Postmodern icon becomes England’s youngest landmarked building

A prince of postmodern architecture, late British architect James Stirling was renowned for designing fiercely experimental buildings that were also eminently livable and considerate of context. His final project, the iconic stone-striped No 1 Poultry building sits on a wedge-shaped lot in the heart of London. One of the city’s most important and recognizable PoMo structures, No 1 Poultry has just been designated as a Grade II-listed site, making it the youngest protected historic building in England.

The designation comes in time to halt proposed alterations to the building’s facade and interior space, which would have eliminated the ground-floor colonnades and created a new main entrance. Critics argued that the changes would undermine the integrity of the original design.

Stirling died in 1992 while No 1 Poultry was still in development. The building was finished five years later by English architect Michael Wilford. The structure’s pink and yellow limestone stripes and submarine-evoking turret made it an instant landmark.

But not everyone sees the building as a classic worthy of protection. Readers of London’s Time Out magazine have consistently named No 1 Poultry as one of the worst buildings in the city.

Via: The Spaces