Unilever House
{{short description|Historic building in London, England}}
{{distinguish|text=Lever House in New York City}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Unilever House
| native_name=
| former_names = Lever House
| alternate_names =
| image = Unilever House 2020.jpg
| caption = Unilever House seen from Blackfriars Bridge
| map_type =
| altitude =
| building_type =
| architectural_style = Neoclassical Art Deco
| structural_system =
| cost =
| ren_cost =
| location = Blackfriars
London, EC4
United Kingdom
| address = 100 Victoria Embankment
| client =
| owner = Unilever
| current_tenants = Unilever, Bristows, Royal Mail
| landlord =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.511654|N|0.104671|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| start_date = 1929
| completion_date = {{Start date and age|1933|df=yes}}
| inauguration_date =
| renovation_date = 1977–83; 2004–07
| floor_count =
| floor_area = 385,500ft²
| main_contractor =
| architect = James Lomax-Simpson
| architecture_firm = Sir John Burnet & Partners
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer =
| civil_engineer =
| other_designers = Thomas S. Tait
Sculptures:
William Reid Dick
Gilbert Ledward
Walter Gilbert
Eric Gill
| quantity_surveyor =
| awards =
| ren_architect =
| ren_firm = Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
| ren_str_engineer =
| ren_serv_engineer =
| ren_civ_engineer =
| ren_oth_designers = Pringle Brandon
| ren_qty_surveyor =
| ren_awards =
| references =
}}
Unilever House is a Grade II listed office building in the Neoclassical Art Deco style, located on New Bridge Street, Victoria Embankment in Blackfriars, London. The building has a tall, curving frontage which overlooks Blackfriars Bridge on the north bank of the River Thames.{{cite book|last=Sutcliffe|first=Anthony|title=London: An Architectural History|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2006|chapter=The Modern Breaks Through, 1914–1939|isbn=978-0-300-11006-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/londonarchitectu0000sutc}}
The site of Unilever House was previously occupied by Bridewell Palace, a residence of Henry VIII, which later became a poorhouse and prison. These buildings were destroyed in 1864, making way for De Keyser's Royal Hotel.{{cite book|last=Howgego|first=James L.|title=The Victorian and Edwardian City of London from Old Photographs |publisher=Batsford |year=1977 |isbn=978-0-7134-0598-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/victorianedwardi0000unse_o3g2}}[http://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/XJ121781/De-Keysers-Royal-Hotel-Victoria-Embankment-EC?img=2&search=V+de+Keyser De Keyser's Royal Hotel, Victoria Embankment, London] In 1920, Lord Leverhulme leased the site to build the London headquarters of his soap manufacturing company Lever Brothers, which became Unilever in 1930. Construction did not commence until 1929.
Design and construction
The design was a collaboration between James Lomax-Simpson, the Unilever company architect and a member of its board, and John James Burnet and Thomas S. Tait, partners in the firm of Sir John Burnet and Partners. However, there has been much confusion over the relative contributions of these architects. A note by Simpson claimed exclusive credit, suggesting that Burnet and Tait merely approved the final design; but Burnet and Tait exhibited the design as a joint work with Simpson at the Royal Academy; and drawings held at London Metropolitan Archives are signed by Burnet and Tait alone.{{cite book|first1=Nikolaus |last1=Pevsner |last2=Bradley |first2=Simon |series=Buildings of England |publisher=Penguin|year=1997 |title=London 1: The City of London |isbn=978-0-300-09652-1 |pages=567–68 }} Burnet was on the point of retiring owing to ill health; while Tait was a leading proponent of modern architecture, little of which is evident in the final design.{{cite web |url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=226487|title=Unilever Building|publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|access-date=2008-11-16}}{{cite journal |year=2005 |title=Unilever House|journal=Open Site 2005 |url=http://www.acenet.co.uk/documents/35402_Brochure_mpc.pdf|access-date=2008-11-17}} The conclusion of Clive Aslet is that Lomax-Simpson was responsible for the overall concept (an early drawing by him dated October 1929 depicts the frontage very much as built); while Burnet and Tait were invited to become involved because of the prestige of their practice's name, but contributed only details.Aslet 1981.
