon, appearing on T-shirts, featuring in adverts, films, and songs, and attracting visitors.<ref name=grauniad>{{cite news |first=Rory |last=Carroll |url=https://www.theguardian.co.uk/theguardian/1999/mar/11/features11.g28 |title=How did this become the height of fashion? |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 March 1999 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> The tower was the filming location for ''[[Shopping (1994 film)|Shopping]]'' (1994), written and directed by [[Paul W. S. Anderson]],<ref name=thompson/> is featured in the film ''[[For Queen and Country]]'' (1988), starring [[Denzel Washington]].<ref name=james>{{cite book |title=London Film Location Guide |first=Simon |last=James |publisher=Anova Books |pp=68–69 |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-713-49062-6}}</ref> Additionally, it can be seen in the films ''[[London Kills Me]]'' (1991),<ref name=james/> ''[[Never Let Me Go (2010 film)|Never Let Me Go]]'' (2010) and ''[[Paddington (film)|Paddington ]]''(2014).<ref name=thompson>{{cite book |title=Style Council: Inspirational Interiors in Ex-Council Homes |first=Sarah |last=Thompson |p=312 |publisher=Random House |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-473-52123-0}}</ref>


⚫
Trellick Tower has appeared in several television adverts, including idents for the [[BBC]]'s coverage of the [[2012 Olympics]].<ref name=calder/> The whole of one side of the building's exterior was used for the credits for the [[BBC]]'s children's television show ''[[Incredible Games]]'', starring [[David Walliams]], in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/12-vintage-shows-set-in-london-that-will-remind-you-of-your-childhood-040116 |title=12 vintage shows set in London that will remind you of your childhood |journal=Time Out |date=1 April 2016 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> The tower was used as a filming location (and a character's home) in ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' episode "The Madness Of Mickey Hamilton".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Professionals Viewing Notes MkII|last=Pixley|first=Andrew|publisher=Network|year=2014|page=160}}</ref> Additionally, the tower was used as the location of game developer Colin Ritman's apartment in the ''[[Black Mirror]]'' interactive episode/film ''[[Black Mirror: Bandersnatch|Bandersnatch]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/buy-the-house-in-bandersnatch|title=The House in "Bandersnatch" Is On The Market|work=Conde Nast Traveller |access-date=19 January 2019}}</ref> It was later featured on the cover for the ''Meanwhile'' EP produced by the band [[Gorillaz]], after previously appearing in the music videos of both "[[Tomorrow Comes Today]]" and "[[Sleeping Powder]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/gorillaz-meanwhile-ep-review-aj-tracey-jelani-blackman-alicai-harley-3029961-3029961|title=Gorillaz – 'Meanwhile' EP review: a joyous celebration of Notting Hill Carnival|work=NME|date=26 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref>
⚫
The tower is believed to have been the inspiration behind [[J. G. Ballard]]'s dystopian novel ''[[High Rise (novel)|High Rise]]'' (1975) and its [[High-Rise (film)|2016 film adaptation]] directed by [[Ben Wheatley]]. The tower also features in [[Martin Amis]]' black comedy novel ''[[London Fields (novel)|London Fields]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tames |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/londonculturalhi0000tame |url-access=registration |quote=trellick tower ballard. |title=London: A Cultural History |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-195-30953-9 |year=2006 |p=[https://archive.org/details/londonculturalhi0000tame/page/125 125]}}</ref> Several music videos have featured Trellick Tower, including releases from [[Blur (band)|Blur]] (which refers to the tower in their song "Best Days".<ref name=moran>{{cite book |title=Reading the Everyday |first=Joe|last=Moran |p=143 |year=2005 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-31709-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Mod!: A Very British Style |first=Richard |last=Weight |p=436 |publisher=Random House |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-224-07391-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/20/attack-the-block-how-grimes-visuals-went-pop |title=Attack the block: how grime's visuals went pop |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>


