Rootes’ infamous sculpture officially granted ‘listed building’ status

That weird, random red sculpture outside the old Rootes accodomation has recently been awarded with a listed building status.

It means the sculpture is now a recognised and safeguarded piece of art by Historic England and can look forward to official protection from the government.

I guess that means all chance of using it as a climbing frame while drunkenly stumbling to Pop is out of the question.

Actually called “3B Series 1 Sculpture” by German born artist,Bernard Schottlander, this sculpture was designed alongside a number of other sculptures to revitalise public spaces after the Second World War – hence the bright red colour.

These particular sculptures were designed to bring life back into housing estates, shopping centres, schools and also universities.

It was in 1968 that the sculpture moved to Warwick after the university’s architect of the time, Eugene Rosenberg, was granted a £1500 grant from the Art’s Council to buy the sculpture for the area just near Rootes accommodation.

As you’ll all know the sculpture is made up of random cylinders, squares and circular shapes, however when viewing the statue from certain angles, it is said to spell the word “toil” – meaning hard and continuous work.

Curator of the Mead Gallery, Sarah Shalgosky, at the University of Warwick said: “The sculpture has been listed by English Heritage in recognition of a time when architects and artists worked together to try to communicate a vision of a new world after their experiences in the war.”

So maybe next time you and your flatmates want to try and climb to the top when drunk, just remember this sculpture is now slightly more important than just a stupid red block in the middle of Rootes.