1 10 39 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/4b3c14cefec204ca5d84327a72a64c0f.pdf fb61daa500d59abc3875e3330cd161b1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Account Subject The topic of the resource ACID Supplement (GLC) "Reform of Local Authority Planning & Architecture 10 pp Description An account of the resource There is little doubt that architects in general are well intentionea, their aim is basically to benefit society in (seme vague way) and people Cin they are imprisoned in their traditional role of entrepreneurs for the ruling elite, whose objectives may be very different. Thus, even when engaged in projeects of the highest. social relevance - housing.’ schools, etc. - the architect may fiRi that he is forced to accept Subsstandard)sites,‘ee costlimits, ’ shoddy workmanship- and all the other Architects may talk about technological solutions,. velitical solutions or secial solutions »- anything to absolve themselves of sponsibility for the unhappy state of buildings today... birt..the anchitect.isneithen.politisien or industrialist end he has Little influence in either field (thanks mainly to the RIBA) Radical Chenves in architec pg can only come about when society itself, first undergoes a transformation - + when the balanceof tenAisi? Yet society is changing end architects will be ef ordinary people, is a significant feature These groups will grow in strength and number over the next few years until opposition te the interests The Labour Party, at their recent conference in Blackpool, committed themselves to a policy of some form of land nationalisation. While © welcoming this step, there is an obviousdanger Oaiteleadingtoevenmorecentreslisetionand oSRRCOMMEt:clear(adil:oa erosionoftherightsofindividualsandsmall wee : communities. O ‘ i; ; en Pee(8oy American (town pldnnin? «is they a can no longer ¢ Be. Getting City Hall in New Yor to Amentify wad othe & given (8)jane Jacobs once elias “aatke atte ae Wey. [Serpea “Neighbourhood control” is REFORM OF LOGAL AUTHORITY PLANNING AND ARCHT TECTURE - piedHe. J" forced eventually to adant their F ee:)ir ;re*: When John’ Ruskin trefused toaccept its. whole outlook end working methods, whether they want to or not. Gold Medal in 1874 he wrote; “The.— The emergence of local amenity groups, community pom oo oe te exalt the power of their own proiession over the imiind OL the public, power ‘Deeng if in the preseat century synonymous with i 4 i, ai ree. onsandneighbour! d - Ne Ae 9 goty * Qe oS ACOcd aS V1L0Mn srouze of and % all kinds, dedicated tofighting bad planning, architecture which cares nothing for the needs wealth’ a generalised sense). However, as professiorials, manifestations of the meagre value thet a middle-class dominated society puts updén provisions under-orivileged. Society gets its masters demand ... high rise workers to live in, feceless:office others to work in. ghettos for the towers for ce Tis Bae ian ated spl governmeat - at apt ee lienated local government and big . t now obsessed with erentasa tion, Americans are conzing usiness wil ave 1B .,“ioe teenoe providsdfor f realise.“Ghatbigcityadministra.: tluns are such jugzernauts thar constitutionally. for the the buildings — Such a policy must, we believe, be combined with the legal recognition of community organisations and a constitutional change to ensure that they have a say and control overlocal issues - planning, + education, welfare, etc. Radical local authority architects can assist in the emergence of such local power structures not only by supporting their local groups and lesking information to others, but also by giving constant and wide publicittyo alternative methods of designing housing, schools, towns, etc. which will encompass full participetion (before decisions are reached) for thoseaffected. Letus examine some alternatives. Participation much abused, devalued and misunderstood. Participation simply means a return to the architects! traditional role - that of interpreter of the client's requirements and the fulfilling of these in accordance with the latters best interests. No worthwhile architecture has been, or will be, achieved without a healthy relationship and understanding between designer and client. Prior to industrialisation, the architect's client was usually on the same wavelength as himself - the cultured patron who could discuss 'styles', knew the latest fashions and tastes. Or, for the majority, it was a case of getting Fred the builder down the high street o kneck something up ~- using tried and tested craft based technioues and forms. For the peasant it was often a case of build it yourself - the perfect intekration of client, builder and architect, or ‘participation’. Client Today we are informed that our real client must be anonymous. We refer to him/her by the abstract term'people', 'the users' or 'them'. We have a false client to compensate - the administratorwh,o interprets what is best for the real client yet who is even more out of touch with 'them' than we are, sitting all day on our behinds, trying to conjure up attractive shapes which have little relevance or meaning for the human beings who will be forced to inhabit or work in them. The whole parevhernalia of the social sciences - surveys, computer predictions, ‘rational’ appraisals, density evaluations - are employed as substitute for real contact with those who we are really responsible to. These techniques are sectioned officially for they are merely another side of authoritarian control in fasionable pseudo-objective garb - the statistics are in the hands of the authority to be manipulated as they think fit - often they are not even disclosed, Beware of those who justify their actions with spurious technological/ Illustration, by David Knight, MSIA, from the Skeffington report The word 'participation' has been core The mnainsprings of local government, activity in the London of future wih lie in the k with which people ident ¢ ‘through which they express their yneeas and deniands. ' For all their faults, the Lon- don boroughs are beginning to /understand this and aet upon if, They are the’ real successes. of 'these first five vears. If Lenron local government. is to live again, it is they who deserve the en ‘courageiient and the suppor. @ anei BIa nicaStata analCSE wandBncatchmanehteLEee e,BeeTEebeFne TRS @ ct c as ee ee, The aim is to describe objectively the subjectivo views or. this to be the case. The numbers are used in a comparative way: one thing is 3 isaSS reainecethtataene conceptualisations of these people and if possible to put: numbers on to both these concepts and the patterns which underlie them. Putting numbers to subjective experionce is something psychologists have done for many years— worker ratings, discretionary awards, public opinion polls and even the hit parade are common situations in which subjective experience is turned into numbers. So it seems likely that people can use numbers meaningfully to express their thoughts, and many psychological studies have proved better or worse than another. It is only a short jump to: introduce degrees into this comparison and to label therm. Lological mumbo jumbo. We need more designers who can apprise the problems through historical enalysis and social and cultural criteria drawn from direct empirical experience. A job which one would expect equipped for. fmuveus tell the ; from, a Dui affeet them © ‘T have a Vision of the F uture, chum, The workers’ flatsin fields of soya beans Tower up like silver pencils, score on score: | And Surging Millions hear the Challenge come From microphones in communal canteens “No Right! No Wrong! All's perfect, fevermore. © [] High-rise towers have proved a disastrous experiment in urban dwelling. They give many of their occupants acute uneasiness. Some people arrange their furniture so as to avoid any view of the ver- tiginous plunge from their thir- tieth-floor window. Fer mothers with small children, they present insoluble problems ofplay and supervision. The eleySion become places of dirt and danger. The wholesale buildozing of little streets and houses to make way for them destroys delicate net- works of service and friendship which are simply not recreated between different floors in new apartment houses. The ground areas between the towers, which were supposed to provide needed air and space and greenness, can become windy deserts below vast buildings which tunnel the weather down their vertical sides as dco mountain ranges. Some town planners even main- tain that. the claim made for high-rise dwellings — that other- wise even more little houses would be scattered over the countryside — is not borne out by economic or spatial necessity. In a number of cities, areas of similar size, with alternations of four to eight floor blocks round enclosed gardens and courtyards, can house virtually the same number of people and provide the intimacy and security which parents in particular jook for. Objections contact with the eventual users of our buildings at the briefing stag Objections from architects to this are always in terms of operational problems, not on vrinciple. In the field of housing they can be summarised as follows:+ ‘People do not know what they want! "How can progress be made - people only like what they know! (3) 'If you ask people what they went they will say a ‘house and garden', and of course they cannot heve thatti! The first statement is3 a i anybody who has We ask nothing less than direct ever had anything to do with community action will tell vou. people can usual. 7 ‘ee hen it concerns them directly X environmental iy and coherently - it is thers to ask them. statement is an insult to us as a Ith» The variation - it is to imply that, ata ULUEQ, the user will ask for some outlandish personal folly which will be. totally unsuited to future occupants. If we are unable to conduct vith clients, putting forward alternatives and discussion limitations, construction techniques, elc. we are not much use as a profession. One suspects hat these sort of objections stem from experience in private practice where the architect has to deal with a power elite, used to bullying their own way through. Ordinary people tend to be much more receptive and co~opverative. Private ¥ mind. the architect to be new solutions, cost 3 Sector if we wish to find solutions to woTM (yy The third objection usually comes from an architect who himself lives in a house with a gerden. What arrogance, to deny anyone what he has himself! Those who really believe in the 'scarcity of land! myth should themselves rent a flat at the ton of the nearest point block. We would go a long way to bettering buildings if architects designed with themselves in the participatory design of mass housing, let us turn to the private sector - wheré consumer pressure exists. You would not find too msny system—built concrete towers here. Whatever our job is, or should be, we seem to be more concerned with side issues or irrelevant conceptalisations. The growth of a separate'management:' structure in Local Authority departments is worsening this situation. Architects at the top do not concern themselves with the design of buildings any more, but employ a whole range of irrelevant management tools such as ‘coordination’, 'rationalisation', -‘decision centralisation’, etc. The results are often a sort of bureaucratic architecture designed to be understood by administrators - simplified components and grid layouts (see Ronan Points, MACE, Thamesmead). It is with the entrenched attitudes of 'management' that our biggest struggle lies. they will stoutly maintain that they are mere architects, tools of the councillors, while simultaneously playing puny political games behind locked doors. We shall be tackling ways of breaking these barriers down in future editions of ACID news. Workload There are more architects in Great Britain than in any other country. This shows up in a vast local Authority like the GLC where qualified architects are doing jobs well below their capacity - often quite menial jobs. Yet we believe that there is enough work to be spread evenly. One fault is that jobs are just too BIG - especially housing jobs. A vast estate like Thamesmead is designed, it seems, in the nineteenth century Beaux-Arts tradition of a master plan with the architecture conforming to a coordinated and consistent master plan. The designhierarchy is similarly archaic - a small group of policy makers delegate sections to groups who must conform to the overall technology and style. The end product is often a sea of ugly, grey, inhuman concrete ~- and highly uneconomic as well. All in the name of consistency - the sort of thing only architects appreciate - so long as they do not have to live there. It is design by balsa wood and birds eye view autocrats and has nothing to do with people or living or anything. Scale of Work To implement the kind of 'real client' participation outlined above and @) They say a camel ‘is a horse designed by a committee, “but in my experience that is a pretty, good shot atit.[should expectahorse- designing committee to come up with something possessing several different kinds of legs, and also much smaller .than the original expectation. A spider would be near the mark. @ THE GREATER London Coun- til and the Inner London Educa- tion Authority together bave an annual revenue budget of £350m, and an annual capital budget of a further £150m.-—-£500m. a year -total spending. This, as Desmond Piummer, the G.L.C.’s leader, is fond of pointing out, is “big business by any standards.” (Compare for instance, Ford Moior’s annual turnover of £488m.) . How is this vast organization,’ with over 100,000 full- and part- time employees, managed ? What replaces the profit motive which motivates managers in the private sector ? / Mr. «Gaffney, who is Tory “member for Ealing, regards recent changes at Counly Hall as pari of “a major revolution ‘through local government. Value ‘for money has become a_ substi- ‘tute for the profit motive”, The ‘traditional approach that you had certain services to provide, and pro- vided a first-class service froma the available resources, has had to be modified in the face of.“ scream- ing inflation” and the huge scale of the G.L.C’s activitics, “It is not now enough to offer a first: class service. You must do it at the least possible cost”, says Mr. Gafiney. This is where the management ‘tool of planned programming and |budgeting, now being grafted on to the G.L.C.’s rather hierarchical and _departmentalized administrative system, offers such dividends ic a. public authority. For it not only. gives the clected members,to whom the political decisions on how! much to spend an what must always belong, a more meaningful picture of the cost and benefit of any par- ticular course, but-—quite as impor- tant—-for the first time pronises to give them a sound basis for com- paring the value-for-money [o7. cost-and-benefit) tag of competing alternatives. spreading AGahanMkEI CEiaeaA WI to employ our architecturd manpower to its fullest capacity, we propose that housing and other jobs be broken down into small units about the size of a housing association scheme each with its own job architect and group of tenant-clients ob community representatives. From then on the job architect, in consultation with his client, is free to come uo with whatever solution he thinks best - free from all constraints of ‘conforming to 'an overall concept', 'consistency', coherence' and all the rest of that meaningless architectural claptrap. His only constraints would be the usual ones - Byelaws, Planning, etc. The educational or housing administrators would still play theirrole in this arrangement, except the rules they followed would be changed so that they no longer had overall power to ‘interpret’ tenants'or teachers'or kids' requirements. The architect could ask them directt This would also lend itself to other forms of housing, say, if a tenant wanted to go for self build he would be allocated a plot with the architect as advisor. Private tenants could apply for plots. Rehabilitation could be easily incorporated into this arrangement. Young architects in both private and public sectors would get a chence. A variety of competitions could be held, students could be given their own (small?) jeb instead of being used as cheap detailing laboun, architects would spend perhaps 50% of their time in the district they were designing for, instead of 1% as at present. Perhaps local. Authorities could employ most of their architectural staff as consultants ~ it is a notorious fact that private architects can achieve better results quicker than those in employment bypessing much of the bureaucracy and clumsy management. Ferhaps one of the first things to do to improve local authority architecture is to abolish the architecture departments. 