Post-war buildings at the University of Leeds which created world-wide interest when they were built have been listed on the recommendation of English Heritage.
Post-war buildings at the
University of Leeds which created world-wide interest when they were built have
been listed by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) on the
recommendation of English Heritage.
Modernist structures including
the striking Roger Stevens Building (Grade II*) have been listed along with
others including the Henry Price Residence and the Edward Boyle Library (all
Grade II).
The decision to list the
buildings reflects their architectural interest and that they were based on a
ground-breaking masterplan which was widely influential in the development of
other university campuses.
Architectural design for
university buildings in the UK was regarded to be in a largely poor state in
the post-war period up to the 1960s. The architects behind the University of
Leeds' expansion - Chamberlin Powell and Bon (CPB) - attempted to break the
mould and present a modern, ambitious vision that reflected both the best in
architecture and new ideas in education.
They studied the way the
university worked, paying attention to aspects including the flow of people
between buildings using pedestrian walkways, to produce an immensely
influential blueprint.
Robert Sladdin, Director
of Estates at the University of Leeds, said: "In 1958, CPB was given the task
of transforming the University for the modern age, and the masterplan they
produced did not disappoint. Their work was visionary and campus was
transformed.
"Initially, the buildings
were warmly greeted, but over time the 'brutalist' architecture began to divide
opinion, and to an extent, that ambivalence remains to this day. Nonetheless,
the architecture remains striking and quite unlike much of what you see on
other UK campuses."
Nick Bridgland, Heritage
Protection Team Leader, said: "These buildings at the University of Leeds rank
with the Barbican in London, also a CPB project, in terms of scale and
significance. The Roger Stevens Building, built in 1970, represents the high
point of their work in Leeds. It is an
outstanding and individual design with bold external shapes and ingeniously
designed interiors.
"But what marks Leeds out
is that this is the first attempt to create an integrated university campus of
this kind. The Brutalist design of the individual buildings is not to
everyone's taste. But it represents an
important and internationally significant milestone in 20th century
architecture which is why we recommended listing them.
CPB's University of Leeds
masterplan aimed for pedestrians be able to travel from one side of the campus
to the other in no more than 10 minutes. The campus already has a number of
listed buildings dating back as far as 1799.
Media calls to Richard Darn on 0113 346 6085, mobile
0775 367 003 or Guy Dixon, University of Leeds media
relations - 0113 343 8299 or g.dixon@leeds.ac.uk
Note to Editors
Buildings listed at Leeds University are:
GRADE II*
GRADE II
- EC Stoner Building
- Computer Science Building
- Mathematics/Earth Sciences Building
- Senior Common room
- Garstang Building
- Manton Building
- Communications and Edward Boyle Library
- Henry Price Building
The University of Leeds began as the Yorkshire College of Science in
1874, becoming part of the Victoria University in 1887 and an independent
university in 1904. A number of buildings dating from earlier phases of
development have already been listed. These include a range of pre-university
houses now incorporated into the campus, dating from between 1799 and 1872, two
19th century churches and a number of monuments in St George's Fields. The 1877
Great Hall (including the Textiles School and Baines Wing) by Alfred
Waterhouse, built for the Yorkshire College of Science, is listed, as are the
School of Mineral Engineering and the monumental Parkinson Building, including
the Brotherton Library, designed by Lanchester and Lodge in 1929 and 1930. All
are listed at Grade II.