Nestled along the Western Avenue in Perivale, London, the Hoover Building is one of the city's most striking examples of Art Deco architecture.
I recently drew the Hoover Building and, in the process, discovered some interesting and random facts:
- Yes it is named after the famous vacuum cleaner brand! The Hoover Building served as UK headquarters, manufacturing plant and repairs centre for the Hoover company.
- Designed by Wallis, Gilbert & Partners in 1931, I immediately assumed a connection with the Gilbert Scott family (Architects of Battersea Power Station, St Pancras Railway Station, etc) but no! Infact there is no evidence of a Gilbert ever working at the practice.
- During World War II, the factory played an important role in the war effort. the building was camouflaged and shifted most of it's production from household appliances to aircraft parts.
- The building has since been repurposed. In 1989 a Tesco supermarket moved into the rear of the building and as of 2017 the iconic south-facing façade became luxury flats!
- For a factory building the design is very vibrant. The reasons for this explained by the architect Thomas Wallis "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."
Get Your Own Hand-Drawn Hoover Building Print!
If you're a fan of London’s architectural heritage, you can bring a piece of it into your home with my hand-drawn print of the Hoover Building. It makes a perfect gift for architecture lovers, Art Deco enthusiasts, and London history fans.
Available now in my shop! The Hoover Building Art Print
