Social Housing Throughout the 20th Century

By Damla Tunc and Riya Ghosh BA3 Humanities Appendix

Ahumanity And The Agency Of The Architect

Le Corbusier’s central belief was that there was a scientific solution to society’s issues; however, this has been criticised as being out of touch with the realities of everyday conventions. However, as seen from the map below, many architects have tried to emulate his designs with varying degrees of success. Le Corbusier believed aesthetics would adequately address social issues and inequalities that plagued most inner cities after WWI & WWII. Many of these policies he implemented resulted in an alienating environment for their resident.

Pruitt - Igloe, USA

Bijlmermeer, Netherlands

Vulovarska street, Croatia

Super Andrija, croatia

The collage of Building and Printing, U.K

City of Glasgow Collage, U.K

New York City, USA

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Samuda Estate, U.K

Balfron Tower, U.K

Great Arthur House, U.K

Alton West, U.K

Park Hill, U.K

Chamberlin, U.K

The Barbican, U.K

Robin Hood estate, U.K

Polska Akademia Nauk, Poland

Za Zelazna Brama Housing Estate, Poland

Superjednostka, Poland

Chardigarh, India

Radiant City, France

Based on the plans of Radiant city (source:[adapted from]Foundation le Corbusier, 1930:online)) and Contemporary city (source:[adapted from] The JR James Archive, 2013:Online)

(source: [adapted from]The JR James Archive, 2013:online)

The open outdoor spaces Corbusier imagined as areas through which people could exercise or roam were left unused. The size of these spaces ultimately was seen as unprotected and undefinable. The masterplans’ green areas were not suggestive of activity and were not populated; and so became dissociated from the units themselves (Newman, 1996, p.12).

Skyscrapers

The built area only accounts for 12% of the total site area of the Radiant City; therefore, Corbusier could use the rest for large amounts of gardens and open green spaces. In the scheme, Corbusier endorsed high-rise/ high-density living and designed two different types of residential housing schemes.

Housing Blocks

Section of both housing types in Ville Radiuse: (source: [adapted from] Foundation le Corbusier, 1930: online)

Physical Architecture

“We strive for order, which can be achieved only by appealing to what is the fundamental basis on which our minds can work: geometry”

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(Le Corbusier, 1982:95)

• The central principles of Le Corbusier’s works: minimal ornamentation repetitive units high-rise structures separation and use of zoning

Le Corbusier believed that city planning must be designed rationally, following design principles such as straight lines, regularity and minimal ornamentation, to help promote democracy and equity amongst its residents.

His cities were laid out in strict symmetrical grid patterns, with neatly spaced rows of identical skyscrapers - what he termed “cities in the sky”

IDEA OF DEMOCRACY AND AN EGALITARIAN APPROACH

REGULARIZATION OF REAL ESTATE

FOSTERING PEDESTRIAN/ VEHICLE MOVEMENT

(archinect, 2012: online) (28 days later, 2015:online)

ROBIN HOOD GARDENS:

Robin

(modernmoocher, 2022: online)

(Toomey, 1965: online)

PARK HILL ESTATE:

Physical Infrastructure

UNFINISHED SURFACES

(Source: [adapted from] Frearson, 2013: online)

(Source: [adapted from] Balters, 2011:online)

(Source: [adapted from] (Matteo Cainer Architecture, n.d:online)

Streets In The Sky

The Smithsons envisioned that the streets-in-the-sky would become a new system of circulation for the complex, allowing residents to travel above traffic on the street in fresh air and sunlight.

AXONOMETRIC: PARK HILL UNIT

(Source [adapted from] wikipedia, 2020: online)

SECTION: ROBIN HOOD GARDENS

(Source [adapted from]Place 54 Architects, n.d.: online)

PLAN OF APARTMENT UNIT: ROBIN HOOD

(Source [adapted from] Modern Architecture London, n.d: online)

By the time that Le Corbusier turned looked at the problem of housing in the 1910s and 1920s, the connection between the urban built environment, and its provisions of sunlight, air and greenery, and public health was well established. Nature, it was generally agreed, was a vital tool in the fight against disease and the movement for healthier and more hygienic cities.

Both Robin Hood Estates and Park Hill have ample green space situated centrally and surrounding the flats for tenants’ use. However, due to the open nature of these green spaces, they were also used by the public, which made it hard to control who was entering the private areas of the housing.

ARCHITECT V.S. HOUSING

“the most visible manifestation and embodiment … of the post war belief in the common good, and progress towards a country that’s more comfortable and affluent for all, irrespective of wealth or class.” - Owen Hopkins (Manson, 2016)