RICS says pre-fab homes may be the answer
January 23rd, 2013
UPDATE: 20/2/13 Here’s a better version of the graph -> RICS_graph
This graph is topical at the moment, Social Housing Watch have published a timeline of the history of social housing and although not included, this graph, first published two years ago by RICS, is relevant since it shows the end of local authority council house building in the early 1990s.
http://www.economicvoice.com/rics-says-pre-fab-homes-may-be-the-answer
“It’s actually a kitchen by itself”
January 7th, 2013
“It’s actually a kitchen by itself” exclaimed the delightful Krystle as she stood in the 1000 sq ft Forest Hill ground floor flat and looked around her at the space.
“We could put a table in here” said Sam thus proving once again, if it needs proving, that separate kitchens with space for a table are a practical necessity welcomed by buyers and shouldn’t be a sought after luxury omitted by greedy developers unwilling to build walls in modern flats.
How to make a documentary – Fifties War Films:Days of Glory
January 2nd, 2013
Simon Heffer is a man in love with his subject. This personal documentary sets the standard by which future documentaries ought be made and stands head and shoulders above many lesser films of recent years.
It is a personal journey through the war films of his youth which dramatised the events of the Second World War and made stars of the actors involved reminding us of the heroism of those they portrayed.
Top 30 hits of 2012
December 20th, 2012
Top 10 hits
| Title | Hits |
| Parker Morris | 2320 |
| Home Page | 1835 |
| High Rise Dreams | 1653 |
| Density | 1146 |
| Crap Flats | 973 |
| Scissor Maisonettes | 835 |
| Dawson Heights | 657 |
| Park Hill – Urban Splash | 631 |
| Woods House | 627 |
| Typology | 592 |
Merry Christmas to all my readers
December 16th, 2012
I would like to wish my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and if you are not of the Christian faith then simply to wish you the compliments of the season.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those of you have written to me over the last year and especially those whom I have met via and corresponded with on Twitter.
Sorry, limited film downloads
December 11th, 2012
I’ve been hosting various housing films here for some time in the interests of spreading the word about good housing from the past, but the free hosting space I found some months ago has shut down. As some of you know I do occasionally send out DVDs free of charge but this is very much ad hoc and I have to be convinced it’s to a worthy cause since it costs me a couple of quid each time to do so.
For the future then I can only suggest you write to the BBC, as I have done myself in the past, and ask them to run a housing season and reshow the ones on this blog which you can then record at home.
In the meantime I’m leaving City of Towers and High Rise Dreams
If anybody wants to donate their server space for films by all means drop me a line.
Forward to the 19th Century – 1 Ellesmere Street
November 28th, 2012
Always happy to follow policy, architects with an interest in sustainability are today proposing eco-back-to-backs as “affordable” housing. The housing form that John Burns opposed is re-imagined as the future for subsidised housing, crammed into expensive brownfield sites. (15) These homes will get planning permission. Architects will happily delude themselves that they are designing a double-density world devoted to an age of “eco-equality”. – Audacity
This weeks Architects Journal brings the unwelcome news of yet more modern back to backs passed for planning, this time in Manchester. A strong residents association in Hammersmith and Fulham successfully fought off a similar scheme by Peter Barber in the last couple of years at 282/292 Goldhawk Road but sadly a smaller version will be built in North Kensington and unless a similar group exists in Manchester these C19th dwellings will be built as designed.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/first-look/housing-goes-back-to-back-to-back/8639039.article (paywall)
Blog round up
November 9th, 2012
It’s been quite a fortnight, having rejoined Twitter following an absence of some months I’ve rediscovered the joys of being in touch and the UCL visit would never have happened without the relevant links so thanks for that.
The Anna Minton talk was very timely, tying in nicely with news about estates, their security, their demise, and their regeneration.
Top 10 downloads
November 9th, 2012
It’s Friday so something a bit more light hearted, a quick look at what have constituted the most popular downloads of late.
Carpenters Estate Newham – Guardian
November 8th, 2012
From the Comments:-
7 November 2012 5:46PM
Why are you so keen on defending this ridiculous practice of allowing social housing in premium areas?
Council houses were built with the view of allowing the working poor to have access to half-decent accommodation (as someone brought up in a Council house I know they are often only half-decent). People invest in what they believe to be ‘their community’, family life and social networks are built. People grow old there thinking they are near their family and friends and that will help as they go into their twilight years. This is one scenario of a community.