2eceasecainwine awares 220kckca eta ncaaasada etaethetceonattiie iheedeliseisSaiBiaSD i PLANNING REFORM It is not much good considering alternative proposals for resolving a situation if circumstances will prevent you from adopting them. Yet this is fundamentally the problem at Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, or any other central redevelopment site of significance - for whatever may be the solution in terms of the public interest, the initiative in a development project basically rests with the landowner, who needs not to make his actions accountable to the public. The exception occurs when the local authority holds the land, but on central urban sites of a commercial nature, councils generally argue that they ought not to enter on enterprises involving financial speculation with public funds. As a consequence, in the process of redevelopment many businesses are dispossessed, although it is well known that they play a significant part in the life of the area. The question then is whether the local authority ought not to reconsider the ethics of its attitude towards speculative development. When, for instance, the London ‘'ransport Board is sinking £90 million in constructing the Fleet Line, which published estimates say will augment property values in south~east London alone by £100 million, of which it will not recoup any, is not this a clear case of public funds. being employed to foster commercial speculation, and on an enormous scale? The conclusion is that the public authority is acting as nothing less than ayproperty developer, albeit a highly philanthropic one. Equally therefore, the public authority may take the initiative in the redevelopment of Piccadilly Circus and any other urban centre. if this were the case, then is it possible to consider which alternatives are in the best interests of the public, a situation which would be far more positive than that which exists at present. eceoeeeaneoeeeee To pursue the question a bit further, as architects and planners we are very aware of the shortage of public funds for providing facilities in local authority schemes - to the extent that projects suffer from the absence of social and environmental amenities. The example quoted of the L.T.B. show that there are substantial financial resources created through development, “THERE -is a feeling that they have had as much change as they can take.” This remark by a Greater London Coun cil “ofiicial sums up the current mood ‘of antagonism against a rash of mas- sive development projects which could ‘alter the character of the capital’s cen- tral area beyend recognition. Extreme public disquiet is showing a variety of forms. The outery against Sir Basil Spence’s design for a new office block fer Government use on the site of Queen Annc’s Mansions by St James’s Park has boen based largely on aesthetics and bulk in a sensitive area, close enough to the Houses of Parliament for Members to take an active critical interest. Piccadilly Circus stirs up opposition ‘for different reasons. There, not only { the seale of any development coneern, but also the whole ive issue of speculative offices and associated profits, with the loss of a jhost of small business activities, such as istrip clubs, amusements arcades, shops cand restaurants, in favour of bigger, ‘blander places which can afford the higher rents. ® (The distribution of prosperity isdangerously skewed. Withit ai affluent economy, minorities who _ are handicapped by ethnic preju- ‘dice or age or sickness tend to be. ieft behind to observe vicariously on television how the luckier three-quarters live. And, in plane- ‘tary society as a whole, it is threc- quarters who live badly and, as their numbers rise, face bleaiz: prospects of living better. To restore balance and hope, to moderate the despairs and pres- sures, to achieve common policies for .a viable political order, are thus the preconditions of any decent human environment on ‘Planet Earth. _ © LT think: it is something to do with the public attitude towards the environmen Phere js a climate 0 VU atte >STVSTtsaad OTL ing contidence that it will.” ® the Fleet Line producing a nett profit of at least £10 miliion. Another very recent example occurs in a residential development by a Sussex council who paid £24 million for some farm land whose value as a farm was a mere £17,000; the nett profit here being in excess of £2 million. . o aie co had ee oewe: deRab onese edeae aae acesa paced ihe esdeSeieeseae aeen a RElS aSe Be «i ' Tf estate agents aré right in sensing a 12 per cent rise In West End office rents in the past year, it would bring the capital gain to around £10 millions, jess interest charges and maintenance costs. +. de a eeereeeeeooeee e ~“Camden’s irritation with the continuing emptiness of Centre Point--and its sister building, Space House, off Wingsway —--is two-edged., Not only are there 11,000 families on the ‘council’s housing waiting list while the 36 flats of Centre Point stand empty, ‘but it is estimated that the /council has Jost nearly £1 mii- lion in rates; because the two buildings, being empty, pay only half rates. “Tt is a lunatic use of the and. If we cannot do better than that, it’ is a great criticism of the way our society carries on,” Mrs Miller said. If the council is able to force a showdown over Centre Point it will be the first body te do so. ‘The developers have so far been content to sit on en asset which is rapidly gaining in’ capital vaiue as rents in Lon- don continue to rise. The theory behind this ts presumably that as most office lettings are for a fixed period ‘of five, seven or more years, it is more profitable to get, +say, £8 a square foot next year than settle for £6 this year, ‘The snag has been that with office rents continuing to rise—one cstate agent esti- ‘mated by as much as 12 per eent jo the West End in the past year alone—there hes never been 4 strong inceniive for Oldhani states to close 3 nent in land is “ ise who gat hers deal. ‘ Its emptiness, as such, 1s not likely to frighten the The project cost £5 millions. On the basis that its 150,000 square feet covid developers. have been rented at £4 a isquare foot in 1964, the build- ing would have been wer £9 miliions—-£4 millions profit. Last year it was estimated that if Mr Hyams could get £6 2 square foot, the capital ‘value of the building would ‘be over £13 millions, giving him a profit of £8 millions. eeHeBowe6 eae ‘, \*% carats *e There seems to be no reason why some, if not all, of these profits should not go into the local authority purse to spend on social provisions. After all, it is the community that is creating the profit. To re-restablish public initiative in development projects, to substantiate the economic basis of public building, would be to redirect town planning out of the rut which, to quote from a recent article in the Guardian, only consists in granting planning consents, to its true role of meeting the needs of the community. This is an issue which politicians’in this country have actively supported for many years. Winston Churchill, speaking on the People's Rights in his reforming Budget of 1909, said hope you will understand that when I speak of the land monopolist, I am dealing more with the precess then with the individual land~owner. T have no wish to hold any class up to public disapprobation. I do not think that the man who wakes money by unearned incre morally a worse man than anyone e his profit where he finds it in this hard world under the law and according to common usage. it is not the individual I attack, it is the system. Tt is not the man who vis bad, it is the law which is bad. Tt is not theyman who is blameworthy for doing what the law allows and what other man do; it is the State which would be blameworthy were it not to endeavour to reform the law and correct the practice. We do not want to punish the landlord. We want to alter the law.' The outcome of the reforms was curtailed by the advent of the First World War and opposition from the House of Lords. But in 1931 the Labour Government of Ramsey MacDonald passed the Finance het which introduced the principle of Land Value taxation It was an impropitious time for such a measure, the world economic crisis and the collapse of the Government leading to the Coelition, caused the Act to be suspended and eventually repealed. The issue was raised again, in 1936 when, following a Renort by its Finance Coiimittee, the London County Council aporoved a policy for legislation to give Lt effect. As the Government declined to act, the L.C.C. tabled a Private Bill, the London Rating (Site Values) Bill of 1938. The Bill wes defeated and once again war intervened to frustrate reform which had mach supvort from local authorities in the country. the economic rights of the community with respect to land. Because it is this issue which forms the basis AAAS (Eee ofplanninglaw,thereformsshouldbestudiedinany \\ <<ae consideration of planning reform. X To conclude in our present times, the Government in \ 1965 presented the Land Commission, of which the opening paragraph reads: 'For centuries the claim of private landowners to develop their land unhindered and to enjoy the exclusive right to profit from socially created values when their lend is developed has been questioned, especially when the land is sold to the comminity which itself has created the value realised. The view that control over development must be exercised by the community is not now seriously disputed and it is generally accepted that the value attached to land by A. All planning proposals to be published on an obligatory basis. The information to be thorough, factual and available in time for objections to be made. All interested parties in an organisation seeking planning approval should be named. beginning of a retreat from realis- ine their full human potential. ®;: 9 7 ui starvation. When we remember ‘under what continuous stimulus of natural variety ~ of colour, of ‘scent, of sound and light and congeea et ete oo Each of the measures mentioned above sought reform of HELD STA i the right to develop it is a value which has ” a substantially been created by the community. A growing population, increasingly making their homes in ro i | ie | great cities, has not only made effective public control over land indispensable; it has also made indefensible a system which allows landowners or land % penenyevaapeeneesnaeteencomment 7. anor-1ieeeree le BmyNtTH.themiddieofthelastcen- 5 co wW # e Sas very large, in value of urban land resulting either . onaieee from government action, whether central or local, or from the growth of social wealth and population’. a Sis the vetrictions Xl’ about heights of building were, ‘relaxed so that landlords might make pavements shuffle through thick exhaust fumes over- looked by that symbol of speculators enterprise - the ultimate Architects’! and Planners' non-event Centre Point (now empty for eight years). © '.7} We do notfully understand the If satisfactory civilised urban standards are ever to be achieved it is evident that now is the time for a cool, hard look at the operants in planning and design and to ask how despite teams of seemingly skilled professionals at Central and Local Government level the urban scene has become steadily worse since the last war. i touch — the first men began to develop their imaginative grasp upon living reality and feel their ? athe ‘ Concurrent with such an examination, planning controls creative humanity, we may. wonder what will be the result of must be overhauled as an emergency measure, legislation must be brought to bring about monitoring systems which subject all planning proposals to real scrutiny in public interest - a basis for this is outlined below:- acontinuous adaptation ofhuman more money, the skyline of the City of longer-term results of extreme cultural, ethical and emotional _way towards fully conscious and existence, over centuries, to ‘towering buildings, concrete walls, personal isolation, darkened skies, roaring traffic, raucous noise, see ssacalsccesaMhanciDinnaka wlRO aSa Nna A APRTBEaOScsii fis iat i= For the unconvinced I suggest a walk from Oxford London seen above the Thames must have been the most beautiful in Europe. SARISF-A j 5BIE Circus to Tottenham Court Road on a late night “We can se this from the paintings of shopping evening. » Canaletio and hear it from Words- ; ‘ : wills !worth’s sonnet On Westminster Bridge. People packed like herd enimals on inadequate - = 7 any Silt _polluted water and dirty streets.. Such an urban environment might begin to produce human whose very ability to survive in such conditions could mark the beings. Be Demolition of any building to be the subject of a permission with full opportunity for the people in the area to object. A time lag should be introduceé inte the procedure to ailow proper consideraticn to take place. All urban fabric to be given conservation area status so that redevelopment takes place only after thorough appraisal. All buildings tc be listed and classified as part of the conservation process So as to avoid the 'fashionable' and ‘obvious set piece! preservation stances. - Monitoring groups to be established on a formal Kee es | h - ‘ yehae To. ~ : @% : ° is basis both inside (Professional participation) and ©J All major building and development schemes to be appraised by a body elected by the oil dock ins ( wae ( )Erie Lyons in AJ ()Paul Jennings (Guardian 4 > e eser Strieter penalties (1)Evenibg Standard (2)Architects Journal led So the working party has been pre- sented with such ideas as stric trols for demolition, the 0: a tax on the value added ¢ planning consent, stricter penalti unlet offices and shops in new develop- ments in central areas and str regulations for the protection f servation areas, In addition, 0 the problem of ensuring how fonants of long standing, both res j tial and businesses, should be equivalent premises, when r 5 development, and at rents in scale with their previous ievel. / Delaying tactics are also a possibility, It is not generally realised that : ship of land is not a pre-req the submission of a planning ls “ion. Nowadays the owner has to he informed but there is nothing to stop = Beinedieetm Baw ie 4 j basis covering locaal infiilll schemes totc nati:onal4 eccnomi+c|/indeluastria4l,/ Dondon with al our elaborate plan: sdalew anentpryl tcc hy be eh ecome as Te a aes pid Bg ‘aa transport pohicy colusmaidnreicenstlty. “It's late to get a gitip. Wt 1 | i " 4 : © int Bis would demand esecess t 5 ~ ana shat - 7 ee . aut plans and proposals they have no right to irampie down Dic | i and work in conjunction with shadow structures .of iaa familiar streets. and disregard the ; i arrech’itecCtuss. : pplleenners 34 sSoolliicelitvoorrs, engi¢neersok SOCi GLOLV SUS » etc.,; heing an organised version or ‘character and scale and peopolfea : : ‘oeSs walitasty? city simply because it is convenient, i ‘ economic, or highly profitable. B uiathastetets cd aa - ‘ 6 - | : comment | 2.2 Public interest avpriasal P.T.A. | | outside (Public participation) the Central and Local anyone, providing they ah in the forms correctly and know what they are about, from putting forward theiy own i 7 ideas for proper consideration by the : | 4 te 4 when he pushed in an application to i \11 schemes produced by public authorities should convert Centre Point into flats, though { 4 rott Sante a : . be vetted by internally elected professionals av . this one was referred back for techn calreasons. However, Itseems me- 4 4 an officer level below that in contact with what extraordinary that filibustering 0! ‘ | time basis and their comment would be made public. MTA.opalata at wark 4 seec bs ate . Mr Anth@sy |Crosland oe nat halton,majoraeveopmentmWceniras ; ii vee quality of work is suriic biy high no department need fear this type of appraisal London at least until the verdict is ‘available on the Greater London Development Plan. Other suggestions shave included some kind of planing 1 oe hon bering bodies to be established on a twe tier i : Lend i eae “ : Pl g Public participation. inauiry. commission te consider the pwronbylerm. 4 anid a ian “ny at 4 4 a “ . acs 4 4 : : ‘a y 4 i Ldatl: 9 Governmmeenntt FPlaanninging =and Archi:tectduenrevis ses sieniean des departments. 