View all newsletters
Have the short, sharp Spear's newsletter delivered to your inbox each week
  1. Wealth
January 4, 2013updated 09 May 2016 12:52pm

Goldman Sachs' Arty Dilemma Solved

By Spear's

The mural would have had to stay in place, stopping the development of Goldman’s new HQ, or at least compromising it

What is interesting about an ugly office building on the Farringdon Road, derelict and boarded up (pictured below)? If I tell you it involves Goldman Sachs and important art, it suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.


 
Goldman Sachs got planning permission in 2005 to turn this site – and later an additional neighbouring building – into its European headquarters, covering 54,000 square metres and sitting almost next to its current building on Fleet Street.

The only problem was that a – frankly ugly but nonetheless listed – ceramic mural by Dorothy Annan adorned the Farringdon Road facade. The mural, made up of nine porridge-coloured panels which describe in semi-abstract the ‘wonders of communication as a heroic human endeavour’ (quote and picture below: spitalfieldslife.com) was listed in 2011 and would have had to stay in place, stopping the development, or at least compromising it. This was not pleasing to Goldman Sachs.

Pictured above: The first panel from Dorothy Annan’s mural on the Farringdon Road

Last September, the Vampire Squid was given permission to move the mural, and Bloomberg said then that ‘the murals will initially be stored and may eventually be displayed near the Guildhall School of Music.’

Read more: John Arlidge on meeting Goldman Sachs’ CEO Lloyd Blankfein

Passing by before Christmas, I spoke to one of the security guards who have been guarding the building for years now, standing silent sentry in what I imagine is the most boring job in the City of London. He told me that the murals had been moved and put into storage, hence the black fence, which suggests that work is about to begin.

Content from our partners
Abu Dhabi: How the 'capital of capital' became a magnet for UHNWs
Abu Dhabi Finance Week in the 'Capital of Capital'
Experience Seekers: The Future of Luxury Travel

Goldman Sachs is about to experience an implosion on Farringdon Road, but let’s hope it’s only in the two old buildings they own.

Read more by Josh Spero

Don’t miss out on the best of Spear’s articles – sign up to the Spear’s weekly newsletter

[related_companies]

Select and enter your email address The short, sharp email newsletter from Spear’s
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network