Camden Ambulance Station

According to Pevsner, 'crisply detailed' and drawing its influence from James Stirling's buildings of the 1960s [1]. There's something marvellous about the expressive range enabled by local authorities in the mid-century. Here, Henry White and Derek Wells for GLC Architects' Department were able to flex their design muscles and acknowledge some of their heroes in an ostensibly functional building type. A pragmatism underpinned by a bit of flair where it could be afforded and clearly handled by capable professionals. The strong polygonal forms and stepped massing give the building presence and the drivers great visibility as they leave the forecourt. The hard red brick has retained an enduring finish and its unsparing application makes this building stand out from paler imitations.

[1] Pevsner, N. and Cherry, B. (1998) London: North (London: Penguin) p.355.