Date: Thursday 23rd October 2019
Venue: G04a
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
The statutory listing of Preston Bus Station in Lancashire, North West England, has become a landmark case within twentieth-century architectural heritage, especially for post-war and Brutalist architecture. Listing applications for the building had been rejected repeatedly, despite strong support from heritage experts. Yet, whilst many thought its demolition was unavoidable in late 2012, when the local Council renewed its threats of demolition, the building has reached its 50th birthday – coming up on 22nd October 2019 – in a triumphant way: not only has it been listed and secured investment that enabled its refurbishment, but it has also collected a number of heritage and architecture awards, including an RIBA National Award that placed it in the longlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2019.
This seminar will discuss the significance of its successful listing in September 2013 and recent developments, including a major conference organised by the Liverpool School of Architecture, in partnership with the Twentieth Century Society, on Friday 11th October 2019. The conference relates current developments to the inclusion of “British Brutalism” in the 2012 World Monument Watch, with London’s Southbank Centre, Birmingham Central Library and Preston Bus Station as the three named examples. Principal questions that will be addressed on the day include: the role of heritage designation; the role of publicity surrounding high-profile cases in the wider understanding and appreciation of Brutalist architecture - and more broadly our most recent architectural heritage; and any benefits arising from the recent blurring between new and old architecture, as marked by the increasing inclusion of refurbishment and regeneration projects in architecture awards.