Cheltenham Architecture - Part Two

Here are a couple of buildings not more than a few hundred yards apart. One is a Cheltenham landmark and the other I had never noticed until quite recently but both are worthy of attention.


First up is the Eagle Star Building or Eagle Tower, as it is currently known.

The only high-rise building in Cheltenham since the Whitbread tower was demolished several years ago. (I think I have some photos of this in the process of demolition).

A bit of basic online research reveals that the building was completed in 1968 and functioned as the administrative head office and computer centre for Eagle Star Insurance. Its central lozenge-shaped tower set on top of slender polygonal columns offers great ground level views from just about every angle.

Nice columns

Satisfying angles and fantastic parapet with "cut-out" design.

Positioned at right angles to the main main tower there is a secondary, low-rise annexe. Again this follows a similar lozenge-shaped design but the defining feature of this part of the building is the amazing exterior concrete decorative work which you can hopefully make out from the image below.

© Copyright Tom Jolliffe and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence 

On the other side of the tower is a third, slightly more regularly shaped block. Altogether, they add up to a fine looking building complex (from the outside anyway). 

The tower was open to the public last year as part of the National Heritage Open Days scheme and for one day the public were allowed access through the building and up onto the roof. I recall taking the fast lift up to a floor near the top and walking up the service stairs to the roof. Not only do you get the distant views to the edge of town and beyond but because of the building's central location it affords really interesting aerial views of other nearby buildings. For instance you can see the layout and size of gardens which are hidden from view at street level. I don't know if it will be open again this year (the scheme runs from 6-9 September) but if it is, I would highly recommend a visit.


Just a few streets away from the Eagle Star Tower is the Montpellier Retreat electricity substation. Even at a glance this building has a satisfying simplicity to it but when you take the time to stop and take a closer look, it reveals some amazing details.

Montpellier Retreat Substation. (looks good even on a grey wet day!)

Here are some of the things you can see on closer inspection.

Shallow curved concrete porch cover with scalloped edging.

If you are going to design doors for an electricity substation
they may as well be super stylish

And don't forget to include cut-out metal lightning bolts
 on the railings outside.

Satisfying proportions and clever use of materials combine to
create a small but perfectly formed building.

Does anyone know who designed this building? Whoever it was, they did a fantastic job!

Sizewell

The Suffolk coastline is packed with interesting (and often unusual) places and buildings. Sizewell is definitely one of those places, where the two huge nuclear power stations (A and B), dominate the surrounding area. 

Sizewell A - main reactor building - view from the beach

I particularly love the imposing structure of the main reactor building of Sizewell A with it's massive concrete and metal clad walls. Whatever thoughts you may have regarding nuclear power and technology, this is certainly impressive architecture and it is a recurring point of reference in my own work.

from another angle...

 a closer view.

Nice, rusting exterior walkways

so much lovely concrete.

In fact, it is amazing just how close you can get to the site from the beach. You can walk right up to the perimeter wall and in some places you can get a reasonably good vantage point from which to look into the site.

Perimeter wall

There are also some handy signs to alert you, should you be unaware that you are approaching a nuclear site.

Not forgetting the notice at the beach car park with useful advice on what you might like to do in the event of a nuclear emergency.

Sizewell A was finally shut down in 2006 and is currently a few years into it's lengthy decommissioning process about which you can find out more on the Magnox website.


Or you can visit the Nuclear Decommisioning Authority website.


There is also an interesting Daily Telegraph article relating to both Sizewell and nuclear power in general.


Of course you can always visit for yourself and find out what a wonderful place this is!

Sizewell beach