UPDATE 25/4/18: I’m not convinced the programme makers have correctly described the layout of the “scissor” flats in this block. If you live there or know someone who does please leave a comment underneath this article.
BBC/Oxford Film and Television/Lorian Reed-Drake
“I want to discover how the high-rise flat became the answer to Britain’s post-war housing crisis and why this modern way of living became loathed and loved in almost equal measure”
In weeks gone by the series has looked at the Medieval cottage and then the C19th terraced house. This week the final part takes us firmly into the C20th with concrete rather than brick construction and multi-storey towers replacing houses with gardens.
On Youtube here The Flat
269 Leigham Court Road – sheltered housing under threat
May 25th, 2016
Once again I find myself reading an important piece about social housing under threat, this time in Streatham, which needs wider publicity but instead is tucked away on a private discussion group. So I’m giving it a wider view at risk of copyright violation. I’d like to make it clear that what follows was not written by me but I agree with it as written and trust the judgement of the author.
This is 269 Leigham Court Road in Streatham, currently sheltered housing, with 45 flats that are home to 50 residents, all over the age of 60, all on secure tenancies. Despite being designed by architect Kate Macintosh specifically to house elderly people, a duty it has performed since 1975, in January 2013 Lambeth Council suddenly declared the estate ‘unfit for purpose’, told residents that it was too expensive to do the repairs and maintenance they had neglected for years, and declared the site was to be ‘sold as cleared land.’
BBC/Oxford Film and Television/Lorian Reed-Drake
“I want to discover what made the terrace Britains home of choice and why they’re still as devoted to these houses as their first inhabitants were well over a century ago.”
This week’s programme examines the development of the terraced house in the Liverpool district of Toxteth during the 19th century. As the city grew as a port, its population expanded both with the rural exodus and the influx of Irish migrants fleeing the potato famine.
On Youtube here The Terrace
BBC/Oxford Film and Television/Lorian Reed-Drake
“I want to go beyond masonry and mortar and come face to face with residents past and present, I want to understand how they lived and how they transformed buildings into homes.”
In a remarkable programme lasting just one hour Dan Cruickshank traces the development of a Warwickshire village beginning with its entry in the Domesday Book then through 500 years of history to the present day, studying in great detail the transformation of Medieval cottage life to the home comforts we have come to know by way of the chimney stack, glass windows and separate rooms for different functions.
On Youtube here The Cottage
In defence of Council Housing – Guardian
February 12th, 2016
Just seen a comment in the Guardian underneath an article about owners who decorate their homes artistically.
A troll calling themselves FloodZilla jumps in and complains about the “wealth” of these tenants and is then shot down in flames by the poster below. Wonderful!
Where we live now – 2016 uploads
January 5th, 2016
This post is redundant and forwards to a new article.
At Home with the British (Home from Home) – BBC4
December 16th, 2015
Please be aware this article is out of date and has been superseded by these three:-
Dan Cruickshank: At Home With The British – Pt3 – BBC4 – preview
Dan Cruickshank: At Home With The British – Pt2 – BBC4 – preview
Dan Cruickshank: At Home With The British – Pt1 – BBC4 – preview
RIBA Exhibition – click link for details
If you choose to read on be aware what follows is information I found while trying to find out about the programme before it was broadcast.
UPDATE 2nd May: Stoneleigh
At the beginning of August it began to unfold: the BBC was interested in using Stoneleigh as the basis for a programme on domestic architecture. A series called Home from Home [At Home with the British], presented by Dan Cruickshank and made in collaboration with [the] RIBA, will be aired on BBC 4 in the New Year and charts the architectural development and social history of three typical British house types – the cottage, the terraced house and the flat.
Over the past eight weeks the director, presenter and researcher have made many visits to Stoneleigh finding out about the village’s history and its past connection to the Abbey. Very many houses have been visited and as this goes to press filming will begin at the Food Beer and Craft Market, at the Club and at the Abbey itself. It already seems that everyone you bump into has chatted to them at some point! It will be interesting to see how the project progresses; watch this space!
http://www.stoneleighvillage.org.uk
Stoneleigh is a Warwickshire village close to Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Warwick and less than 4 miles from the centre of Coventry.There are 68 listed buildings in Stoneleigh.
One Ellesmere St Manchester has started on site
December 16th, 2015
Neave Brown at the Barbican – 23rd July 2015
August 30th, 2015
Click image for audio and see Tweet
https://twitter.com/mossbat/status/632087473024311297
If you want to skip the introductions the interview proper starts at 9m20s in.
Heard through @municipaldreams
Modernism – Collectaholics S2 E1 – BBC
April 30th, 2015
Click image to watch
A clip I found by accident while changing channels on the TV one morning. A quick precis of 1950s architecture.
“Certainly for me understanding more about the history behind this architecture has given me a deeper appreciation and respect for their vision of a brighter tomorrow” – Jasmine Harman