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Loading ...Sarah Howard reminisces upon the Tricorn Centre. “It was seen as a Brutalist eyesore and left to rot. Demolished to make way for an extension to the new Cascades shopping centre and to provide an open air car park. ”
Image by dejahthoris, http://www.flickr.com/photos/73399796@N00/1203539492/
I agree!
I recently argued a similar case for the Luder carpark in Gateshead…
excellent and iconic structure…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3164494696_68f9b83624.jpg?v=0
Such a shame – it was in a bad state of disrepair but I feel it could have been sympathetically restored to provide us with a gleaming example of Brutalism at its best
You’re right, if by Brutalism at its best, you mean encouraging drunken thuggery and muggings.
The Tricorn just did not work, it was badly lit and uninviting for most of the year, while the summer sun showed how really grim it was and made the shops intolerably hot.
In a way, I became rather fond of the Tricorn once I knew I’d never have to go in there again. There were elements and intentions I really liked.
That said, there were times I wished I was rich enough to buy the whole place and turn it into a school of architecture – can you think of a better place to learn the profession?
I grew up with it, lived with it and studied architecture not very far away from it. Its first error was that within 2 years of completion the size of lorry’s on the roads increased and the larger lorries could not manage the spiral ramps. I still have a fondness for it to the extent that i commissioned some photos before it was demolished.
We have just designed and published the definitive book about this building
The Tricorn Life and Death of a Sixties Icon by Celia Clark & Robert Cook.
For further information and to order your copy contact:
Gail Baird, 131 Design, gail.baird@131design.org 02392 736271
or visit: http://www.tricornbooks.co.uk
Now the Tricorn has won the Rubble Club’s Ball and Chain – read all about the building’s design, construction, life and death; The Tricorn. The Life and Death of a Sixties Icon.
£19.99 from tricornbooks.co.uk, 8 Florence Road, Southsea, PO5 2NE….
Ideal Christmas present…..!!!
There are some building that are in the history and urban culture of a city and when it’s destroyed a part of the town charm is gone.
the “tricorn shopcentre” sign is in nesbits of portsmouths next auction
Dave do you have any more details or is it best to contact Nesbits direct? Which sign is it do you know?
Fascinating buiding.
I met Owen Luder at a Christmas bash last night – he is a friend of a friend. Upon leaving, his parting cheer was “I’m a concrete man!”. Priceless!! Also, he’s bloody chipper for 83.
does anyone hv the floor plans of Tricorn Centre?