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
Open for Business
‘And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.’ — Revelation, 17: 18 She’s spread her legs, Pulled up her skirt and pulled down her knickers. She’s giving me that ‘come-hither’ look, Her wet tongue pressed against white teeth, Just like in the website photos. A menu of … Continue reading Open for Business
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
Homelessness is a Political Environment: Vancouver Tent City
Vancouver’s Longest Running Tent City: A Year in Review Architects for Social Housing
100 Block of East Hastings Street Rally, Vancouver
Downtown Eastside Community Vision for the 100 Block of East Hastings Street History of the Balmoral and Regent hotels and their slum landlords, the Sahota family Architects for Social Housing
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
Bibliography for a Socialist Architecture: Pollyanna 圖書館 Library, Vancouver
As part of ASH’s residency at the 221A Gallery in Vancouver, the Pollyanna 圖書館 Library asked us to provide a bibliography of books to add to their collection that provide a written context to the four workshops we will be holding on the principles and practices of a socialist architecture. This is what we came up … Continue reading Bibliography for a Socialist Architecture: Pollyanna 圖書館 Library, Vancouver
Holy Island
‘He therefore prepared to attack the Island of Mona.’ – Tacitus, Annals, XIV: 29 Understanding the struggle of Britons Against their Roman occupiers From the annals of Ancient writers, Is like reading of the resistance Of Londoners to their eviction In the pages of the British Press: Beyond the justice of the rulers, And the … Continue reading Holy Island
A Communist in Hong Kong 