We mustn't miss chance to save site

Rowan Moore
16.01.09

IN many cases, English Heritage's position would be absolutely right: historic buildings have to be considered in their entirety, including their landscape and their less glamorous support buildings. Just cherry-picking their most stylish features doesn't preserve their essence. 

But no rule fits all, and the case of the former Commonwealth Institute building is different. It is really only the exhibition pavilion, with its tent-like paraboloid roof, that makes it remarkable. There is nothing truly outstanding about the rest.

It is an exceptionally problematic site that has defied many attempts to find new uses for it. The current plans are the best chance it has.

English Heritage's best point is the argument that the site is a public cultural place. It should certainly not all disappear behind gates and luxury housing. The proposed location of the Design Museum there would give it a genuinely public use.

The organisation's hard line also sits oddly with its decision not to protect other post-war buildings such as Pimlico School.

Luckily, English Heritage seems to be moving away from its written position.

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