ALEXANDRA ROAD ESTATE BUILDING ANALYSIS

Nestled in the borough of Camden sits Neave Brown’s most recognisable work. The Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate, home to 520 dwellings over a natural 350m curve backing onto the Overground Line, the irregular and unusual shape designed to diffuse the sound of passing trains. A modernist utopia designed to fulfil every need, the estate housed shops, a community centre, and special needs school to name a few amenities.

The Estate became familiar to the wider public through its appearances in many film and photography shoots, most notably “Kingsman: The Secret Service” released in 2014, which resulted in an influx of tourism to the estate due to its dramatic and iconic appearance (unlike most housing projects in the area) only comparable to other works by Neave Brown, and the Highgate New Town Estate by Peter Tabori. The estate has a long and complex history, with a number of controversies and issues that have arisen over the years. One of the most significant problems has been the condition of the buildings, which have suffered from a lack of maintenance and investment, with one resident stating:

“People living on iconic Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate say they are more likely to see a film crew than a repair team” - William McLennan.

Despite this, the estate has remained a very desirable place to live, with 1 bed flats being sold for upwards of £300,000 (Rightmove, 2022). This has led to the dramatic effect of many residents not being able to afford to live on the estate. However, the majority of the estate remains as Council Housing controlled by the Camden Borough Council.

The Project faced criticism from the beginning after its budget, of £7.15 million, more than doubled to £20.9 million, ranking it among the most expensive social housing developments in London (Barnaby, 2020). This was in part due to the use of on-site casting of concrete, which led to an extended construction period.

Brown’s Legacy

Neave Brown left behind an almost unparalleled legacy; from his Royal Gold Medal, only awarded to those who had a significant influence on the advancement of architecture, to being the only architect that has had all of his UK work granted Listed Status, his work in the affordable housing sector is unparalleled.

This is further emphasised by the Neave Brown award for housing, recognising the best examples of affordable housing in the UK, recently awarded to an apartment complex and school development by the Henley Halebrown practice.