19:
202:
exercise in placemaking by one of the country’s leading architects. It is widely seen as one of Terry
Farrell’s most important works of the time where he delivered much-needed urban regeneration to Covent Garden by keeping, respecting and integrating historic buildings, rather than redeveloping the site."
201:
In
November 2016 Historic England announced a Grade II listing of the postmodernist elements of Farrell's scheme, specifically 45-51 Monmouth Street, 19 and 29-31 Mercer Street, and 21 Shelton Street. They stated: "Comyn Ching Triangle represents Postmodernism at its purest and is an early, masterful
142:
wrote: "With its unexpected courtyard, its intriguing passageways, fairy-tale entrances, rich use of materials and colour, and imaginative corner towers, Farrell's Comyn Ching is an enchanting development The scheme is also important because, both physically and ideologically, it marks a major break
127:
stated: "This post-modern strategy of creating what could be called the Time City has today become much more prevalent even among modernists – witness Norman Foster at Berlin’s
Reichstag or David Chipperfield’s mixed methods at the Neues Museum in the same city – but Comyn Ching was the first example
65:
laid out the Seven Dials area in 1692. By the 1970s the block was occupied by an ageing, densely-packed cluster of terraced houses surrounding a yard that had been completely filled with building extensions. The whole Seven Dials area was then considered run-down and ripe for wholesale redevelopment.
173:
strongly objected to the proposal, stating: "The removal of the triangular motif that runs up the front of the building, which provides it with an unusually dynamic push-and-pull, in-and-out geometry that speaks rather powerfully to the junction of
Shelton and Monmouth, would effectively drain it of
111:, by Ken Allison and Victoria Thornton, praised the "extraordinary" detailing of the scheme and called it a "fine urbanistic exercise whose stylistic tropes are now so unfashionable that, some 30 years later, we still find it difficult to acknowledge the work". In the same year the columnist Sir
69:
Between 1978 and 1988 Terry
Farrell and Partners undertook a multi-phase regeneration of the block for the Comyn Ching architectural ironmongery, who had been in business on Shelton Street since before 1723 and owned the entire block. The scheme comprised the restoration of 25 early 18th century
149:
said: "it is becoming an increasingly important and pressing question which works of this period should be protected by listing. Comyn Ching is up there with the best, representing
Farrell’s thinking about the urban fabric and its renovation. It is also one of the best examples of his use of
174:
much of its effect. To replace this with a run-of-the-mill, uniform flat window and balcony is not acceptable." The alterations were announced the same week as proposed changes to 76 Fenchurch Street, another postmodern
Farrell building from the same era which he is also trying to preserve.
103:
of 6 March 1985: "Where the old fabric has been kept it has been revered and treated seriously; but in the final result we are not so much aware of old and new co-existing side by side as of one single lively identity embodied in the still recognisable historic streets."
134:
called the scheme "a painstaking piece of urban embroidery, lovingly carried out by an architectural team determined to do things differently from the dogmatic approaches of the past, combining mixed-use development, creative insertion, and handsome restoration".
70:
houses; three new infill buildings at the three corners of the block, replacing "poorer quality" 19th century buildings; and the clearance of the hodgepodge of building extensions in the centre of the block to create a new public square called Ching Court.
143:
away from the kind of comprehensive redevelopment that, fashionable until the early 1970s, would have seen not just Seven Dials, but effectively the whole of Covent Garden swept away for inept and insensitive new development."
162:
for alterations to Comyn Ching
Triangle. These include the removal of a triangular window at Monmouth and Shelton streets, meant to echo the triangular plan of the Seven Dials blocks, replacing it with a flush window behind
77:
historic buildings division. The three new buildings at the corner lots were sold to private developers to finance the repair of the historic listed buildings. Comyn Ching and
Company moved their operations to
790:
115:
cited Comyn Ching as an example of "postmodernism’s skill at context", calling the scheme "little-noticed (and therefore brilliant)". In support of the 2016 historic listing bid, Henrietta
Billings of the
185:
for an urgent listing of the scheme. Adam Nathaniel Furman, a researcher at Farrells, explained that the company hopes Comyn Ching "can set a precedent that post-modern architecture is worth protection".
82:
but kept a showroom at 17-19 Shelton Street. The three new buildings were each designed to respond to their particular context, but also to complement one another and the existing urban fabric.
775:
780:
373:
120:
called Comyn Ching "an important and influential example of postmodern urban development that fully deserves recognition and protection through listing".
158:
In late 2015 Rolfe Judd Planning, on behalf of property investor Shaftesbury and Morrow & Lorraine Architects, submitted a planning application to
352:
665:
330:
419:
442:
785:
708:
683:
290:
234:
258:
731:
159:
198:: 53-71 Monmouth Street, 21-27 Mercer Street and 11-19 Shelton Street were all designated at Grade II in January 1973.
