The London Council Flat Through Triumph and Tragedy Open Access

Abstract

The recent tragedy at Grenfell Tower launched an international debate around public housing architecture, one that is steeped in a rich history of social, political, and architectural precedent. This thesis analyzes the architectural history of London council flat architecture through the three examples of Boundary Street Estate, Robin Hood Gardens, and Grenfell Tower to uncover how we got to this point in design. Each of the three examples serves as a pivotal point in the trajectory of council flat design. Boundary Street Estate serves as the first iteration of the council flat estate, one that is integrated within the fabric of the city through communication with the street. Robin Hood Gardens, designed by Alison and Peter Smithson, marks a turning point in which council flats move away from the street and toward a streets-in-the-sky program. Grenfell Tower represents the tower block design widely used today in council flat architecture and provides a tragic cautionary tale in which to reflect on the built realities of these designs. Together, these examples provide a basis to analyze council flats through architecture and built context within the city of London. This thesis explores these designs through plans, maps, and written architectural theories surrounding the buildings. The primary goal is to answer the questions: how did we get here and where do we go from here?

Table of Contents

The London Council Flat Through Triumph and Tragedy.............................................................01

1900: From the Slums of Bethnal Green to the Prince as a Landlord............................................04

1972: The Slab...............................................................................................................................09

1974: The Rise of the Tower Block................................................................................................27

From the Humble to the Monumental: Where Do We Go from Here?...........................................31

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Art History
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Art History Architecture
Keyword	London Public Housing Brutalism
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Crawford, Christina, Emory University
Committee Members	Amdur, Kathryn, Emory University Cronan, Todd, Emory University

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