The main contractor for the construction was Holland, Hannen & Cubitts.{{cite web|url=http://www.trust-thamesmead.co.uk/assets/PAGE_16.pdf|title=London landmarks built by Cubitts|publisher=Thamesmead|access-date=2012-06-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105204800/http://www.trust-thamesmead.co.uk/assets/PAGE_16.pdf|archive-date=5 January 2009|df=dmy-all}}
Architecture
The most striking aspect of the building is its enormous curving frontage along the Victoria Embankment, with its giant Ionic columns between the fourth and sixth floors. The heavily rusticated ground floor is windowless to reduce traffic noise inside the building. The corners are marked by entrances surmounted by large plinths on which are placed sculptures of human figures restraining horses (called Controlled EnergyPhilip Ward-Jackson: [https://books.google.com/books?id=KiK0DbcUBIUC&dq=%22Controlled+Energy%22+dick+unilever&pg=PA277 Public Sculpture of the City of London (Public Sculpture of Britain).] Liverpool University Press, Liverpool 2003, {{ISBN|978-0-85323-977-2}}, p. 278. Retrieved 2010-08-30) by Sir William Reid Dick. Merman and mermaid figures are by Gilbert Ledward. The original lift cars were lined with art deco pewter panels designed by Eric Gill.
Renovation
A refurbishment of 1977–83 saw the addition of parapet figures by Nicholas Monro and a new north entrance lobby in a Neo Art Deco style, by Theo Crosby of Pentagram.Crosby was the Design Consultant on the job. The design team was headed by Frank Bex, working with Unilever's chief architect Roy Ashworth The building has been extended along Tudor Street.
In 2004, the firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates began renovation work in consultation with English Heritage and the City of London to make alterations to the interior work space. As part of the renovations, original fittings were retained or re-used, such as parquet flooring or Eric Gill's pewter lift car panels, but Crosby's distinctive and historically important additions were removed.These additions are illustrated in No.9 [https://books.google.com/books?id=IC8h3F8z6PoC&dq=%22Towards+A+New+Ornament%22&pg=PA100 Unilever House: Towards A New Ornament]. In Pentagram Partners (Author), Delphine Hirasuna (Editor): Pentagram Papers. Chronicle Books, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-8118-5563-1}}. In this Paper, Crosby argues that his work on Unilever House was part of a necessary "change of emphasis" in building; to reduce the scale at which buildings are contemplated, and to "revive the responsible craftsman". A roof garden was created on top of the building.{{cite web|url=http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/unilever/|title=Unilever House, London, United Kingdom|publisher=Design Build Network|access-date=2008-11-16}}
Gallery
Image:Unilever House 2.jpg|The curved Neoclassic front
Image:Unilever House 3.jpg|Unilever monogram
Image:Unilever House 4.jpg|Decorative detailing
Image:Unilever House 5.jpg|The front door
Image:Unilever House 6.jpg|"Controlled Energy": man and horse by Sir William Reid Dick
Image:UnileverWomanHorseP1090413.jpg|"Controlled Energy": woman and horse by Sir William Reid Dick
Image:Unilever.jpg|Unilever House and Blackfriars Bridge at night
File:Unilever House interior - 01.jpg|Interior of Unilever House. The sculpture is "The Space Trumpet" by Conrad Shawcross{{Cite web|url=http://events.londonopenhouse.org/VirtualFolder/Factsheets/factsheet.asp?ftloh_id=2810|title=100 Victoria Embankment - 'Unilever House' - Building Details|website=Open House London|access-date=2016-04-24}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite journal |first=Clive |last=Aslet |author-link=Clive Aslet |title=Unilever House, Blackfriars |journal=The Thirties Society Journal |volume=1 |year=1981 |pages=18–21 }}
{{Unilever}}
Category:Grade II listed buildings in the City of London
Category:Office buildings completed in 1933
Category:Art Deco architecture in London
Category:Grade II listed office buildings