Oxo Tower facts for kids
The Oxo Tower is a famous building with a tall tower on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The building, known as Oxo Tower Wharf, is a busy place filled with shops, galleries, and apartments.
On the ground and first floors, you can explore unique shops selling art, crafts, and designer goods. There are also two art galleries, Bargehouse and gallery@oxo. The top floor, the eighth floor, has the Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar, and Brasserie, where you can eat while enjoying amazing views of London. There is also a public viewing gallery on this floor that anyone can visit for free. From the third to seventh floors, there are 78 apartments.
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Location on the South Bank
The Oxo Tower is part of London's famous South Bank cultural area, located in the London Borough of Southwark. A walkway runs along the river right in front of the building. This path connects it to other major attractions like the Royal Festival Hall, the National Theatre, the Tate Modern art gallery, and Shakespeare's Globe theatre.
Next to the tower, you can find the green space of Bernie Spain Gardens and the shops at Gabriel's Wharf.
From Power Station to Famous Landmark
Early History
The building wasn't always the Oxo Tower. It was first built near the end of the 19th century as a power station. Its job was to make electricity for the nearby Royal Mail post office.
In the 1920s, the building was bought by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company, who made the famous Oxo beef stock cubes. They wanted to turn the old power station into a cold storage warehouse.
The Clever "OXO" Windows
Between 1928 and 1929, the building was completely redesigned in the popular Art Deco style of the time. The company's architect, Albert Moore, had a clever idea. The company wanted to advertise its OXO product with big, bright signs on the tower, but there was a rule against advertising along the South Bank skyline.
When they were told "no" to the signs, the architect designed the tower to have three windows on each side, stacked on top of each other. By a funny coincidence, the shapes of these windows were a circle, a cross, and a circle – spelling out "OXO". This way, the company got its advertisement without breaking the rules!
Saving the Tower
After the Oxo company, the building was bought by the Vestey Group. For many years, the tower was left empty and became run-down. In the 1970s and 1980s, there were plans to tear it down. However, local people loved the building and protested strongly to save it.
Thanks to their efforts and the support of the Greater London Council, the tower and the land around it were sold in 1984 to a non-profit group called Coin Street Community Builders for a low price.
A New Beginning
In the 1990s, the tower was finally restored and given a new life. The renovation project added apartments, a restaurant, shops, and exhibition spaces. The new design was a huge success and won many awards for architecture and for improving the city area. Even with all its history and awards, the tower has not yet been officially protected as a listed building.
Coin Street Community Builders
Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB) is a special type of company called a social enterprise. This means its main goal is to help the local community, not just to make money. CSCB has transformed the 13 acres of land around the Oxo Tower.
They have built homes, shops, restaurants, and art galleries. They also created a park and a riverside walkway for everyone to enjoy. The group organises festivals and events and provides services like childcare and family support. The money they make from renting out shops and event spaces is used to fund these community projects.
What's Inside the Tower Today?
Gallery@oxo
Located at the base of the tower, this gallery is known for showing exhibitions on photography, modern design, and architecture. It often features art that explores important social topics.
Restaurant and Bar
The Oxo Tower is also famous for its rooftop restaurant, which was the first one opened by the luxury department store Harvey Nichols. The Restaurant, Bar, and Brasserie opened in 1996 and quickly became a popular spot for dining with a spectacular view of London.
See also
