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the Milton Keynes travel guide
Church of our Lady
TYPICAL Architect: MKDC Population: 2,092 Density: 34.4 pph Owned: 36% Rented: 56%
06 COFFEE HALL 1972 - 1977 In comparison to other MK experimental neighborhoods, Coffee Hall demonstrates little originality in terms of street layout. The original streets arrange housing along a N-S axis within 80x100m regular blocks. This waffle-like grid is surrounded by a green belt and connected to the main grid at its corners, by extending the flanking streets. Three peculiarly aligned roads cut through the grid diagonally as if scratched by a cat’s paw, but it is unclear how this design feature was decided upon. The community center is located in the center of the grid, tucked away from the main grid. Of most interest is the Church of our Lady building erected by D. Walker & P. Barker, in cooperation with MKDC architects. Rather than solely being inspired by it, this building is an eerily precise copy of Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye in Poissy. The one story pitched-roof row houses are set back significantly from the street, and front yards are entirely fenced, completely rejecting any interaction with public space. It is as if the front yard became a back yard.