U is for Utilitarian

In this series of posts featuring some of Loughborough’s Art Deco heritage, we’ve already had a look at some stunning buildings, many with some highly decorative and ornamental architectural features – I think one of my favourites has to be the torches on the Blacksmiths, and the lotus columns peeking out from the top of the columns outside the former Echo Press offices on Swan Street.

So, for today’s entry in the A-Z Blogging Challenge, we’re looking into the letter U. I’ve decided to go with Utilitarian. It’s not specifically an Art Deco term, and the dictionary defines the term as something that is designed to be practical and useful rather than something designed to be attractive, so those buildings I’ve just mentioned certainly don’t fall into that category.

Some of our Art Deco town centre buildings really are more utilitarian than some of the others, but in my personal opinion this doesn’t detract from their beauty and elegance. I’m thinking particularly about a couple of our pubs (nothing new there then!), like Fat Sam’s (at one time called the Mundy Arms, and you can find an explanation of why in ‘Loughborough Pubs’), the Generous Briton, which featured in a recent blogpost, and the former Moon and Bell. As I said, the design of the buildings in no way affects how important they are in our town’s history and streetscape.

I guess, you could call the side of Beacon Bingo utilitarian. Absolutely by necessity – the huge auditorium nestled inside the building means that the outside has to stretch a long way, and really it would have been too expensive and unnecessary to clad the whole length in Hathernware! However, do note the most unusual brick poster frame on the side which flows along Lemyngton Street.

There are plenty of other Art Deco buildings which one might suggest are utilitarian in style, and while the fronts of the shops along Market Street all have some lovely features on them – balconies, Crittall windows, beaten metal, and a variety of motifs – a sneaky peek around the back of the buildings, either looking along from the Market Street entrance to the Carillon shopping centre, or from the entrance to the Carillon car park on Derby Square reveals the familiar cube-like rooms at the back of the shops.

I suppose in this respect, the Generator Building might also fall into this category: construction began in 1934, and officially opened in 1937, it certainly is rectangular in shape, and well-suited to the activities that originally took place within its walls. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the new building on Frederick Street, close to Caldwell Street certainly echoes the style of The Generator to good effect.

And here we must leave these beautiful buildings and search for the next entry in this challenge! 

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I'm taking part in the A-Z April Blogging Challenge!!

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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