If you are a fan of James Bond movies, you might recognize this building. It was famously blown up in the movie "Skyfall". In reality, this building actually was attacked in September of 2000 when it was hit by a Russian-made anti-tank rocket. The attack only caused superficial damage but, the perpetrators were never captured. Thankfully, no such excitement happened on the day I stood across the Thames from the building and took a few photos.
This building is known as Vauxhall Cross and is the home of MI 6. It's no secret, everyone knows it. As you can easily see from the photos, the building is of a unique style. It was designed by architect Terry Farrell as an urban village. When I read that he was influenced by 1930's industrial modernist architecture along the river such as the Bankside and Battersea Power Stations, I couldn't really see a comparison. (Bankside Power Station is now the Tate Modern art museum.) Then I read further that he was also influenced by Aztec and Mayan religious temples. Ahhh...that I can see.
Farrell's design has received both praise and disdain. Some have called it "a classical composition with a possible sense of humor" while others say it's too Gotham City for their taste.
Since London is a city with some of the most unique architecture anywhere in the world, I think it fits right in! What do you think?
7 comments:
I love it. And now that I've seen it for the first time it's one of my favorite buildings in the whole world! Great shots, Sharon!
I like it! Are those dark parts on top newer add on's or was it originally designed that way?
It's a complex piece of architecture Sharon, but after studying it for a while I think I like it also.. On Googling it seems to have rather an interesting history.. a pleasure garden at one time apparently :)
I do like it. It's eclectic and odd, which seems to work in its favour.
There are a couple of intelligence headquarters here I'd like to photograph, but I wonder if that would end up being a problem!
Next time I see it, I will be much more informed. Smashing blog post.
I think it fits in too! It certainly is unusual. I like how you caught the reflection of the flag in the window.
I like it. It's better than all of those towering steel and glass horrors.
Post a Comment