Author: Simon Elmer

Stand Up To Labour: The Denials of Momentum

Chapter I And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, who said unto him: ‘Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.’ And he went out, and wept bitterly. – Matthew, 26: 75 On 28 September, at the Labour Party Conference 2016, Jeremy Corbyn, the twice elected and now undisputed Leader of the Labour Party, declared to his audience … Continue reading Stand Up To Labour: The Denials of Momentum

Stirling Prize Protest 2016: From the Heygate to the Aylesbury

‘This year’s Stirling Prize list is safe. There is nothing that is going to upset anyone on there and it’s unlikely we’ll see protesters gathering outside Portland Place like last year, when Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ NEO Bankside made the list.’ – Laura Mark, The Architects’ Journal It’s that time of year again, when … Continue reading Stirling Prize Protest 2016: From the Heygate to the Aylesbury

The Working Class Strikes Back

These photographs, documenting three years of protests, marches, demonstrations and occupations in London, were exhibited as part of Resist: A Festival of Ideas and Action, held at the London School of Economics and Political Science from 28-30 September, 2016. June 2015, protesters gate-crash the first open day of Lend Lease’s Elephant Park Experience Suite, which they scatter … Continue reading The Working Class Strikes Back

The Housing Question, 1872-2016

The so-called housing shortage, which plays such a main role in the media nowadays, does not consist of the fact that the working class generally lives in bad, overcrowded and unhealthy dwellings. This general shortage in housing is not something particular to the present moment; it is not even one of the sufferings particular to the … Continue reading The Housing Question, 1872-2016

Reflections on the Outcome of the Public Inquiry into the Aylesbury Estate Compulsory Purchase Order

Refurbishment versus Demolition and Rebuild As an independent academic witness at the Public Inquiry into the Aylesbury Estate Compulsory Purchase Order (held on 28 April-1 May, 12 May, and 13–14 October, 2015), a key aspect of the evidence I gave was based on a study of the documents circulated to the meeting of the Executive Committee of … Continue reading Reflections on the Outcome of the Public Inquiry into the Aylesbury Estate Compulsory Purchase Order

O. J. Simpson Prize 2016

Trafalgar Place Plinths for a Prize Effects of the Built Environment Connecting with the Local Community People Who Don’t Live There Ghosts of the Heygate Estate Please join us for the presentation ceremony at 6pm on Thursday, 6 October, at the Royal Institute of British Architects, as part of the ASH Stirling Prize Protest. Architects … Continue reading O. J. Simpson Prize 2016

The Guinness Partnership: Letter from a resident of Northwold Estate

‘Everyone has the right to respect for her private and family life, her home and her correspondence.’ – Article 8, European Convention on Human Rights, Human Rights Act 1998 Adrian Mitchell Senior Development Manager The Guinness Partnership Bower House 1 Stable Street Hollinwood Oldham OL9 7LH 8 August 2016 Dear Adrian, It was good to meet … Continue reading The Guinness Partnership: Letter from a resident of Northwold Estate

Deliverability of the ASH proposal on Central Hill: ASH response to Lambeth Labour Council

Fiona Cliffe Capital Programme Manager 24 June 2016 Introduction ‘Following the February 2016 Resident Engagement Panel (REP) meeting the Council has sort to establish a constructive dialogue with Architects for Social Housing (ASH) so their proposals for Central Hill could be considered.’ ‘The Council has now had the chance to review the ASH proposal and … Continue reading Deliverability of the ASH proposal on Central Hill: ASH response to Lambeth Labour Council

ASH meeting with the RIBA

This week Architects for Social Housing met with Adrian Dobson, Executive Director for Members, and Maxine Mckenzie, Executive Director of Communications, to discuss ASH’s protest against the RIBA’s nomination of Trafalgar Place for this year’s Stirling Prize. First of all we got security out of the way. We asked them to speak to the police and … Continue reading ASH meeting with the RIBA