Swiss Centre, London

The Swiss Centre was a popular tourist attraction on the edge of Coventry Street, London, at its junction with Leicester Square. The 14 storey building[1] was both a showcase for Switzerland and its products, and a trade and commercial centre that featured a Swiss bank, tourist office, a chocolate and souvenir shop, a Swissair ticket office, a cafe and several Swiss themed restaurants which were located in the basement.[2]

The Swiss Centre
The Swiss Centre in 2003
General information
LocationCoventry Street, London
Coordinates51.5106°N 0.1312°W / 51.5106; -0.1312
Completed1966
Demolished2008
Design and construction
ArchitectDavid du Roi Aberdeen
Main contractorJohn Laing & Son

It was designed by David Aberdeen and built by John Laing & Son and Token Construction Company Limited between 1963 and 1966,[3][4] to include a podium above the shops located at street level, and an 11 storey tower block with office floors, residential spaces, a penthouse, a viewing gallery and a plant room.[5]

Over the years the connection with Switzerland faded out: several shops remained vacant, and British souvenir stalls took over the commercial spaces since the late nineties. The building did not fit its purpose anymore nor with the new intended design for an improved pedestrian square, and it was finally demolished in 2008.

Two totem columns one displaying the Helvetic cantons insigna, and the other a large carillon clock composed of 23 bells, were preserved in the western section of the square that was finally renamed Swiss Court, in order to retain the Swiss heritage.[6]

The glockenspiel, redesigned and restored by the clockmakers Smith of Derby was returned in November 2011, three years after the building demolition.[7]

Since 2011, the site has been occupied by M&M's World.[8][9]

References
  1. "London's new £200m hotel – where the owners want to check out". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  2. http://postwarbuildings.com/buildings/the-swiss-centre
  3. Ritchie, p. 146
  4. F H W Sheppard, ed. (1966). "Leicester Square, North Side and Lisle Street Area: Leicester Estate, New Coventry Street". Survey of London. (London. 33–34, St Anne Soho: 486–487. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  5. "Leicester Square, North Side, and Lisle Street Area: Leicester Estate, New Coventry Street - British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  6. "Swiss glockenspiel in Leicester Square: The last survivor of the Swiss Centre". Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  7. "Leicester Square Swiss glockenspiel restored by Smith of Derby". BBC News. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  8. Gormley, Paul (10 September 2010). "100% of redeveloped Swiss Centre on London's Leicester Square let with signing of 'M&M'S World' store - McAleer & Rushe". Mcaleer-rushe.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  9. "Europe's First Ever M&M'S World Store Opens in London's Leicester Square". Londonandpartners.com. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

Sources
  • Ritchie, Berry (1997). The Good Builder: The John Laing Story. James & James.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.