Fanum House, Office building headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom.
Fanum House is a tall office building in the center of Basingstoke, England, rising 83 meters across 18 floors. The lower levels contain a cafe, a shop, a learning center, and a theater hall, while the upper floors are used as office space.
The Automobile Association completed the building in 1972 as its new headquarters, and Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it in 1973. For decades it stood as one of the most recognizable structures on the Basingstoke skyline.
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 is easy to find from most parts of central Basingstoke because it rises well above the surrounding area. Access to the upper floors and most interior spaces is generally restricted to those who work or have business there.
The name Fanum comes from the Latin word for temple, a choice that reflects how the Automobile Association viewed its own role in British motoring life. The building held the record as the tallest in Basingstoke until 2009, when Skyline Plaza overtook it.
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