John Outram
Built 1960s onwards
Designed by John Outram Associates
1200 Park Avenue, Bristol (1984-6)
Completed in 37 weeks there are 12 small industrial units. The building demonstrated that bricks and a pitched roof could be added to light steel structure yet be long-lasting and interesting for a similar price to the blander prefab structures being built at the time.
The pediments echo Palladian styles. The grey windows were initially a more startling red. The drum columns are service ducts.
Isle of Dogs Pumping Station (1988)
Is there a more playful pumping station anywhere in the world? Nicknamed ‘The Temple of Storms’, it pumps flood water into the Thames. The colourful details are no mere decoration. The two columns are ventilation ducts and the Cyclops eye is a fan which prevents the build-up of methane gas. The building was designed to last 100 years without on-site supervision.
Judge Business School, Cambridge (1993-95)
Housed in an old hospital building, Outram converted the wards into a library and seminar rooms. The arcades were enclosed and unified with colourful blue and red columns. The refreshingly quirky interior surely helps students achieve better grades…
