THE owner of a house with a 25ft shark plunging through its roof has told of his disappointment after losing a fierce battle with the council.
Magnus Hanson-Heine, 34, had condemned a council-backed bid to list the Headington Shark on the Oxford Asset Heritage Register.
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The quantum chemist said the listing went against everything the “disruptive” artwork, built in protest against authorities, stood for.
But despite his vehement objection, Oxford City councillors unanimously approved the addition this week – leaving Magnus only with a “sculpture on display”.
“It’s a shame they still haven’t got the point of the art work,” Magnus told The Sun Online.
“I’m incredibly disappointed and irritated at how the council handled it.
“They’ve come from a place of ignorance and undermined a beautiful and important part of the city.”
Magnus, who rents out the Shark House in Oxford to guests on Airbnb, inherited the landmark from his late dad Bill, who commissioned it without planning permission in 1986.
The huge fibreglass and steel fish was installed in secret to protest against censorship, state warfare and planning restrictions, resulting in a six-year-long battle to keep the sculpture up.
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But despite attracting hundreds of visitors every year since, Magnus has vowed to keep it from state control, fighting to keep his dad’s legacy alive and protect what the artwork stands for.
“It’s important people know that and get a voice,” he explained.
“Especially when it comes to artwork which is meant to challenge authority and make people think.
“You can’t have that controlled by the government, local or otherwise.”
He added the council has handled his case in “a dismissive way” which has “not preserved [the Shark] at all”.
And he said after “30 odd years”, it’s “a shame the message is still not clear”.
The council says inclusion of a building or place on the Oxford Heritage Asset Register places “no additional legal requirements or responsibilities on property owners over and above those already required for planning permission or building regulation approval”.
It can, however, help to influence planning decisions in a way that “conserves and enhances local character” and will be “a material consideration in planning decisions that directly affect them or their setting”.
But Magnus says such control has “damaged the message and spirit that was intended” behind the anti-authoritarian art.
And he added: “This is about power.
“How power goes to people’s heads and leads to destructive decisions.
“That message is more relevant today than ever.”
A spokesperson for Oxford City Council said: “The Headington Shark was nominated for inclusion on the Oxford Heritage Asset Register by a member of the public and voted for by members of the public.
“A significant majority of responses were in favour of the Headington Shark joining the register.
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“We contacted the owners of all buildings, structures and places nominated and invited them to submit their views on the nominations as part of the public consultation process.
“A report was provided to the Council’s Planning Committee summarising the responses received as part of the public consultation, with a recommendation from Officers as to whether each nomination meets the criteria required for it to be included on the Register.
“The Planning Committee then decided whether the asset should be adopted or rejected.”
Asked whether he will fight to get the Shark off the register, Magnus said: “I’m not ruling anything out, I’m going to consider what my options are.”
You can read more about Headington Shark House here.
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