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Dunelm House

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31: 280:, the noted architecture historian, considered the building, "Brutalist by tradition but not brutal to the landscape ... the elements, though bold, sensitively composed." Durham City Council's Local Plan notes that the "powerful" building, together with Kingsgate Bridge, "provides an exhilarating pedestrian route ... out into open space over the river gorge". 331:
The Secretary of State's initial decision to grant a certificate of immunity was appealed by the Twentieth Century Society. The initial appeal was unsuccessful but a second appeal on the grounds that there were irregularities in the listing process and evidence that the decision had been wrongly made
198:. Its listing entry cites, among other factors, that it is "a significant Brutalist building that reflects the latest in architectural thinking for its date" and that it is "the foremost students’ union building of the post-war era in England". 231:, Dunelm House is notable internally for the fact that the main staircase linking all five levels of the building runs in an entirely straight line. This was intended by the building's architects to create the feeling of an interior street. 647: 685: 488: 675: 283:
Public views were divided from the start, with a local newspaper in 1966 reporting views ranging from "the third best looking building in the city" (after the
391: 496: 695: 309:, and revealed plans to demolish the building as part of their estate masterplan, saying it would cost £15 million to make the building fit for purpose. 328:, which brought together experts on brutalist architecture to discuss the significance and future of Dunelm House and similar 20th century buildings. 443: 700: 639: 690: 75: 680: 602: 518: 461: 583: 332:
led to an announcement in 2021 that the building would be listed at Grade II. This was reported in both local and national press.
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In 2017, the building hosted a conference under the title "Caring for Brutalism", sponsored by the university and the
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said she was inclined instead to grant the certificate of immunity, allowing the building to be demolished.
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During the 1960s and 70s, the venue was part of the national music circuit, and hosted bands including
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angular concrete building was designed by Richard Raines and Michael Powers of the
640:"Students' Union building receives Grade II protections after four-year campaign" 314: 240: 183: 179: 264:
in their dressing room in the building, which went on to be their biggest hit.
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in 2017 reported that students called it "that ugly concrete building".
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opened two years earlier. Built into the steeply sloping bank of the
584:"Ugly or iconic? Durham's student union building could be demolished" 187: 61: 220: 145:
Dunelm House including landing stage, steps and attached walls
219:, and completed in 1966 under the supervision of architect 30: 462:"Legendary music venue will re-open to public for events" 300: 621:"Listing Success for Durham's Magnificent Dunelm House" 313:
suggested that Dunelm House should be made a Grade II
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The building was opened in 1966 with a concert by the
603:"Has time run out for university's concrete jumble?" 353: 686:University and college buildings completed in 1966 418:(2nd ed. 1983, revised by Elizabeth Williamson), 667: 565:"The story of Dunelm House and Kingsgate Bridge" 16:Brutalist university building in Durham, England 676:Buildings and structures of Durham University 385: 383: 381: 389: 696:Grade II listed buildings in County Durham 444:"Save Dunelm House from the wrecking ball" 434: 432: 378: 407: 405: 349: 347: 345: 701:The Twentieth Century Society Risk List 429: 416:The Buildings of England: County Durham 668: 402: 342: 305:In 2016, the university applied for a 35:The top level entrance of the building 691:Grade II listed educational buildings 600: 562: 489:"All Right Now for Free tribute show" 486: 438: 301:Uncertain future and eventual listing 581: 307:Certificate of Immunity from Listing 254:. After one gig in 1969, members of 13: 637: 390:Engelbrecht, Gavin (9 July 2021). 364:National Heritage List for England 14: 712: 681:Brutalist architecture in England 650:from the original on 10 July 2021 601:Lloyd, Chris (30 December 2016). 582:Hill, Laura (15 December 2016). 563:Lloyd, Chris (6 February 2021). 29: 631: 613: 594: 575: 487:Mckay, Neil (5 November 2008). 