5 Professional h fessional participation. de : i, re sot : . - = 3 committees . These groups would serve on a limited this sort which could give a breathing Space, has not been moreprevelent. \ 2.1 Area Yetting groups A.V.G. intreduce the London (Ce Buliding) aay Extreme, ‘ many existing should be published permissions. the whole spectrum of planning installations. from ning COnuBEE he oeue e kican. Absatdragasl, a theird-rAartcehitectAsm!ericaJnournciatly',s lie Qn a street or neighbourhood basis these groups Sut developers, public anc Tate, ‘must somehow be made awere ‘thet protest groups. AeV.G. together with all planning This would operate at a town. city or regional ms v regione 12, e references: o Slidtp aes: nate0'sli Iho council. Mr Berman showed the way Uy or Hd od ineffective body the R Fi Arts Commissi ineffective body the Royal Fine Arts Commission. . “ebdly :; A.V.G.'s described above. The intention here (3}Roger Walters in . Times interview. would be to replace and revitalise and put on a more socially conscious basis that tired and )John Bet jeman. )Observer Groups of P.I.A.'s could join in assessing nationally significant proposals such as mn installati cas} OWS ACID GLC Architecture Club News, Room 671(D),County Hall North Block Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ACID Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/132f6f9cf3a78251cf5731d7b1c68701.pdf 0d2c242ba52b1cd2f2c423d94f31d4e8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design - A New Role Subject The topic of the resource Towards a New Public Architecture', Essay by A Purser (9 pp) Description An account of the resource PUBEIt 2pES(oN New he DRAFT MAY 1978 PUBLIC DESIGN GROUP TOWARDS A NEW PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE Introduction This paper represents the conclusions reached by the PDG in its deliberations since its formation at the NAM Congress in Hull on 26th November 1977. The views expressed are either a unanimous or majority view of the :;roup as expressed by the author. The purpose of this essay is to tie together the main points of the other papers, add proposals and spirit and reach a workable path along which to move forward. The present political situation high-lights the difficulties of our task. The public's view of the value of its public servants is very low. Against such a background we must not only develop our beliefs and reasons for public design but we must get these views accepted at large, as it is only with community support that our ideals can be achieved. To gain grass roots support we will have to participate in the community: in tenants' groups, community projects, local politics, trade union branches, Trades Councils and other bodies based in the community. If we believe in the principle of public service, whether from a humanitarian, political or other viewpoint, we must convince the community that we really mean to improve the quality and content of our work together with its effects. The role of the professional in any alternative programme must include an understanding of the educational element. For too Long the myths and obstacles created by traditional professionalism have led to elitist viewpoints or at best paternalistic attitudes. These myths and barriers must be broken down. The interface of architect and public is a problem we need to study carefully, very carefully. ‘Desiring direct client contact may turn out to be unpleasant in actuality. Faced with a raging council tenant swearing about bloady council officials, are we going to blame the tenant for not understanding our problems, or are we going to sympathise with him for revealing the authority's failures ? Remember as part of the council we are going against the “espirit de corps" to criticise one another in public. We will need to take a patent attitude of explanation, listening, explanation, listening and go on explaining and listening. We will need to rebpond positively to hostile criticism, go beyond the surface problems and find ways of attacking the underlying difficulties. But this new interface will only prove mutually educational if the community is given the power to approve or reject design proposals. This shared learning experience will give the architect the new a satisfaction of helping the development of the people he works Or. For me this shared experience of mutual development gives great joy, far more than the creation of monumental edifices to my ecotism. In tackling the role of LAAD's we have seen some aspects of state intervention, the maintenance of the status quo by reproducing itself, as administrators of the gains fought for ‘by the working class and its allies over the centuries, as a bumbling body of mixed up bureaucrats and procedures. Some people fear that if community architecture is a development of existing LA's then state intervention will be its death knoll. Our arguments are based on a detailed understanding of state intervention. We see that within aspects which are genuinely in the interests of the public (i.e. the National Health Service etc.) and these we wish not only to maintain but to improve. On the other hand, we are aware that many aspects of state intervention are re;ressive and these we hope to weaken. Our main belief is in the democratic. improvements caused by decentralisation and will we hope, coupled with our other proposals, produce beneficial results. Intervention in decentralised teams will be caused by financial allocations and in meeting standards, etc. No local community can raise through its own means all the funds it needs to carry out all the diverse functions necessary. Only central government, with its manifold fiscal means, can raise the money and not get completely fooled by the national and multi-national companies. It is interesting to note that Britain has more firms exploying over 40,000 workers than the rest of Europe put together. For these reasons, we acknowledse that to a large dej:ree, central government will fund local architectural projects, however, we wish this resource to be allocated as a lump sum giving the community considerable say in what it spends its money on. We also believe that this lack of funding means that voluntary or charitable community design schemes can only provide a minute minority service. The value of the. present voluntary or charitable project is to show. the need and learnthe pros and cons for starting the real thing. Similar to the example set by charitable housing trusts in the last century. So however devolve the design team and local unit of government is, we are going to have to come to terms with some government intervention as a result of the financial situation. But tackling the worst aspects of government intervention has greater potential at a local level. A local design team working co-operatively with the community will raise the aspir- ations and the collective potential of that community. Increased collective action can challenge the stretched resources of the state and overcome the state's paternalistic and repressive aspects, thus creating a real shift of power to the community. Red tape has grown to conceal and conserve the dual contradict- ory elements of state intervention. Looking at the role of design standards is an illustrative example. National standards have evolved from a conflict of opinions. Take Parker Morris for example: 1 for the working class, Parker Morris ensures a minimum spacial requirement in council housing the role of the state there are 2 for the state and probably the professional too, Parker Morris provides a standard that ensures the working class can recreate itself. 3 for free enterprise, Parker Morris represents the maximum amount of space bought with some of the profits of capitalism. Seen in this way, standards become a political issue and one which as professionals with progressive intentions we have to understand and act upon. If we are to work in the community providing our services for those who can'ttafford us or our products, we must clearly ally ourselves with their interests. For me this means we must not only fight to maintain what standards have been achieved by centuries of collective action but also press for improvements in standards. At the present time some LAs are trying to relax Parker Morris standards in an attempt to house more people. This is totally wrong. Rather than challenge the government on the helpful aspects of standards, the government should be challenged on its inadequate allocation of resources to housing. It is also wrong because councils' response to public pressure for housing is met with demands by the council only for a reduction in standards: the whole community should be aroused to demand greater housing resources. So far I have outlinedfour reasons for decentralisation with grass roots involvement: ir it is at this level that the greatest potential exists to improve society. 2 the role of the professional Weer ngoe eeteT? and educational rather than remote and paternalistic. 3 the greatest benefits and, therefore, satisfaction, can occur here. 4 at this level the state has the least potential for harmful intervention. With this in mind let us develop a suggested outline for the Public Design Service of tomorrow. The Public Design Service working in the interests of the community will be locally based and fully accountable to the community. It will be a multi-disciplinary team working on a collective basis, in the team will be: architects, technicians, planners, builders, together with specialists as required. The team will be account— able to a parish or ward committee consisting of locally elected representatives of the following organisations: tenants' and community groups, trade unions, political parties and team workers. The local committee will have power to dispense resources and allocate land, accept designs and employ staff. The committee will have to relate to higher organs of government. This will only be meaningful if financial control is firmly locally controlled and the decentralisation of local government reverses the effects of local government re-organisation. We suggest the following strategy for decentralising LAADs. a At present architectural teams in LAADs are organised either on a specialist basis or general basis but both operating throughout the whole LA area. b Within the department teams should be allocated to specific areas, wards, parishes etc. and that they should all be general teams capable of calling in specialist advice should they need it. (Up to this point we believe there is a capability of fairly quick achievement and we have, therefore, included it in our interim proposals. The strategy from this point on is much morelong term and only a suggested guide.) c Having established teams with local responsibilities contacts and connections can be gradually increased with that community. d When good local relations have beenstarted it seems silly to have all local teams in 'head office'. The time has come to move the office accommodation into the local team area. Where possible housing should be made available in the area for team members wha wish to live in the community. e The local teams dig in, begin to formalise the democratic links with the community. f With well-established links both formal and informal ways should be developed of increasing the power of the community. Q.E.D. in conclusion a locally based democratically decentralised design team has been formed. How would that model work in your borough ? Examples of this approach are at present being worked through. It is important to realise that from the start this approach is dependent upon co-operation from all involved departments. It is not the sort of idea that can be imposed from above. Similarly, it would be very helpful to groups attempting such a course to have worked examples and plenty of back-up arguments prepared. This is a task in which the PDS believes it'can play an important part. The PDG in its interim proposals has set out the following issues which we believe can be tacked successfully. i The change from specialist architectural teams to area based general design teams, previously mentioned. 2 Job architects to report in person to the client committees. 3 Tenants and users to be included in briefing job architects and the designs, standards etc. to be approved by the tenants and users. further. 1 Internal Democracy a aBe3 aa iv 4 Architects' Departments to be altered so that there are only job architects and the chief architect. As an example we can site the case of building material standards. EJMA windows may provide an easy answer to many problems. But architecturally we can find that the various combinations of side hung, top light pivoting result in an aesthetic nightmare. While from the housing departments! view the quality of timber results in frequent and costly maintenance problems. To the building department the use of such windows is often awkward with problems in installation, lintel sizes, scaffolding etc. and again the continuing volume of maintenance work. If we can get all these knowledgeable elements together to form a design construction team we can begin to put right the separation of builder and designer. This artificial separation only came about with the advent of the industrial revolution (see NAM's "A Short History of the Architectural Profession"). We have seen the value of direct labour organisations to the public and we must add to that our belief in our public role to create a design construction team unsurpassed by the private sector. It is hoped that these proposals will improve internal and external democracy. The PDG has taken these and other issues and begun to develop them What follows are proposals that are not easily or quickly achievable and will, therefore, form part of the future work of the PDG. Design teams of around 12 people locally based would operate co-operatively, the team would include architects, technicians, quantity surveyors, service engineers, builders and secretarial staff. The team would elect annually a team leader. Management Committees - local authorities suffer from a rigid hierarchial pyramid, we believe that policy and management decisions should be made by a departmental committee with representatives of all types of depart- mental workers. In this way the collective wisdom of the department is fully utilised and escapist buck-passing is avoided. The link between teams and departmental committee will be an elected one. Links with other departments will be made at two levels, (a) working teams can be made up of interdepartmental people, i.e. from the housing department, building department , social services etc. and (bd) interdepartmental committees representative of a cross section of department- al staff, i.e. not just the chiefs. 2 External Democracy The advantages that arise from the formation of tenant/user client committees for briefing job architects and approving the work etc. are: a working with tenants/street or;anisations provides a wealth of knowledge of the area, historical background, minute detail, seneral problems, local characters, ambitions etc. A close relationship with the community creates two side effects - (i) the community's increased knowledge enables them to articulate their desires towards the built environ- ment more effectively, (ii) the role of the professional as educator and initial organiser on the environment enables the community to develop its own strength from which demands can be made to increase standards and the allocation of resources. b Trades Councils form the local focus of trade union branches and as such have great potential for action on community affairs. Currently there is a TUC campaign to improve the provision of facilities for the disabled. Trades Councils around the country are pursuing policies to get these provisions realised. The fact that it is often the architects who appear to forget the handicapped has been noticed by the trades unions. But we know as architects that the problem is often one of cost. Clearly the coupling of trades council pressure and architectural knowledge could lead to an increased provision of facilities for the disabled. 5 Theory of Public: Service We believe that civilisation in enhanced by the collective wisdom and actions of the populace. The:-funetion.of pubic service is to provide the community with an instrument that realises collective decisions. We need to not only study and develop the theory of public service but to apply practically these ideals in our day to day work. 4 As previously pointed out, housing provided in a free market society has to be capable of providing the dominant class with a working class that is capable of reproducing itself. We have seen that free enterprise is incapable on its own of providing decent housing for all the population. The reality of these facts will strike anyone who has to spend his days visiting council housing, so clearly designed as a machine for existing in. There is no way that they provide a space for growing mentally and physically. Few people realise that the system that created the need for public housing is still incapable of providing owner occupation for a good half of the population. (Rented accommodation both private and public accounts for 50% of the population but only 47% of the dwellings, depending upon which source of information is used.) As an agent of public service I wish to see public housing built to the highest possible standards. Public housing should embody all the collective ideologies and benefits that do not occur in isolated owner/occupier rip off Wimpey estates. Housing associations are another diversion sent to confuse the issue. Housing associations receive government funding without either the control or the democracy found in local authorities. In essence they provide the government with a back door method of getting housing on the cheap. Central Government Central government is, and will continue to be, the main source of public housing finance. There is such a lot of ground to cover here that already the PDG sees the need to work closely with other more economically orientated alternative organisations. The conference of Socialist Economists Housing Workshop springs to mind in this context. The PDG believes that case studies will have to be made of particular situations ‘and that the values and problems found should be made available to all interested parties. PDG Strategy and Steering Group To co-ordinate the work of all the groups and further’ the development of public design. If. we can only get three or four groups under way as a result of this conference there will be a substantial improvement in our capabilities. Fro m the amount of work the PDG has done already, as well as organise this conference, I know that an enlarged team can make very satisfactory progress. At this point I'd like to tell a little story of how I see the future in a local design team. "Tt was spring time in the office, a bare headed technician was watering down the coffee. No, but seriously, it hadn't been a bad week. The District Council have agreed to convert the old St John's school and the pressure from the residents had ensured that the funds would be made available in the next financial year. At the present time no suitable way has been found of avoiding speculation on land values, and until national asset in the same way as coal, will be found. ao land is treated as a no satisfactory answer I was leaving the office on the way to the Bullfinch for a lunch-time pint when old Jack Scamp came up to me after seeing the new technician, Grace. I thought I was in for the usual round of complaints about drains, windows, pigeons or whatever happened to upset him, but remarkably he was quite affable. Apparently he had been to complain about the draught of cold night air coming into his WC. Grace must have actually got through to him, for he had agreed to have his house modernised. Something to do with piles I think ! "Hey up, Adam" called Mrs Bestwick as Iwalked alony Maple Road. "T've had that leak mended, the man came round not half-an-hour after I told you about ot o" "Well," I said, "that's what comes of having a proper council building department." "Aye, its zood to see our rates being used properly. Thanks anyway." Crossing over New Road I was glad of the shelter provided by the young trees, the wind still having a nip in it, and I shuddered at the thought of wide open tarmac and grass spaces that this fifties council estate used to have as landscaping. ° Over the door of the Bullfinch was the name of the Landlord, Ernie Wigley, never got over that name. Inside Ernie served me my usual while rattling on about old St John's school and how aS a boy he could remember ... " Ahn well, a little dream at present it may be, BUT a major reality it can indeed become. We've stated why we believe in decentralised public design offices and we have shown one possible way of getting there. We know a lot of work has to be done and we believe this work will reveal other ways of gaining our objectives, For too long LAADs have sat back and defenSively resisted any change at all. It is now time that we rekindled our faith in the public service. The kind of fully-committed public service we talk about can be created, and we can create environments in which people are people, where a sense of caring and sharing is dominant. We can create a really happy, first-class public environment. The PDG believes, and we hope you will agree with us, that the ideals of public service are worth fighting for, that the part we play can lead to a better society. If you want to see first class public housing estates, first class inner city environments, first rate public participation, join with us and help create democratic design, a new role for local authority architects that is a real public service. i, This conference endorses the development of the PDG and asks all those interested to either a attend the next PDG meeting on Saturday, May 27th at 11.30 a.m., 118 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, or b inform the PDG of what work they would be interested to participate in. 2 The task of the PDG and its working groups is to further the ambitions of a Public Design Service. a The PDG will report on its progress to the Annual Congress of the New Architecture Movement, provisionally on November llth & 12th at Cheltenhan. 