Clapham Society visit to 55 Broadway, London SW1
7th February 2020
Members of the Clapham Society enjoyed a visit to 55 Broadway, an Art Deco building formerly the headquarters of Transport for London, on 17 January 2020. We were pleased to see it before it came under new ownership to become a hotel. The outside of the building will not be altered, but the interior will require some changes to befit its new purpose. As a Listed building, important features of the TfL building will have to be preserved by the new owners.
The Building at 55 Broadway
During the early years of the twentieth century, Art Deco evolved through a series of styles in America, culminating in a geometric decorated style related to the French Monumental Stripped Classicism style, which was widely adopted for government buildings in the late 1930s, many of which are still in use.
The architects commissioned by the Metropolitan Railway Company – Adams, Holden and Pearson – drew from this Monumental Stripped Classicism style for their bold designs, inviting contemporary artists to contribute. Among them were the sculptors Jacob Epstein, Eric Gill, Henry Moore, AH Gerrard, Eric Aumonier, Allan Wyon and Samuel Rabinovitch.
Tour of the TfL Art Deco Building
Events secretary for the Clapham Society, Christine Armstrong, organised the visit to 55 Broadway, which houses St James’s Park Tube station, making it very easy to reach!
One of the ‘tourists’ said:
‘It was such a great trip. Edmund Bird gave us a fabulous tour of the building including a climb up to the roof!’
‘The tour was a real treat and a privilege,’ said someone else. ‘To be given expert insight by Edmund Bird into all the design detail of both the inside and outside of this 1920s Grade 1 listed building was really fascinating, and to be allowed to look over the London skyline from the very top of London’s first skyscraper, which we learned it was, was fantastic.’
A third person was heard to say: ‘We were really impressed by the elaborate fittings throughout the building, especially the vast and ornate Chairman’s office, with its own entrance to the equally vast boardroom. Our guide, David Leboff, was very pleasant and knowledgeable.’
Pictures of this iconic building taken by members of the group, including Ruth Eastman and Caroline Booth, feature rare views and spectacular architectural details. Here are some of our favourites.
Views from the building
The Clapham Society’s tour of 55 Broadway, SW1, was led by Edmund Bird, Heritage Manager of TfL, following a well-attended talk to the Society in November 2019. He was joined by David Leboff, a project manager for TfL London Underground, where he has worked for some 30 years, and the author of several books on the Tube including Underground Stations of Leslie Green and ABC of London Underground Stations.
It took place two weeks before TfL vacated the Grade One Listed building, which was built in 1929 as the headquarters of London Transport and designed by the architect Charles Holden.
The new owners are Integra Hotels who will be repurposing it internally as a hotel. Rooms are going to be a mix of luxury and affordable depending on the view – and views are astonishing, probably London’s finest.
To have been present at a turning point in the fortunes of such an historic building was a privilege and a pleasure. Many thanks to Edmund and David for their expert guidance.
Exterior
Interior details
Many of the interior decorations and fittings are still intact. We include a small selection here.
The chairman’s office on the 10th floor was an architectural gem. The decorative ceiling with lantern roof was unlikely to have been painted pink originally, we were told!
Balustrade.
Our guided tour of the historic building 55 Broadway was informative and exciting.
55 Broadway is a building that celebrated artists and designers of the time, when it was built, and brought a new way of working for large organisations. It has continued to adapt to innovation and circumstance ever since. We look forward to seeing the results of the metamorphosis from corporate headquarters to hotel.