Did you see Anzani House? These photographs document the now demolished six storey office block, which stood beside the port of Felixstowe, since the 1970s.
The six storey office block on Trinity Avenue, housed thousands of BT workers until 2008 when it was left empty. Aside from stripping out the interior for scrap value and asbestos, the tower was sealed up and remained relatively untouched before 2020, when ‘CDC Demolition’ took 14 weeks to remove the structure from the Felixstowe skyline.
These photographs were taken in spring 2019. When arriving, two people approached us wearing hi-vis, we thought they would ask us to leave. Thankfully, they were port workers passing on lunch break, and we never had any trouble for being there. The building was accessible by using any long object, thin enough to fit between a gap in the fire escape door frame. Pulling the fire escape bar toward us. All other windows and doors were thoroughly sealed. Anzani House had been among the tallest structures in Felixstowe, so when inside the building or on top, you can be seen from many places. Though most people on the surrounding roads just take a passing glance, I wonder if some people noticed a change in the skyline after summer 2020.
Myself and those that visited with me, agree that seeing the removal of the building was quite emotional. It was such a powerful landmark, there was a very strong presence when we were there. For a moment, we can imagine the building in use. But the real focus seemed to be this sense of escape to a place we are not really allowed. A hide out, but one with an unmatched view of the local area. A view that could only elsewhere be experienced, by crane operators at the port. Many people thought the building to be an eye sore. But without going inside, just parking up and taking a walk around the empty parking lot, gives an other worldly experience. Time hadn’t stopped, but had taken a different course. A more interesting course we could say. Where plants are thriving in the large courtyard space, not dystopian. Beautiful, peaceful and calming. The atmosphere on the day of this photo shoot was particularly relaxing. The air was still and warm, the blue sky above the horizon muted slightly by a kind of haze, sunlight casting orange shapes through the tinted windows inside, the building’s limited colour palette. Distant sounds of trucks arriving at and navigating the port. Such a good place for contemplation.
There is very little record of Anzani House. In future, rather than being destroyed, such buildings could be changed slightly to suit the public. Turned into historic, time capsule, leisure spaces where we can contemplate and enjoy.
Plans to convert the building into apartments were rejected. Rather, ‘Maritime Transport Ltd’ will be using the site for container storage, distribution and haulage facilities. What would you do with the opportunity, if changing the building were in your hands?
Check out this little exploration of the building by Morgan Levison here.