4 This conference expresses its thanks to the New Architecture Movement for its help and assistance. 5 This conference expresses its thanks to the Midland Region of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians for the use of the premises and hopes that this event is the forerunner of other co-operative ventures between building and design workers. Adam Purser, 6th May, 1978. . = as ge ’ : o ie 5 v ~\ é \ t }2 ;: 4 VRoeS é:‘;£ S&S ps fe a 53 - te wy D -\ 1 4 Bb ”f » > ~ Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Adam Purser Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 1978 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/8e811e981db21d99aa428adbb673559b.pdf 1ac8bb526d8ce9a03adfe1bdf6abc91f https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/e93c8c35f2a1ed1a98e2ed61a78e24cd.pdf d7dde0af57b8d3d89fe89e765cde9025 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Press Cuttings Subject The topic of the resource Various Press Cuttings about public architecture, many demonstrating the profession's hostility to local authority architect departments (3 files) Description An account of the resource ae 2 CG Auk public S2¢ev Fess Ct ane - | Aete eee Qit2" expensive than development’, has given the WCC con- sent rather than pointing out the error of its ways. One of the many curious reasons the Secretary of State gives, in his letter of consent, is that he ‘. ..is aware that the city council have no intention of rehabilitating the buildings and there is no evidence that any other agency having the necessary resources would be willing to do so’. Indeed, he feels that the ‘result of his refusing listed building consent would be the continuing decay of the listed buildings and the perpetuation of unsatisfactory conditions on the site [which] also aggravates local housing needs’. The local Amenity Association had, in its submis- sion to the inquiry, shown that the housing could be rchabilit- ated to provide housing for between 158 to 184 persons. WCC would build housing but has not yet produced a scheme. Public sector architects’ efficiency under scrutiny A major study of public sector architecture has been started by the RIBA. Sparked off by increasingly strong attacks on local authority offices, the study will look at the architects work in public authorities. It will make recommendations on ways in which the profession’s skills can be used most effectively. The RIBA has asked more than 200 local authorities, nation- alised industries, new towns and government bodies to submit evidence. The study will be carried out by a four-man steering group chaired by Gordon Graham. The other members are Thurston Williams, Bob Giles, John Wells-Thorpe and Patrick Harrison. They plan to complete the report by next summer. Launching the study last week, Gordon Graham commented that he saw the issue as being of vital concern to the whole profession. Not only does the public sector employ half of the RIBA’s UK membership, but it accounts for one-third of private architects’ workload as well. Graham repudiated what he called the “travesty of the truth put about by some people who should know better’, a refer- ence to GLC housing supremo George Tremlett at the RIBA conference in Liverpool. Instead, he claimed that the bureau- cratic features of some public offices weren’t always a very suitable environment for the creative role of designers. Awards for conservation Howell Mill at Llanddeusant, Anglesey. Maladministration in Aberdeen | ‘The people of our country are aware of their heritage and have rightly become steadily more determined that needless destruction shall be stopped and that the effects of neglect be made good,’ said Secretary of State for the Environment Peter Shore when handing over this year’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’/The Times conservation award (see ‘DOE reverse on rehab’, p198). The competition, the subject of which was the restoration and reuse of industrial premises, was divided into two categories: industrial and related premises preserved for further indus- trial use, and industrial premises converted to educational or recreational use with public access permitted. A total of 50 entries were received with the Howell Mill at Llanddeusant, Anglesey, winning the first category prize and the Gladstone Pottery museum at Longton, Staffordshire, winning the second category prize. The Howell Mill is the only remaining working mill relying entirely on water power in north Wales. The architect for the work was N. Squire Johnson. The Gladstone works is the last remaining Victorian pottery factory. It was on the point of demolition when a Trust was formed to buy and convert it into a museum. The architects for the scheme were size unacceptable. However, the planning department mis- Green, Campbell Wainwright and Parmers. takenly gave the applicant—the Grampian Health Board— The second prize in the latter category was won by the Farm- the go-ahead and, to compound this error, failed to advertise ham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey, and the third prize by the the decision. Locals, who later objected to the scheme, only Worsborough Mill museum, Barnsley, Yorkshire. There were knew about the proposals when men arrived on Site to begin The Architects’ Journal 2 August 1978 199 no runners-up in the category won by the Howell Mill. The judges were Brigadier T. F. J. Collins of Essex County Council, Richard Harris of The Times and Michael Wright, editor of Country Life. Aberdeen District Council has been found guilty of maladmin- istration by the local government Ombudsman because of a ‘series of errors and omissions’ by its planning department. An office development application involving the building of an extension on to alisted building in Queens Terrace, which is in a central Aberdeen conservation area, was tumed down by the planning committee because it considered its design and “sg Sisto TRADA’s new building at High Wycombe was opened last week (AF 10.11.76 p879). As one would expect it isa largely timber building (designed by Geoffrey Hawkins in collaboration with TRADA architects). The view above shows the new building with the conference room in the centre: the site slopes steeply and the timber frame construction has adapted with a minimum of excavation. A curious feature of the building is the roof. Instead of the usual granite chippings the flat roof is covered with turf which protects the roof membrane from sunlight and insulates it. In brief Commercial development for Epsom Renton Howard Wood Levin’s scheme for a commercial development in the centre of Epsom, Surrey, has been accepted by the town council. The scheme, which covers a site of about 4-05 hectares, retains the existing frontage on the main streets bounding the site and includes a new shopping mall, car park, offices and some housing. The developers are the Dutch based firm of Brodero. Leeds at the World Congress A project by a Leeds Polytechnic architectural student— Howard Wainwright—has won its way to final judging in a competitiontobeheldduringtheWorldCongressofArchi- tects in Mexico City in October. The theme of the competition is the design of a local government complex to serve a popula- tion of up to 50 000. AONBs to be studied The Countryside Commission is to carry out a two year study into the effectiveness of designating Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a means of conserving and improving land- scape. Don’t monitor planning, says RTPI The RTPI strongly opposes the Government’s proposal to introduce assessors to monitor the planning system. Tony Eddison, chairman of RTPI’s External Affairs Committee, wrote to Peter Shore recently suggesting that the system is already extensively monitored. The planners’ public accounta- bility is already high, he believed: through the ombudsman, public inquiries, the press and community groups. New London region chairman The RIBA London region has elected J. Maxwell Hutchinson to be its new chairman. He has already been chairman of the North-East Thames Architectural Society and of the London Environment Group. The Harkness Fellowships Twenty fellowships are offered each year for 12 to 21 months of study and travel in the United States. They are open to UK citizens in any profession or field of study whose secondary and further education (or equivalent professional experience) has been wholly or mainly in the United Kingdom. Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age on 1 September 1979, unless qualified in medicine or employed in the Civil Service or the media, in which cases the upper age limit is 33. Appli- cation forms from The Harkness Fellowships (UK), Hark- ness House, 38 Upper Brook Street, London, W1Y 1PE (en- close sae for 16p). Five schemes win awards The five winning schemes for BBC Nationwide’s Pride of Place competition are: the town of Portsoy by Banff District Council; Cofferidge Close, Stony Stratford, by Milton Keynes Development Corporation; the West Bank Community Scheme, Widnes, by Halton District Council architect’s depart- ment; a land reclamation scheme at Halkyn, Clwyd, by the Halkyn Countryside Committee; and parts of Poole (old and new town), Dorset, by Poole Council architect’s department. Prizes appropriate to cach scheme will be devised later. a the hall and its 77-acre estate (all now owned by the Peter- borough Development Corporation) include spending £1 mil- lion repairing and converting the hall, stable block and gate- house into offices and buildings for recreational use, and £100 000 restoring the formal gardens and stocking the park with deer, rare animals and new trees. i IEESSSSSSSS iveniios PPceeet OCNELEAGSAFEESIT Bspeepe 200 The Architects’ Journal 2 August 1978 construction. When the council finally discovered its mistake it decided that, since a tender had already been accepted, it was too late to stop work. Although construction began over a year ago the extension has sull not been completed because the contractor has gone out of business. Hotel and clinic for grounds of historic house Plans to build an hotel, clinic and sports facilities in the grounds of the grade I listed Thorpe Hall, near Peterborough, are causing great concem among historians and local residents. The Friends of Thorpe Hall, which was built in 1645 by Peter Mills and is one of the most important surviving common- wealth houses in the country, ‘are concerned that [the devel- opment] will min the magnificent views now obtained of Thorpe Hall from Longthorpe Parkway’ and that the hotel and clinic ‘would be completely out of character with the rest of the conservation area’. The Friends also ask in their letter of objection to the city council that ‘if this sort of development is allowed within a conservation area then what isn’t permit- ted?’ As well as the city council, which is now considering the proposals put forward by the Bell Industrial Trust Ltd, the Friends have also written to the DOE demanding a public inquiry. In addition to an hotel and clinic the developer’s proposals for Decline in members could force SAAT out of existence THE Society of Architectural and Associated Technicians warned last week that it could be forced out of existence if a move is not made to boost falling membership. The Warning came from SAAT’S vice-chairman, George Lowe, at the society’s annual general meeting in Edinburgh comparable to the 20 000-odd of in parallel but different the RIBA. In the ‘theady days’* Streams.” of 1967/68 the level reached a Lowe added that the other peak of 6000 and has since fields included industry, been slowly declining. It now commercial forms, the catering stands at about 4 500. Lowe suggested that the policy Of recruiting members Lowe explained that of the 700 or so HNC students who almost entirely from private and could qualify for membership public architects’ offices and that the extension of OF SAAT cach year, only about contracting firms created *‘a @ quarter tried to join the society. His statistics were based on a survey carried out on 1973/74 “It is possible that if the massive shortfall between those taking HNC examinations and those who seck SAAT wrong place for our members, qualifications are not resolved, but it iy fairly certain that by the Society may cease to be concentrating on the more usual viable within a few years,” he and professionally ‘legitimate’ Warned field we have ignored and The society was set up in therefore failed to gain 1965, at which time its initiators advantage from those who hoped for a membership work outside the establishment Bexley tenants get a say in house design THE prospective tenants of “The idea is that we will be able seven council houss in Bexley to hear something about 1, will be allowed people's personal preferences, say in their design under although we hope they won't be a plan put forward by the frustrated if they're told what When youve seen one ofour wall clocks borough council If the scheme wins the approval of the DoE, with Which itisnow beme discussed the council’s architects will hold meetines with the people inhabitants will have some say nvolved to consider how theyy over depend on the outcome of Want to influencthee design the talks with DoE. Bexley’s The houses are all three- scheme is similar to one bedroomed and are duc to start introduced by Haringey next year. Assistant borough Council where tenants are also architectKennethMechansaidinvinodeslignvdisecusdsions Italso happens to be a splendid way of introducing you to the next big advantage. The variety. Because not just content to produce a design for every possible purpose, most of the ECS Wall Clock models are available in different versions and sizes. Thus some can be wall mounted and others fitted flush, without changing the overall look. This combination of mounting variations, overall sizes, and choice of movements together with al the different styled dials, means that ECS offer you one of the most comprehensive ranges possible. In addition to this range of wall clocks ECS can also offer Day and Date clocks, Digital clocks, Mahogany Calendar clocks, and ifyou really want to be ahead ofthe times, the unique Teleclock, which receives its accuracy from a Swiss radio beam. We also make clocks Developing ideas on Portman operations involved and the committee tended towards leniency. Nevertheless as the rules now stand an architect is theoretically in jeaopardy if he designs his own house and sells it to somebody soon alter Portman operates three companies the RIBA audience was told. One offers complete “I WOULD love to be able to design services with architects, be a developer”’ said architect services men, engineers but Keith Scott at the RIBA talk- not quantity surveyors who in on US architect/developer are as unknown in the US as John Portman on Tuesday in Europe, Another supplies Speaking after the RIBAJ furnishing and fittings and the editors had given a brief slide third is a development and and movie show of Portman’s management company. In this work — omitting