8 votes

Books about social housing & architecture

Posted by leech
Tags: ask.recommendations, social housing, architecture

I read the book 'Municipal Dreams' a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the history of social housing presented in it. I picked up 'Living in Cities' by Ralph Tubbs which is like a modernist new town pamphlet style book about the futures of cities & towns. I also have 'Post-Modern Buildings in Britain' which is quite nice for a flip through and some history of these buildings.

I'd definitely reccomend Municipal Dreams for anyone even slightly intrested in UK social housing (and more) and I think the way it is presented is really nice.

I was wondering if anyone knew any particularly good books about architecture (specifically about social housing's architecture), I realise this is quite hard as little has been recorded around some of this stuff.

Further any books surrounding modernist ideals that lead to this would be nice to discuss as well as I've not seen much in the way of primary sources here.

14 comments

  1. [6]
    EightRoundsRapid
    Link
    This Brutal World is worth looking at. And Phaidon has a lot of architecture books to choose from. They're not cheap, but hey, libraries solve that problem http://www.phaidon.com/store/architecture/

    This Brutal World is worth looking at.

    And Phaidon has a lot of architecture books to choose from. They're not cheap, but hey, libraries solve that problem

    http://www.phaidon.com/store/architecture/

    5 votes
    1. [5]
      leech
      Link Parent
      I've seen 'Spectrum' from that publisher in a store, it looks good. Can't really afford to drop 45 quid on books in my current situation sadly, I try to keep an eye out at the charity bookstores...

      I've seen 'Spectrum' from that publisher in a store, it looks good. Can't really afford to drop 45 quid on books in my current situation sadly, I try to keep an eye out at the charity bookstores and stuff for similar.

      Thanks for the recommendations!

      1 vote
      1. [4]
        EightRoundsRapid
        Link Parent
        My central library is quite good at getting books in on request. It must have saved me thousands and thousands of £'s over the years and let me read stuff there is no way I could ever have...

        My central library is quite good at getting books in on request. It must have saved me thousands and thousands of £'s over the years and let me read stuff there is no way I could ever have afforded to buy.

        1 vote
        1. [3]
          leech
          Link Parent
          Luckily I am at a university and the libraries are pretty good through and through. I'm not sure they get books on request however.

          Luckily I am at a university and the libraries are pretty good through and through. I'm not sure they get books on request however.

          2 votes
          1. [2]
            EightRoundsRapid
            Link Parent
            While it's not a book, this ties in with the topic quite nicely, I think, and is a good use of a half hour: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b095qv22

            While it's not a book, this ties in with the topic quite nicely, I think, and is a good use of a half hour:
            https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b095qv22

            1 vote
            1. leech
              Link Parent
              This is really good, it's a lot of what is said in Municipal Dreams but definitely more grounded with real people. Thanks for the link!

              This is really good, it's a lot of what is said in Municipal Dreams but definitely more grounded with real people. Thanks for the link!

              1 vote
  2. patience_limited
    Link
    Not precisely about architecture, but Ben Austen's "High-Risers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing" occupies a keystone spot on my reading mountain.

    Not precisely about architecture, but Ben Austen's "High-Risers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing" occupies a keystone spot on my reading mountain.

    3 votes
  3. [3]
    8thwaitress
    Link
    Wow, I don't have any suggestions for you, I just want to say thank you for introducing me to those books, and a topic I had no idea I was interested in! Thanks😀

    Wow, I don't have any suggestions for you, I just want to say thank you for introducing me to those books, and a topic I had no idea I was interested in! Thanks😀

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      leech
      Link Parent
      Municipal Dreams is also a really good quality blog, I'd check it out if you can!

      Municipal Dreams is also a really good quality blog, I'd check it out if you can!

      1 vote
  4. [4]
    EightRoundsRapid
    Link
    Listening to this reminded me of this thread. It's about Thamesmead Estate, currently in the middle of demolition. Making History - The Clockwork Orange Town

    Listening to this reminded me of this thread. It's about Thamesmead Estate, currently in the middle of demolition.

    Making History - The Clockwork Orange Town

    1 vote
    1. [3]
      leech
      Link Parent
      Actually my hometown had some filming take place for Clockwork Orange, they filmed some of the scenes in the hospital and an office building, from what i know Kubrick really liked Harlow at the time.

      Actually my hometown had some filming take place for Clockwork Orange, they filmed some of the scenes in the hospital and an office building, from what i know Kubrick really liked Harlow at the time.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        EightRoundsRapid
        Link Parent
        I know Thamesmead was used, and Brunel University's lecture theatre building.

        I know Thamesmead was used, and Brunel University's lecture theatre building.

        1. leech
          Link Parent
          Terminal House & Princess Alexandria Hospital in Harlow were used. Terminal House is now emergency accommodation since the London councils cannot afford the rents on council houses.

          Terminal House & Princess Alexandria Hospital in Harlow were used.
          Terminal House is now emergency accommodation since the London councils cannot afford the rents on council houses.

          1 vote