41:. It is bounded by Monmouth, Mercer and Shelton Streets, and comprises a perimeter of terraced buildings surrounding
395:
46:
170:
117:
226:
90:
The scheme was well received by historians and architects as an exemplary work of urban regeneration. It won a
50:
770:
99:
74:
128:
here 40 years before, and should be preserved and celebrated for starting this more inclusive approach."
639:
614:
589:
564:
539:
514:
489:
464:
437:
30:
97:
Brian Ashley Barker, architect and former director of the Heritage of London Trust, wrote in the
91:
374:"Is architect Terry Farrell's Postmodern Comyn Ching Triangle in Covent Garden worth listing?"
286:
230:
195:
182:
139:
177:
The proposed changes were approved by the council in early 2016. In response his practice,
263:
18:
515:"65-71 Monmouth Street and attached rear drum forming the southern point of Ching Court"
167:, as well as the replacement of wooden doors on Shelton Street to provide level access.
124:
764:
112:
34:
357:
131:
62:
123:
Several other noted architectural theorists wrote to Historic England in support.
146:
353:"100 Buildings, 100 Years review – 'A battle between modernism and tradition'"
746:
733:
45:, a public space. A 1980s regeneration of the block by the architecture firm
337:
178:
164:
79:
38:
17:
420:"Farrell angered as second po-mo building 'threatened' in a week"
194:
Several component buildings of the Triangle have been designated
22:
A building on Mercer Street, part of the Comyn Ching Triangle
791:
Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Camden
666:"Farrell's 'masterful' PoMo Comyn Ching Triangle listed"
73:
The regeneration was commenced in consultation with the
283:
London's Contemporary Architecture: An Explorer's Guide
109:
London's Contemporary Architecture: An Explorer's Guide
325:
323:
321:
319:
317:
281:Allinson, Ken; Thornton, Victoria (9 July 2014).
413:
411:
409:
259:"Farrell submits Comyn Ching for urgent listing"
684:"45-51 Monmouth Street and 29-31 Mercer Street"
252:
250:
248:
246:
776:Postmodern architecture in the United Kingdom
8:
389:
387:
385:
383:
331:"Comyn Ching Triangle listing application"
308:Victorian London Slums and the Seven Dials
276:
274:
216:
214:
709:"19 Mercer Street and 21 Shelton Street"
396:"Big names back Comyn Ching listing bid"
781:Squares in the London Borough of Camden
418:Hopkirk, Elizabeth (23 November 2015).
257:Hopkirk, Elizabeth (17 February 2016).
210:
49:is considered an exemplar of British
7:
394:Hopkirk, Elizabeth (28 April 2016).
664:Waite, Richard (10 November 2016).
351:Jenkins, Simon (12 November 2014).
713:National Heritage List for England
688:National Heritage List for England
644:National Heritage List for England
619:National Heritage List for England
594:National Heritage List for England
569:National Heritage List for England
544:National Heritage List for England
519:National Heritage List for England
494:National Heritage List for England
469:National Heritage List for England
443:National Heritage List for England
29:is a triangular city block at the
14:
372:Taka, Tomo (17 February 2016).
640:"15, 17 and 19 Shelton Street"
1:
306:Trainor, Terry (8 May 2012).
160:Camden London Borough Council
807:
615:"11 and 13 Shelton Street"
285:. Routledge. p. 208.
221:Davies, Emma, ed. (2013).
61:The site was created when
47:Terry Farrell and Partners
590:"25 and 27 Mercer Street"
118:Twentieth Century Society
786:Terry Farrell buildings
438:"53-59 Monmouth Street"
51:postmodern architecture
75:Greater London Council
23:
138:Architectural critic
21:
490:"63 Monmouth Street"
465:"61 Monmouth Street"
229:. pp. 211–219.
154:Proposed alterations
27:Comyn Ching Triangle
743: /
670:Architects' Journal
340:. 15 February 2016.