an interview way he is able to do what which the noise of Portman’s British architects would like to air conditioning had ruined do — control the whole Scott was opening a discussion process of building from about architect developers. berinning tolend, though not He pointed out that the actual construction of Portman exploited a loophole buildings in the American Institute's Eric Lyons tartly pointed code Less a loophole than the out that architects were no less AITA’s stipulation that its susceptible fo corruption members can act as architect than anybody else and one ex developers providing they architect, ex-developer asked have equity in the Scott why he didn't leave the development (‘participating RIBA and 20 ahead and members” as the Americans develop anyway put it). They would thus be The question nobody effectively their own clients asked is how seven Veurs of and there was no conflict of learning how to put buildings interest together particularly fitted Developer cases brought architects to enter the complex before the RIBA disciplinary world of high finance and committee were said to be hotel and office occupancy judged on the scale of prediction “So what exactly.have you got in mind? philosophy of narrow and debilitating exclusiveness” There were other related areas where members could be recruited membership in the mainstream is limited — indeed the opposite has proved to be the case. There seems to be only one way to look, and that isoutwards.” trade, property companies and service organisations Tony Lodge, a former SAAT chairman, sugeested at the meeting that technicians cligible for membership could also be found in the computer field and the North Sea oil industry Lowe concluded; “‘It is clear News rd provide a vernacular touch to this scheme for 42 units designed by “IL is not true to suggest that For a full report, see News in Green Lloyd and Adams for the G: ess Trust, The homes are situated on the Kings Road in Chelsea not a brick’s we have been looking in the Focus, page 6. throw from Eric Lyons’ Worlds End scheme. The “chimneys” contain vent pipes, ven jon ducts ete, not fMues. they want isn’t permitted by the Building Regulations Derails of exactly what aspects of the desien the future you havent seen them al. Remember, most models in our range can be adapted to run either from the mains, from to order, incorporating company namestyles a battery, or as part of the ECS Quartz master clock system. Which at the same time means saying goodbye to any power source restrictions that may hitherto have been hindering your ideas about installation. and symbols. And so the listgoes on. You'll find al the details listed in our many specification sheets on the subject. Send to the address below. ECS Wall Clocks. They’re al time greats. ECS ENGLISH CLOCK SYSTEMS Industime House, Chase Road, Park Royal, London NW/10 6QI Telephone: 01-965 9011 Also at Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Gliggow For instant information tick on reader inquiry card UI |The weklynewspaperforthebuildingteam_ Pia a Why people prefer to buy new homes TTT by FEBRUARY 6, 1976 Metric madness “THE imposition of the metric system upon usby doctrinaire dictators, completely out of touch with people, is a dis- ceful, insensitive act” — trick O'Keefe launches a full-scale attack on metrica- tion. Page 12. [faaeseea Crisis City EIGHTEEN leading archi- tects have examined the spects for the furure ofDublin and their views are brought together under the title, Dub- lin: a City in Crisis Neil Steedman looks at the results. Page 10 — 1. Systems guide BD pull-out product code chart on housing systems — sce page England's Ist limited competition winner THE design (above) for a new HQ for the Avon division of the Severn-Trent Water Authority is the winner in the first limited regional design competition held in England. HN Jepson & Partners of Nuneaton was the winning ractice out of six local firms invited to submit designs. Sponsored by the Water Authority and organised by the RIBA’s West Midlands Region, the competition took six weeks from briefing to as- sessment. Freeson also revealed in*his (Gon, Melton). Ereeson, said @ Qurmide commissiforntshe By Paul Finch there were now 679 staff in th PSA increased by 30 per cent answer that a “comprehensive Directorate, 44 of whom were in the period January to Sep- A PACE-SETTING review” of the Directorate architects. There were 490 ar- tember 1975, compared with A ‘Architect's office aims at better standards PSA GETS NEW DESIGN TEA “designoffice”with- General’s responsibility for technical development work chitectsinthePSAasawhole. thesameperiodin1974. The new London City Mis- sion, rising from the ashes of the 18th century church of St John Horsleydown, in the Property Ser- vices Agency has been created as part ture work is “closely concen- are called architects and not This was to ensure that fu- Ayon division managing of moves to improve trated on clearly identifiable P&TOs. This was one of the director Alan Harker said the design standards. needs.” Better machinery has competition, which has a prize been set up for giving guidance of the commission for the Thecreationoftheoffice on Cas issued within the project, “brought out a was'"a recommendation agency, he said, and the PSA fices should not be used except could contribute to im- pofenent io ofthe Index : tremendous range of solu- from Environment Secre- Board was now considering tions.” He described the win- tary Anthony Crosland in how to “provide for evaluation ning design as “deceptively response to the Matthew/ and monitoring of design mat- simple” and fitting well on the Skillington report on ters at top management level” site. promotion of high stan- more effectively. More detailed designs Freeson said although it was as integral of design teams, and that partial com- missions should be stopped — have been half-implemented. public awareness of issues Inquiry Service 16, Dateline Freeson said action was be- ing taken to ensure close inte- should be ready within four dards of Government ar- too early to assess the work of gration of the work of drawing affecting the quality of the 17, Appointments 18 — 19. built environment.” ai cege. Today,morethaneverbefore, Wilton Works, Shepperton Rd. you lok forefficiency and unbeatable London N1 3DG. Tel: 01-226 6455. months, work should start by chitectural design. the Directorate, “I am sure that offices and design teams, but it Set up under thecontrol of the measures being taken will had proved impossible to September this year and the the Director General of Design help to foster* professional abandon partial commissions. Services, architect Dan Lacey, morale and stimulate the “Bur when work isput out to headquarters should be oc- cupied, by 300 staff currently scattered throughout the divi- the multi-disciplinary team is quality of design work in the consultants, the achievement sion, within two years. West Midlands region agency.” Replying to further ques- tions from Michael Latham Anthony Crosland last March, he said it would be a “pace- setter” in the PSA, and that its work would provide apractical basis for guidance and advice ONLY 1 per cent of those to the agency’s general design work. Ina Parliamentary reply this chairman Alan Robinson said he hoped this would be the first of many such limited competitions in England. from within the PSA. When the idea of the design designed to produce quick re- office was put forward by Pioncered in Scotland, they are sults, and to give the promoter a direct say in choosing the winner. Repair row: who choose to buy a brand new house do so because itiseasier to get a mortgage, says a mar- and that everyone wanted the council fined week, Housing and Construc- ket research report published largest living area possible. headed by another architect, Geoffrey Woodward. He and the other five senior members of the design office already recruited have all come of good design is always a major consideration in arrang- ing a commission,” he said. The survey found that the overall size of the kitchen was not as important as the layout and other specialist functions has been carried out. @ The DoE’s Environment Board has set up three groups under Sir Hugh ilson, Alfred Wood and Professor which was bombed durin; Peter Hall to “study further the Battle of Britain. Page 7. ways in which the Department tion Minister Reg Freeson said this week. Most indicated that there THE LONDON Borough of the future programme of the could never be too much stor- Lambeth had to pay out more new unit andthe staff needed Nearly 50 per cent of those age space in a house; 80 per Potter Rax Limited, Dept than £200 this week and was orderedtorepairacouncil out. because they are cheaper. Other important reasons for choosing new over old, the report says, are suitability and specity.That'swhy Raxscoretimeand Birminghars edmorethanthreebedrooms. againwithsizeablecontractsfor BraatnBascinghstokee(s4580). Carcitf house after pleading guilty in a case brought by one of its ten- ants. Nearly fifty per cent regarded central heating as essential in their first home. Ninety per centthoughtthatagaragewas andtodeliveronschedulemakes He said new titles for professional staff are being considered so that architects Matthew/Skillington recom- mendations, Others — thatdrawing of- for it are now being worked who buy new houses do so cent of those questioned want- value formoney ineverything you Telex 264354 Existing resources will be redeployed to create whatever is decided. Apart from Wood- folding shutter doors and collapsible gatesinmajorpublicworks. Our capacity to custombuild with great precision to any size, in any ‘quantity — {021-558 2211). Bath (0225-23171). (0222-24771), Manchester (061-205 2018). Glasgow (041-332 0411), Southampton Cork (04-893 2284), Belfast (0232-669552), (52358), Dubin (62139) Agentsthrowghouttheworks. design, lack of choice of an The verdict followed last ward,theotherfivemembers olderhousewithintheirprice of the design office comprise two architects, a qs, civil en- gineer and M&E engineer. essential or desirable. The report, by Research weck’s High Court decision that local authorities which al- lowed their properties to fal into such disrepair as to become a statutory nuisance may be charged with acriminal offenceandfinedupto£200. agency’swork,”butwillbe edtobuyamucholderhouse, ofEngland.Itisavailablefor resistantdoor—allmade-to-measure The design office is intend- ed to undertake “a significant representative sample of the “Many respondents did not like the design of houses built in the immediate post-war period. They ultimately want- Consult usfor folding sliding shutter doors, roller shutters and grilles, range and ease of maintenance orrepairs. Associates, was based on 12 group discussions with 100 irst-time new house buyers in the North Midlands and South us highly competitive in today's conditions. The comprehensive nature ofourexpertiseisalsoatellingfactor Lambethhadtopayafineof concentrating initiallyonde- butuntilthiswasfinancially £85 from The Radfords, foryouropenings. £50, £105 compensation for signing the PSA’s new possible they preferred the de- Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 damage to clothes caused by headquarters, which will be sign of new houses,” says the 8DJ. Telephone Stone (078 the collapse of a ceiling and built in Teesside under the 583) 3164/5. £66 costs, dispersal programme. report. ® on reader inquiry form uilt environment, both for green field development and in Sean existing built-up areas; and to consider the scope for greater Week 9, v collapsible gates and altypes offire- y iv Perpecu e e7, r io 9, Week by lucts 14, Reader e 7, I Int n ter- For doors that match ernne ‘Some of the Rax sliding folding shutter doors supplied for the Main Transport Workshop, Creekside, Deptford for the London Borough of Lewisham. Contractors Ws: Simms Sons & Cooke (Southern) Ltd. Borough Surveyor:J. W. Turner. 8Bee ae out by Dr lain Clark of St Luke's Hospital at Guildford. The full report is expected to be criminating against certain a this summer by periods ofarchitecture — Dr Clark began his particularly Victorian — in its Grade 1 list of historic buildings. According to investigations carried out on behalf of SAVE, i The new London head office of NAM address change THE address of the New Architecture Movement has changed to 9 Poland Street, London, W1. Membership is£5 for working members and £2 for unemployed and students, not £1 as stated in BD last week. Dramatic talk y Vic Tapner country houses listed as Grade 1 are Victorian. also notably absent. Other about £5 million and building work | The application has come tertainment facilities are en- started in August 1975. Completio: from architects Gray Associates visaged. inbalancesinthesystemwouldIsexpectedincarly1978.eeeofWindsor,actingfortheirSofaronlyanoutlineplandancyif.cutbackmeasures come to light when his own lists Client: Banque Nationale de Paris, clients Craftroad Ltd which was has been _ Submitted and being considered by the council were complete, he said. Architect: Fitzroy Robinson and | set up several years ago to Southend District Council has are implemented. Most of the “Though the Victorian period saw the building of more palatial and prodigious country houses than any previous period, officialdom has been slow, indeed grudging in theatres and railways.” appreciating their worth,” says SAVE. The criticism accompanies Make the most the release of the initial fin- dings of a three-year research said, the listing system was too Dr Iain Clark. programme into Grade 1 ised) upgraded Mentmeoreitealf fram buildings in England carried Grade 2 to Grade 1.” jayman's study “basically SOUTHEND councillors were The project would en- Theatre” on March 30 at the William Street, London which was yesterday considering a compass a total area of 200 ha. Kingston Branch of the RIBA. THE trend to community wagon which is inevitably architecture is continuing with attracting many architects in the establishment of a new search of work.” organisation called “‘Support’’. set up hard on the heels of the work in Support is based on direct relationships with people Architecture Working Group, on the ground. There is a need RIBA’s Community consists of people with ar- to redefine ways of working.” Hinsley added that there was who want to work outside no formal membership, but a traditional professional loose organisation working to hitectural and building skills methods Support says its aims are to a structure had _ been promote socially responsible deliberately avoided to retain work and to help the majority flexibility. of people who have no control over the built environment they office in The Clerkenwell live in. Although it is London- Workshops, 27 Clerkenwell based it intends to work with Close, London EC1. community organisations helping deprived social groups in all parts of the country. Demolition error Where particular projects need specialist advice Support THE Environment Secretary, will contact an expert to help. Peter Shore, has admitted he In the long term Support wants made a mistake in authorising to establish new skills like demolition of a building in support each other. Too formal King’s Lynn which contained Unlike many other “‘com- Norman arches hidden behind participatory design. munity architecture” groups Support will be involved directly with those it is working for. In its first newsletter re- discovered after demolition had leased this week Support says: started. King’s Lynn Preser- “Community architecture is vation Trust disputed this rapidly becoming a fashionable earlier this week. A spokesman expression. It is used by groups told BD a letter containing as disparate as ARC and the photographic evidence had All this and more from the world’s largest manufacturer of decorative products. Make the most of us—ring Freefone 6067 for literature and further information. Support is establishing an the facade. Shore told the Commons last Make the most of Crown’s vast product range nts Specifier— invaluable for tricky specification week their existence was only Banque Nationale de ParisTieiiol Britain's largest marina planned SIR Denys Lasdun is to give a was “topped out” last week. The illustrated talk on “Architec- new building is on the site of the bank’s old headquarters inKing tural aspects of the National through curiosity” and an demolished in February 1975 and planning application fora huge Two harbour walls would be interestintheownershipofproviadgerossareaof7800sqm.commercial/housingbuilt—onealongsidethe historic buildings. He told BD Expanded foreign exchange development on 90 ha of remains of Southend’s fire- that Victorian buildings were capacity, improved staff accommo. reclaimed land off the seafront, ruined pier — to enclose the not the only ones to be dation and catering facilities are The mecting begins at 7.30pm in the Main Lecture Theatre, Kingston Polytechnic, Penrhyn Road, Kingston. Council cuts mere” 1 of the 780 overlooked in the Grade 1 list. Included in the new development, combined with what would be reclaimed land and water area. Non-conformist chapels were The original contract was worth Britain's largest marina. Housing, shops and en- More than 100 workers in Barnsley Council's building department could face redun: On the question of Victorian Partners. Main contractor: Sir pursue the possibility of marina Set up a special sub committee workers are involved with major buildings, he said: ‘I don’t Robert McAlpine. think there is any other category in the list which has as few as 11, expect perhaps In total he has looked at 38000 Grade 