Finsbury Health Centre
FINSBURY HEALTH CENTRE, PINE STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1297993
- Date first listed:
- 29-Sept-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Finsbury Health Centre
- Statutory Address:
- FINSBURY HEALTH CENTRE, PINE STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-03-02
- Reference:
- IOE01/16324/20
- Rights:
- © Mr Anthony Rau. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1297993
- Date first listed:
- 29-Sept-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Finsbury Health Centre
- Statutory Address 1:
- FINSBURY HEALTH CENTRE, PINE STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- FINSBURY HEALTH CENTRE, PINE STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Islington (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 31294 82356
Details
TQ 3182 SW; 635-1/73/688
ISLINGTON,
PINE STREET (East side),
Finsbury Health Centre
29/09/72
I
Health treatment centre. 1935-1938. By Berthold Lubetkin and
the Tecton group for the Borough of Finsbury. Reinforced
concrete; wings with rough cutting system consisting of hollow
tile floors supported by perimeter beams and structural
mullions; partially clad with faience tiles and asbestos
panels (originally thermolux glass panels); glass brick
screens, brass and copper detailing, metal windows, teak
framing; low, curved roof to central lecture theatre and flat
roof to remainder of central block and the flanking wings.
H-shaped plan, with centre block projecting at rear; shanks
splayed and their walls not parallel. Two-storeys; basement
and roof terrace to centre block. Symmetrical facade with
central canted-forward entrance-block composed of
ground-storey 3-bay wall of deeply recessed glazed bricks
stretching width of convex front; bays articulated by slim
tile-faced concrete piers supporting plain tiled
'entablature'(which also functions as parapet wall to roof
terrace planter). Entrance to centre bay approached by
straight ceremonial ramp: marble jambs and transom to
fully-glazed bronze double entrance doors surrounded by glass
blocks; flanking bays wider. First floor to central block
set-back from front of roof terrace: wide projecting pierced
eaves supported by eliptical ventilation ducts; name in trompe
l'oeil shadowed lettering to parapet of first floor is an
important part of the design statement. Wings angled (with
tapered corridors): concrete end walls tiled in panels; side
walls designed on grid system with teak frame and metal
casement windows alternating with spandrel panels (glass
originals destroyed in the war) with tiled surround. Principal
interior space is a spacious waiting area (entrance hall)
across centre block: piloti; reception desk (reconstructed
c.1970) opposite door backed by concave screen originally
decorated with mural of large map of London and alongside two
murals by Gordon Cullen (all removed). Fine lecture theatre to
1st floor on axis with the entrance: splayed walls, curved
back and vaulted curved roof. Roof garden.
History: Finsbury Health Centre was to have been the
centrepiece of the 'Finsbury Plan' proposed for the
redevelopment of the borough and the only element built before
the war. The centre was meant to centralise and improve
various healthcare projects that had evolved piecemeal in the
borough; it is a vestigial element of this pioneering scheme.
It was designed by Lubetkin and Tecton after the practice had
already established a reputation for carefully thought-out
responses to social needs. The building clearly displays
Lubetkin's rational thought, constructivist and classical
training, deeply held social beliefs and the role he believed
architecture could play in the creation of a new society. It
marks the culmination of the firm's most creative period of
work.
Finsbury Health Centre is the finest monument to nascent
clinical provision in Britain and a brilliant piece of
planning; it is very important for its break with the
tradition of municipal architecture, its flexible plan and
up-to-date construction techniques. It was viewed as the
prototype on a national level for modern construction and
communal architecture such as NHS clinics, and health and
treatment centres.
(Allan, John: Berthold Lubetkin, Architecture and the
Tradition of Progress: London: 1992-: 330-350; Buildings of
England: Pevsner, N: London: Finsbury: London: 1951-: 116-117;
Coe, P and Reading, M: Lubetkin and Tecton: Bristol: 1981-:
11-12; 140-144).
Listing NGR: TQ3129482356
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 369205
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Coe, P, Reading, M, Lubetkin and Tecton Architecture and Social Commitment, (1981), 11-12
Coe, P, Reading, M, Lubetkin and Tecton Architecture and Social Commitment, (1981), 140-144
Allan, J, Berthold Lubetkin Architecture and the Tradition of Progress, (2012), 330-350
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 12:04:01.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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