Metro Central Heights

Metro Central Heights

Metro Central Heights is a major post-war residential and commercial complex, now Grade II listed. The building comprises four principal blocks arranged in a diamond formation with their axes aligned north-south, flanked by lower parallel blocks to the east and west. The blocks, labelled A-D running clockwise from the north-south block facing Newington Causeway, overlook a central courtyard and are linked by enclosed glazed bridges above the first floor. The north and south blocks rise to 18 and 12 storeys respectively, while the east and west blocks are nine storeys high. The design is based on a 16 feet 6 inches structural grid, with proportions defined by the Golden Section ratio. A small four-storey Block E at the south-west angle (not listed) originally featured a gilded elephant and castle figure by the artist Matthew Frere-Smith.

The structure is built from a reinforced concrete frame with an exposed aggregate finish. Buff brick infill panels fill the blind windowless bays within the grid. The ground floor external columns are clad in polished grey granite, incised to give a rusticated effect, and are hollow, containing service ducts. Above the parapet, each block is topped by a visually free-standing horizontal beam supported on short set-back piers, which the architect Goldfinger termed the cornice. Service towers project above and beyond these elements.

The facades are deeply modelled to create a sense of retraction and projection. At five-storey intervals, floor slabs are set back from the facade whilst the slab itself projects to the outer frame, creating shallow balconies on the return elevations. Bay windows project forward at intervals beyond both the recessed sections and main facades. On the narrow north and south facing facades of the taller blocks, horizontal and two-storey vertical bay windows alternate. Steel-framed window units, mostly of four bays and set back slightly from the facade, feature Vitrolite spandrel panels originally finished in cool grey. In 2002, these panels were predominantly covered or coated in sky blue film, with some replaced and others covered internally. The lower floors are now protected with thin boarding.

On the northern, western and eastern blocks built in the first phase, the window units include a pronounced transom at door height, creating a narrow recessed clerestory or toplight. Goldfinger named this shelf a "photobolic screen", designed to equalise light levels within the building by providing shade closest to the window whilst reflecting light deeper into the room. The southern block (D), built in the second phase, differs slightly, lacking the recessed toplights but featuring an applied frame over the projecting window bays. Fully-glazed seven-storey bridges aligned east-west enclose the courtyard, affording views across and down into it.

The coffered concrete ceiling slabs above the ground floor columns are substantial features. The courtyard is laid out with a large rectangular pond within a raised concrete parapet topped by a deep horizontal lip. A spiral ramp, contained between board-marked concrete panels, descends to the underground carpark beneath the north block.

The two principal ground floor lift lobbies feature pre-cast concrete screens fitted with brightly coloured glass, designed by Goldfinger in collaboration with the artist Kenneth Rowntree. The main lift lobby in Block B is lit by a coffered ceiling slab. The entrance lobby, ground floor lift lobby, steps, skirtings and floors are lined in polished grey or white marble and vertically slatted timber panelling, with integral marble risers and skirtings shaped to enhance the design. The original external approach to the main entrance is now partly enclosed, though the distinction between former external and internal areas remains legible. The south lift lobby was considerably reduced in size in 2002, retaining only its glazed screen for special interest.

Internal stairs are constructed from pre-cast concrete with a steel balustrade. Panel radiators are fixed to the balustrades of both the stairs and the glazed bridges.

Access to the complex was originally via a passage under Block A leading to the courtyard, now blocked. The main entrance is now approached from the vehicular entrance on Newington Causeway. A secondary entrance from the south was blocked by the insertion of a ground floor shop, leaving a small entrance to the south-east.

The building was converted to flats in 2002, with the former Ministry of Health Showroom on the ground floor of the west block converted to a café and shops. The interior, originally designed as an open flexible space within the structural shell, has been subdivided into individual flats and is not of special interest beyond the lobbies.

In 2002, the original exposed concrete surface was treated with anti-carbonation coating and painted. The interior of the lobby was altered following the conversion to flats, though the glazed screen was retained. A spiral ramp leads to the basement garage beneath the north block.