1“‘items’’, which often include groups of buildings. At the moment, he development in the area. to consider it. capital projects. random and he hoped that his report would give a clearer overall picture tothe committees who drew up the lists. In reply to the claim of discrimination against the Victorian period, the DoE has told SAVE: “It is quite untrue to say that there is any prejudice among Ministers or in the DoE against Victorian buildings... we_ recently Hugo Hinsley, one of the The group, which has been organisers, told BD: ‘Most RIBA.Itisimportantthatour beensenttotheDoEbeforethe problems.ManathemostoftheCrown crown work and ideas can be building came down, but no Crown Decorative Products Ltd., PO. Box 37, Darwen, Lancs. BB3 0BG distinguished from this band- action was taken. scheming on major projects and specialist technical advice on any decorative problem, Building Design, London SE18, Every Friday. Copyright 1977 Morgan: Grampian (Construction Press) Lid. 7, For instant information tick on reader inquiry card Printed by Huthweite Printing Co. Lid, Sutton-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire. Registereads a newspaper at the Post Utnce. YP est by Are Fimseting, London EC1. works with you NEWS IN BRIEF Apprentice decline THE number of apprentices entering the construction industry through the National Joint Council scheme fell from 13093 in 1975 to 11336 in 1976, accordin t NEBTE. g to the Victorian period discriminated against by DoE THE DoE was criticised this week by the conservation organisation SAVE for dis- Ii Community design group established jobs. Make the_special paints for special colour range-ineat of the B.S. 4800 Crown Eggshell aswell as Gloss and Matt Emulsion. Make the ureau-free colour most of the Crown Pai Decorative Advisory B If you wish to communicate urgent news, contact Vic Tapner on BD Newsdesk 01-855 7777 Construction professions needrevamp — Labour NEC A NUMBER of radica atic indemnity scheme AdministeremA by the institutes and reforms in the construction the insurance industry.” Each professions and a move Ace ce would be insured against towards greater standard- liability for defectsin larger projects isation in design have been nd would require a special bond called for by the Labour for “more ambitious” schemes. A firm could be promoted to a higher Party National Executive experience level only after it had A GROUP of prominent architects, artists and writers occupied these near derelict early 18th century houses in Elder Street, Spitalfields, East London last week in an llth hour bid to stop further demolition and protect five other house in the row to negotiate with the prospective owners of the site, the Newlon Housing Association, about saving the houses when they redevelop on and around the plot. This should protect the rest of the street, which could also fall into disrepair and need eventual demolition. Committee completed several bonded schemes The proposals, which also Aesthetic quality should be improved by holding more design include a blunt demand for competitions public ownership of the con To improve cost control, quantity Struction industry, will be put surveyors “who at present do little before the 1977 Annual Labour more than translate design draw Party Conference in Brighton ings into qua antitics of materials” next month The document makes the following five major recom mendations for changes in the professions Professional education should be abody representingt of the industry a possibly the Construction Industry Training board. The currentsyste narrow, giving inadequ onboth to production m technical independent of the The document also reiterates the Labour Party demand for a Public Procurement Agency to co-ordinate the letting of public sector contracts. There should also be more use made of continuity and serial contracts The document adds: “Both systems require substantial similarity between successive projects, and therefore create a need for greater standardisation in design. this need not mean uniformity the use of standard building plans, simple construction details and a restricted range of fixtures, fittings and components can allow standardisation in production without uniformity in appearance.” The NEC advances a three point plan for public ownership of the industry which is needed socially, to improve working conditions and practices and to critical path d to the wide: 7 social context of professional we Co-ordination of projects should be improved by setting up Regulatory Board for Contracts Procedures and [ which would lay n rd forms of contract and resolve contractual disputes Contact Dennis Punter for Purpose Built's approach to housing today. Licensing arrangements and overseas enquiries welcomed Purpose Built Ltd., treatment and modular fabrication give Burnt Tree House, PURPOSE BUILT Technical competence should be more firmly controlled by creating Comments to the proposals: The National Federation of Building Trades Employers said; “They amount to economic and industrial idiocy as far as the con- struction industry is con cerned. They are likely to ensure its continuing decline rather than aid its recovery.” Purpose Built homes. Timber frame housing in a wide range of designs and styles with critical path construction thinking behind them. The National Council of “municipal enterprises” and would be assisted by a new said it did not want to central agency to pool Building Material Producers comment until its members had been consulted, but according to its director Richard Hermon, it could sce no reason for inter fering with the present oration to be established based structure” initially on the acquisition of one or more major contractors The RIBA said it had Thirdly, it suggests that workers’ co-operatives should educational recommend be set up, backed by Par “prave reservations over the ations”. But other parts of liamentary legislation and a the report which aimed at revitalisir heindustry were encouraging and showed that construction’s vulner ability was at long last beginning to sink in with the politicians Co-operative Development Agency On the building materials Side, it recommends a pro: gramme of selective public ownership under a new state holding company, a Building Materials Corporation experience and co-ordinate documentation and methods of working Second the NEC wants a National Construction Corp Architects in bid to save houses began ripping off the roofs, but were The owners of the houses, British Land, want to clear the site to make way for a not shored up an adjoining building housing scheme. The buildings are This temporary halt gave the Spitalfields listed and the street is part of an Historic Buildings Trust, which includes weavers’ homes outstanding conservation area, but the* Mark Girouard, Colin Amery and Dan TheSpitalfields Trust Squatters, looking GLC has given the go-ahead for clearance Cruikshank, cnough time to organise a tired and uncomfortable after a week because the homes are considered unsafe squat and a 24-hour guard. The Trust sleeping on floors, expected an eviction Last week British Land's demolition men hopes this move will give it breathing space order later in the week Purpose Built. Homes that have Factory assembly, timber pre- ‘challengethesubstantial Coe monopoly power” exerted by the big contractors It calls first for an expansion of direct labour departments which could be run as a uniform standard of reliability that ensures quick economic site construction. Insulation values are higher than the statutory requirements, a variety of elevation treatments are possible and stepping and staggering on sloping sites Is.easily achieved. A complete Development and Manufacturer service Is offered, for the private or public sector. Four thousand families have already opted for a Purpose Built home. Burnt Tree, Tipton, West Midlands. DY4 7UE. Telephone: 021-557-6232. Telex: 336842 MLLARD G stopped on a technicality because they had BUILDING DESIGN, September 9, 1977 3 For instant information tick on reader inquiry The houses were built in 1725 and are the last surviving examples of local 4 BUILDING DESIGN, September9, 1977 To celet y of the of the reassertion of the private set up a viable project. “The YAn architectural training in WANCHESTE® MCW TOWN HALL Somer expensive. That's probably because the any.Or never looked beyond the basic pr ce. Built-in Savings 1911 and came to Britain in are in need, the poverty True, the c way be alittlehigher tha window frames Butthen, alu »,farfrom beingex windows actualy cos actually save Quality As my Window ve, in real terms alumaniurr and, in the long run, they come ready glazed and they don'tneed to ey have two material fthe Alummnium Window Association are manufactured to BS 4873 and come costs built into their price the qualitya surance of the Kitemark symbc rSpecifier Wallchart tells y allyouneedto know which had been set up the But Schumacher believed previous year by a group of that his message of austerity ethat aluminiurr 1937 and trained as an econo- Stricken multitude who lack mist, studying at New College any real basis of existence Oxford and Columbia Uni- who have neither ‘the best’ versity New York. From 1950. nor the “second best’, but go 1970 he was Economic Ad- short of even the most visor to the National Coal essential means of subsist Board and its Director of ence.” Statistics from 1963 to 1970, In recent years planners in In 1966 he became chairman the developing countries have of the Intermediate Tech increasingly accepted his nology Development Group message \,eaHeptertcsy =)2 re A PREDICTION that far- proposals although its author, rather than the council's, only reaching proposals for Charles McKean, secretary of the private architect can help changes in practice will be the group, prefers to phrase out impartially,” he told BD demanded in next year’s them as “questions” rather Rod Hackney proposes sever- report of the RIBA Com- than demands until the CAWG al ways in which private prac- munityArchitectureWork-reportcomesoutinJanuary. ticescouldbeencouragedto ingGrouphasbeenmadeby Hackneyseesthelocalauth- workforcommunitygroups its deputy chairman, Rod ority as the chief villain both to JThe creation of an archi- Hackney. existinginstitutionsandtecturalaidfund,subsidisedby cooreSLttt ayAnan ¥y Withh,Sah}ra SPUTUM } | ity Art G; He suggests that the report could demand an end to local authority interference with community group projects and community groups aspiring to By Michael Foster the RIBA and central govern- ment to pay practices working for clients with few financial resources about alurr help yout rs. Ask for yourcopy today...it 26 Store Street, London WC1E 7EL Tel: 01-637 3578 Aluminium Window Association, engineers, economists and and technological gentleness scientists to provide practical was also applicable in the advice on self-help techniques developed countries. On a for developing countries News architect's position as sole suit local authority sitting in its In 1867. His} #blce counsellor for the work. Ivory tower does not give a hat and coat A letter circulated today to damn,” he said the schools grounded in prac- tical building methods and sympathetic to the simple refurbishment needs of practices Hackney claims that political “ugly, squat and heavy”. The | interested in community action considerations must interfere community groups. BH! Maintenance Free What'gqnare, aluminium window frame rust, warp orpeel and they're virtually maintenance free RIAS plans group to boost construction SCOTTISH Nationalist Party doldrums and so much of the spokesman on housing Andrew physical environment needs Welsh has welcomed the idea of Improvement. The idea sounds forming an all-party body to most welcome and I shall be press for greater priority to the getting in touch with the RIAS Scottish construction industry, to find out more.” an Initiative being mooted by the Royal Incorporation or The Incorporation’s with a local authority architect secks 4 mandate for such called in to help out in a CJAn increase in fees for the architect at the expense of the builder, at liberty to raise his tender price at will rather than being confined by a restrictive code Extensive RIBA campaigns on the media to bring the services of the architects to the notice of the community at large rrot, community group. Enforce ment orders could be put on properties to improve them which a community might not be able to carry out itself or did not want in the first place. “Unless local authority architect departments are broken into sections account- able to professional opinion Architects in Scotland (News, membership is currently being September 2) Welsh told BD this week proposal, which would be “Something like this is badly linked with a £100 000 advert- needed in Scotland in that the ising campaign to get more industry is so much in the work for Scottish architects OBITUARY Dr Ernst Schumacher ALTHOUGH his name will progress along the same path always be linked with that of, as doomed to failure. Instead intermediate technology, he proposed an intermediate Ernst (Fritz) Schumacher was technology based upon simple not a technologist. He was a devices, low capital invest- moralist and propagandist. ment and the use of indig- His death at the age of 66 enous skills and material. _ occurred in Switzerland where Some accused him of he had been addressing the proposing a “second best” Industrial Week of Moral technology for the poor which Rearmament; for him per- sonal morality and the bus- iness of living were not separable He was born in Germany in would confirm them in their poverty rather than enable them to emerge from it. But these he answered eloquently “This is the voice of those who recent tour of the US His book, Smallis Beautiful Schumacher had no less than | published in 1973, is strongly 160 speaking engagements in moralistic im tone. Schu Six weeks and was received by macher was deeply uneasy President Carter. His last about the selfishness and book, Guide to the Perple. vd materialism of the consumer is due to be published shortly society and saw the attempts of the developing countries to Gerry Foley consulted on attitudes to the Community report may demand big changes the 100th y allery is mounting an exhibition of drawings by Alfred Waterhouse, architect for the town hall. Wai jlerhouse, a chief exponent of the Victorian Gothic style in large secular build won the | working drawings of the town hall on show range from plans and elevations to details as minute as a stand. Visitors to the exhibition will see how Waterhouse modifled his design in response to public criticism. The} original clock tower, for example, was remodelled after complaints that It was too exhibition, at Manchester Clty Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Is open from September 13 to October 23. more than 30 “ITnever use aluminium windows. in methods of practice They cost too much.” Forinstant information tick [4 | on reader inquiry card Table It Number of Less than 3 months 3 but less than 6 months 6 but less than 12 months 12 months ormore *See footnote to Table | have at feast 12 months work to ploy = AJ SURVEY (per cent) 2c x =23 a~i Sms | tie Oma Speers =<<sS=S Poe Fe ote bing et e eS Ss Spee Lore wht rserkdeip Tt e = = g 2S g = : s So SUA Te ores et a. The Architects’ Journal 8 June 1977 AJ SURVEY (per cent) RIBA INDAL Detailed results Howmuchandforhowlong? s 2 2 Sil Sere serene 2 s/s= 4S ei Spins moma ered|Iemecy Salsas Here Ga 3ioEeypeieseie)i|Sneuilisaiees Sis eS eeercpapes| ears cans SERS RNR Sa ea ea Alreadyunemployed Lessthan3months 1211184116O4/32o|813 SbutlessthanGmonths 13 14 18 3 12 13 25 4/33 3/16 23 3 Sbutlessthan12months 23 22 27 16 16 28 13 0/26 21 29 37 17 12months ormore 49 50 33 76 70 35 63 90] 9 76145 27 73 * Totals will not necessarily add up to exactly 100 por cent due to rounding up of figures. The AIBA chairmen's survey is of practices and not individuals. OnStOr2 eSeeSeOS|ee|ee 90 ——— 80-; 70 — 60 — archts archts in archts archt! 