In May 2024 the tower was celebrated in ''Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts'' on BBC Two, with celebrity chef [[Andi Oliver]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/m001z9vx | title=Programmes }}</ref>
⚫
Trellick Tower has appeared in several television adverts, including idents for the [[BBC]]'s coverage of the [[2012 Olympics]].<ref name=calder/> The whole of one side of the building's exterior was used for the credits for the [[BBC]]'s children's television show ''[[Incredible Games]]'', starring [[David Walliams]], in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/12-vintage-shows-set-in-london-that-will-remind-you-of-your-childhood-040116 |title=12 vintage shows set in London that will remind you of your childhood |work=Time Out |date=1 April 2016 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> The tower was used as a filming location (and a character's home) in ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' episode "The Madness Of Mickey Hamilton".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Professionals Viewing Notes MkII|last=Pixley|first=Andrew|publisher=Network|year=2014|p=160}}</ref> Additionally, the tower was used as the location of game developer Colin Ritman's apartment in the ''[[Black Mirror]]'' interactive episode/film ''[[Black Mirror: Bandersnatch|Bandersnatch]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/buy-the-house-in-bandersnatch|title=The House in "Bandersnatch" Is On The Market|work=Conde Nast Traveller |access-date=19 January 2019}}</ref> It was later featured on the cover for the ''Meanwhile'' EP produced by the band [[Gorillaz]], after previously appearing in the music videos of both "[[Tomorrow Comes Today]]" and "[[Sleeping Powder]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/gorillaz-meanwhile-ep-review-aj-tracey-jelani-blackman-alicai-harley-3029961-3029961|title=Gorillaz – ‘Meanwhile’ EP review: a joyous celebration of Notting Hill Carnival|work=NME|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Latest revision as of 10:26, 12 October 2024

Trellick Tower
Trellick Tower with its separate access tower with abutting plant house
Trellick Tower is located in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Trellick Tower
Location within Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
General information
TypeResidential flats
Architectural styleBrutalist
LocationKensal Green, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London
Coordinates51°31′25″N 00°12′20″W / 51.52361°N 0.20556°W / 51.52361; -0.20556
Completed28 June 1972
Height
Roof98 metres (322 ft)
Technical details
Floor count31[1]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Ernő Goldfinger
Designations
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameTrellick Tower
Designated22 December 1998
Reference no.1246688

Trellick Tower is a Grade II* listed tower block on the Cheltenham Estate in Kensal Town, London. Opened in 1972, it was commissioned by the Greater London Council and designed in the Brutalist style by architect Ernő Goldfinger. The tower was planned to replace outdated social accommodation, and designed as an improvement on Goldfinger's earlier Balfron Tower in East London. It was the last major project he worked on, and featured various space-saving designs, along with a separate access tower containing a plant room.

High-rise apartments and Brutalist architecture were falling out of favour by the time the tower was completed, and it became a magnet for crime, vandalism, drug abuse and prostitution. Conditions gradually improved in the 1980s after the establishment of a residents' association. Security measures were put in place and a concierge was employed, which led to lower crime levels. By the 1990s, the tower had become a desirable place to live, and although it still contains predominantly social housing, demand for private flats has remained high. A local landmark, it has been Grade II* listed since 1998, and has retained its distinctive concrete facade as a result. A fire broke out in 2017, but the concrete structure meant damage was limited, unlike the nearby Grenfell Tower. Trellick Tower has featured in film and television several times.

Location

[edit]

Trellick Tower is on the Cheltenham Estate in Golborne Road, Kensal Town, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC). It is bounded to the north and east by Meanwhile Gardens and the Grand Union Canal, and to the south by the A40 Westway and the Great Western Main Line leading from London Paddington station.[2]

The nearest stations are Kensal Green (Bakerloo line and London Overground), Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines).[3] The tower is served by London Buses route 23.[4]

Design

[edit]
All apartments in Trellick Tower have a balcony and large windows to let in as much sunlight as possible.

