Fanum House, Office building headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom.
Fanum House is an office building in Basingstoke with 18 floors and a height of 83 meters, created in the early 1970s as the headquarters of the Automobile Association. The structure contains office spaces, a cafe, a shop, a learning center, and a theater hall positioned in the upper ground floor.
The Automobile Association built this headquarters in 1972, with Queen Elizabeth II performing the official opening ceremony in 1973. The building became a notable landmark that reflected the organization's significant role in British motoring.
The name comes from the Latin word fanum, meaning temple, and reflects how the Automobile Association saw itself as central to British motoring culture. Visitors can sense this reverence for the organization through the building's prominent position and careful design.
The building sits centrally in Basingstoke and is easy to spot because of its distinctive height and shape. Visitors should keep in mind that access to interior and upper areas may be limited depending on current use.
The building was the tallest in Basingstoke until 2009, when Skyline Plaza surpassed it. This shift marked a change in the city's growth pattern and shows how urban skylines can transform within decades.
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