It is often said that some things
are both well worth a long wait and worth enjoying slowly, and both of these
characteristics can certainly be applied to the former IYLO building and
Fairfield Halls - both landmarks of Croydon, a true up-and-coming destination
in its own right thanks to a host of existing attractions, things to do and
regeneration initiatives.
The IYLO building sadly became
synonymous with failed dreams and urban neglect as a result of events that the
circumstances of the late 2000s economic slowdown made extremely difficult to
avoid. Today, that structure is an impressive sight, its sleek glass frontage
towering some 20 storeys, its two equal halves 'sliding' past each other to
produce a glint in the emerging New Year sunlight.
The finished project, also featuring
an incredible double-height entrance lobby, serene water-fountain communal
garden, engineered wooden flooring, matt finish walls and extensive multimedia
network cabling on the inside, is a far cry from the sad, half-finished
structure left after the administrations of the funding source, HBOS in 2009
and then the construction company in 2011.
Whereas the former IYLO building -
now proudly rechristened ISLAND - had a short, but chequered past that
blossomed into a 'Happy ever after' story, the Fairfield Halls arts and
entertainment venue in close vicinity to it has enjoyed a long and continuously
illustrious history. Having first opened in 1962, it has hosted a true who's
who of British and international show business.
Such luminaries of the entertainment
world have included everyone from Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Morrissey and
a-ha to Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Who and The Beatles. It was also Fairfield
Halls where Traffic recorded a live album, Family recorded the first half of
their Anyway album and Morecambe and
Wise filmed their live stage act for the first and only time.
But crucially, neither the one-time
IYLO building or Fairfield Halls are mere products of their past. The Halls,
for instance, continue to serve up such major acts as Elkie Brooks, Tim Vine,
Alan Carr and the Commodores, while the elegant tower now known as ISLAND has
seen its luxurious penthouses and apartments snapped up in double-quick time,
many of them long before the formal completion of construction in November
2014.
The erstwhile IYLO building and
Fairfield Halls are therefore both very much fixtures of the present day
treasure that is Croydon, with both awaiting your appreciation if you choose to
purchase or rent one of the glass structure's sleek penthouses or apartments.
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