Watkin’s ‘Morality and Architecture’ (1977) is still fairly well known, although I suspect it's starting to lose currency. It has been described as a ‘polemic’. Its most favourable reading—its best hope, even—is as a call for some space for the practice of the traditional in architecture, and beyond that, for architectural aesthetics to recover priority. … Continue reading Arguments for tradition in architecture: 2
Arguments for tradition in architecture: 1
‘Aesthetics of Architecture’ (Scruton, 1979) is presented as an introduction to “the subject of aesthetics [for] those who have an interest in architecture”. It also advances a theory of aesthetics, where the designer’s stylistic choices are connected to individual flourishing; some stylistic choices, it is argued, will support such flourishing while others will hinder it. … Continue reading Arguments for tradition in architecture: 1
Dog legs
The urban 'dog leg' is an under-used arrangement, I reckon. Here's a nice one in Durand Gardens, Stockwell: note the house wedged into the angle. It's a delight to walk around this corner: there is some rat running but the acute change in direction does seem to deter drivers. And the people at Space Syntax insist that their urban … Continue reading Dog legs
Style and politics
Gavin Stamp’s recent death – noted here and here - made me think about something he said when I was a student of his at the Mackintosh School in the early 90s. He showed the class a slide of Paul Troost’s Ehrentempeln and said (words to the effect of): ‘this is compelling architecture; don’t reject … Continue reading Style and politics
Building in the green belt: 3
One archetype of desirable urban life is found in the urban village. This conception of place in the city owes much to Jane Jacobs but is also seen in i.e. Abercrombie's 1943 analysis of London's neighbourhoods. The urban village typically has two faces: the high street face, and the 'countryside', or park face. I argue that both are fundamental. Ideally, … Continue reading Building in the green belt: 3
Building in the green belt: 2
The challenge of building in the green belt is typological: we may know that we want to live there, but in what sort of dwelling? The promise of living at the city edge is space: traditionally this has meant houses; detached or semi-detached, each with a private garden. The price of this model is low … Continue reading Building in the green belt: 2
Building in the green belt: 1
This is a post in two parts. In this first part, I'll set out some reasons for considering green belt development. In the second part, which will follow (eventually), I'll describe a test case proposal for a specific green belt site. Introduction People have made good arguments for developing some of London’s green belt as housing. … Continue reading Building in the green belt: 1
We have acquired a taste for fresh air and clear daylight
I recently went to see a new housing development in Whitechapel: Darbishire Place, by Niall McLaughlin architects, for the housing association Peabody. Darbishire Place is named for the architect of a collection of 1881 apartment buildings amongst which the new development stands: it replaces a block that was lost to wartime bomb damage. The new building … Continue reading We have acquired a taste for fresh air and clear daylight
The Mosesification of East London
Poplar is an interesting district. It has both Robin Hood Gardens (under threat of demolition) and Goldfinger's Balfron Tower, sister to the Trellick Tower in North Kensington (and currently undergoing a deeply controversial renovation which will displace all of its existing residents, some of them permanently). Poplar also has the Blackwall Tunnel (Northern Approach), the A13 and … Continue reading The Mosesification of East London
Self-build policy changes in the UK
The UK's coalition government has made some policy changes in favour of self-build. You can see an overview of the changes here. One key change is full exemption from any sort of charge for infrastructure (i.e. the 'Community Infrastructure Levy') as discussed in my last post, on the former Olympics site in Stratford. More information … Continue reading Self-build policy changes in the UK
Groupbuilding 