Founded in 47AD, London has a history that few can match. Over the millennia, the culture and architecture of our fair city have established itself as some of the most evocative in the world, but this can introduce challenges. As Londoners, we pride ourselves on our history, but we also understand that evolution necessitates change. Pushing forward thus becomes a balancing act, where we need to develop infrastructure, design, and safety principles without betraying our roots. This battle is never-ending, so how is it addressed?
A Scope of Change
A microcosm of the challenges faced in modernizing London is well-illustrated by this article’s inspiration, the old Child & Co. bank. Established around 1660, Child & Co. was a private bank formerly located at 1 Fleet Street on the western side of London, opposite the Royal Courts of Justice. This was the oldest bank in London, and the third oldest in the world.
Leaning on the Carolean style while also favouring functionality, this bank operated far from the design standards of today. Though the outward style of the building has remained the same, its interior and literal place has not. After around a hundred years of operation, London experienced a rapid expansion as it passed through the 1800s. During this time, many streets were widened, which required Child & Co. to be moved back in 1880. Despite more than 200 years passing, the style of the building was kept, maintaining history while catering to the demands of a new age.
As time continued its march, constant repairs were naturally required, and updates to the building’s skeleton continued to keep it up to modern standards. None of these would be visible from the outside, as maintaining its appearance was key to maintaining its legacy. Internally, function trumped tradition, as the technologies and styles contained within were more willing to embrace change. This reached the point of complete refurbishing in 2015, though the bank itself was eventually closed in February of 2022.
Form and Function
The changes made to the Child & Co. bank over the years bring to mind the concept of the ship of Theseus, as is the case with so much classic London architecture. Though so much of the building appears the same and would be easily recognizable to someone who witnessed its original construction, the eventual result is that consisting of largely new parts. The skin might remain the same, but the skeleton has changed. This is the same from many London spots, where changes can also be far more nebulous.
Ever since the digital age, financial institutions are a prime example of places that have seen enormous changes through the developments of the internet. Consider how the US economic calendar works today compared to its origins. Today, real-time readouts of data like the Halifax House Price Index are possible anywhere in the world, whereas formerly it would be confined to the tickers of physical financial institutions. Faster and more accurate updates then feed back into the necessity, redesign, and maintenance of classic buildings. With less need for older approaches, the classic becomes even more ornamental, requiring us to tighten our grip on a contradictory classic design that much more.
Continuous Evolution
Evolution isn’t a good or bad thing, it simply is. In the case of the modern era, however, technological developments often introduce considerations more rapidly than the entire centuries that came before. Inevitably, this leaves us with the burning question of how much classic London will ever change, and what we’ll do to maintain our history at the crossroads of modern necessity and convenience.