223:Collage and Context
100:Architects' Journal
747:51.5133°N 0.1268°W
565:"23 Mercer Street"
540:"21 Mercer Street"
24:
181:, has applied to
92:Civic Trust Award
798:
758:
757:
755:
754:
753:
752:51.5133; -0.1268
748:
744:
741:
740:
739:
736:
724:
723:
721:
719:
705:
699:
698:
696:
694:
680:
674:
673:
661:
655:
654:
652:
650:
636:
630:
629:
627:
625:
611:
605:
604:
602:
600:
586:
580:
579:
577:
575:
561:
555:
554:
552:
550:
536:
530:
529:
527:
525:
511:
505:
504:
502:
500:
486:
480:
479:
477:
475:
461:
455:
454:
452:
450:
434:
428:
427:
415:
404:
403:
391:
378:
377:
369:
363:
362:
348:
342:
341:
335:
327:
312:
311:
303:
297:
296:
278:
269:
268:
254:
241:
240:
218:
196:listed buildings
183:Historic England
140:Jonathan Glancey
806:
805:
801:
800:
799:
797:
796:
795:
761:
760:
751:
749:
745:
742:
737:
734:
732:
730:
729:
727:
717:
715:
707:
706:
702:
692:
690:
682:
681:
677:
663:
662:
658:
648:
646:
638:
637:
633:
623:
621:
613:
612:
608:
598:
596:
588:
587:
583:
573:
571:
563:
562:
558:
548:
546:
538:
537:
533:
523:
521:
513:
512:
508:
498:
496:
488:
487:
483:
473:
471:
463:
462:
458:
448:
446:
436:
435:
431:
424:Building Design
417:
416:
407:
400:Building Design
393:
392:
381:
371:
370:
366:
350:
349:
345:
333:
329:
328:
315:
305:
304:
300:
293:
280:
279:
272:
264:Building Design
256:
255:
244:
237:
220:
219:
212:
208:
192:
156:
88:
59:
12:
11:
5:
804:
802:
794:
793:
788:
783:
778:
773:
763:
762:
726:
725:
700:
675:
656:
631:
606:
581:
556:
531:
506:
481:
456:
429:
405:
379:
364:
343:
313:
298:
291:
270:
242:
235:
209:
207:
204:
191:
188:
155:
152:
125:Charles Jencks
107:The 2014 book
87:
84:
58:
55:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
803:
792:
789:
787:
784:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
771:Covent Garden
769:
768:
766:
759:
756:
714:
710:
704:
701:
689:
685:
679:
676:
671:
667:
660:
657:
645:
641:
635:
632:
620:
616:
610:
607:
595:
591:
585:
582:
570:
566:
560:
557:
545:
541:
535:
532:
520:
516:
510:
507:
495:
491:
485:
482:
470:
466:
460:
457:
445:
444:
439:
433:
430:
425:
421:
414:
412:
410:
406:
401:
397:
390:
388:
386:
384:
380:
376:. The Spaces.
375:
368:
365:
360:
359:
354:
347:
344:
339:
332:
326:
324:
322:
320:
318:
314:
309:
302:
299:
294:
288:
284:
277:
275:
271:
266:
265:
260:
253:
251:
249:
247:
243:
238:
232:
228:
227:Laurence King
224:
217:
215:
211:
205:
203:
199:
197:
189:
187:
184:
180:
175:
172:
171:Terry Farrell
168:
166:
161:
153:
151:
148:
144:
141:
136:
133:
129:
126:
121:
119:
114:
113:Simon Jenkins
110:
105:
102:
101:
95:
93:
85:
83:
81:
76:
71:
67:
64:
56:
54:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
35:Covent Garden
32:
28:
20:
16:
728:
718:10 September
716:. Retrieved
712:
703:
693:10 September
691:. Retrieved
687:
678:
669:
659:
649:10 September
647:. Retrieved
643:
634:
624:10 September
622:. Retrieved
618:
609:
599:10 September
597:. Retrieved
593:
584:
574:10 September
572:. Retrieved
568:
559:
549:10 September
547:. Retrieved
543:
534:
524:10 September
522:. Retrieved
518:
509:
499:10 September
497:. Retrieved
493:
484:
474:10 September
472:. Retrieved
468:
459:
449:10 September
447:. Retrieved
441:
432:
423:
399:
367:
358:The Guardian
356:
346:
310:. p. 5.
307:
301:
282:
262:
222:
200:
193:
176:
169:
157:
145:
137:
132:Deyan Sudjic
130:
122:
108:
106:
98:
96:
89:
72:
68:
63:Thomas Neale
60:
42:
33:junction in
26:
25:
15:
750: /
150:ornament."
147:Rowan Moore
43:Ching Court
31:Seven Dials
765:Categories
735:51°30′48″N
292:0415825024
236:1780672756
225:. London:
206:References
738:0°07′36″W
165:balconets
94:in 1985.
86:Reception
338:Farrells
179:Farrells
190:Listing
80:Holborn
57:History
289:
233:
39:London
334:(DOC)
720:2024
695:2024
651:2024
626:2024
601:2024
576:2024
551:2024
526:2024
501:2024
476:2024
451:2024
287:ISBN
231:ISBN
767::
711:.
686:.
668:.
642:.
617:.
592:.
567:.
542:.
517:.
492:.
467:.
440:.
422:.
408:^
398:.
382:^
355:.
336:.
316:^
273:^
261:.
245:^
213:^
53:.
37:,
722:.
697:.
672:.
653:.
628:.
603:.
578:.
553:.
528:.
503:.
478:.
453:.
426:.
402:.
361:.
295:.
267:.
239:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
