Alison and Peter Smithson. Robin Hood Gardens, London. 1972.

Talk

Forgotten Estates

Monday 26 September 2016 6.30 - 8pm

The Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BS

£12, £6 concessions.

Sold out

Speakers debate how Britain’s post-war housing estates have become a battleground of differing political and architectural ideologies.

Due to demand, we are streaming this event live on our Facebook page. The video will be available afterward across our channels.

Built amid an outpouring of optimism and a firm belief in progress, Britain’s post-war housing estates have come to polarise opinions. To some observers, they stand for the common good and a collectivist response to providing quality housing for all; while for others, these estates represent an outdated urban and political order, and at their worst serve to exacerbate the problems of social deprivation they were designed to alleviate. But what is often forgotten in these debates is that for many people, an estate is simply where they live and the place they call home.

This event sees a panel of speakers explore the changing status of Britain’s post-war housing estates, as increasing numbers are threatened with redevelopment. The discussion will consider the ideals that created them and the legacies they have today as both places to live and as repositories of meaning and memory.

A particular focus of the event will be Robin Hood Gardens (completed 1972) by Alison and Peter Smithson, an internationally important example of the ‘New Brutalism’, which after years of neglect is facing imminent demolition despite campaigns to protect it.

Speakers include:

Jessie Brennan – Artist; author of Regeneration! Conversations, Drawings, Archives & Photographs from Robin Hood Gardens (2015)

Mark Crinson – Professor of Architectural History, Birkbeck, University of London

Owen Hopkins – Architecture Programme Curator, Royal Academy (chair)

Kate Macintosh – Architect, formerly of the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth, and East Sussex and Hampshire County Councils; designer of Dawson’s Heights, East Dulwich (1964–72)

Dr Paul Watt – Reader in Urban Studies, Birkbeck, University of London

Please note that in order to accommodate high demand for tickets, the venue for this event has been changed to the Royal Institution. We will therefore also be unable to hold a drinks reception after the discussion. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

£12, £6 concessions.

Sold out

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