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Image Licensing : Tricorn Centre BB96_10635
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Tricorn Centre BB96_10635
Tricorn Centre, Portsmouth. View of the centre from the west photographed in November 1996. Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places. © Historic England Archive
Media ID 18842693
Filename: bb96_10635.jpg
Size: 4628 x 3769 (15.8MB)
Date: 2nd April 2019
Source: Historic England
Credit: Historic England Archive, James
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: images.historicenglandservices.org.uk
Job Title: Staff Photographer
Modern Shopping Centre Brutalist
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> Architecture > Modern Architecture > Space, Hope and Brutalism
> Towns and Cities > Portsmouth
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth as it stood in November 1996. The image, taken by James O. Davies for Historic England, showcases the brutalist and modern architecture of this iconic shopping centre from a western perspective. The Tricorn Centre, a landmark of Portsmouth's urban landscape, was designed by architects TP Bennett and Partners and opened in 1965. It was a groundbreaking development for its time, featuring innovative use of concrete and open-air spaces. The photograph reveals the Centre's unique design, with its three interconnected towers and intricate geometric patterns. The towers, clad in textured concrete, rise majestically against the grey November sky, their angular forms casting long, dramatic shadows on the ground. The open-air plaza, filled with trees and greenery, lies at the heart of the Centre, providing a tranquil oasis amidst the bustling city. Despite its innovative design, the Tricorn Centre has been a subject of controversy over the years. Some have praised its bold and unapologetic modernity, while others have criticized it as an eyesore. Regardless of opinion, there is no denying the Centre's historical significance and its impact on Portsmouth's architectural landscape. This photograph serves as a snapshot in time, preserving the Tricorn Centre as it was before undergoing extensive redevelopment in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It invites us to reflect on the past and consider the role of brutalist architecture in shaping our cities and communities.
