Millbank Tower

Millbank Tower

This Grade II listed building comprises three main sections: a 31-storey tower on a 2-storey podium raised on pilotis or columns, with an 8-storey curved office block. The 11-storey residential tower to the west of the site is not of special interest. The entire structure is built on reinforced concrete frame and core with piled foundations.

The tower has a distinctive four-sided plan with curved sides—two concave (to east and west) and two convex (to north and south)—crudely resembling a butterfly or diabolo when viewed from above. The exterior is clad in glass curtain walling with projecting stainless steel mullions, which reflects the constantly moving river below. Opaque panels of blue glass sit below windows, with black panels forming narrow storey bands. Narrow opening vents are positioned to the top of alternate windows. The top floor of the tower, which mostly contains plant, features a narrow perimeter viewing platform on all sides with magnificent views across the river. Most areas of horizontal concrete banding throughout the site are clad in small white mosaic tiles.

The tower sits on a long 2-storey podium with an irregular curved courtyard of paved driveways and walkways to its north. The upper two storeys of the podium are unified with curtain-walling between two horizontal concrete bands. For most of its length the podium is straight, but gently convex at its northern end. The ground floor is mostly open at ground level with two parallel rows of circular columns, except for the main entrance foyer, which is fully glazed with steel-framed doors and windows. An open-air dog-leg staircase with metal balustrade rises from ground floor into the raised podium towards the northern end. At the far north end, the ground floor is fully glazed and slightly set back so that the podium overhangs, housing a restaurant with service areas along its return elevation where it links with the car park. At the south end, the podium incorporates a trapezoidal cinema and conference hall with restaurants. This end is clad in grey slate panels at ground floor and features a cantilevered concrete staircase to the rear. Extending to the south are low planters of cast concrete panels. Surmounting the upper levels of the podium are partly-glazed zig-zag panels. To the west side of the tower, nestled in a curve, is a landscaped garden.

At the north-west end of the site, the podium is surmounted by a Y-shaped, 8-storey block with complementary concave curved sides, clad in curtain walling with expressed concrete storey bands clad in mosaic. It is continuous with and identical to the wall treatment within the concave curved courtyard. It features metal-framed windows with opening vents to the top of alternate windows and opaque glass panels beneath. Its western corner features a full-height curved rendered corner tower.

A 3-storey car park on the north part of the site features a circular ramp with radiating concrete beams which complements the concave curve of the adjacent Y-shaped block and has special interest. The remainder of the car park, featuring similar concrete columns, is of lesser interest. It links to the west with the residential block, which is not included in the listing. The boiler house, situated beneath the residential block and partly sunk into the ground, features some original controls for machinery but is not of special interest.

Interior

The building has been much modified from its original state. The original Vickers boardroom at the top of the main tower, which had timber-panelled walls with relief models of ships inset, was removed with listed building consent around 2000 when Vickers ceased their occupation.

The entrance lobby is largely open plan with a mezzanine punctuated by prominent rectangular piers. The marble in the entrance lobby (white on the floor, black cladding the piers and russet to the rear wall) was largely replaced circa 2000 but reflects the original scheme, albeit with different colouring. The internal reception desk and turnstiles for entry to the offices were reconfigured at this time. The original clock and original bronzed lettering remain, as do original steel doors into the cinema and conference hall part of the podium, known as Media Centre Cinema. The main doors to Millbank from Millbank Tower are also original.

The office floors are mostly open plan around a central lift and service core. Windows have secondary glazed units that open internally. The office floor interiors have been much altered by successive tenants and are devoid of special interest.

The reception into the 8-storey block, known as 30 Millbank, has been refurbished but retains original black marble panels to the walls, white marble columns on the floor and exposed concrete columns. The main doors into this reception are original. Where original fittings and finishings survive, these are of special interest.