While working for George Wimpey and Co. Ltd, and together with J E Tyrrell, Chief Architectural Assistant to Gosport Borough Council, Kenneth Barden was responsible for tiled murals on Seaward Tower and Harbour Tower, two sixteen-storey tower blocks built in 1963 on the Esplanade in Gosport.
The surfaces of the tower blocks are covered in mosaic murals designed by Barden that rise the full 135 foot height of the buildings. They were controversial initially but are now a tourist attraction.
The tiles were produced by Carter and Co of Poole
He was also responsible for the unlisted and under threat ceramic murals in Halifax Swimming Baths.
Whilst cycling form Southampton to Margate I took the opportunity to walk around and snap the blocks, one sunny day in May.
Here they are unclad in 1984
Brochure courtesy of Peter Blake
The work seems unrivalled in both scale and vision a lasting testament to good design.
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