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Brixton news, rumours and general chat - September 2012

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Gniewosz said:
Lambeth council is considering the demolition of Cressingham Gardens next to Brockwell Park and build even more flats on the site to raise cash for the council. Tenants will be relocated and private leaseholders and freeholders (27% of the estate) will be evicted under Compulsory Purchase Orders.
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They are spectacularly ugly, so my initial thought was that it isn't exactly a loss to South London architecture. But can they really just move everyone? Temporary relocation and then move them back into something that has a less of a wet-concrete vibe, fair enough- but just move everyone? Take houses off people (where on earth are they supposed to move to? At least someone will relocate social tenants, private renters, leaseholders etc are in proper trouble)

Possibly naively, I didn't think that sort of social engineering was possible outside, well, the USSR
 
Manter said:
They are spectacularly ugly, so my initial thought was that it isn't exactly a loss to South London architecture. But can they really just move everyone? Temporary relocation and then move them back into something that has a less of a wet-concrete vibe, fair enough- but just move everyone? Take houses off people (where on earth are they supposed to move to? At least someone will relocate social tenants, private renters, leaseholders etc are in proper trouble)

Possibly naively, I didn't think that sort of social engineering was possible outside, well, the USSR
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They did it around the corner at the Guinness Estate:
http://www.urban75.org/blog/guinness-trust-somerleyton-rd-brixton-fights-the-landlords/
 
Manter said:
They are spectacularly ugly, so my initial thought was that it isn't exactly a loss to South London architecture. But can they really just move everyone? Temporary relocation and then move them back into something that has a less of a wet-concrete vibe, fair enough- but just move everyone? Take houses off people (where on earth are they supposed to move to? At least someone will relocate social tenants, private renters, leaseholders etc are in proper trouble)

Possibly naively, I didn't think that sort of social engineering was possible outside, well, the USSR
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Ugly compared to what? Have you seen the Tulse Hill Estate, not from the road, but from the front doors of the tenants, which face carparks and bins? Or do you prefer the redbrick barrack vibe? :mad:
 
Greebo said:
Ugly compared to what? Have you seen the Tulse Hill Estate, not from the road, but from the front doors of the tenants, which face carparks and bins? Or do you prefer the redbrick barrack vibe? :mad:
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Don't mean to be bolshie, but something else being more ugly doesn't mean they aren't ugly!
Why can't they build something beautiful instead? Something that will make the residents smile as they get home? With daylight, security, decent lighting, green spaces... wildly utopian, I know, but it has been done elsewhere in Europe- and not just by our progressive Northern Cousins either. Social housing in Zaragoza, Marbella and Malaga is really striking, sustainable and exciting- somewhere you'd be proud to live, not fifties correctional institute or cheap provincial office building, which seems to be the British aesthetic.
 
Manter said:
Don't mean to be bolshie, but something else being more ugly doesn't mean they aren't ugly!
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Sweetie you're so damn shallow. Even if you don't like the look of those buildings, that doesn't mean they're a nightmare to live in. I hate the look of the Barbican, but longterm residents and tenants are very happy with the flats there.

The same goes for Cressingham Gardens Estate.
 
Crispy said:
My (ex-council) house is pretty ugly from the outside, but it's well-built, spacious and warm. These things are 10x as important as the external appearance, IMO.
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My last house was ex council- and I agree with you to an extent. But also spent 5 years fighting a condensation problem caused by concrete and single-skin brick walls, so forgive me a eye-brow raise at the well built bit. And I never understood why a building can't be spacious, well built, homely etc- and attractive.
 
Mine's got cavity walls, as has the Cressingham estate (as far as I can tell from the outside, anyway. disclaimer: I'm an architect)

The answer to your question "Why can't..." is long and depressing :(
 
Greebo said:
Sweetie you're so damn shallow. Even if you don't like the look of those buildings, that doesn't mean they're a nightmare to live in. I hate the look of the Barbican, but longterm residents and tenants are very happy with the flats there.

The same goes for Cressingham Gardens Estate.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying pretty is more important than warm, spacious etc- I'm not Prince Charles- but why is ugly a virtue? And why does expressing a desire for beauty make me shallow? If you go back to my orig point- I said my gut reaction was that they were ugly but I was appalled people could just be thrown out of their houses. That stands
 
Crispy said:
Mine's got cavity walls, as has the Cressingham estate (as far as I can tell from the outside, anyway. disclaimer: I'm an architect)

The answer to your question "Why can't..." is long and depressing :(
Click to expand...

You bought more sensibly than I did then....
 
Manter said:
I'm not saying pretty is more important than warm, spacious etc- I'm not Prince Charles- but why is ugly a virtue? And why does expressing a desire for beauty make me shallow? If you go back to my orig point- I said my gut reaction was that they were ugly but I was appalled people could just be thrown out of their houses. That stands
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Believe you me, this estate is more beautiful and topographically interesting (at least from the paths along the middle of it) than Brockwell Gate which BTW is all fur coat an no knickers as far as room size and construction is concerned.
 
editor said:
The selling off of council houses was an unforgivable crime.
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Was, and is, but this flat hasn't been sold off yet. Nor have any others of the ones here still council-rented and lived in.
 
Manter said:
I'm not saying pretty is more important than warm, spacious etc- I'm not Prince Charles- but why is ugly a virtue? And why does expressing a desire for beauty make me shallow? If you go back to my orig point- I said my gut reaction was that they were ugly but I was appalled people could just be thrown out of their houses. That stands
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Can you show us some examples of what you think is pretty please?
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
Can you show us some examples of what you think is pretty please?
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Pretty? Or a striking example of social housing done well?

It's taste territory- these (in the link) are sustainable, low cost to run, striking and bold, built with materials and styles that are suitable for the local environment and with infrastructure and facilities built in. They are also wildly unsuitable for the UK (which is OK as they are in Spain)
http://www.dezeen.com/2009/12/22/68-social-housing-by-magen-arquitectos/

This is pretty, but pretty irrelevant to a discussion about Brixton
http://mrspeeksfarmhouse.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/i-wanna-live-here.html
 
Manter said:
Pretty? Or a striking example of social housing done well?

It's taste territory- these (in the link) are sustainable, low cost to run, striking and bold, built with materials and styles that are suitable for the local environment and with infrastructure and facilities built in. They are also wildly unsuitable for the UK (which is OK as they are in Spain)
http://www.dezeen.com/2009/12/22/68-social-housing-by-magen-arquitectos/

This is pretty, but pretty irrelevant to a discussion about Brixton
http://mrspeeksfarmhouse.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/i-wanna-live-here.html
Click to expand...

Beauty's in the eye of the beholder cos I think those top ones are hideous :eek:
 
I really like the BedZed houses. Very clever interleaving of housing types, excellent energy efficiency and attractive too :)

800px-BedZED_2007.jpg
 
nipsla said:
Beauty's in the eye of the beholder cos I think those top ones are hideous :eek:
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As I said, taste territory. But (IMO) they are amazing- Outside they sweep across the hillside, with the sun glinting on the building and the reflective panels coloured by reflections of the sky. Inside they are cool and quiet, and the inner courtyards have been planted with grape vines and climbing plants, so it is a little oasis. the internal courtyard and screens reflect traditional Spanish (Islamic) buildings, while being award-winningly sustainable. But sure, in the architectural pictures, it all looks a bit grey. And imagine how dreadful they would be in the rain with lambeth recycling sacks piled up round the doorways...
 
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