Hampton House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Hampton House, originally called Gladstone House, was built c.1967-68 to designs by Robinson & McIlwaine for the Spinning Mill. A five-storey 'L' shaped building fronting west onto Royal Avenue and north onto Garfield Street. Clad in white glazed vertical tiling, with columns at ground and first floors spreading out at second floor level into zig zag walling with black chevron window columns set in the angles.

Flat waterproof membrane roof; internal rainwater goods. Walls clad in white glazed vertical tiling (bricks laid to stretcher bond to rear elevation). Varied fenestration with a mixture of double glazed black powder-coated and white single glazed metal casements. Entrance doors are glazed, powder-coated metal framed.

Front (principal) elevation faces west onto Royal Avenue and comprises four identical tall narrow bays with the exception of the second bay from the right which includes the entrance doors with a small pitched canopy over. Black columns rise to first floor ceiling level with pointed arched glazing divided in two vertically and at first floor level by a white cladding band. The columns spread out at second floor level into zig zag walling with black chevron window columns set in the angles.

Side (south) elevation is abuted by neighbouring property to left;

North elevation (facing onto Lower Garfield Street) and rear (east) elevation, six bays wide; brick clad to left five bays (cream brick with black brick to ground floor three left bays only) white glazed tiles to right bay. Rear elevation comprises from left, curved corner; door at ground floor with a single square window on each upper floor; stairwell bay rises to six floors; ground floor blank, staggered windows on upper floors on full and half levels; third bay ground floor blank; first floor has various bricked up openings and grilles; four evenly spaced windows on each of the upper three floors; fifth bay rises approximately one metre above fifth floor to left; narrow vertical slot window on fifth floor to left rising to roof level; full height vertical slot window slightly off-centre to right; sixth bay ground and first floors recessed; canted corner to right; vertically orientated glazing to ground floor, white glazed tiles to cill level at first floor; continuous vertically orientated glazing above; second and third floors are supported by a tall square collumn clad in white glazed tiles positioned approximately one metre from the right corner; white glazed tiles to cill level at second floor; continuous vertically orientated glazing above to second and third floor; fourth floor recessed approximately one metre providing a partial glazed pitched roof to the third floor; equally spaced windows with white glazed tile parapet above.

Side (south) elevation is abuted by neighbouring property to left; exposed section is brick clad (black brick to ground floor, cream brick to upper floors) with various openings on all floors.

Setting

Located on the east side of Royal Avenue opposite Castle Court shopping centre at the junction with Lower Garfield Street. The 'L' shaped building wraps around the Alliance & Leicester Building (Nos. 61-63) and has frontage on both Royal Avenue and Lower Garfield Street. This elevation is mmediately adjacent to the listed terrace nos. 56-60 North Street & nos. 2-10 Lower Garfield Street (HB26/50/322).

Roof: Flat waterproof membrane
Walling Glazed tiles / brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: Internal

Historical information

On a site developed since at least the 1830s, Hampton House (formerly Gladstone House) was built c.1967-68 to designs by Robinson & McIlwaine for the long established Belfast commercial enterprise, the Spinning Mill. It replaced two former four-storey buildings.

The architectural firm Robinson & McIlwaine was established in 1963 and undertook the design of the building shortly after.

References:

Secondary Sources

1. Patton, Marcus. "Central Belfast A Historical Gazetteer." Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1993, p.283

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Located on the east side of Royal Avenue opposite Castle Court shopping centre at the junction with Lower Garfield Street, Hampton House (also known as Hampden House) originally Gladstone House, was built c.1967-68 to designs by Robinson & McIlwaine for the long established Belfast commercial enterprise, the Spinning Mill. A five-storey 'L' shaped building facing onto Royal Avenue to the west and Lower Garfield Street to the north. Clad in white vertical tiling, with columns at ground and first floors spreading out at second floor into zig zag walling with black chevron window columns set in the angles.
Although still a striking building of its period designed by a well known local architectural firm, with modern, vigorous and yet well-mannered elevations respecting of its neighbours, extensive alterations have compromised its original architectural qualities. Whilst Hampton House does not meet the standard required for modern listings - it is not an outstanding building of its time - it is nevertheless of local interest (particularly where some of its modern neighbours are less distinguished), making a positive contribution to Royal Avenue and the conservation area.

General comments

Was initially raised as a listing query HB26 LQ233

Within Belfast City Centre Conservation Area