Trellick Tower in Notting Hill was the tallest tower block in Europe when it was built in 1972. It soon lost that title but gained a new accolade as one of London's most controversial buildings.
The iconic tower was designed by Hungarian architect Ernö Goldfinger in the 1960s but by the time construction finished Brutalism had already fallen out of style and it has divided opinion ever since. To those that love it, it's a Brutalist masterpiece that should be celebrated. To its detractors, it's a 322ft tall eyesore.
Today Trellick Tower is Grade II-listed, protecting it from regeneration projects so it sits frozen in time overlooking a much-changed Notting Hill. As it was when it was opened, the apartments are still mainly council flats. We spoke to the residents about what life is like in Trellick Tower, and what makes it so special.
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Twenty-fourth-floor resident Ozana has lived here for 20 years. She said: "Before I was here I lived nearby and thought this building has ugly, I hated it. I moved here 20 years ago from council housing, so I didn't have much choice, and now I don't mind it so much.
"There are positives and negatives. It is a protected building so it is hard to change things. Like the windows for example, they let a lot of cold in but I can't put in thicker windows. I'm really high up so it can get cold. On the other hand, it's spacious and I get a great view. It definitely has character."
Third-floor resident Alex J. Spencer moved into the building in 1993. Like Ozana, he thought the building was an eyesore before he moved in. He said: "I used to think that before I moved in, but once you're living in it you come to love it. This building here is excellent. I'm proud of it and what we've got here."
The tower is made up of the main block of social housing with a separate lift and service tower which is linked to the main building at every third storey. As harsh Brutalist architecture became less fashionable in the late 70s and 80s it soon became a hotbed for anti-social behaviour and was nicknamed 'The Tower of Terror'. Residents reported rough sleepers, drug users and prostitution in the open-access corridors and many residents attempted to be re-housed.
But we all love a comeback story. When the 'right to buy' scheme came in for council houses many tenants bought up their flats and set about turning the towers' fortunes around. Security improvements followed with an intercom system and a concierge hired in 1987. This, coupled with a wave of gentrification which saw Brutalism become cool again, saw the tower become a high-sought after place to live.
Alex isn't the only person who speaks about the tower with pride. Many of the residents have been there since it was built and are prepared to fight to keep it the way it is.
When Kensington and Chelsea Council proposed a cluster of new buildings including a 14-storey tower next to the Trellick Tower, the scheme was met with fury from the surrounding estate. The Save Trellick and Edenham Way campaign said it would cause serious harm to the character of the iconic tower and amounted to 'cultural vandalism'. The council eventually pulled the plans in December announcing they would try to reach a compromise with residents.
In April 2017 Trellick Tower caught alight causing 200 people to flee their homes. The building's protected status prevented it from being covered in flammable cladding so a disaster was averted without any injuries or deaths. Three months later its neighbouring tower, Grenfell, caught fire killing 72 people.
Ninth-floor occupant David was a Grenfell resident who was moved to Trellick Tower after the fire. Life in Trellick Tower is broadly positive, he said, though it's not without faults.
He said: "The negatives; the plumbing is sh*t, there's no storage, soundproofing is sh*t, you can hear everything going on outside which can be really loud at night. The positives are that the flat is ok size wise and it's definitely an interesting building."
He added that people might not realise the block contains maisonettes, so you get two floors. The lifts are clearly a sore point for David: "The lifts are problematic because at least once a month they will be out of service. It's a pain." Despite that all, it's a pretty good place to live. It's got charm. What I don't understand is why the council wants to build another building so close and ruin the character of what we've got."
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