206: 556: 541: 511: 480: 454: 234: 1: 335: 7: 495:. Newcastle. Archived from 272:In 1968 Dunelm House won a 10: 717: 553:, accessed 5 November 2006 519:"Awards and Commendations" 217:Architects' Co-Partnership 201: 625:Twentieth Century Society 550:City of Durham Local Plan 523:Architects Co-Partnership 326:Twentieth Century Society 169: 165: 157: 149: 141: 131: 127: 119: 114: 106: 67: 57: 49: 44: 40: 28: 23: 420:Harmondsworth, Middlesex 317:, but culture secretary 291:), to a "monstrosity". 267: 186:, built in 1966 in the 196:Durham Students' Union 547:Durham City Council, 190:style. It belongs to 529:on 28 September 2007 442:(12 February 2017). 91:54.77333°N 1.57167°W 499:on 24 December 2015 87: /  58:Architectural style 53:University building 45:General information 158:Reference no. 96:54.77333; -1.57167 607:The Northern Echo 569:The Northern Echo 468:. 4 February 2005 466:The Northern Echo 424:Penguin Books Ltd 412:Pevsner, Nikolaus 396:The Northern Echo 223:, whose adjacent 192:Durham University 173: 172: 115:Technical details 708: 660: 659: 657: 655: 635: 629: 628: 617: 611: 610: 598: 592: 591: 579: 573: 572: 560: 554: 545: 539: 538: 536: 534: 525:. Archived from 515: 509: 508: 506: 504: 484: 478: 477: 475: 473: 458: 452: 451: 436: 427: 409: 400: 399: 387: 376: 375: 373: 371: 355:Historic England 351: 311:Historic England 278:Nikolaus Pevsner 225:Kingsgate Bridge 102: 101: 99: 98: 97: 92: 88: 85: 84: 83: 80: 33: 21: 20: 716: 715: 711: 710: 709: 707: 706: 705: 666: 665: 664: 663: 653: 651: 636: 632: 619: 618: 614: 599: 595: 580: 576: 561: 557: 546: 542: 532: 530: 517: 516: 512: 502: 500: 485: 481: 471: 469: 460: 459: 455: 437: 430: 410: 403: 388: 379: 369: 367: 352: 343: 338: 315:listed building 303: 270: 258:wrote the song 241:Thelonious Monk 237: 209: 204: 184:Durham, England 180:listed building 137: 134:Listed Building 95: 93: 89: 86: 81: 78: 76: 74: 73: 36: 17: 12: 11: 5: 714: 704: 703: 698: 693: 688: 683: 678: 662: 661: 638:Burman, Theo. 630: 627:. 8 July 2021. 612: 593: 574: 555: 540: 510: 479: 453: 428: 401: 377: 340: 339: 337: 334: 302: 299: 269: 266: 236: 233: 208: 205: 203: 200: 178:is a Grade II 171: 170: 167: 166: 163: 162: 159: 155: 154: 151: 147: 146: 143: 139: 138: 132: 129: 128: 125: 124: 121: 117: 116: 112: 111: 108: 104: 103: 71: 65: 64: 59: 55: 54: 51: 47: 46: 42: 41: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 713: 702: 699: 697: 694: 692: 689: 687: 684: 682: 679: 677: 674: 673: 671: 649: 645: 641: 634: 626: 622: 616: 608: 604: 597: 589: 588:The Chronicle 585: 578: 570: 566: 559: 552: 551: 544: 528: 524: 520: 514: 498: 494: 490: 483: 467: 463: 457: 449: 445: 441: 435: 433: 425: 421: 417: 413: 408: 406: 397: 393: 386: 384: 382: 366: 365: 360: 356: 350: 348: 346: 341: 333: 329: 327: 322: 320: 319:Karen Bradley 316: 312: 308: 298: 296: 295: 290: 286: 281: 279: 275: 265: 263: 262: 261:All Right Now 257: 253: 249: 244: 242: 232: 230: 226: 222: 218: 214: 199: 197: 193: 189: 185: 181: 177: 168: 164: 160: 156: 152: 148: 144: 142:Official name 140: 135: 130: 126: 122: 118: 113: 109: 105: 100: 72: 70: 66: 63: 60: 56: 52: 48: 43: 39: 32: 27: 22: 19: 652:. Retrieved 643: 633: 624: 615: 606: 596: 587: 577: 568: 558: 549: 543: 531:. Retrieved 527:the original 522: 513: 501:. Retrieved 497:the original 492: 482: 470:. Retrieved 465: 456: 448:The Observer 447: 440:Moore, Rowan 426:, pp.233-234 415: 395: 368:. Retrieved 362: 330: 323: 304: 294:The Observer 292: 282: 271: 259: 252:Procol Harum 245: 238: 221:Sir Ove Arup 210: 207:Construction 176:Dunelm House 175: 174: 24:Dunelm House 18: 493:The Journal 276:award. Sir 274:Civic Trust 235:Music venue 194:and houses 153:9 July 2021 120:Floor count 94: / 69:Coordinates 670:Categories 644:Palatinate 533:28 October 336:References 248:Pink Floyd 229:River Wear 150:Designated 136:– Grade II 79:54°46′24″N 285:cathedral 243:quartet. 213:brutalist 188:brutalist 107:Completed 82:1°34′18″W 62:Brutalism 648:Archived 654:10 July 370:20 July 202:History 161:1477064 503:9 July 472:9 July 289:castle 268:Views 656:2021 535:2006 505:2021 474:2021 372:2021 287:and 256:Free 250:and 211:The 110:1966 50:Type 182:in 672:: 646:. 642:. 623:. 605:. 586:. 567:. 521:. 491:. 464:. 446:. 431:^ 422:: 414:, 404:^ 394:. 380:^ 361:. 357:. 344:^ 658:. 609:. 590:. 571:. 537:. 507:. 476:. 450:. 398:. 374:. 123:6

Index


Brutalism
Coordinates
54°46′24″N 1°34′18″W / 54.77333°N 1.57167°W / 54.77333; -1.57167
Listed Building
listed building
Durham, England
brutalist
Durham University
Durham Students' Union
brutalist
Architects' Co-Partnership
Sir Ove Arup
Kingsgate Bridge
River Wear
Thelonious Monk
Pink Floyd
Procol Harum
Free
All Right Now
Civic Trust
Nikolaus Pevsner
cathedral
castle
The Observer
Certificate of Immunity from Listing
Historic England
listed building
Karen Bradley
Twentieth Century Society

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