Balfron Tower
Encyclopedia
Balfron Tower is a 27-storey housing block in Poplar
, a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
in the East End of London
, UK
. It forms part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing between Chrisp Street Market
and the A12 northern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel
. It was designed by Ernő Goldfinger
in 1963 for the London County Council
, built 1965-67 by the GLC
, and has been a Grade II listed building since 1996.
The service tower is topped by a boiler room. In 1985 the original concrete boiler flutes were replaced with metal, due to concrete decay.
The two blocks were known as Rowlett Street Phases I and II during development before being named after the Scottish villages of Balfron
and Carradale
, a pattern followed in naming other locations on the nearby Aberfeldy and Teviot estates.
Ernő Goldfinger
and is associated with the Brutalist style of 1960s architecture
. Goldfinger himself was pleased with the design and moved in to flat 130, on the 25th floor, for two months in 1968. He and his wife threw champagne parties to find out what the residents liked and disliked about his design. He applied what he learnt to his design for the similar and more famous Trellick Tower
in west London
. Goldfinger's studio later added Glenkerry House
on the same estate, complementing Balfron Tower and Carradale in style.
The building was given Grade II listed status in March 1996, followed by Carradale House in 2000. Carradale and Glenkerry Houses were also included in the Balfron Tower Conservation Area, designated in 1998. The listing continues to attract comment, especially in view of the failure of another nearby Brutalist estate, Robin Hood Gardens
, to obtain the same protection.
In December 2007, following a ballot of residents in 2006, Tower Hamlets Council transferred its ownership of Balfron Tower, Carradale House and the surrounding Brownfield Estate to Poplar HARCA
, a housing association
. The association is legally committed to carry out a full refurbishment of the buildings. The architectural firm PRP which has taken up this project will be looking to restore these Brutalist structures to their original form as required by English Heritage
, and also to bring the buildings up to modern specifications and 21st century living standards. The first phase of the refurbishment started November 2011 with the lower Carradale House. The refurbishment will be technically challenging, due to the need to install new services without disturbing the listed exterior. The solid concrete design also suffers inherently from cold bridging, which will have to be remedied by internal wall insulation. Residents were to have the option to keep their flats in the block, or to move into new low-rise homes nearby, in which case the vacated flats would be sold to finance the works.
Pending these works, some flats in Balfron and Carradale are temporarily occupied by artists, who contribute to the community and put on displays in "heritage flat" number 123 Balfron Tower. A major photographic project was undertaken in November 2010.
In October 2010 the residents of both blocks were sent notice that the refurbishment would require all residents to move out, with no undertaking on whether they could return.
features various external shots of Balfron Tower in its opening scenes. In the first frame, One Canada Square
at Canary Wharf
is visible behind it.
Balfron Tower has appeared as a location in many British television programmes, often when an impression of urban deprivation was required. Some that used it extensively are "Faking It", the second episode of the BBC series Hustle
; the ITV series The Fixer
; and Whitechapel
, a three-part drama series produced by Carnival Films.
Balfron Tower features in Danny Boyle's post-apocalyptic film 28 Days Later
, although this appearance is often mistakenly credited to Trellick Tower.
Balfron Tower is also featured in the 2011 film Blitz
as the residence of the main criminal, Barry Weiss. It is portrayed as an anti-social, dirty and dangerous place.
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
, a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It forms part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing between Chrisp Street Market
Chrisp Street Market
Chrisp Street Market was designed by Frederick Gibberd, and built as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951. It is located in Poplar in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and forms part of the eastern edge of the Lansbury Estate....
and the A12 northern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel
Blackwall Tunnel
The Blackwall Tunnel is a pair of road tunnels underneath the River Thames in east London, linking the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with the London Borough of Greenwich, and part of the A102 road. The northern portal lies just south of the East India Dock Road in Blackwall; the southern...
