A Tribute to Sunderland Civic Centre

In 2022 demolition work began to raze Sunderland's landmark modernist town hall, considered by many to be an architectural gem in the North East.
In order to pay tribute to a building which served its community so admirably, I captured a roll of 35mm film photographs of the Civic Centre on my cheap plastic Holga camera, which I now present alongside a specially-written memorial poem.
If you are interested to see more of my photography or poetry, visit my other channel: / @carefulcharlie or my instagram at @carefulcharlie

[@tjidk1]

I pass it every day from school, it’s quite sad to see it demolished. But the car park is very creepy and derelict.

[@gpo746]

I grew up round the corner from there and it was falling to bits in the 80's . Always creepy and seemed deserted even during the weekdays barring ever appearing soggy confetti from weddings . Loved the little bridge over to Mowbray though, even thats gone .

[@taylora5224]

So sad to see this go. I love mid century architecture, the new building is just boring.

[@colinbrown7310]

It was an awful building and in my view the awards were a con trick. I walked through it every day in the 70s and it was a dead, litter strewn place. The new city hall makes a far better statement and the new housing on the old site looks great.

[@Holly-w5x]

Great narration but would be even better with a big deep booming voice.

[@rich_devoto]

Famously the architect walked into one of his hexagonal floor to ceiling windows on it's opening day. It looked quite something for it's first decade or 2 but bits started to fall off and the underground car park was dark, dingy, wet, and a far too low ceiling.

[@neilscott910]

I am glad it has gone, a 50 year old obsolete building. City Hall is newer and better.

[@CM_Railways]

will miss it lots - looked very cool and lots of bricks used! houses are going to be built on it now 😢

[@ellendoad1919]

just like perrache

[@CM_Railways]

@@ellendoad1919 who are you

[@Urbaburble]

Very nice approach taken. Thanks for making this video.

[@edificity]

Very kind, thanks

[@thomascolauto]

Really appreciate the effort behind these short documantairies 👍 ha never even heard of this builing before but it's a interesting neeche 🙂

[@CEBRU07]

We were told the flats were full of sea salt and would never last...

[@CEBRU07]

Like Kingsgate Dunelm Bridge in Durham. Now needs a good clean although fantastic architecture when I was there early 1970's.

[@edificity]

Fantastic building, very glad it's been saved