Then. And Now.

Levitated Apples is indebted to London Daily Photo for this comparison of the building that used to occupy the corner of St. James Street and the replacement that stands there now.

The intriguing structure is a fitting memorial to its architect, Rodney Gordon, who died on 30th May last year at the age of 75.

As the chief design talent at the Owen Luder Partnership, Rodney Gordon was responsible for the 1960s Brutalist sculptural bravura of Eros House, Catford, the Tricorn Centre, Portsmouth, and the Trinity Centre, Gateshead – best known as the car park featured in the 1971 cult film Get Carter, where mobster Jack Carter (Michael Caine) threw corrupt, fat councillor Cliff Brumby from its roof.

NURTURED IN THE FIELD OF KORN.

Gordon was born in 1933 and studied at the AA under the Bauhuas architect Arthur Korn, whom he regarded as his mentor. On qualifying in 1957, he joined the general division at the London County Council, and as a young architect was entrusted with some significant projects.

In particular, he was responsible for The Michael Faraday Memorial, the elegant stainless-steel box centering the Elephant & Castle roundabout, which houses a transformer for the Northern Line. It was listed in 1996 as “a building of architectural quality and panache”, and a precursor to hi-tech.66 - 67a, St. James Street SW1.