Swiss Centre, London

Building in Coventry Street, London

The Swiss Centre

The Swiss Centre in 2003

General information
Location| Coventry Street, London
Coordinates| 51°30′38″N 0°07′52″W﻿ / ﻿51.5106°N 0.1312°W﻿ / 51.5106; -0.1312
Completed| 1966
Demolished| 2008
Design and construction
Architect(s)| David du Roi Aberdeen
Main contractor| John Laing & Son

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The Swiss Centre, with its distinctive clock, was a popular tourist attraction on the edge of Coventry Street, London, at its junction with Leicester Square. The 14 storey building[1] was both a showcase for Switzerland and its products, a trade and commercial centre that featured a Swiss bank, tourist office, a chocolate and souvenir shop, a Swissair ticket office, a cafe and several Swiss-themed restaurants which were located in the basement.[2]

It was designed by David Aberdeen and built by John Laing & Son and Token Construction Company Limited between 1963 and 1966,[3][4] to include a podium above the shops located at street level, and an 11 storey tower block with office floors, residential spaces, a penthouse, a viewing gallery and a plant room.[5]

Over the years the connection with Switzerland faded out: several shops remained vacant, and British souvenir stalls took over the commercial spaces from the late nineties. The clock's chimes were last played on 21 September 2007, and the Centre was demolished in 2008.

Two totem columns, one displaying the Helvetic cantons insignia, and the other a large carillon clock composed of 23 bells, were preserved in the western section of the square that was finally renamed Swiss Court, in order to retain an element of Swiss heritage.[6]

The glockenspiel, redesigned and restored by the clockmakers Smith of Derby, was returned in November 2011, three years after the building's demolition.[7]

At the time of the building's demolition, it was intended that a hotel would be constructed on the site.[8] The site (bordered by Lisle Street, Leicester Street, Swiss Court and Wardour Street) was redeveloped and now contains M&M's World in the location on Leicester Square and was opened in June 2011.[9][10] The W Hotel, with its entrance on Wardour Street, takes up the north part of the site and upper levels.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "London's new £200m hotel – where the owners want to check out". independent.co.uk. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
2. ^ "The Swiss Centre | Post-War Buildings". Archived from the original on 6 June 2010.
3. ^ Ritchie, p. 146
4. ^ F H W Sheppard, ed. (1966). "Leicester Square, North Side and Lisle Street Area: Leicester Estate, New Coventry Street". Survey of London. 33–34, St Anne Soho. (London: 486–487. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
5. ^ "Leicester Square, North Side, and Lisle Street Area: Leicester Estate, New Coventry Street - British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
6. ^ "Swiss glockenspiel in Leicester Square: The last survivor of the Swiss Centre". 22 March 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
7. ^ "Leicester Square Swiss glockenspiel restored by Smith of Derby". BBC News. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
8. ^ "Last chime for iconic Swiss clock". 21 September 2007 - via news.bbc.co.uk.
9. ^ Gormley, Paul (10 September 2010). "100% of redeveloped Swiss Centre on London's Leicester Square let with signing of 'M&M'S World' store - McAleer & Rushe". Mcaleer-rushe.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
10. ^ "Europe's First Ever M&M'S World Store Opens in London's Leicester Square". Londonandpartners.com. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

## Sources

[edit]

* Ritchie, Berry (1997). The Good Builder: The John Laing Story. James & James.