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Wrecking ball looms over 'Welsh Pimlico'

Newport High School

Newport High School by Evans and Shalev

The Twentieth Century Society (C20) has made a last-gasp attempt to save Wales' answer to Pimlico School, the Evans and Shalev Architects-designed Newport High School.

The 1972 Brutalist building is scheduled to be demolished and replaced by an HLM Architects scheme as part of the Welsh government's drive to improve failing secondary schools.

C20 is now trying to find 'prestigious' architects to say why the school should be saved.

C20 director Catherine Croft said: 'This is a very important building, and we hope to have enough time to gain support.'

The founding partner of Evans and Shalev Architects – Eldred Evans – said C20 was only made aware of the proposals in late November when HLM associate Jonathan Jones wrote to Evans to inform her of the demolition plan.

According to Jones, the original school has fallen into disrepair. He added that chances of stopping the replacement are low, as work is set to begin on site at the end of the month.
HLM Newport replacement

The proposed HLM replacement

Jones said: 'It is a bit like Pimlico, only it isn't located in Westminster. If it was located in Westminster, it would be a lot better known.

'It is a very Brutalist building, and it isn't something the community has been very fond of.

Unlike the Newport School, John Bancroft's 1970 Pimlico School, which Westminster Council plans to bulldoze and replace with an Architecture PLB scheme, has the public-backing of Richard Rogers and RIBA president Sunand Prasad.

Evans says she hasn't had enough time to drum up support for her building.

'There aren't as many interested parties in Wales as there in London,' she said. 'We have spoken to Cadw [the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage], but they won't do anything.

'I went to visit the building, and it has been vandalised by the state. They have left it to deteriorate.

'The replacement is an absolute shocker of a building. It is surrounded by tarmac, and the buildings are absorbed under this giant roof.'

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Reader Response

Added: Friday, 14 March 2008 11:32 GMT
Anonymous, London, United Kingdom

Bettws High School is a beautiful example of modernist modularity, and subsequently with intelligent thought could have easily been adaptable to accommodate the contemporary needs of the students.
I am an ex-student of Bettws High School, and thus have close hand experience as a 'user' of the building. But I do recognise the fact that I did not use the building that was originally designed, numerous alterations closed common spaces, stairwells and reduced the buildings original functionality. It is truly a shame this building is being demolished, but it may have already been lost a long time ago.


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Added: Monday, 3 March 2008 00:54 GMT
Anonymous, Newport, United Kingdom

A debate on heritage and the semantics of "state vandalism" is laughably irrelevant here; the building is sited in a financially forgotten corner of a cash strapped town (recent city), and is too expensive and complex for an educational body to maintain. Full stop. It's isn't readily adaptable or extendable (which would detract from its original Brutalism in any case). The deteriation (caused equally as much by its design and lack of forethought as its up-keep) is beyond permanent repair in many places.
The above photograph of the building is highly misleading; it doesn't look like that and it never will look like that. We all have to accept losses.
Move on - there's nothing to see here.


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Added: Friday, 18 January 2008 14:52 GMT
Ang Sheppard, Newport, United Kingdom

It is not that the building is currently in 'a state of disrepair' - Evans & Shalev's design is unsuitable both for use and climate.
Circulation between classes involves narrow stairwells and is extremely poor.
The building leaks, causing stalactites throughout the school - not through disrepear but a poor choice of materials.
Water from the roof runs down external stairwells and back into corridors, causing second floor areas to become flooded.
South-facing glass in most classrooms causes overheating.
The building is on unstable ground, and severe cracks are present across the waffle-ceilings.
I'm not surprised Evans has little support to save it, I've yet to meet anyone who agrees.


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Added: Thursday, 10 January 2008 12:31 GMT
david hingamp, london, United Kingdom

It's what we should call a "discreet vandalism of Modern Architecture".
Modern can be good and bad. It's not the building's fault if no one has cared enough for it.
Why demolish when you can extend, work with, play with the existing.
Tabula Rasa was a 1950's Lecorbusier's dream and a philosophy that was made acceptable because there was an urgent and desperate need to build.
The 21st Century is more about how to integrate buildings and maintain a dense urban fabric.
David Hingamp - architect, London.


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