Coventry Society loses 'elephant' sports centre listing bid

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Coventry Society loses 'elephant' sports centre listing bid

Postby dutchman » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:22 pm

The Coventry Society has failed in its attempt to get the distinctive "elephant" sports centre on Fairfax Street listed.

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Known as The Elephant, because of its shape, the city's civic society had lodged the appeal in an attempt to safeguard its future.

Keith Draper, chairman of the Coventry Society, said the group was "disappointed" at the secretary of state's decision.

He said it would put the building at risk, once a new swimming pool was completed.

A £36.7m swimming pool and leisure centre, due to be built on New Union Street, is set to replace The Elephant from the summer of 2019.

Mr Draper said the fact that The Elephant was designed by a team from the city council, rather than a named architect had counted against it.

"Its location near the ring road also appears to have been a negative factor," he said.

The Elephant, completed in 1976, is linked to a 1960s building, which is already Grade II listed.

Many of the older buildings in Coventry were destroyed during World War Two and Mr Draper said it was important to preserve as many of the city's current "landmark" structures as possible.

Despite the ruling from the Department for Culture Media and Sport, he said there was a strong case for retaining The Elephant and possibly reusing it as a concert and conference venue, rather than demolishing it.

:bbc_news:
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Re: Coventry Society loses 'elephant' sports centre listing bid

Postby dutchman » Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:53 pm

Coventry's 'elephant' building named on list of buildings at risk

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One of Coventry’s most eye catching structures has been named as one of the UK’s most threatened buildings.

The landmark ‘elephant’ sports centre has been selected as one of ten 20th century buildings across the country under threat by a charity.

The Twentieth Century (C20) Society has drawn up the list to draw attention to impressive architecture that could be lost.

atherine Croft, director of C20 Society, said: “We are witnessing the death of idealism and public spiritedness which underpinned so much of the best architecture of the 20th Century.

“We don’t want buildings to survive as decaying monuments, rather we want to see them brought back into use so they can make a positive impact on the environment. We do not need to demolish great architecture to allow room for innovation and economic growth.

“These are buildings which should enrich our lives and those of future generations,”

The ‘elephant’ building in Fairfax Street has been under threat for a while after a bid by the Coventry Society to protect it failed.

A formal application made by the society, which campaigns to preserve the city’s heritage, for listed status for the building was turned down by the secretary of state for culture, media and sport.

The C20 Society is now trying to highlight how buildings from this period are in danger of being lost for ever due to development pressures, dwindling budgets and an ‘out with the old, in with the new’ mentality.

The Elephant and Swimming baths has been called ‘Coventry’s iconic landmark’ by the charity, and was built in 1977 to look like the city’s elephant and castle coat of arms.

It has been home to Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre but after Coventry City Council decided to close the centre and replace it with a £37m waterpark in New Union Street the future of the building looks bleak, with council officials indicating it could be demolished.

By appearing on this list, there could be hope for the iconic building as two buildings identified on the society’s previous list, St. Peter’s Seminary at Cardross and Western Morning News HQ in Bristol were saved, however seven buildings from that list are still at risk, and two have now been demolished.

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I'm pretty sure it's in Cox Street and not Fairfax Street? :roll:
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Re: Coventry Society loses 'elephant' sports centre listing bid

Postby Melisandre » Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:49 pm

It is in Cox Street Dutchman I ve just checked on google earth it is build over Cox Street this is what you get when people have nt a clue about old Coventry or does not derive from Coventry.
:clown:
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Re: Coventry Society loses 'elephant' sports centre listing bid

Postby dutchman » Sun May 13, 2018 8:42 pm

The ambitious plans for Coventry's elephant building

Coventry's iconic 'Elephant' building could be transformed into a new community arts space.

Designers are proposing that the old sports centre is turned into a new venue based on the success of the CET building pop-up in Corporation Street.

With the CET pop-up coming to an end later this year for work to start on a 50's themed boutique hotel, AWD Restorations are hoping a new similar venture called 'The Cov Elephant' could be just as successful.

The community enterprise scheme would see the Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre building on Fairfax Street turned into a new free to use and visit cultural hub for the city centre , showcasing art displays, heritage exhibitions and workshops.

The plans also incorporate 10 loft-style residential apartments, which would be built around an 'indoor garden-park'.

'The Elephant' Arts and Heritage Centre is a concept from Alan Denyer - owner of AWD Restorations - and creator of the CET pop-up.

The idea is backed by Coventry University Faculty of Arts & Humanities as well as over 500 local artists, students, academics, arts & heritage organisations and community enthusiasts who have used the CET facility since it opened in May 2017.

'The Elephant' was designed by Terence Gregory and Harry Noble of the City Architects department in the 1970s.

Its future is currently hanging in the balance after the council deemed it no longer fit for purpose.

The existing sports facilities are set to move to a brand new water park and an alternative bowls site.

But the building is now attracting a new audience of admiring fans keen to keep it as part of Coventry's iconic skyline.

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Re: Coventry Society loses 'elephant' sports centre listing bid

Postby dutchman » Thu Jun 21, 2018 1:01 pm

Developer confident talks can progress for 'electric elephant' arts centre

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TALKS to convert Coventry’s ‘elephant’ building into an electric powered arts and heritage centre can now move forward, says the developer behind the proposals.

Alan Denyer – the owner of AWD restorations and pioneer of the proposals – says the new ‘green powered’ building could be renamed the ‘electric elephant’.

He says he is confident talks can ‘progress’ between his company and Coventry City Council for the creation of a community arts space and entertainment venue at the 1970s elephant building on Fairfax Street – currently a sports and leisure centre.

He says he is concentrating on the elephant plans now his pop-up arts space at the old Coventry Evening Telegraph (CET) building on Corporation Street has closed.

But Coventry City Council leaders are reviewing several options for the building’s future – including demolition.

And cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, councillor Jim O’Boyle told us any plan will need ‘serious financial backing’ and there have been no developments in talks.

Coun O’Boyle said: “Talks are not moving forward and to call them talks is inaccurate. A meeting was held with an officer of the council where an outline sketch of the “idea” was presented. Nothing more.

“I have asked for a full business case to look at viability options for the future of the elephant building and swimming baths in the long term which could include a whole raft of potential uses.

“The sports centre and baths are still open and no decision has officially been made to close it.

“Any proposals going forward will need serious, robust, and professional interrogation regarding finance and business viability.”

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