February 10, 2026
Love letter or alien bunker?
Brutalist Southbank Centre Listed
Concrete gets a crown as fans cheer and haters cry 'alien bunker'
TLDR: The UK just protected Southbank Centre’s concrete arts complex with Grade II status. Comments split between disgust and devotion, while some point out similar sites are being demolished elsewhere—proof the concrete culture war isn’t over and this decision matters for what cities choose to save.
Concrete just got a coronation: the UK has officially given parts of London’s Southbank Centre Grade II heritage status, meaning it’s protected. After decades of snubs (and a “Britain’s ugliest” tag back in the day), the government finally agreed with Historic England’s love letter to those bold, sculptural shapes and tactile concrete. Twentieth Century Society declared a win over the “concrete monstrosities” crowd—and the comments exploded.
The split? Nuclear. One camp calls it “absolutely hideous, alienating, and inhuman,” arguing not everything needs to be preserved. The other side is writing poetry to concrete’s cold authority. One fan gushed about the “giant concrete turkey” in Toronto and dreamed of a pilgrimage to London’s Barbican, insisting brutalism feels powerful and honest. Another said the Southbank spaces come alive with art, even if UK grey skies don’t always do the concrete favors. The plot twist: a commenter pointed to Anglia Square in Norwich—“basically the same”—heading for demolition, asking why London’s slabs get a halo while Norwich gets the wrecking ball. Cue accusations of double standards, culture capital bias, and a flood of memes about concrete getting a crown. Love it or loathe it, brutalism is back—and louder than ever.
Key Points
- •DCMS, advised by Historic England, has granted Grade II listing to the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Hayward Gallery, and associated walkways and stairs.
- •The Twentieth Century Society’s latest bid, initiated after a certificate of immunity expired in February 2023, led to the successful designation.
- •Heritage minister Fiona Twycross accepted Historic England’s reasons, citing bold geometric forms and exemplary exposed concrete workmanship.
- •The complex, designed by the LCC Special Works Group including Archigram members, opened in 1967 and had faced six prior refusals since 1991.
- •DCMS previously rejected listing in 2018, arguing shortcomings in uniqueness, site relationship, coherence, and accessibility compared to nearby venues.