4, Grand Avenue

This is a purpose-built block of flats designed in 1935-6 by Murrell and Pigott of 44 Bedford Row, and approved by Hove Borough Council on 14th April 1938. It is an example of the Moderne style. The exterior is clad in brown brick laid in Flemish bond, except for the rear elevation which is pebbledashed. The ground floor is stuccoed, and the roof is flat with brick chimneystacks. The building is nine storeys high and ten bays wide. Originally fitted with metal-framed Crittall windows, most of the front elevation windows are later 20th-century replacements, closely matching the originals.

The front elevation’s top floor has eight windows sheltered by a flat canopy with curved ends. Below the ninth floor, the three end bays on each side project with cornices featuring three paterae and two stylised urns each. A band runs below the eighth floor. The central bays incorporate French windows with balconies featuring cast iron railings with a chevron design. A recessed central section has a balcony extending the full width at the eighth floor, a balcony to the two central windows on the sixth floor and curved balconies to the side windows between the second and fifth floors. A sculptural relief panel depicting Neptune is located in the centre of the second floor. The ground floor features incised lines and recessed fluted columns leading to a central entrance with double doors accessed by two steps. The side elevations are in a similar style to the front, with four windows but without balconies. The rear elevation mirrors the front but has plainer balcony railings. A glazed service lift remains.

The entrance hall retains its original double doors with incised glass, a banded cornice, and stylised fluted half-columns. The staircases are simple, surrounded by metal cages to the liftshafts and feature folding safety gates. The lifts have high-quality marquetry inlay. Original cornices, fluted half-columns, skirting boards, moulded architraves and hardwood flush doors are present in the corridors.