Memories of Picture House Luton
Residents of Luton have watched the development of the Picture House Apartments with great interest – and with some trepidation, with some voicing concerns that the much-loved historical frontage would be lost or knocked down to make way for modern homes. Now that the development is underway, locals with a lasting fondness for the art deco landmark will be thrilled to see not only that the popular, eye catching frontage remains a landmark of the town, but the homes within have maintained an artful reflection of the ‘roaring thirties’ era in which the building was initially erected, and showcase a glamorous finish which embodies some of the former lives the building housed.
Initially built as a cinema, the building has also housed a busy Bingo hall and, later, a series of popular nightclubs which those who grew up in Luton will no doubt have visited many times. The location of many first dates, budding romances, celebrations with family and friends, big wins and cosy movie nights, what now a beautiful housing has shaped the personal history of many Luton residents.
The Odeon and Ritz cinema and theatre spaces within were once even the location for Beatles gigs, historical events which had queues curling 100’s deep around the streets, eager to see the already very popular band perform.
As the nightclub scene quietened, we saw the doors close one last time on Chicago’s, Liquid and Envy bars, the ownership trading hands as various businesses tried their hand – and the building stood unused as plans were made to transform it into residential homes.
Those homes – sympathetically designed with art deco features and a high-end finish – are now ready for buyers to buy off-plan, and live in their own little piece of local history. The apartments are stunning, and there’s a certain thrill which comes from living within such a fondly loved landmark on the Luton scene; a much loved building which embodies such a fine example of 1930s architecture, beautifully preserved and re-imagined as starter homes, family homes and a base for young professionals to begin their adventures on the property ladder.
The area around Gordon Street, in the heart of Luton, has been undergoing a rejuvenation for some time, with tired store fronts being replaced with vibrant new boutiques, restaurants and bars, bringing life and community back into the centre of Luton for locals and visitors to enjoy. This vibrancy is a fine reminder of the bustle the area will have had in the early days of the iconic art-deco building, with the tall, elegant windows looking out on an active and exciting part of town. This vibrancy is key to the development, which was careful to maintain the original charm of the building, to enhance the beauty of this popular part of Luton, and the homes within are sure to be snapped up and popular both with those who grew up in the area, and long wished for a lasting investment into the building, to protect it from demolition, and those who are looking for affordable homes in commuting distance to London – a train journey of less than 30 minutes.
When such well-loved buildings are developed people reminisce about the history of the area – and many happy memories have shaped the design; the homes within mean that the beautiful building can continue to form a part of local history, and house the stories of love, life and family for many more years to come.
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