. It was designed by Ernő Goldfinger
Erno Goldfinger
Ernő Goldfinger was a Hungarian-born Jewish architect and designer of furniture, and a key member of the architectural Modern Movement after he had moved to the United Kingdom.-Biography:Goldfinger was born in Budapest...
in 1963 for the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
, built 1965-67 by the GLC
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, and has been a Grade II listed building since 1996.
Design
Balfron Tower is 84 metres (276 ft) high and contains 146 homes (136 flats and 10 maisonettes). Lifts serve all entry floors (that is, every third floor); thus, to reach a flat on the 11th, 12th or 13th floors, residents or visitors would take a lift to the 12th. The lift shaft sits in a separate service tower, also containing laundry rooms and rubbish chutes, and joined to the residential tower by the seven walkways visible in the picture.The service tower is topped by a boiler room. In 1985 the original concrete boiler flutes were replaced with metal, due to concrete decay.
Carradale House
Carradale House (1967–70) is an adjacent building, also designed by Ernő Goldfinger and Grade II listed. The two appear to be natural extensions of each other, linked by style and design, with the long, low form of Carradale House complementing the height of Balfron Tower. The block is 37 metres (121 ft) tall with 11 floors, and contains 88 flats. The building has a similar podium to Balfron Tower, albeit more extensive with a large underground car park underneath. It too has sky bridges on the same principle of access at every third floor. Like Balfron Tower, the robust nature of the detailing to this building has helped it to weather the passage of time.The two blocks were known as Rowlett Street Phases I and II during development before being named after the Scottish villages of Balfron
Balfron
Balfron, is a village in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It is situated near Endrick Water on the A875 road, 18 miles west of Stirling and 16 miles north of Glasgow. Although a rural settlement, it lies within commuting distance of Glasgow, and serves as a dormitory town.-History:The name...
and Carradale
Carradale
Carradale is a picturesque village on the east side of Kintyre, overlooking the Kilbrannan Sound and the west coast of the Isle of Arran, approximately 14 miles from Campbeltown...
, a pattern followed in naming other locations on the nearby Aberfeldy and Teviot estates.
History
Balfron Tower was designed by architectArchitect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Ernő Goldfinger
Erno Goldfinger
Ernő Goldfinger was a Hungarian-born Jewish architect and designer of furniture, and a key member of the architectural Modern Movement after he had moved to the United Kingdom.-Biography:Goldfinger was born in Budapest...
and is associated with the Brutalist style of 1960s architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. Goldfinger himself was pleased with the design and moved in to flat 130, on the 25th floor, for two months in 1968. He and his wife threw champagne parties to find out what the residents liked and disliked about his design. He applied what he learnt to his design for the similar and more famous Trellick Tower
Trellick Tower
Trellick Tower is a 31-storey block of flats in North Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. It was designed in the Brutalist style by architect Ernő Goldfinger, after a commission from the Greater London Council in 1966, and completed in 1972...
in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Goldfinger's studio later added Glenkerry House
Glenkerry House
Glenkerry House is a housing block on the Brownfield Estate in Poplar, London designed by the studio of the controversial Brutalist architect Ernő Goldfinger. 14 storeys high, it stands in proximity to and complements the appearance of Balfron Tower and Carradale House, which were designed by...
on the same estate, complementing Balfron Tower and Carradale in style.
The building was given Grade II listed status in March 1996, followed by Carradale House in 2000. Carradale and Glenkerry Houses were also included in the Balfron Tower Conservation Area, designated in 1998. The listing continues to attract comment, especially in view of the failure of another nearby Brutalist estate, Robin Hood Gardens
Robin Hood Gardens
Robin Hood Gardens is a council housing complex in Poplar, London designed in the late 1960s by architects Alison and Peter Smithson and completed in 1972...
, to obtain the same protection.
