Brunswick Centre facts for kids
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The Brunswick Centre is a unique building in Bloomsbury, London, England. It's a special place that has both homes and shops. It's so important that it's a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and design. You can find it between Brunswick Square and Russell Square.
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Building the Brunswick Centre
The Brunswick Centre was built where old, worn-out houses used to be. The idea was to create a new, modern space.
Who designed and built it?
The building was designed by an architect named Patrick Hodgkinson in the mid-1960s. Construction started in 1967 and finished in 1972. It was meant to be bigger, but some land couldn't be used. This was because the Ministry of Defence needed the land for a building they used.
Why wasn't it fully painted?
The original plan was for the Brunswick Centre to be a private project. This meant people would buy the homes. But not enough private buyers came forward. So, the homes were rented out to the London Borough of Camden for use as council housing. The developer still owned the building and shops.
Because the council took over, they couldn't afford to finish everything. This included painting the outside of the building. The architect, Patrick Hodgkinson, wanted the buildings to be painted cream. This color would have been a nod to the old Georgian houses that used to be there.
The Brunswick Centre Today
Even though some people didn't like its modern style, the Brunswick Centre became a Grade II listed building in 2000. This means it's an important part of England's history and architecture.
What happened in the 2000s?
By 2000, many of the shops in the centre were empty. There were plans to fix it up, but residents often stopped them. Finally, in November 2002, a big renovation project began. It cost £22 million!
As part of the renovation, the buildings were painted their original cream color. An artist named Susanna Heron also added cool water features to the main area. The main work was finished in late 2006. New shops, cafes, and restaurants opened up.
There were some challenges because different groups managed the building. The landlord fixed the main structure, but the council was in charge of the homes. So, while the concrete was restored, the windows stayed old for a while. In 2007, the council started replacing the windows too.
What can you find there now?
Today, the centre is often called "The Brunswick." It has 560 flats where people live. You can also find many different shops, cafes, and restaurants. There's a Waitrose supermarket and a Curzon cinema where you can watch movies.