The tower is 98 metres (322 ft) tall[5] (120 metres (394 ft) including the communications mast)[6] and is a Grade II* listed building.[7] The design is based on Goldfinger's earlier and slightly smaller Balfron Tower in Poplar, East London.[8] It has a long, thin profile, with a separate lift and service tower linked at every third storey to the access corridors in the main building, which overall has 31 floors. Flats above and below the corridor levels have internal stairs, while the 23rd and 24th floors are taken up by maisonettes split over the two floors. Overall, the building contains 217 dwellings and was originally owned by the GLC with the flats rented as council flats. All the apartments have balconies. The other building, containing shops and amenities, has seven floors.[9][1]

The service tower has two additional floors higher than the main building, which includes a projecting plant room that holds the main heating system. It is fully linked by stairs in addition to the lifts, and also has a refuse chute mechanism.[9] The majority of the plant and the hot water storage tank is located in the plant room, which reduces the need for pumps and reduces the amount of pipework needed. Shorter pipe runs also reduce heat loss. The oil-fired boilers originally used became obsolete due to the 1973 oil crisis, the year after the tower opened. The flats now have electric heaters and the plant room, although disused, still houses most of the now defunct mechanism.[10]

Goldfinger designed the entire tower block freehand on butcher's paper. He planned various communal areas, and purposely put slight variations in the structure so that each apartment would look different.[1][11] He included a number of space-saving designs, such as using sliding doors to access bathrooms, and light switches embedded in the door surrounds. All apartments have large windows facing the balconies, in order to let in as much natural light as possible. As well as residential accommodation, there are a variety of shops, an office, and a youth centre.[9][10] Throughout, quality materials were used in construction, including better fixtures and finishing the balconies with cedarwood. It was intended to be a good example of social accommodation alongside modern design.[12][13]

History

[edit]

Planning

[edit]
Inside the plant room in Trellick Tower

Construction of Trellick Tower began in 1968, in order to replace sub-standard local Victorian housing.[14] The tower was one of several such buildings, and was initially welcomed as a way of resolving the crises of post-Second World War housing. Goldfinger said "the whole object of building high is to free the ground for children and grown-ups to enjoy Mother Earth and not to cover every inch with bricks and mortar".[1][15]

Goldfinger had been encouraged to construct Trellick Tower by the London County Council (LCC) following the success of Balfron Tower, which had been commissioned in 1963 and opened four years later.[1] He took his inspiration from Balfron, where he had moved into one of the apartments in order to experience what life would be like for the tenants, and invited residents round for regular cocktail parties to tell him their likes and dislikes.[10] This feedback was incorporated into the design of Trellick Tower.[12] Many immigrants from the West Indies and the Caribbean settled in Trellick Tower, as for them it was one of the few affordable places to live in London.[5] The tower opened on 28 June 1972; construction costs ran to £2.4 million.[15] It was the last major project Goldfinger worked on; his reputation suffered as concrete tower blocks became unfashionable, and he died in 1987 before it could be restored.[16]

Decline

[edit]

By the time Trellick Tower opened, high-rise tower blocks were becoming unfashionable.[10] The LCC had been replaced by the Greater London Council (GLC) by the time construction started, who put more stringent construction and financial constraints on the project.[1] Shortly after its completion the building was transferred to the RBKC local council. Goldfinger had intended that tenants should be vetted for suitability and petitioned the GLC for the building to have proper security and a concierge, but the council declined his request. This meant that the building was open access and rough sleepers and drug criminals took up residence in its corridors.[11] Drying rooms on the ground floor, designed by Goldfinger to stop tenants hanging laundry on the balconies, were vandalised before the tower block opened.[17]

By the late 1970s Trellick Tower was a scene of crime and anti-social behaviour, and many tenants were very reluctant to move in. On one occasion vandals set off a fire extinguisher on the 12th floor, with water from the sprinkler system flooding the lifts and leaving the tower without electricity, heat or running water over the Christmas period. A pensioner was forced to use the stairs after all the lifts were out of order, and subsequently collapsed and died. On the 15th floor, a 27-year-old woman was dragged from one of the lifts and raped. The tower became nicknamed "The Tower of Terror" and residents attempted to be re-housed.[1] The GLC spent more than £300,000 on an intercom system and wholesale electrical repairs, but reliability and management problems made them counterproductive.[1]

In 1982 a man was killed after jumping off the top of Trellick Tower when his parachute failed to open. He was a member of a group of dangerous sports enthusiasts who were interested in BASE jumping. The action was condemned by the British Parachute Association.[18]

