Hoover Building

The main building was opened in May 1933 by Lord Rochdale as the UK headquarters for The Hoover Company. This was designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners - the same firm that designed the Firestone Tyre Factory in Brentford and Victoria Coach Station in Central London. Thomas Wallis said of the Art Deco design: ’A little money spent in the incorporation of some form of decoration, especially colour, is not money wasted. It has a psychological effect on the worker.’ Soon after the main building was built, plans were drawn up for a manufacturing plant. As demand for Hoover vacuum cleaners began to grow, the factory was extended in the mid-thirties increasing the space to . It was referred to in the press at this time as a 'Modern Palace of Industry', in contrast to the older factories in the north of England. The firm welcomed visitors to look around the factory. During the Second World War the factory was used to manufacture aircraft parts. Vacuum cleaners were still produced at the site, but at a lower output than previously. The buildings were camouflaged to avoid being bombed by German aircraft. The building's staff set up their own Home Guard unit. After the war, which the building survived, another extension was added - a five-storey building to the north of the site. and in 1981 the canteen building were granted a Grade II* listing. The site was described in the list entry as ‘possibly the most significant arterial road factory of its date, and one of the most attractive.’ with the addition of a new top floor. This was completed in 2018 by IDM Properties and Interrobang. == Design ==

The ambitious design took on a grand, palatial facade of huge columns and recessed glass bay windows, but the most iconic feature was the central entrance which was decorated above with a dramatic, geometric sunburst pattern, which sat beneath the huge “Hoover Limited” lettering. == Redevelopment ==

The comprehensive renovation by IDM Properties focused on the conservation of the historic fabric and the insertion of a new timber structure, maximising the number of new homes that could be created. The timber structure forms a mezzanine within the double-height ground floor, creating 14 maisonettes with full-height, Crittall steel windows. The original staircase leads to 21 flats on the first floor and 31 on the second. Many on the second floor have private terraces overlooking the lawn. The 12 flats at the new third floor have been created by replacing the old fibre-cement and steel roof with a zinc standing seam with large rooflights. Two maisonettes incorporate the listed staircases in the two towers that bookend the façade. Internally, many of the original Art Deco features have been refurbished. The building's original colour scheme is reflected in new Art Deco-style corridors with green interiors and high-waisted dado rails. The light fittings, staircases with wrought-iron banisters and terrazzo lobby floors have all been restored. ==In popular culture==

In 1980, Elvis Costello recorded a song called "Hoover Factory", which includes a brief description of the building and its position in Greater London. It first appeared on the B-side of Costello's "Clubland" single in 1980, and can now be found as an "extended play" bonus track on CD reissues of his album Get Happy!!. The Hoover Building was also used as a filming location for two episodes of ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'': namely, "The Dream" and "The King of Clubs". ==See also==