Southampton's ugliest buildings - would you agree?

Works on the site of the University of Southampton's Faraday Tower started on Monday.

The building was featured in the Daily Echo's list of Southampton's ugliest buildings.

The following list includes buildings that are still standing as well as those that have (thankfully) disappeared from the skyline in recent decades.

Of course, it is all subjective, so we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Do you agree with this list? Are there other buildings you would include?

Faraday Tower

Another example of brutalist 1960s architecture, Faraday Tower on University of Southampton’s Highfield campus has a narrow bottom section supporting a large rectangular tower.

The University of Southampton began moving closer to tearing it down in February of last year when the council granted permission to demolish the building that once housed the engineering faculty.

Wyndham Court, Southampton

It’s one of the initial things people see when they step out of Southampton Central Station, but it doesn’t give a good first impression.

Wyndham Court’s brutalist 1960s design is not to everybody’s taste, although some seem to like it.

The strange shape supposedly mimics the design of ships, although you may have to squint slightly to make the comparison.

Built in 1966, the building is now Grade II listed, so it is unlikely that we will see it razed anytime soon.

Nuffield Theatre

Another one on University of Southampton’s Highfield campus, and it is likely a little controversial to have on the list - many people really like it.

There is nothing wrong with the building’s shape or its general aesthetics, it’s the fact that the copper-clad roof has oxidised and turned green.

It was clearly all part of the design, but that does not stop it from looking as though it's part of a decaying post-apocalyptic landscape.

Nuffield Southampton Theatres itself sadly went into administration in May 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

City Gateway Halls

Many Southampton residents don’t even know this building is called City Gateway Halls  - it’s always been known locally as “the fag butt”.

It is quite a fitting nickname as it not only resembles the shape and colour of a cigarette stubb but it’s also been the butt of many a joke since it was first seen jutting into the Swaythling skyline.

The 15-storey tower cost £23.5 million to build and provides 350 rooms to students.

The building sat empty for its first year as the deadline for completion was missed.

Read more: Long lost supermarkets of Southampton 

Shirley Towers

It is not so ugly anymore, but before it had new cladding, Shirley Towers was a beastly-looking building.

Angular and with bottle dash stucco on the sides - it was uglier than most mid-1960s council-built tower blocks.

What is slightly more unusual though is its scissor section construction in which apartments are spread over several floors in an interlocking design.

Arundel Towers

When Westquay was built, many people were saddened to see the beautiful Daily Echo building in Above Bar bulldozed and swept aside.

However, not too many people were upset by the fact that Arundel Towers met the same fate - they were eyesores anyway.

The 13-story office blocks, located between Western Esplanade and Portland Terrace, were built in 1970 and demolished in 1997.

The Dog and Duck

The Dog and Duck sat in the shadow of Arundel Towers and was an iconic building on Portland Terrace.

The building had its own charm, presumably made to look like a concrete version of a castle tower.

In reality, it looked almost as though an alien craft had landed. It was odd and a little sci-fi-looking.

Beforehand the pub was The Arundel Centre Inn, then Swifts.

Part of the complex included Barbarella's nightclub, which later became Thursdays.

East Street shopping

This shopping mall felt less like a centre of commerce and more like a 1970s/80s leisure complex. And when it was void of shops - which was most of the time - it echoed like one too!

It was Southampton’s first shopping centre and was part of a bold vision to revolutionise the city centre and change the face of East Street – one of the city's oldest streets.

But it completely changed the look of the street and destroyed the view looking down to the beautiful Central Hall.

East Street shopping complex failed to capture the hearts of Southampton people and unfortunately fell short of attracting businesses to occupy all the units.