The Elephant, Coventry
The Elephant Building
The Elephant viewed from the corner of Cox Street and Fairfax Street
Alternative namesThe Elephant Building
General information
TypeLeisure centre
Architectural styleBrutalist
AddressCox Street
Town or cityCoventry
CountryEngland
Coordinates52°24′32″N 1°30′12″W / 52.40878°N 1.50338°W / 52.40878; -1.50338
Construction started1974
Completed1976
OwnerCoventry City Council
Design and construction
Architect(s)Terence Gregory, Harry Noble

The Elephant Building is part of a leisure complex in Coventry city centre, England.[1] It was intended to extend the pre-existing Coventry Central Baths building, to which it is connected with an enclosed walkway (the "elephant's trunk").

History

A view of the "Elephant's trunk"
The "Elephant's trunk" connecting the Elephant to the rest of the leisure centre

The main building of the leisure complex was opened in 1966, providing Coventry with the region's only Olympic-size swimming pool with seating for spectators, making it a focal point for swimming in the West Midlands.[2] A ring road around Coventry was completed in 1972, leaving a small area of land either side of Cox Street at the end of the Coventry Baths building. The city architect's department designed a building to straddle the road, and construction started on the Elephant building in 1974.[1] After construction finished in 1976, it was used as part of Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre until it was closed by Coventry City Council in February 2020.[3] The main building was Grade II listed in 1997, but the Elephant itself is not listed.[4]

Design

The building is designed to look like an elephant in reference to the coat of arms of the city of Coventry, which shows Coventry Castle being carried on the back of an elephant.[5] Elephants are a popular motif in the civic life of Coventry, appearing on the logo of Coventry City F.C. and Coventry R.F.C. as well as the badge of HMS Coventry.[6][7]

Future

The future of the Elephant building is uncertain after the closure of the leisure centre in 2020. Coventry City Council is yet to announce firm plans for the building's redevelopment, but it may become a community art space.[8] On May 15, 2021, as part of the launch for Coventry being UK City of Culture 2021, the words of local author George Elliot "It is always fatal to have music or poetry interrupted" were projected onto the building.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Forgotten Elephant!". Coventry Society News. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Coventry Central Baths & Elephant – The Twentieth Century Society". c20society.org.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Davis, Tom (3 September 2020). "Talks over Elephant building but 'no demolition plans'". CoventryLive. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Coventry Central Baths (original part including sunbathing terraces), part of Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Non Civil Parish (1021930)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Bradley, Nicki. "The history of civic life". www.coventry.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Coventry City". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Coventry Rugby – Your City. Your Club. Your Venue. Your Coventry". www.coventryrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Woolford, Adrian (14 May 2018). "New plans for Coventry Sport Centre elephant building". Coventry Bid. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Coventry City of Culture (15 May 2021). "Timeless Words Made New". Coventry City of Culture. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
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