Mondial House

Mondial House - A Landmark in The City
Overview

Mondial House was a futuristic wonder of the 1970s, built at the time when concrete multi-storey car parks and shopping centres were cutting edge technology. A vast solid structure to accommodate the heavy bulky telecoms solutions of the age.

It served its purpose well and carried millions of international calls mon-dial (world-wide).

Here we look back at its history and role in the development of international switching...

Photo: Mondial House © Light Straw 2001.

| EXIT | Building Tour |

Mondial House

Once upon a time, Mondial House was Europe's largest international telecommunications complex...

In the late Seventies (circa 1978) De Havilland and Mollison International Switching Centres at Stag Lane were already carrying the growth in ISD traffic and Mondial House was only just nearing completion along the banks of the River Thames.

Site History

	Mondial House was an ambitious building project both in terms of size and complexity. It was originally conceived as a 15-20 storey tower block and podium, but as with most of the riverside sites in Central London, the final design had to ensure that views of St. Paul's Cathedral remained unobstructed. The end result was a ziggurat (step-back) design of 12 storeys-the 8 above ground reaching a height of 46 metres. Photo: Mondial House Feb 2006 © ugarthr
STC
	By the Spring of 1972, Mondial House was still in the early stages of construction. This photo was part of an advert for Standard Telephones and Cables (STC) who was contracted to supply the transmission equipment. Photo: STC at Mondial House circa 1972.
The Design
	Mondial House was an innovation in design. A very functional, futuristic building which maximised the space for equipment while retaining a low profile in accordance with the 'St. Paul's Heights' planning restrictions. Mondial was built to contain the very bulky telecoms equipment in the era before microprocessors were running the network.. A vast expanse of concrete clad in glass reinforced plastic. Designed by architects Hubbard, Ford and Partners Photo: Mondial House © Kim Laughton March 2006.
The Switching Details
	"Mondial TXK2 was introduced in 1978 at Mondial House, Upper Thames Street – the building was very late – it had originally been intended to install the Stag Lane units here. Instead Stag Lane (an old aircraft factory) was used." Photo: Mondial House equipment room © LSA Jan 2001.
The End
	The End - Boarded up and looking dark and gloomy. "UBS will be allowed to demolish Mondial House next to Cannon Street station, in order to build its huge Watermark Place project. The development will provide 545 000 square feet of office and retail space." Photo: Mondial House © LSA Feb 2006
The Animation
	Just imagine for a moment, wish upon wish, in your wildest dreams, that Mondial House could have escaped the demolition ball and gone on to party in New York instead? Tali Febland dreams on...
Postscript
	An unusual shape, but the new Watermark Place does allow for a better view along the promenade. Photo: Watermark Place © LSA September 2011

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