Revival

[edit]
One of Trellick Tower's interior corridors

With the introduction of the "right to buy" council homes, several of the flats were bought by their tenants.[11] On 8 October 1984 a new residents' association was formed. As a result of pressure from the occupants, several security improvements including a door entry intercom system were installed,[10] and a concierge was hired in 1987.[19] In 1994 residents in the tower, along with other residents in Kensington & Chelsea council properties, elected to self-manage the properties, in order to avoid increased rents and the threat of eviction.[20]

Four low-power television relay transmitters with aerials were added to the communications equipment on top of the lift tower in December 1989, to solve reception problems for some residents of adjacent districts, including Notting Hill and Westbourne Grove. The transmitter installation is referred to by the BBC and Ofcom as "Kensal Town".[21]

In 1991, Sand Helsel, Professor of Architecture at RMIT, made a BBC documentary praising Trellick Tower, which helped to change public opinion in its favour.[22] The tower subsequently became more respectable owing to its location close to Notting Hill and the gentrification of the neighbouring Golborne Road.[23] Property prices rose and flats in the tower came to be regarded as highly desirable residences; requests to sell flats began to be posted on the tower's communal noticeboard. By 1999 a flat in the tower could sell for £150,000 (£328,000 as of 2023).[1] In 2013 a three-bedroom end apartment (with views on three sides) was let for £2,600 pcm.[24] The tower itself is a local landmark and was awarded a Grade II* listing in 1998, which included the main building and the adjacent row of shops and amenities. Also included is a doctor's surgery with the original shop front and layout.[9] Most of the flats are still social housing, but a significant minority are now privately owned.[19]

On 19 April 2017 the top floors of the tower caught fire, believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette. There were no injuries.[25] The building's listed status meant that the concrete facade could not be covered over, which is thought to have prevented a far worse fire similar to Grenfell Tower which happened a few months later.[26]

Redevelopment plans

[edit]

As of 2021, there are plans to demolish neighbouring buildings and to extensively alter the tower's immediate surroundings, including by adding a sixteen-storey block at an immediate right angle to the tower.[27] The charity Open City described the plans as "the latest in an ongoing programme of incremental demolition of Goldfinger’s world renowned social housing estate which has already seen the neighbourhood’s Edenham Residential Care Home knocked down", adding the tower to its 'Buildings at Risk' list.[28] The plans would also involve destroying a graffiti wall, and a campaign has been started to oppose the scheme.[29]

Cultural references

[edit]
Trellick Tower as seen from Westbourne Park

In recent years, Trellick Tower has become a London icon, appearing on T-shirts, featuring in adverts, films, and songs, and attracting visitors.[1] The tower was the filming location for Shopping (1994), written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson,[30] is featured in the film For Queen and Country (1988), starring Denzel Washington.[31] Additionally, it can be seen in the films Withnail & I (1987), London Kills Me (1991),[31] Never Let Me Go (2010) and Paddington (2014).[30]

The tower is believed to have been the inspiration behind J. G. Ballard's dystopian novel High Rise (1975) and its 2016 film adaptation directed by Ben Wheatley. The tower also features in Martin Amis' black comedy novel London Fields.[32] Several music videos have featured Trellick Tower, including releases from Blur (which refers to the tower in their song "Best Days").[23][33][34]

Trellick Tower has appeared in several television adverts, including idents for the BBC's coverage of the 2012 Olympics.[19] The whole of one side of the building's exterior was used for the credits for the BBC's children's television show Incredible Games, starring David Walliams, in the early 1990s.[35] The tower was used as a filming location (and a character's home) in The Professionals episode "The Madness Of Mickey Hamilton".[36] Additionally, the tower was used as the location of game developer Colin Ritman's apartment in the Black Mirror interactive episode/film Bandersnatch.[37] It was later featured on the cover for the Meanwhile EP produced by the band Gorillaz, after previously appearing in the music videos of both "Tomorrow Comes Today" and "Sleeping Powder".[38]