In December 2007, following a ballot of residents in 2006, Tower Hamlets Council transferred its ownership of Balfron Tower, Carradale House and the surrounding Brownfield Estate to Poplar HARCA
Poplar HARCA
Poplar HARCA is a housing association in the East End of London, England. It is the landlord of about 8,500 homes in the Poplar area, a quarter of which have been sold leasehold; the remainder are let on assured tenancies at subsidised rent levels.The association focuses on community regeneration...
, a housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
. The association is legally committed to carry out a full refurbishment of the buildings. The architectural firm PRP which has taken up this project will be looking to restore these Brutalist structures to their original form as required by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
, and also to bring the buildings up to modern specifications and 21st century living standards. The first phase of the refurbishment started November 2011 with the lower Carradale House. The refurbishment will be technically challenging, due to the need to install new services without disturbing the listed exterior. The solid concrete design also suffers inherently from cold bridging, which will have to be remedied by internal wall insulation. Residents were to have the option to keep their flats in the block, or to move into new low-rise homes nearby, in which case the vacated flats would be sold to finance the works.
Pending these works, some flats in Balfron and Carradale are temporarily occupied by artists, who contribute to the community and put on displays in "heritage flat" number 123 Balfron Tower. A major photographic project was undertaken in November 2010.
In October 2010 the residents of both blocks were sent notice that the refurbishment would require all residents to move out, with no undertaking on whether they could return.
Media coverage
The music video for the song "Morning Glory" by OasisOasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
features various external shots of Balfron Tower in its opening scenes. In the first frame, One Canada Square
One Canada Square
One Canada Square is a skyscraper in Canary Wharf in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is the tallest completed building in the United Kingdom since 1991, standing at above ground level and containing 50 storeys...
at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
is visible behind it.
Balfron Tower has appeared as a location in many British television programmes, often when an impression of urban deprivation was required. Some that used it extensively are "Faking It", the second episode of the BBC series Hustle
Hustle (TV series)
Hustle is a British television drama series made by Kudos Film and Television for BBC One in the United Kingdom. Created by Tony Jordan and first broadcast in 2004, the series follows a group of con artists who specialise in "long cons" – extended deceptions which require greater commitment, but...
; the ITV series The Fixer
The Fixer (TV series)
The Fixer is a British drama television series, produced by Kudos for ITV. Set in modern Britain, it follows the life of an ex-British Special Forces soldier arrested by police after he killed his aunt and uncle following his discharge from the military...
; and Whitechapel
Whitechapel (TV series)
Whitechapel is a three-part British television drama series produced by Carnival Films, which first broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and which dealt with the murders of Jack the Ripper....
, a three-part drama series produced by Carnival Films.
Balfron Tower features in Danny Boyle's post-apocalyptic film 28 Days Later
28 Days Later
28 Days Later is an acclaimed 2002 British horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The screenplay was written by Alex Garland, and the film stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, and Christopher Eccleston...
, although this appearance is often mistakenly credited to Trellick Tower.
Balfron Tower is also featured in the 2011 film Blitz
Blitz (film)
Blitz is a 2011 crime film directed by Elliott Lester and starring Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen and David Morrissey. It is based on the novel of the same name by Ken Bruen, which features his recurring characters Detective Sergeant Tom Brant and Chief Inspector James...
as the residence of the main criminal, Barry Weiss. It is portrayed as an anti-social, dirty and dangerous place.
See also
- Trellick TowerTrellick TowerTrellick Tower is a 31-storey block of flats in North Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. It was designed in the Brutalist style by architect Ernő Goldfinger, after a commission from the Greater London Council in 1966, and completed in 1972...
, similar tower in North Kensington (west London) - Glenkerry HouseGlenkerry HouseGlenkerry House is a housing block on the Brownfield Estate in Poplar, London designed by the studio of the controversial Brutalist architect Ernő Goldfinger. 14 storeys high, it stands in proximity to and complements the appearance of Balfron Tower and Carradale House, which were designed by...
, later block facing Balfron Tower, housing co-op