New C20 campaign celebrates buildings turning 30

Latest News Tue, Nov 26, 2024 7:28 AM

In November 1994, the first Eurostar service pulled out of London’s Waterloo Station, and the continent was suddenly on the doorstep.

The opening of the Channel Tunnel was the culmination of the 20th century’s biggest single civil engineering and political project. Physically connecting Britain and mainland Europe for the first time in their histories, newspapers at the time declaring: ‘No longer an Island’.

Now, C20 Society is calling for the historic former Waterloo International Terminal to be nationally listed, as part of our new Coming of Age campaign – an annual hit-parade that celebrates the best buildings across the country turning 30 years old, and so becoming eligible for listing.

Image: Waterloo International Terminal, Lambeth – Nicholas Grimshaw Architects, 1988-94 - Grimshaw

The selection criteria for listing buildings are set by the government Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with Historic England providing detailed guidance and carrying our research on each specific case.

Along with the primary considerations of ‘special architectural and historic interest’, the principles state that buildings under 30 years of age are not usually considered eligible because ‘they have yet to stand the test of time.’ However, when a building reaches this key age threshold, there’s currently no mechanism to proactively review or assess its heritage value, until it comes under threat of demolition or harmful alteration. (NB. In exceptional circumstances, buildings may be listed when they are under 30, but only if they are both of exceptional quality and at risk of demolition).

The Coming of Age campaign addresses this directly, by identifying 10 outstanding buildings across the country that opened in 1994, and recommending they be added to the National Heritage List. This hit-parade of heritage from the recent past celebrates the richness and diversity in our built environment, set within the social, political and cultural contexts of the day. The initiative it set to become an annual fixture, with the Society’s 2025 Coming of Age list highlighting the best buildings of 1995, and so on.

Given that around 30 years after construction is often the point at which buildings (however well constructed in the first place) are likely to require their first major refurbishment, any listing designation at this point would provide a timely opportunity to ensure that such works recognise and respond to what makes a building significant. Encouraging retrofit with the long-term, sustainable future as a key objective.

Approaching 30 years old is also often the moment in a building’s lifespan when it is most likely to be at the nadir of its popularity and fashionability, and therefore potentially at its most vulnerable. Why wait until the bulldozers are poised, to intervene and try to protect an outstanding building, when it is possible to make an objective judgement far earlier?

Featured News

Specification news
Modern, Sustainable and Engineered to Last

Q-railing launches EPD Certificates for glass, stainless steel and aluminium railing...

Read More >>

Specification news
Construction opportunities surge with London office...

The City of London’s booming office tower market is generating substantial...

Read More >>

BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES

Your high performance facade panel. With James Hardie, It’s Possible™ Brochure

Your high performanc...
By James Hardie

Download Now >>

James Hardie brings unique designs to life with beautiful fibre cement products that are built to last. It’s Possible™ Brochure

James Hardie brings...
By James Hardie

Download Now >>

fermacell® The Specification Guide Brochure

fermacell® The Speci...
By James Hardie

Download Now >>

Hardie backer fibre cement backerboard for Tile & Stone  Brochure

Hardie backer fibre...
By James Hardie

Download Now >>

RIVERSTONE® - DISCOVER NATURAL PHYLLITE Brochure

RIVERSTONE® - DISCOV...
By SSQ

Download Now >>

BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS

Senses White Fleck Kitchen Surfaces
Senses White Fleck Kitchen Surfaces

Senses Kitchen Surfaces. Beautifully Crafted, Effortlessly Maintained. The Senses range of...

Read More >>

SM 485: fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors
SM 485: fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors

FASSA's new SM 485: Your choice for a fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors,...

Read More >>

SL 416: A fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors
SL 416: A fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors

FASSA's new SL 416: A fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors. With superb...

Read More >>

CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS

Specification Insights with Majestic London Showers
Specification Insights with Majestic London Showers

Specification Insights with Majestic London Showers

Watch Now >>

Discover the first-ever reference book for stone wool insulated sandwich panels
Discover the first-ever reference book for stone wool insulated sandwich panels

“Building with stone wool insulated sandwich panels” written by Professor Imperadori, is now...

Watch Now >>

Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London
Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London

Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London

Watch Now >>