London's Southbank Centre Receives National Heritage Protection After 35-Year Campaign

"The Southbank Centre is a cultural complex in London built between 1963 and 1968 and widely regarded as a representative example of British Brutalism. Today, the site hosts a wide range of events, including visual arts, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, literature, poetry, and debate. The building was designed by a team from the Architects' Department of the London County Council, led by architect Norman Engleback."

"It became a controversial example of modern architecture following its opening in October 1967, when engineers voted Queen Elizabeth Hall "the supreme ugly" in a poll of new buildings, and the Daily Mail referred to it as "Britain's ugliest building." Fifty-nine years later, on February 10, 2026, the complex was granted Grade II listed status by the UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following a 35-year campaign advocating for its protection as modern architectural heritage."

"It includes buildings, scheduled monuments, parks and gardens, battlefields, and shipwrecks, many of which are not open to the public. Listed buildings are classified into three categories: Grade I, for buildings of exceptional interest (around 2.5% of listed buildings); Grade II*, for particularly important buildings of more than special interest (around 5.8%); and Grade II, for buildings of special interest (around 91.7%)."

The Southbank Centre is a London cultural complex built between 1963 and 1968 and regarded as an example of British Brutalism. The site hosts visual arts, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, literature, poetry and debate. The building was designed by a team from the London County Council Architects' Department led by Norman Engleback. The complex provoked controversy after its October 1967 opening, with engineers voting Queen Elizabeth Hall "the supreme ugly" and the Daily Mail calling it "Britain's ugliest building." On 10 February 2026 the complex received Grade II listed status covering Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the skatepark undercroft and terraced walkways, after repeated recommendations and a 35-year campaign.

Read at ArchDaily