PROJECT DETAILS

Robert Giles ARIBA: Hammersmith and West London College, 1976C–1980

  • London, Great Britain, Show on map
  • #EDU #Western Europe
  • Brick brutalist campus building. Ramps, stairs and towers make the construction to a landmark.

  • In use, but the owner of the building, West London College, has been planning for several years to demolish the brutalist building and replace it with an educational mixed-use development with private apartments. However, these plans have led to discussions about the architectural and historical value of the existing building. Attempts were made to achieve listed status, but Historic England concluded that subsequent alterations had allegedly diminished the overall design quality of the brick structure and did not decide to protect it. In 2019, the owners applied for a certificate of exemption from listed building status. This was approved by Historic England in March 2023. Organizations such as Docomomo criticize the decision, as it paves the way for the possible demolition of the building. They complain that Historic England has overlooked and misunderstood the existing architectural qualities and failed to list the building for years. There is a petition (last updated on February 12, 2025).