In May 2024 the tower was celebrated in Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts on BBC Two, with celebrity chef Andi Oliver.[39]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Carroll, Rory (11 March 1999). "How did this become the height of fashion?". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. ^ Fisher, James (3 November 1993). "The joys of living in a tower block". The Times. London, England. p. 37. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Standard Tube Map" (PDF). Transport for London. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Key Bus Routes in Central London" (PDF). Transport for London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "In Brutal Presence". Trip Magazine. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ^ "How I learnt to love the council estate". The Independent. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Notting Hill's famous Trellick Tower". BBC News. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. ^ Wright, Herbert (2006). London High. Frances Lincoln. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-711-22695-1.
  9. ^ a b c d Historic England. "Trellick Tower (1246688)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e Thornton, Victoria (2012). Open House London: An Exclusive Insight Into 100 Architecturally Inspiring Buildings in London. Random House. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-091-94362-2.
  11. ^ a b c "High-Rise hell: the doomed tower blocks that inspired Ben Wheatley's new film". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  12. ^ a b McNay, Michael (2015). Hidden Treasures of London. Random House. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-847-94617-1.
  13. ^ Beadle, Lynn (2001). Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. CRC Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-203-46754-1.
  14. ^ Trellick Tower and the Cheltenham (Edenham) Estate (PDF) (Report). Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. March 2013. p. 5. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Photograph of Trellick Tower, designed by Ernö Goldfinger". British Library. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Architecture: Goldfinger. He's the man with the modern touch". The Independent. 27 August 1998. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  17. ^ Richardson, Phyllis (2017). The House of Fiction: From Pemberley to Brideshead, Great British Houses in Literature and Life. Random House. p. 287. ISBN 978-1-783-52381-8.
  18. ^ "Tower parachutist killed". The Times. London, England. 4 June 1982. p. 2. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  19. ^ a b c Calder, Barnabas (2016). Raw Concrete: The Beauty of Brutalism. Random House. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-434-02244-1.
  20. ^ "A fresh lease of life for council estates". The Times. London, England. 13 April 1994. p. 35. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Kensal Town TV Relay Now Open" (PDF) (Press release). BBC. 30 November 1989. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  22. ^ "BBC Building Sights". BBC. 1991. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  23. ^ a b Moran, Joe (2005). Reading the Everyday. Taylor & Francis. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-415-31709-2.
  24. ^ "3 bedroom apartment to rent – Trellick Tower, Golborne Road, London". Rightmove. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  25. ^ "Trellick Tower flat blaze sees 200 people evacuated". BBC News. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  26. ^ "London's high-rise tenants cite concerns in wake of Grenfell Tower fire". The Guardian. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  27. ^ Hopkirk2021-03-24T07:00:00+00:00, Elizabeth. "Haworth Tompkins flats 'would block view of Trellick Tower', say opponents". Building Design. Retrieved 27 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Press Release: Five London landmarks at risk to feature in the 2021 Open House Festival". Open City. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  29. ^ "We Must Save the Trellick Tower Graffiti Walls". The Flea Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  30. ^ a b Thompson, Sarah (2015). Style Council: Inspirational Interiors in Ex-Council Homes. Random House. p. 312. ISBN 978-1-473-52123-0.
  31. ^ a b James, Simon (2007). London Film Location Guide. Anova Books. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-0-713-49062-6.
  32. ^ Tames, Richard (2006). London: A Cultural History. Oxford University Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-195-30953-9. trellick tower ballard.
  33. ^ Weight, Richard (2013). Mod!: A Very British Style. Random House. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-224-07391-2.
  34. ^ "Attack the block: how grime's visuals went pop". The Guardian. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  35. ^ "12 vintage shows set in London that will remind you of your childhood". Time Out. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  36. ^ Pixley, Andrew (2014). The Professionals Viewing Notes MkII. Network. p. 160.
  37. ^ "The House in "Bandersnatch" Is On The Market". Conde Nast Traveller. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  38. ^ "Gorillaz – 'Meanwhile' EP review: a joyous celebration of Notting Hill Carnival". NME. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Programmes".
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trellick Tower.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trellick_Tower&oldid=1250758810"
pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy