Author: Simon Elmer

For a Socialist Architecture 2. Part 1. Environmental Principles

‘We want a say in how the resources are managed in our territory, to remind those who seek to benefit from them that they aren’t a commodity to be sold. Every resource is a part of the system. Each part that is taken out, or over-harvested, affects everything that depends on it. If we don’t … Continue reading For a Socialist Architecture 2. Part 1. Environmental Principles

For a Socialist Architecture 4. Part 2. Political Practices

In Part 1 of this presentation we looked at the political principles of a socialist architecture. In Part 2 I’m going to discuss the political practices through which ASH has implemented these principles in engaging with the political dimension of architecture. 1. The Political Economy of Housing Provision In this first diagram we have two … Continue reading For a Socialist Architecture 4. Part 2. Political Practices

For a Socialist Architecture 4. Part 1. Political Principles

1. The Realism of the Impossible Over the past couple of months I’ve been reading the poetry of Bertolt Brecht, and I’d like to start by quoting one of his poems. He wrote this poem in 1933, the year that Adolf Hitler became German Chancellor with 44 per cent of the vote — which with … Continue reading For a Socialist Architecture 4. Part 1. Political Principles

Stirling Prize Protest 2019: The Social Cleansing of Social Housing

Please join us on Tuesday, 8 October to protest: • Against the Royal Institute of British Architects’ nomination of the architecture of social cleansing, estate demolition and housing privatisation for the Stirling Prize; • Against the false promotion of council-owned commercial housing development and management companies as a so-called ‘renaissance in social housing’; • Against … Continue reading Stirling Prize Protest 2019: The Social Cleansing of Social Housing

The Smell of an Anarchist: The Aesthetics of Social Cleansing

1. False Gods: Demolishing the Past When Islamic State captured the ancient city of Palmyra in May 2015, antiquarians across the world held their breath. Dating back to the early Second Millenium BC, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a repository of temples, tombs and statues that its latest conquerors had demolished … Continue reading The Smell of an Anarchist: The Aesthetics of Social Cleansing

The Regeneration of Ham Close Estate. Part 2: For a Socialist Architecture

This case study continues on from The Regeneration of Ham Close. Part 1: What the Green Party has learned from Labour. In the first part of this case study I looked at the justifications given to me by Andree Frieze, the Green Party ward councillor for Ham, Petersham and Riverside Drive, for demolishing Ham Close … Continue reading The Regeneration of Ham Close Estate. Part 2: For a Socialist Architecture

The Regeneration of Ham Close Estate. Part 1: What the Green Party has learned from Labour

‘So much information and analysis here on the issue of social housing, starter homes, right-to-buy sell-offs and estate regeneration.’ – Andree Frieze, freelance journalist and Green Party candidate, Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside, on the reblog of ASH’s article Blitzkrieg! Sink Estates and Starter Homes in Action against Apathy (20 January 2016) ASH Facebook page, 26 … Continue reading The Regeneration of Ham Close Estate. Part 1: What the Green Party has learned from Labour