Apollo Pavilion- 1969
Peterlee, County Durham
Victor Pasmore
Victor Pasmore (1908-1998) was an extremely influential artist and became one of the leading abstract artists of his day. His work is found in collections around the world including Tate Britain, MoMA New York and the Art Gallery of South Australia. He was appointed CBE in 1959, a Companion of Honour in 1981 and a Royal Academician in 1983.
In 1955, Pasmore was appointed Consulting Director of Architectural Design of the Peterlee development corporation. He chose to design the town around a central abstract artwork and pavilion.
Pasmore named the construction the Apollo Pavilion as a reference to the optimism of the Apollo Space Program and the recent spaceflight which had first landed humans on the Moon.
Pasmore began designing Apollo Pavilion in 1963, and in 1969 its construction was complete.
To this day, Apollo Pavilion operates as the centre piece of a wider landscape including a lake which the Pavilion bridges at its eastern end. The Pavilion and lake together formed the focus for the Sunny Blunts housing area, and links the areas on each side of the watercourse.
Apollo Pavilion., (2012). Photograph taken by Ilike in Peterlee, England. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Apollo Pavilion., (2012). Photograph taken by Ilike in Peterlee, England. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Sunny Blunts is unique not only in its layout but also because it is perhaps the only housing estate in world which was designed by an abstract artist. The Pavilion was never regarded as a stand alone artwork, but as an integral part of the estate’s design within the landscape.
“an architecture and sculpture of purely abstract form through which to walk, in which to linger and on which to play, a free and anonymous monument which, because of it’s independence, can lift the activity and psychology of an urban housing community on to a universal plane”
A view of Apollo Pavilion, (2021). Photograph taken by Chloe Elliott in Peterlee, England. Image courtesy of photographer.
A view of Apollo Pavilion, (2021). Photograph taken by Chloe Elliott in Peterlee, England. Image courtesy of photographer.
Upper level of Apollo Pavilion #1., (1970). Photograph taken in Peterlee, England. Licenced under Durham County Councils copyright terms.
Upper level of Apollo Pavilion #1., (1970). Photograph taken in Peterlee, England. Licenced under Durham County Councils copyright terms.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Early photographs of the estate reflect the optimistic, cohesive approach to planning undertaken by Pasmore and the architects. The Pavilion was never seen as a stand alone artwork but as an integral part of the estate’s design within the landscape.
In 1978 however, ownership of Apollo Pavilion passed from Peterlee Development Corporation to District of Easington Council.
A lack of resources to maintain the Pavilion saw it fall into disrepair and it became a target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Front View Of Steps Over Sunny Blunts Pool - Peterlee -[Pete0096]. (1970-1979). Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
Front View Of Steps Over Sunny Blunts Pool - Peterlee -[Pete0096]. (1970-1979). Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
Children Walking Over Sunny Blunts Bridge (Apollo Pavilion) - [Pete0084]. (1970-1979). Photograph taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of Durham County County Record Office.
Children Walking Over Sunny Blunts Bridge (Apollo Pavilion) - [Pete0084]. (1970-1979). Photograph taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of Durham County County Record Office.
View Of Sunny Blunts Bridge (Apollo Pavilion) - [Pete0090].(1970-1979). Photograph taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
View Of Sunny Blunts Bridge (Apollo Pavilion) - [Pete0090].(1970-1979). Photograph taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
Repairs to remedy defects to housing carried out in the 1980s also paid little heed to the spirit or intent of the original radical designs, and the Pavilion came to look out of place in its surroundings, unloved by its community and neglected.
The Apollo Pavilion Community Association (APCA) and the Friends of the Apollo Pavilion were established in 2003 to keep the Apollo Pavilion active in the public imagination and preserve it for future generations.
The Association lobbied support for the Pavilion to be extensively refurbished, a project that was realised in 2009 with thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. In December 2011 the Pavilion was awarded Grade II* listed buildings status, preserving its integrity for years to come.
Jo Stanness, Apollo Pavilion, 2018/19, collage and acrylic paint on paper. Durham University Collection
Jo Stanness, Apollo Pavilion, 2018/19, collage and acrylic paint on paper. Durham University Collection
Creative interaction with the Pavilion
Since 2009, the APCA and Durham County Council have developed educational, creative and cultural programmes around the pavilion.
As a result, many artists have created artworks interacting with, or responding to, the Pavilion.
Jo Stanness, Apollo Pavilion
Initially drawn to the clean lines and geometry of brutalist architecture, the artist found their surrounding urban landscape untrue to their intended form. Stanness began instead to create her own compositions; ‘Architecture can slice through and divide up physical space; I am interested in using images of structures or elements of buildings as a catalyst for the division of pictorial space.’ In this work she followed one simple self-imposed rule; ‘I only follow or extend lines and angles which already exist within the photographic image. ’ Using this method, Stanness relates the physicality of architecture to three-dimensional drawing in the landscape.
Steve Messam, Apollo
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Apollo was a temporary installation by artist Steve Messam, displayed over four days as part of a year’s celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the pavilion. Apollo was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
The installation aimed to intersect with the architecture and symmetry of the pavilion, the bright orange, rounded inflatable structure completely transforming the visual aesthetics of the pavilion.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo, (2019). Courtesy & copyright of the artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo. (2019). Series of 5 photographs taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo. (2019). Series of 5 photographs taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo. (2019). Series of 5 photographs taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of artist.
Steve Messam, Apollo. (2019). Series of 5 photographs taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of artist.
The Apollo Pavilion is key feature of North East Brutalist architecture which has thankfully been preserved for our future generations. The playfulness of the structure easily invites itself to artistic interventions and engagement, which contributes to its unique place in the cultural landscape and history of the United Kingdom.
List of Artworks & Images used
1. Apollo Pavilion - [NT/Pe3/1/96/T79A]., (c1970). Courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
2. Apollo Pavilion., (2012). Photograph taken by Ilike in Peterlee, England. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
3. View from Apollo Pavilion., (c.1970). Photograph taken in Peterlee, England. Licenced under Durham County Councils copyright terms.
4. A view of Apollo Pavilion., (2021). Photograph taken by Chloe Elliott in Peterlee, England. Image courtesy of photographer.
5. Upper level of Apollo Pavilion #1., (1970). Photograph taken in Peterlee, England. Licenced under Durham County Councils copyright terms.
6. Steve Messam, inside Apollo Pavilion., (2019). Photograph taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of artist.
7. Front View Of Steps Over Sunny Blunts Pool - Peterlee -[Pete0096]., (1970-1979). Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
8. View Of Sunny Blunts Bridge (Apollo Pavilion) - [Pete0090].,(1970-1979). Photograph taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
9. Jo Stanness, Apollo Pavilion. (2018/19). Courtesy of artist.
10. Steve Messam, Apollo. (2019). Series of 5 photographs taken in Peterlee, Durham. Courtesy of artist.
11. Durham County Council, Apollo from the air | Art in County Durham, (2019). Courtesy of Durham County Record Office.
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