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French Railways House

A disappearing remnant of 1960s Gaullist optimism in London

While elegant proportions and a certain timeless yet modern style might sound like some bavard’s evocation of a French woman, it seems most appropriate when describing French Railways House.

180 Piccadilly was designed by the architects Shaw & Lloyd to house the main London office of the SNCF, France’s state railway, and incorporated their sales desks and information bureau for tourists on the ground floor.

With interiors by Charlotte Perriand (left) and signage lettered by Ernő Goldfinger (right) — the architect so despised by Ian Fleming that he named a Bond villain after him — the excellent proportions of this little modernist gem exude the optimistic confidence of the Gaullist Fifth Republic.

When the building opened in 1962, the ground floor was an open loggia with the letters F-R-A-N-C-E proudly projecting out onto Piccadilly from six piers. Goldfinger’s letters were removed in a 2013 renovation of the building that also filled out the ground floor to allow for more retail space.

Somewhat surprisingly, French Railways House lacked listed building protection. An attempt by the Twentieth Century Society attempted to get it listed in 2013 failed, with the removal of Goldfinger’s signage and the filling-in of the ground floor cited as reasons for rejecting the application.

The building was acquired by Great Portman Estates, who are now in the process of demolishing No. 180 and replacing it with a rather tawdry design (below) that will doubtless only last a few decades itself.

While rejecting the application to list the building, Historic England did concede that French Railways House “responds thoughtfully to its prominent site in a prestigious location; with careful proportions and the use of good quality materials, it is a classical reinterpretation in a modernist idiom”.

Otto Saumerez Smith praised the “elegant commercial modernism” of French Railways House, stating that “inexplicably this decent building will be demolished for a banal replacement”. Edwin Heathcote of the FT described the decision to demolish as “a shocker”.

The Twentieth Century Society rightly maintains that 180 Piccadilly “could so easily have been upgraded for modern office use” and that GPE’s demolition is “wasteful and wholly unnecessary”.

Leaving Burlington House through its triumphal arched portal, it is sad that we will no longer be greeted by this example of the poised assurance of the Gaullist state.

Published at 3:38 pm on Monday 8 July 2024. Categories: Architecture Great Britain Tags: , .
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