Compendium

London rooftops where we see the iconic buildings rose from the same
level creates a picturesque cityscape that defines the identity of the city’s
building fabric. But we need to reflect if these iconic structures satisfy
the needs of its inhabitants.
Located in between Angel and Kings Cross station is a modernist housing
project in Islington designed in the immediate postwar period by
the Tecton architecture practice led by Berthold Lubetkin. The grade II
listed building is completed in 1954 as a part of the housing complex including
the Holford house (echoes the form of Bevin court) and Amwell
house (modernist interpretation of the bay fronted victorian terrace).
And in reflection to post war austerity which imposed large budget constraints
on housing projects, the studio was asked to propose, design
and explore one of the few amenities that were unbuilt yet originally,
parts of the project scheme for Bevin Court.
The function of a space is not absolute. It does not conform to a singular
use yet it needs satisfy its original purpose to its users. Defining the term
‘eating’ as a social event or ‘cooking’ as a process encourage the design to
question, “can space move people?”. This design approach made it easier
to list design principles that is appropriate to the brief and hence was
used to resolve the project.
Bevin Court: “Rooftop: In addition”
Academic Project 2
A.Y. 2014/2015 Winter
Acknowledging housing estates built during the Post-war austerity period