Listing of Sainsbury's supermarket in Camden Town
![]() |
Sainsbury's supermarket, Camden Town, designed by Nicholas Grimshaw Architects. Image source: Historic England |
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
In July 2019, Sainsbury’s Camden Town superstore – a key example of High-Tech architecture – became the first purpose-built supermarket to be listed by Historic England, and the New Statesman offered an uncommonly detailed and holistic take on the process.
[edit] The New Statesman wrote:
On 19 July 2019, [Sainsbury’s Camden Town superstore] became the first purpose-built supermarket to be listed by Historic England, which gave it Grade II status. Designed and built between 1986 and 1988 by Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners, it was praised by the listing report as a key example of High-Tech architecture, a style pioneered by Grimshaw, alongside firms such as Fosters and Rogers, which favours grainless modernity – all aluminium panels, smooth steel columns and interchangeability; mezzanines that can be adjusted, or cladding that can be moved around to reposition windows. The report called the Sainsbury’s ‘a rare example of the important but typically mundane post-war building type, the supermarket, being designed as a highly original, bespoke piece of architecture; a project made possible by the ambition of the architects, the client and the local authority.’
Neven Sidor was the lead architect on the project. It was … “one of the most stressful periods in my life.” Grimshaw, who have since built the Eden Project in Cornwall and The National Space Centre in Leicester, were at the time a small office of about fifteen people. Only seven worked on this project, which was tricky, Sidor explains, as the supermarket was part of a broader complex featuring two other buildings, all of which Grimshaw’s team were tasked with designing – one is a set of workshop spaces, sat high above basement parking, which face onto Kentish Town Road; the other is a row of terraced housing facing the Regent’s Canal. “We don’t do easy projects. We only do really difficult projects, that are only just possible,” says Sidor. “There was this huge pressure from Sainsbury’s to be open by Christmas.”
While architecture fans may notice the striking silver facade, most passing Londoners are more likely to notice how unusual it is to have such a large supermarket in this bustling location, just a minute or so from Camden Town tube station and the market, with all its excitable tourists and sullen teenage goths.
The supermarket looms large in the UK imagination – a hub for gossiping, congregating, judging and flirting. A place where someone keeps an eye on your nan as she pops in on her errands. A place where teenage couples share a first kiss against the romantic backdrop of a ‘3 for 2’ offer. In Pulp’s Common People, the education into the life of the everyman begins, of course, here: “I took her to a supermarket, I don’t know why, But I had to start it somewhere.”
At the Camden Sainsbury’s, large windows allow passers-by to glance inside, and survey shoppers lapping the aisles. If you’re approaching from the canal, the set of silver houses block the view of lorries entering and leaving. “It looks like a spaceship has landed on the canal,” says Deborah Mays, Head of Listing Advice at Historic England.
Late in 2018, the Twentieth Century Society, a group which campaigns to safeguard post-1914 design and architecture, received a tip off… that a planning application had been put in to redevelop Grand Union House. By January of 2019, the society’s caseworker Grace Etherington had commissioned a full report.
She asked that Historic England list all the buildings together, as one complex, as they were designed. “The multiple usage thing was very pioneering at the time,” Etherington says.
“If people aren’t aware of how ambitious these buildings are then it’s hard to get them to act in a sensitive way,” she explains.
Around 300-400 buildings are listed by Historic England each year (this does not include war memorials, which would increase the number exponentially). It is hardly surprising that, until now, a supermarket has not made the cut.
While Grimshaw’s Sainsbury’s is now listed, it is, as Mays say, not frozen. The move protects the building, but does not automatically guarantee it will keep its purpose. Some hungry developer, down the line, may think it could make a great delivery depot, or Amazon pick-up centre, or some hyped-up co-working space. A total change would be a shame, says Sidor: “People talk about how the next decade isn’t going to be about goods but experience – maybe Sainsbury’s could reconfigure it to a new pattern of trading.” It could make a good gym, muses Etherington. Or office space, offers her colleague Croft, though she hopes not. “I hope it remains a supermarket for as long as possible,” she said. “Not least as manifest evidence that not all supermarkets need be architecturally uninspired.”
[edit] About this article
This article was provided by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and appeared on its website in December 2019. It is an abridged version of an article that first appeared in the New Statesman magazine in December 2019 titled ‘It was very, very controversial: how a Camden Town Sainsbury’s became Grade II listed’. It can be accessed HERE.
Other articles by the IHBC on Designing Buildings Wiki can be accessed HERE.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Architectural styles.
- Bank of China Tower.
- Blobitecture
- Brutalism.
- Pompidou Centre
- Concept architectural design.
- Constructivist architecture.
- Deconstructivism
- Expressionist architecture.
- Futurist architecture.
- International Style.
- Megastructure.
- Metabolism.
- Modernist architecture.
- Neo-futurism.
- Nicholas Grimshaw.
- Norman Foster.
- Parametricism
- Postmodern architecture.
- Richard Rogers.
- The decline and revival of food markets.
Featured articles and news
UKGBC launch the UK Climate Resilience Roadmap
First guidance of its kind on direct climate impacts for the built environment and how it can adapt.
CLC Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy 2025
Launched by the Minister for Industry to look at fatalities on site, improving mental health and other issues.
One of the most impressive Victorian architects. Book review.
Common Assessment Standard now with building safety
New CAS update now includes mandatory building safety questions.
RTPI leader to become new CIOB Chief Executive Officer
Dr Victoria Hills MRTPI, FICE to take over after Caroline Gumble’s departure.
Social and affordable housing, a long term plan for delivery
The “Delivering a Decade of Renewal for Social and Affordable Housing” strategy sets out future path.
A change to adoptive architecture
Effects of global weather warming on architectural detailing, material choice and human interaction.
The proposed publicly owned and backed subsidiary of Homes England, to facilitate new homes.
How big is the problem and what can we do to mitigate the effects?
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
A number of cool guides to help with the heat.
The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: A 10 year plan
Previous consultation criticism, current key elements and general support with some persisting reservations.
Building Safety Regulator reforms
New roles, new staff and a new fast track service pave the way for a single construction regulator.
Architectural Technologist CPDs and Communications
CIAT CPD… and how you can do it!
Cooling centres and cool spaces
Managing extreme heat in cities by directing the public to places for heat stress relief and water sources.
Winter gardens: A brief history and warm variations
Extending the season with glass in different forms and terms.
Restoring Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens
Transforming one of the least sustainable constructions imaginable.
Construction Skills Mission Board launch sector drive
Newly formed government and industry collaboration set strategy for recruiting an additional 100,000 construction workers a year.
New Architects Code comes into effect in September 2025
ARB Architects Code of Conduct and Practice available with ongoing consultation regarding guidance.
Welsh Skills Body (Medr) launches ambitious plan
The new skills body brings together funding and regulation of tertiary education and research for the devolved nation.
Paul Gandy FCIOB announced as next CIOB President
Former Tilbury Douglas CEO takes helm.