Shell Mex House
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| Shell Mex House | |
|---|---|
| Name | Shell Mex House |
| Caption | Shell Mex House on the Victoria Embankment |
| Location | London, England |
| Coordinates | 51.509, -0.121, type:landmark_region:GB |
| Start date | 1930 |
| Completion date | 1932 |
| Architect | Ernest Joseph |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Owner | Shell plc |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Floor area | 1,200,000 sq ft |
Shell Mex House. It is a prominent Art Deco office building located on the Victoria Embankment in London, overlooking the River Thames. Constructed between 1930 and 1932, it was designed by architect Ernest Joseph for the Shell-Mex and BP petroleum marketing group and has remained a significant corporate and architectural landmark in the City of Westminster.
History
The site was previously occupied by the Hotel Cecil, one of the largest hotels in Europe, which was demolished in 1930 to make way for the new headquarters. The construction was a major project during the Great Depression, providing significant employment in London. Upon completion in 1932, it became the central office for Shell-Mex and BP Ltd, a joint marketing operation between Royal Dutch Shell and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later BP). During the Second World War, the building, like much of London, endured the Blitz, but it sustained only minor damage and remained operational. In the post-war era, it continued to serve the petroleum industry, with BP vacating in the late 20th century, leaving Shell plc as the primary occupant and namesake.
Architecture
Designed by Ernest Joseph of the firm Messrs. Joseph, the structure is a quintessential example of Art Deco architecture, characterized by its sheer, monolithic form and streamlined aesthetic. The facade is clad in Portland stone, featuring strong vertical lines and minimal ornamentation, a shift from the elaborate styles of the Edwardian era. Its most distinctive feature is the giant clock, known as "Big Benzene," on its riverfront elevation, which is larger than the clock face of Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster. The interior originally featured lavish Art Deco fittings, including a grand banking hall for the Midland Bank and executive offices with fine materials, though many have been modernized. The building's scale and prominent position on the Victoria Embankment make it a defining element of the London riverscape.
Occupants
The primary and eponymous occupant since its inception has been the Shell petroleum company, specifically its UK marketing arm. For decades, it also housed the British Petroleum company as part of the Shell-Mex and BP alliance. Other significant original tenants included the Midland Bank (now part of HSBC), which occupied the grand banking hall. Over the years, it has also contained offices for various subsidiaries of the Royal Dutch Shell group and associated service companies. While Shell plc remains the anchor tenant, parts of the building have been leased to other corporate entities, including firms in the finance and legal sectors, reflecting the changing nature of the City of London's economy.
Cultural significance
The building is a protected Grade II listed building, recognized for its architectural and historical importance within the United Kingdom. Its imposing presence on the Victoria Embankment has made it a familiar backdrop in British media, featuring in numerous films and television series set in London, including episodes of Doctor Who and various ITV dramas. The "Big Benzene" clock is a noted local landmark for commuters and river traffic on the River Thames. Furthermore, the building symbolizes the era of large-scale corporate architecture and the global reach of the oil industry in the early 20th century, standing as a monument to a key period in Britain's industrial and commercial history.