British Tower Blocks

[citybus]

Let me see if I understand this. The recessed flats are the only ones with a big balcony?

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by citybus

Let me see if I understand this. The recessed flats are the only ones with a big balcony?

Nope, no flats have anything other than a narrow balcony. Weirdly the broad ledges where the recesses are are inaccessible and not used (if you look only windows open onto them, not doors)



It's a weird design, really... I understand the logic was to break up the outline of the blocks a bit rather than any practical benefit to residents

[Shetland]

Originally Posted by Jegzo

Talking about northerly tower blocks, I was in Lerwick, Shetland a few months back and spotted at leas two of what I would call 'sawn off' tower blocks - the exterior was tower block shaped, the entrance lobby and landings looked tower block style, but they were only 4 storeys tall.

I stay in Shetland and will get you a few pics of our mini towers, because we have such high winds here our towers have to be small lol

I stayed in Bucklemaker Court, Dundee for a while, 22nd floor masionette style

[silentj]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

Nope, no flats have anything other than a narrow balcony. Weirdly the broad ledges where the recesses are are inaccessible and not used (if you look only windows open onto them, not doors)

It's a weird design, really... I understand the logic was to break up the outline of the blocks a bit rather than any practical benefit to residents

hmm, but the flats on the floors with the recesses are laid out differently, no?

seems the living rooms have the big long 'balconys' then every recess the living room is where the smaller 'balcony' is... something like the living rooms and bedrooms swap places on those floors?

[citybus]

An interesting block in Barking's Thamesview estate



A distinctive estate in West London's Brentford docks, which is practically an island beside the Thames and river Brent

[Core Rising]

The main blocks of the Ferrier Estate in South East London all now have massive green banners saying they will be demolished in early 2012. There is about half a dozen of them. I don't have any pic updates, but here is an example of what is going.

Originally Posted by SE9

[4737carlin]

Fender Heights on the Wirral, The middle of the 3 was demolished summer 2011, work underway in this shot, its all gone now. Wonder if the remaining two flats will follow?

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by citybus

A distinctive estate in West London's Brentford docks, which is practically an island beside the Thames and river Brent

Somewhat unusual in that despite appearances and era, it has always been 100% private

May as well take this opportunity to post a pic of the imposing Brentford Towers Estate, six point blocks in total:

image hosted on flickr


By portemolitor on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26357712@N03/6042115472/

Looming behind Griffin park (Brentford FC)

image hosted on flickr


By croydongas on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/croydongas/3970799421/

Quite intrusive into Kew Gardens across the river, and feature of the journey into London by M4. A feature of my childhood, I grew up down the road from them. Until some point in the 1980's there was a hug gas holder next to these, as well as the still-standing waterworks tower of Kew Bridge steam museum... Brentford's skyline was very imposing on a young me

[citybus]

I'm not entirely surprised the Brentford docks is private, though it could easily pass for later era GLC blocks
---------------------------------------

There used to be no photos of Wembley's Chalkhill on the internet. Now there's a few at least:

From Cam Man's photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcasey/with/249116804/

image hosted on flickr


From the Exploring 20th Century London website: http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/...ch_word=&catId[6][]=00200600101g&&dateOrder=true&currentPage=24&current_browser_object=237



And there's also a video on Youtube showing what it was like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Art4TaRaTHQ&feature=fvst

[ill tonkso]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

Somewhat unusual in that despite appearances and era, it has always been 100% private

May as well take this opportunity to post a pic of the imposing Brentford Towers Estate, six point blocks in total:

By portemolitor on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26357712@N03/6042115472/

Looming behind Griffin park (Brentford FC)

By croydongas on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/croydongas/3970799421/

Quite intrusive into Kew Gardens across the river, and feature of the journey into London by M4. A feature of my childhood, I grew up down the road from them. Until some point in the 1980's there was a hug gas holder next to these, as well as the still-standing waterworks tower of Kew Bridge steam museum... Brentford's skyline was very imposing on a young me

I thought they were called something dragons something?

[Tubeman]

Sometimes called 'Green Dragon Estate' because they're on Green Dragon Lane, but they're officially 'Brentford Towers Estate'

[reading general]

I was always impressed when young too, arriving into London from the west on an elevated road surrounded by tall buildings like these flats, floodlight pylons and the view of the rest of the city. Made you feel like you had arrived in London proper. Best entry into London by road in my opinion.

[IrishMan2010]

Originally Posted by citybus

Some photos from Ballymun's regeneration reports

Yeah Ballymun is probably one (not as much these days) of the most horrific housing estates in Europe. It was attempt to clear the slums of inner city Dublin in the 60's. Planners literally dumped these blocks in the middle of a green field on the North side of Dublin, without transport links, no trains, buses etc. There was a severe lack of amenities for the kids and no sports faciilties. They didn't even build any shops, that caravan-looking thing in the above photos was the only shop they had for a number of years. Ballymun also suffers with high drug abuse, heroin came into the area in late 70's and early 80's and completely destroyed the area. These days the area is going through a regeneration project for the last 14 years with sports facilities, adequate playgrounds and good amenities constructed. Ikea has also moved into Ballymun along with a new hotel and a regenerated Main street.

[lneylon]

Anyone seen the London Utopia documentary. Looks really good.

http://www.utopialondon.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEcUqFxDUc

[TH29]

Hey just wanted to say hello as my first post, I came across this site and thread via google, I am from the U.S. and myself have a fascination with the "projects" in our country, and having watched films such as Harry Brown and Attack the Block I wanted to do some research on the locations and found this site full of amazing pictures and info about all the "blocks" in the UK. There is just something about these buildings and the communities they were meant to house that I find extremely interesting. I am curious if any of you all have ever looked into the housing projects of NY or Chicago? They boast many similarities to alot of the ones you all are posting here.

[Stefan88]

Hi TH29, this thread may also interest you. Tower blocks around the world.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=480301

[citybus]

The thing about Britain is there weren't many private sector buildings built in this style of architcture- the Barbican estate in the City of London being the main exception- whereas I get the impression that in America a high percentage of modernist/ brutalist buildings were for the upper classes. In the UK & Ireland you can often detect if a building is a council house just by looking at them, despite the range of architectural styles it's usually obvious. But with American buildings I'm not so sure. For example:

Richman Plaza, Bronx. Off Jag9889's photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jag9889/with/4277482244/

image hosted on flickr


Or the Bronx's Morrisania Air Rights projects



Although for this area in Harlem it looks more likely to be a project.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Brow...07.65,,0,-8.54

[TH29]

thank you very much, I will check it out.

[Tubeman]

Some sad news I just got wind of, one of the most individual tower blocks in the UK has started demolition.

The 'Dunston Rocket' (Derwent Tower) in Gateshead:







http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/...00/8332322.stm

[ill tonkso]

An Owen Luder isn't it? We will only have Preston Bus Station left of his now.