Architectural Discourse

NOTES: Tecton were responsible for the masterplan, which was given Town Planning consent in 1948, and Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin were responsible for its development and execution.

NOTES: Designed by Tecton in parallel with the Spa Green Estate, Priory Green was actually completed somewhat later by Skinner Bailey & Lubetkin in 1943-1957. This, the original design, part of a larger plan conceived before the war in 1937, was modified to take account of the changed post-war situation. The site, which originally was very small, was enlarged by bomb damage but at the same time the Council's housing fund suffered from cuts in government subsidies and Priory Green was denied the money available to the development at Spa Green. Rosebery Avenue opened in 1949 and the first stage of the estate was completed in 1952 consisting of 269 flats in the two eight-storey blocks and the four four-storey blocks. The third eight-storey block, community centre and public house were completed c. 1955. The scheme as first conceived was part of a unified programme that it was hoped would transform Finsbury and alleviate its appalling housing and social problems. The coherence of the strategy, however, was destroyed by changes in personnel in the Council and by post-war austerity.

NOTES: Tecton were responsible for the masterplan, which was given Town Planning consent in 1948, and Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin were responsible for its development and execution.

NOTES: This drawing dates from between 1951 and 1953. The Usk Street estate featured 'cluster blocks' of housing. See RIBA92600 for an uncropped version of this image

NOTES: The Alton Estate is situated between Putney Heath and Richmond Park in south-west London. The smaller south-east part, Alton East, was built in 1952-1955, while the much larger north-west part, Alton West, was built in 1955-1959.

NOTES: The Alton Estate is situated between Putney Heath and Richmond Park in south-west London. The smaller south-east part, Alton East, was built in 1952-1955, while the much larger north-west part, Alton West, was built in 1955-1959.

NOTES: Walter Segal oversaw with Jon Broome the construction of 13 double storey self-build houses in Walter's Way, Honor Oak Park, Lewisham between 1985-1987. Segal can be seen in this photograph standing fourth from the left, holding a portfolio.

NOTES: Walter Segal oversaw with Jon Broome the construction of 13 double storey self-build houses in Walter's Way, Honor Oak Park, Lewisham between 1985-1987.

NOTES: The Brunswick Close project was approved in 1956 and consisted of three 12-storey towers (Brunswick, Emberton and Wycliff Courts).

NOTES: The King Square project was approved in 1961 and consisted of one 20-storey tower (Turnpike House) and one 17-storey tower (Rahere House).

NOTES: The church of St Clement, King Square, was built in 1826 by Thomas Hardwick and was previously as St Barnabas. The King Square project was approved in 1961 and consisted of one 20-storey tower (Turnpike House) and one 17-storey tower (Rahere House).

NOTES: The Brunswick Close project was approved in 1956 and consisted of three 12-storey towers (Brunswick, Emberton and Wycliff Courts).

NOTES: This image is one of a number illustrating designs for concrete crosswall constructions. Berthold Lubetkin's initial designs for The Priory Green Estate (originally known as the Busaco Street Estate) date from 1937 while he was part of the Tecton Group. The outbreak of World War II delayed the project however and work on the redesigned estate resumed in 1943 with the scheme reaching completion in 1957.

NOTES: This prefabricated steel-framed house was designed by Grey Wornum and Richard Sheppard in the early 1940s and was manufactured by Keyhouse Unibuilt. This example never went beyond its prototype stage.

NOTES: F.R.S. Yorke was the consulting architect for this factory-made steel-clad house commissioned by the Ministry of Works. The house derived its name from Baron Portal, of Laverstoke in the County of Southampton (later Viscount Portal), who served as Minister of Works during World War II.

NOTES: Haus Scherk was built for the perfume manufacture and patron of young, avant-garde architects, Ludwig Scherk.

NOTES: The Alton Estate is situated between Putney Heath and Richmond Park in south-west London. The smaller south-east part, Alton East, was built in 1952-1955, while the much larger north-west part, Alton West, was built in 1955-1959.

NOTES: This village school replaced one that had been bombed and was built with the help of unrepatriated prisoners of war. Part of the Hertfordshire County Council pioneering school-building programme, it is one of its earliest schools to be completed after World War II. Bill Henderson and Dan Lacey were the job architects.