ASH design proposals for West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates

In response to the question addressed to ASH by the Architect’s Journal, there are many ways in ASH’s design proposals for the West Kensington & Gibbs Green People’s Plan are better than Capco’s masterplan, the primary and overriding one being that the residents, many of whom have lived here all their lives, will be able to remain … Continue reading ASH design proposals for West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates

Memorials of Forgetting: Art and Architecture in Berlin

‘To articulate the past historically does not mean to recognise it “the way it really was”. It means to seize hold of a memory as it flashes up at a moment of danger. Historical materialism wishes to retain that image of the past which unexpectedly appears to man singled out by history at a moment … Continue reading Memorials of Forgetting: Art and Architecture in Berlin

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: Inequality, Housing, Renting, Evictions, Homelessness and House Prices

We’ve been compiling these statistics over the past two years and longer, and we try to keep them updated as often as possible as things grow rapidly worse; but any corrections will be investigated, and any new additions that can be substantiated are welcome. The conclusions we draw from them are our own, but will … Continue reading Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: Inequality, Housing, Renting, Evictions, Homelessness and House Prices

Marzahn: The Place Myths of Social Housing

‘East of Lichtenberg is Marzahn-Hellesdorf, a late-1970s satellite town and perhaps Berlin’s least obvious sightseeing destination. Silo-like apartment blocks and soulless shopping precincts stretch for miles out towards the edge of the city in what has to be one of the most desolate of the city’s boroughs. However, this is Berlin for tens of thousands … Continue reading Marzahn: The Place Myths of Social Housing

In Defence of Our Homes: The Art of Resistance

The Social Production of Art In his conference paper The Author as Producer, which he delivered in 1934 at the Institute for the Study of Fascism in Paris, the German critic Walter Benjamin argued that the political tendency of a work of art is not determined by the author’s personal ‘attitude’ towards the social relations of the time, but by the place … Continue reading In Defence of Our Homes: The Art of Resistance

Macintosh Court: Open Garden Estates 2016

Macintosh Court residents and campaigners with Architect Kate Macintosh (second from right), celebrating their victory at Open Garden Estates this weekend with blue plaques of the newly named estate by ASH member Senaka Weeraman. 269 Leigham Court Road in Streatham is purpose built sheltered housing, with 45 flats that are currently home to 50 residents, all over the … Continue reading Macintosh Court: Open Garden Estates 2016

Open Garden Estates 2016

Open Garden Estates is an initiative by Architects for Social Housing (ASH), a collective working to save London council estates under threat of demolition from Government housing policy, the Mayor’s building programme, local authority estate regeneration schemes and property developers. Last year, Open Garden Estates was hosted by three council estates: Cressingham Gardens, designed by Ted Hollamby; … Continue reading Open Garden Estates 2016

The Seven Stages of Regeneration

1. Shock & Disbelief What! Why would they want to knock down our homes? That’s crazy! I don’t believe it! There’s no point frightening people for no reason. It’s just trouble-makers spreading lies. 2. Denial & Excuses This isn’t happening! There’s no way they’d do this! They’re the council, for Christ’s sake, they work for … Continue reading The Seven Stages of Regeneration

Bleak House: Open letter from Architects for Social Housing to Lambeth Legal Services

  Your Ref: LS/H/ADV/AM Our Ref: ASH 8 June 2016 Ms. Alison McKane Lambeth Legal Services Dear Ms. McKane I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26 May 2016 regarding Lambeth Labour Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 9 May 2016, which was called by Green Party Councillor Scott Ainslie to review the Cabinet … Continue reading Bleak House: Open letter from Architects for Social Housing to Lambeth Legal Services