8 a ase 3 Jar Oeae O a 9 19 134 «#413 Sh y22 195 69 91 1 10 21 21 60 62 14 28 47 83 83 58 archtl pa plans techs re on! p la govt inpp inia a all resps 1© ® ©86©© Key to tables and graph Columns from left so right (nos 1-8) 1 All respondents 2 All architects 3 Architects in private practice 4 Architects in local authorities 5 Architects in government departments 6 Technicians in private practice 7 Technicians in local suthorities 8 Planners in local authorities tects on the ARCUK register. archts in in techs anticipate continued employment beyond the next 12months Regional variations Architects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (and to a lesser degree in the North West) are marginally better off than the rest of the UK, and those in the South West region are considerably worse off. The other regions conform within a few percentage points to the national averages shown in the tables, although the northern region appears in our survey to be a bit below. In the South West only 38 per cent of al architects (including both private and public offices) have 12 months work or more, and much less than half think they will be employed by their offices next year. Comparison with INDAL and RIBA INDAL’s results are slightly more gloomy than the AJ’s, but are a reasonable match. The RIBA chairmen’s survey is very much more depressing than either AJ or INDAL, especially for the private sector. Regional comparisons are more difficult, although there is general agreement on the best and the worst. Comparison with RIBA new commissions would suggest that Scotland, the North West and West Midlands should be weathering the recession best. All have a larger percentage of total national new commissions than the percentage of archi- ics FQ e How busy? When al respondents are counted, the split between those who are fully occupied in their present jobs and those who are not, is roughly even. But, when sub-divided according to types of office, nearly 60 per cent of architects and architectural technicians in private offices are doing less than a good day’s THE ROAD TO CATASTROPHE FOR BUILDING Dramatic decline of architects’ anticipated workload confirmed by detailed analysis of AJ survey The results of our Architects’ Employment Survey published there is a dramatic increase in the inflow of new commissions. two weeks ago aroused considerable interest both inside the The most fortunate people to emerge from this survey are profession and in the national and regional press. We have now local authority planners, both in terms of anticipated future beenabletoprocessaltheresultsindetailandcollatethe employmentandinsalary. many written remarks and suggestions. The picture painted now is no less alarming than that depicted in our earlier issue—the future for architects is grim unless Table | Number of months’ work considered to be in the office’ In addition to our own AJ survey, we commissioned Industrial Data Ltd (INDAL) to carry out a random sample (rather than a self selecting sample) survey asking some of the same ques- tions. Their results are given in the description which follows, plus the results of the recent RIBA regional chairmen’s survey, for comparison. Details of the amount of work being carried out in architectural and planning offices are shown in table I, and prospects for |continued employment in table I. The figures for 12 months or more work, and the same period of anticipated employment, are combined in pillargraph 1. The luckiest are planners: the unluckiest are architects in private practice. Taken overall for architects, only half reckon they have work beyond the next year, although a higher percentage hope stil to be employed in their present office in 12 months from now. Even so, one-third |of al architects and over one-half of architects in private Practice do not think their present employer can go on employ- ing them, or that they can continue running their own practice beyond spring of next year—a probable total of well over 7000 architects out of work, in addition to the 1000 or soalready made redundant. This means that 1 in 3 of the 25 000 archi- tectsontheARCUK registerthinkshewillbeoutofhisjobby next year. percentage The editors Editor: Leslic Fairweather RIBA News and features editor: Peter Davey BArch, RIBA Assistant news editors: Dan Cruickshank BA Nick Wates BSc Deyan Sudjic BSc, DipArch Buildings editor: Henry Herzberg AADip, RIBA Technical editor: Maritz Vandenberg BA( Arch) Assistant technical editors: Barrie Evans MSc Jane Taylor BSc(Eng) Patricia Tutt AssocPoly(Arch), RIBA Assistant editor: building economics Helen Heard AADip, RegArch, MSc(Econ) Production/art editor: Tim Cottrell Assistant production/art editor: Colin Jenkins Sub editors: Carol Hemsley BA Patrick Tierney BA Drawings editor: Louis Dezart Photographer: Bill Toomey Librarian: Dorothy Pontin ALA Editorial secretary: Carla Dobson BA Editorial administrator: Gillian Collymore Editorial director: D. A. C. A. Boyne HonFRIBA Advertisement manager: Roger Bell London and home counties area managers: Phillip Capstick Peter B. Hadley Malcolm Hamilton Barry Lait Midlands manager: Ronald Baker Northern counties and Scotland manager: Elwyn Jones Advertisement production manager: W. Evans Advertisement administrator: Brian Storey Advertisement director: F. G. Dunn ONE VOICE: ONE MESSAGE—DISASTER Everyone in the industry must hope that the delegation, led by Eric Lyons, which is to meet the Prime Minister on the 16th, will at last achieve a proper understanding by government of the grave state to which building and construction have been brought. (Our survey, analysed on the next two pages, indicates the degree of despair among architects who are at the mouth of the pipeline which leads ultimately to the men on the sites). In the long run, there will be benefits to the industry as a whole from collaboration in preparing the case to the Prime Minister. One such benefit must be the realisation that we, as an industry, need a common pool of information on which to base our arguments. At present, several bodies collect information about the workings of the industry. For instance, the RIBA produces statistics about the workload of private architects, quarterly. But every four months, the DOE analyses the workload of public architects’ offices. Yet the DOE does not distinguish between public work done in-house, and work put out by public authorities to private architects. Confusion reigns. No one can measure the workload of the whole architectural profession accurately. So no one attempts to estimate the effects of a slump (or boom) in architects’ work on what contractors will be doing one, two or three years later. The fact that we cannot produce detailed and complementary figures makes it easier for those politicians who have no serious wish to understand building’s plight. The RIBA has begun to put the industry’s house in order by starting on a re-examination of its own statistics. If the DOE can’t collect usable public practice figures, the institute must surely ask its members in local authorities and central government, as well as those in private practice, to provide information on work coming in, the value of working drawings going through, and on abortive work. This will put the onus on members to provide the ammunition for future battles. And, after evaluating the overall workload, a small survey should be conducted to discover, in detail, what is happening in the regions, in different types of building, and so on. At the same time, the DOE must do its own survey quarterly to chime in with all the other figures collected by itself and others. This is just one instance of the kind of information that must be found and co-ordinated. Among others are the relationships of architects’ workload to the employment of building workers, contractors’ cash flow to orders for building materials, and subcontractors’ well-being to the intake of certain craft apprentices. Whatever the outcome of the industry’s visit to number 10, all the industry’s interests must surely agree to set up a commonly funded statistics bureau for building. But meanwhile . ..the Prime Minister must be left in no doubt that, though we may not, yet, have precise figures (partly because of government inadequacy), the pipeline is emptying fast. Building is the biggest industry in the country and it will not remain cowed and divided any longer. The Architects’ Journal 8 June 1977 1055 A credit to The Bauhaus lives again—or at least its the party buildings do. According to the excellent Danish magazine Arkitekten, alarge party for ex-Bauhaus students and teachers was held at the end of last year to celebrate the rehabilitation of the Dessau complex, exactly 50 years after the building was first opened. With the thoroughness that only communist countries seem to be able to bring to restoration work, a team led by Hans Berger of the East German institute for the care of monuments has restored the war shattered edifice to its former glory (it was used as a trade school for many years after the war). Great attention was paid to detail: chairs, lamps and even the devices for opening the windows have been lovingly restored. Only in the epoch making curtain wall of the workshop isthere any important alteration: itis now double glazed with vacuum sealed units (how did the students survive behind the single layer of glass designed by Gropius?). Happily, Arkitekten says that the new glazing isnot particularly noticeable. Mirthless mayhem The main hall is now hired out for functions and there isapermanent exhibition on the Bauhaus in the old gallery. But, as yet, no one is quite sure what to do with the rest of the complex. Undeterred by this slight problem, the East Germans are pressing ahead with restoring other Gropius buildings including the Bauhaus staff houses and even the famous circular Dessau labour exchange. Architects al over the world will raise their hats. “Art to me is an expression of my environment. IfIbetray agrisly image then you have only society to blame.’ Sounds, you might think, like an architect explaining away his latest outrage on the landscape, but actually it’s Derek Wain talking, an art student from Leeds, charged with iltreating six budgerigars and 12 white mice as part of an ‘artistic event’. Wain and his co-defendant, Peter Parker, were fined £20 cach by Leeds magistrates because of a ‘work of art’ they staged before an audience of 100. This was to culminate in the massacre of the budgies but, Iam glad to The Architects’ Journal 8June 1977 A breezy lot say, the two were prevented by the audience from killing more than one bird. To the accompaniment of loud music and flashing lights, the tethered budgies were showered with broken glass and shot at with an air pistol. This bizarre tale must have some relevance for architects, if only because it proves that you can’t blame the environment for everything and get away with it. Bunting isperhaps too modest aword to describe the plangent banners of the South Bank which range from ashimmering black and silver chequered flag to a hand painted silk windsock. Three of the projects, vastly Raymond Rankine, left, and Tony Fretton, in front of their black flag (top). The windsock to the right, is Brenda Taylor’s lion. Pedro Jaramillo-Carling’s streaming pennants (above). The finest jubilee bunting in London is to be seen adorning 18 flagpoles outside the Festival Hall. They are the winning schemes of an Arts Council open competition for the design of flags and similar projects. The aim of the competition, which attracted 218 entrants, was to provide an opportunity for professional artists to propose designs which would ‘enliven an urban location’. ge a aentaeearnei ESa aT.mT CESS APLSRECRO eee MR work. In local authorities, the proportion is reversed and 60 per cent think they are fully busy. Planners are yery busy: 83 per cent think they are fully occupied, and only 17 per cent are less so. Of those in al groups who are not working to their full capacity, most think they are utilising about a half to three-quarters of their full potential. Where is the work? The work, such as it is, is overwhelmingly in this country. About 93 per cent is in the UK, around 5 per cent in the Middle East, and the remainder in Europe, Eire, Nigeria, West Indies and, for one lucky practitioner, ‘world wide’. What else can you do? About one-quarter of al architects who returned our question- naire are secking alternative employment; strangely enough nearly 20 per cent of them are secking it in private practice, the hardest hit sector. Otherwise, no definite trend is discernible and, among the choices we gave, the percentage preferences are fairly evenly divided. About one in five architects supplements his present income by taking on other work. The amount can vary between 1 and 60 hours, although how those at the upper end of the scale do their normal job as well is not stated. Much of this extra work is private architectural work—conversions and small exten- sions—but others work as musicians, bar tenders, a hospital cleaner, lecturers and writers, security officer, taxi driver and song writer. How much do your colleagues earn? The worst off are technicians in private practice; the best paid seem to be architects in Northern Ireland, followed by archi- tects in government departments and planners in local authorities. Table III gives the details. Are professional bodies any help? A good two-thirds of architects feel let down by their national orregionalbodies.TheRIBAtakesalotofstick,butNALGO and RIAS also come in for censure. In fact, the RIBA has been taking a more active part than most architects obviously realise—many of the recent initiatives have been either started or actively supported by them. The RIBA has not been as The age of a large proportion of those who replied was between 30 and 39. There was a fair proportion in the decades before of the RIBA is obviously in not making enough of what it and after these ages, with a drastic tailing away in the over ineffective as so many of our respondents think—the failure has been doing. The many pages of computer print out 60 group. Regional response compares very favourably with architects on ... too remote. ..totally ineffective ...backward looking . . the ARCUK register. include: ‘RIBA appears to be above reality ...doing nothing not militant enough and branches too timid ...carries no respect . . . a bosses’ clique which couldn’t care less about salaried architects’. One or two do support the RIBA, but tartly point out that the membership generally has not supported branch meetings and given help and encouragement and formed an effective lobby. What do the surveys show? The AJ survey shows, as we said two weeks ago, that archi- tects—especially those in the private sector—are in desperate straits and that this will mean very severe repercussions throughout the building industry (and therefore the country) as a whole. We predicted about one in three of all architects on the ARCUK register out of work within the year, plus What are we short of? Only about 12 per cent or so are worried by shortages of many thousands of building contractors, sub-contractors and The Architects’ Journal 8 June 1977 1057 | Table II Salary ranges* AJ SURVEY (per cent) s ARCHITECTS IN REGIONS (percent) both labour and materials. The percentages are a bit higher in the north of the country, and Northern Ireland seems to have a considerable problem in obtaining al the building materials it needs—S3 per cent complained of a lack. The crucial shortages are of skilled craftsmen and tradesmen: bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, plasterers, plumbers, elec- tricians.Theconcernisnotonlyaboutthesmallnumbersof Allthefeetaretreadingalongthesameroadtotheruination skilled men around, but about the competence of some who claim to be skilled. Shortages of materials tend to be local— bricks, sanitary fittings, steel, decent timber, doors. of a profession and the wrecking of a crucial industry. It is the purpose of RIBA president Eric Lyons and his delegates to the Prime Minister next week, to make sure that this case isforcibly put and firmly understood. S2 o 3 ‘0 a BWko8s058esSato Piesisycescmipegeecgreg:i peg eeietaiagaees Zeetgcetgetreagwgrtus4ute Lessthanf£a000. 9 5 8 1 0281203 43 410 3 «6 £3100-£4000 |£4100-£5000 }£5100-£6000 16 13) 18 212 37) 23) (0/12 11 9) 9 21 15) 10 262426241425301330203323272423 1922163622 §&2335232224231223 0 3136333752 5125234433242303769 Over £6000 * See footnote to Table | Who answered the questionnaire? We received 1466 completed forms, of which 1450 were processed and analysed—the remainder arrived too late. About 90 per cent’were from architects and architectural assistants; 4 per cent were from planners, some of whom were also architects; the rest were mainly from architectural technicians, landscape architects, teachers, and quantity surveyors. They worked in the following types of office (figures are per- centages): Private practice 59; Local authority 24; Govern- ment department 4; Industry and commerce 5; Nationalised industry 1; Hospital/health authority 2; Others 5. About 70 per cent were salaried and 30 per cent self-employed. In the private sector, 46 per cent were salaried and 56 per cent self-employed. Comparison between response to our survey and the ARCUK register suggests that private practice is slightly over represented, but as we have more subscribers in the private sector this would be expected. The work done was overwhelmingly housing, with a fair sprinkling of schools, hospitals and commercial and industrial. materials suppliers out of business. The INDAL survey supports our own findings and is, if anything, more gloomy. The RIBA chairmen’s survey is very much more depressing even than the other two, especially for architects in the private sector, and makes it quite clear that AJ and INDAL are not scare-mongering. Theweekly newspape rfor the building team New note from RIBA on abortive work costs A NEW practice note has been issued by the RIBA in an attempt to reduce friction between housing associations and architects who have diffi- culty getting payment on aborted schemes. The note says there is no difference between housing associations and any other client. Architects should make Sure, before carrying out any work either that there is a written agreement or that the scheme has received DoE cy council approval in the shape of @ grant Shoreallays fears of new towns’ cuts NEW towns may not suffer such drastic cutbacks in their future programmes as has been feared following a recent state- ment in the House of Commons by Environment Secretary Peter Shore. “With the exception of Central Lancashire, the for- ward programmes of other new towns are mainly so far advanced that there is little Scope for material changes,” said Shore. He was replying in a written answer to Conservative MP Edward Gardener, following Speculation that the review currently being conducted by the DoE into the new towns’ future may recommend a cut- Shadow Spokesman on the Environment, when they met him for the first time this week. Heseltine of its fears that the Slough Estates report on factory and management. as al helping to speed up the Under the heading “Planning current procedures. control” the panel suggests that Among the architects giving the 1971 Town and Country evidence to the panel were private architect was being Squeezed out by the increasing size of public sector depart- ments. Also discussed in the one- hour meeting was the present general plight of the construc- tion industry, and the ways Government action could help to alleviate it. “We got on with him very well,” said ACA chairman Ray Moxley. ‘He showed an imme- diate grasp of the problems we are facing.” fire precautions on a 400-house when flames from a “flashover"’ REMEDIAL work to upgrade September, Three people died Council house repairs study AN investigation into ways estate at Swindon will cost furniture fire on the ground council tenants can help in hour fire resistant doors, to FOC and GLC regulations, tailored repairing their houses is to be £500000. Forty thousand floor penetrate the plaster- homes throughout the country walled lining and spread carried out by the National to fit any Consumer Council. ; using the same steel-framed rapidly through the wall cavity BISF system could require to the roof. The ventilated opening, delivered on time. Acme, 01-560 2233 ring Similar modification to bring cavity acted as a self-fuelling them up to standard. flue and quickly ignited the The work to Thamesdown roof and the hardboard and Borough Council's Pinehurst fibreboard panelling on the The council's research unit us now! will rt on the tenants’ and councils’ attitudes to the concept. Maintenance costs are currently running at £2-3 per week for cach of the country’s four million council homes. Acme Gate &ShutterCo, Ld. Great West Road, Estate follows extensive investi- first floor. gation after a fatal fire last Thamesdown is now carrying Brentford, Middlesex. For instant information tick { 1 |Z on reader inquiry card Aas cre INSID As theatre companies take to the road Robert Adam looks at the latest innovations in move- able structures. Pages 12-13. Perspective features the Tid- worth Zouch Junior School, Education School Design Award. Page 10. Sutherland Lyall visits Essex self-builders with a difference. Pages 16-17. In Half the city's 120000 houses need repair and there 24, News in Focus 6, Letters are 13 000 on the waiting list. 8-9, Perspective 10, Scorpio 11, About 10 000 houses have been Week by Week 11, New put out of use — often due to fproducts 19, Reader inquiry @ “Today and Tommorow’ An aerial view of Milton Keynes City Centre wing latest progress. On the left the Lioyds Court office back of their expansion. The is the title of this year’s RIBA building which was officially opened this week. The first two sta; of the Shopping areca( ht) are scheduled review is expected to be pub- Conference. The Conference for completion by Su Committee last week issued a | The half-mile-long bi Statement giving more details of the subjects to be covered “Many influences are calling into question not only the traditional nature of profes- sionalism and the changing nature of patronage, but also the traditional roles and relationships within the profession,” Says the statement. “Clues to the future can often be found in what is happening today — and it is timely now to try and predict some of the future areas of change and how architects might respond.” Speakers for the conference, at RIBA HQ October 19-22, have not yet been chosen. 1978, with the third stage, amassive ‘ohn Lewis store, completed byAutumn 1979. lished in the next few weeks. a study day last November will be the largest covered shopping area in Britain providing almost 101000 @ A five-year plan has been dto combat the trend of dereliction in inner Belfast. Spending could mun to £130 Sw v ig new pr Heseltine and started to look into the lished this week. ACA hititoff The proposals — from an Regulations with a view to simplification was the main proposal under the “Govern- ment lations” category. The “Design” heading covered MEMBERS of the Association organised by estate agents of Consultant Architects struck Hillier Parker — also in- tutes and MPs and the panel is the building contract, drawings up “an instant rapport’ with clude a revision of the confident there will be consi- and standardisation already Michael Heseltine, the new Standard form of building derable Government follow up mentioned. contract. to their recommendations. Under “management” the The conclusions are listed panel was less specific, but The investigating panel was under four brand categories covered better training, an Adelegationofsixtoldsetuptolookatdevelopmentcoveringplanningcontrols,examiofnovaersteasiporacntice delays and costs following the Government regulations, design and clearer client instructions building, which showed that UKperformancwaes among the worst in Europe. The panel — which included Planning Act should be Ps, distinguished fives from the construction industry and property developers — listened to evidence from architects, planners, tradeunions, quantity Surveyors, builders and suppliers. Richard Seifert and Percy Gray. ded to allow licati Seifert said the standard form of for planning consent and for building contract was the “root Industrial Development Certifi- cause of trouble’ and should be cates and Office Development “scrapped”. Permits to take place simul- Percy Gray said much of the tancously. Planning authorities detailed architectural drawing shouldproduceanexplanatorydoneinthepaysaeeswas leaflet with advice on the best unnecessary. Thecriti factor ROLLER SHUTTERS, FOLDING SHUTTERS, COLLAPSIBLE GATES, GRILLES Four products, made to Acme's standard of perfection for the market you are involved with — and we know that market through years of experience. Solid and durable materials, 2 Copies of their findings haye way to minimise delays and the was the production of final been sent to all Government DoE should establish drawings before site working departments, professional insti- procedure for dealing quickly started, he said, Engineering consultants: Felix J Samucly. especially on factory buildings. for cutting development A major inquiry should be and bricked up. service 20, Dateline 21, Appointments 22-23. costs and delays recommended in a report pub- effectiveness of the Building investigating panel set up at | By Ted Stevens million, A steering group under the direction of Ray Carter, the Under Secretary for Northern Ireland, has been setup to take control of the drive. Repre- sented are the district council, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the regional DoE -and other private and public agencies involved in housing. the violence of recent years — COMMENT 2, News 3-5 and DING SIGN _FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18, 1977 No. 335 5q m of lettable space. Contractors: John Laing Construction. Report calls for planning changes a ‘SPEED UP DESIGN’ PLEA APLEA to architects to try and cut down on the with planning appeals — quantity of their drawings is one of several Swindon faults—a_ nationwide bill? out a two-year modification Programme that involves mineral wool with fire-proofing qualities being injected into the cavity and plasterboard being fitted to all first-floor walls and ceilings. The total cost for each unit will be about £1 200 The council has been in contact with the DoE but as yet ho modification note has been distributed to other [ocal authorities. TENANT CONTROL The unjust treatment of council tenants is at the heart of this country’s housing problem, says Tom Woolley. He argues here that public housing work is organised in such a way that it has little more social benefit than speculative office building and that architects should be made more accountable to building users, whoSmust organise control of their estates. Woolley works for the Glasgow Corporation Tialea : ", Twant to look at housing problems more from the tenant’s pointof view than from the benevolent administrator’s. While a great deal has been said onbehaoflfthehomeless,thecauseofthecouncil thancounciltenants. tenant has never really been fashionable. This is perhaps becauseof the underlying assumption that once someone gets a council house, his problems are solved and he can be forgotten about: ifhe complains, he is thought to be somehow ungrateful. Yet the problemsof council tenants are at the centre of the housing problem, and itisimportant to understand their grievances both about design and about their generally oppressed status. Housing managers are the intermediaries between the architect and the real client: the building user isthe anonymous client. The architect isbriefed, not by the people who will use the building, but by those who organise its financing — the public authority. The architect is accountable only to a ‘false’ or intermediate client, not to the real client or the user. Council tenants therefore have little control over the kind of house they will live in. But those architects who have a social conscience can do little to break down the artificial barriers that have grown between them and their ‘real’ clients. Even where attempts are made, the economic constraints strictly limit the alternatives that can be offered. Where public participation isoffered, itisstil barely more than a paternalistic gesture, which means little to people whose lives are severely limited and constrained in every other respect by economic and bureaucratic forces outside their control. Genuine participation means people having control over al the factors affecting their lives, not just in one or two areas. There is much to be done to improve the relationship between public authorities and tenants, and tenants will have a fight on their hands ifthey are to establish any control over their environment. In my experience, tenants — especially those in the poorer areas — have a tremendous struggle just trying to maintain decent living conditions in substandard housing. Maintenance is poor, rents are continually rising, and completely unjustified stigmas become attached to many council housing schemes, which permeate through to officialdom and influence its attitude toward the tenants. For many tenants, it is a continual fight to retain self respect. Even in *better’ and ‘showpicce’ schemes, To many architects, this does not represent a dilemma. They quite happily tailor their designs to meet the needs of the present power structure and current ideologies, without considering whether the designs will suit the tenants. For example, Irecently heard an architect, showing slides of an award winning scheme in London, say that he had adapted the design in its final phase to give more individual identity to each house,sothatwhentenantsareforcedtobuytheir tenantshavemanyjustifiedgrievancesbecauseof houses (as a result of the Housing Finance Act and so called ‘fair rents’) they will more easily be able to identify what they ‘own’. Apart from uncritically accepting one of the most devastating inflexible and second class treatment. In response, tenants’ associations have been formed, often because of rent increases, but also in an effort to resist the way in which they are treated by +Douwity2!‘ ae ,me Renr We 574k Act oy - attacks on the living standards of working people, this architect was implyiing that owner occupiers were entitled to more attention and individuality RIBAJ January 1974 c= mM LO! Lill Tom Woolley | | | | | ' ' | . about architec tural and environmental issues, but it is an uphill battle getting anyone to listen. The unjust and oppressive treatment of tenants can be illustrated by the following case. I used to live in an area in Glasgow’s East End which traditionally had a ‘bad name’, and where the local tenants’ association was quite strong and active. At weekly meetings, mainly attended by women, issues from education to planning were discussed, with regular repairs and complaints sessions, and bingo parties were held to raise money. Sometime in 1972, the housing management department tried to evict the vice chairman of the association, Mrs Johnston. The local supervisor claimed that Mrs Johnston’s dog had peed on the common Staircase, and that was the reason given for the eviction. It was a clear caseofvictimisation, but ittook several months of pressure before the housing management department withdrew itsthreats. It is wrong to suggest, as some ‘officials’ have done, that itisneighbours and not housing managers who want people evicted for such “Where public participation is offered, it is still barely more than a paternalistic gesture, which means little to people whose lives are severely limited and constrained in every other respect by economic and bureaucratic forces outside their control. Genuine participation means people having control over all the factors affecting their lives’ ‘offences’. Every day, tenants throughout Britain are harassed by petty officials, and while, in some cases, neighbours may complain, they will always unite to oppose unjust treatment, as they did in Mrs Johnston’s case. Tenants can be evicted ifthey have infringed any oneofthe 17‘conditionsof let’.Most local authorities stipulate many rules for their tenants, ranging from obvious conditions, such as maintenance of the property, to telling them not to putcigarettevendingmachinesontheirwallsorto hangoutwashingonSundays.Thereisnoagreed or recognised pr ocedure of appeal or complaint against housing authorities, and so tenants can England send out hundreds of thousands of similar documents every year, many for rent arrears, but also for trivial ‘offences’ like that alleged against Mrs Johnston. Many authorities keep black lists of what they call ‘anti social tenants’. It is true that there are some people that no one would like as neighbours, but in general the definition of an anti social tenant is based on subjective and unjust decisions which are kept secret, and are often even withheld from councillors. Mrs Johnston was considered to be acting unsocially because she was failing to keep her staircase clean. But in fact, the particular housing scheme in which she lives is dirty, not becauseofthe tenants, but becauseofofficial neglect. The drains are blocked and the buildings are crumbling. Every town has similar council housing estates where the poorer people are dumped. Imean that many local authorities have deliberately let estates run down, and then turned them into ‘problem’ areas. As their stigma grows, only the weakest and most desperate people are prepared to go to such estates. It has taken direct militant action by residents ofclearance areas to expose the local authorities’ classification and gradation of people by ‘type’ — very good, good, medium, fair, poor — which condemns them to certain areas which match their grading. The only way that tenants think they can escape this classification is by bribery (which is not unknown), or by refusing to move until they get an acceptable offer of a house where they want to live. There has been an important growth in community action over such issues in, for example, Hamilton, the Gorbals, and Maryhill. But the process ofallocation stil remains much the same. Sociologist Sean Damer recently carried out a study of one stigmatised area in Glasgow, and found that corporation officials and departments have adopted outrageous and insulting views about many of the residents. (It isn’t uncommon to hear tenants described as ‘animals’.) Tenants are treated in a humiliating way, as a result of being classified according to middle class standards of ‘good behaviour’. The fact is that some tenants can’t meet such standards simply because of straightforward poverty. The attitude had grown up among officials thatitwasn’t worth doinganythingforpeopleinthestigmatisedareas. Repairs are done in an extremely grudging manner. The policy, according to Damer, ‘seems to have been to do as little as is compan lle with keeping the place from actually falling apart. Even those public officials who have a humane understanding of the causes of people’s problems attack only the symptoms: they supervise and harass people in such a way that the blame for thephysicaldecayoftheareaseemstobeputon thetenants.AsBarryCullingworthhaspointed | RIBAJ January 1974 uthority.Manyareveryarticulateandconcerned removal’.LocalauthoritiesinScotlandand be threatened with eviction on an official’s whim. Thelocalauthorityis,ineffect,theprosecutor, jury, judge, and executioner. The result is that the council tenant has no security of tenure. After being threatened verbally andthenwitha letter,MrsJohnstonwassenta pseudolegaldocumentcalleda‘noticeof ut [October RIBAJ, pp 488-91], many local authorities have hundreds of empty houses, even in towns with enormous waiting lists, but people just refuse to go to them. One corporation in west Scotland is trying to remove the stigma attached to one area by dividing it into smaller ‘districts’ with new names, in an effort to ‘foster a sense of community’. The answer to the problem shouldn't, however, be superficial. Providing new place names or even employing more enlightened housing managers are not sufficient (though clearly the latter would be better). Instead, fundamental attitudes to mass housing must change. It is scandalous that council tenants have no rights and can be treated like cattle. Tenancy agreements always state the tenants’ obligations, but those of the landlord are not defined. Meaningful change will have to be toward more tenant control over housing, and there must be devolution, not centralisation, of power. Managers, architects, and others concerned with housing must be directly accountable to the building users. Some improvement is being made, not on the question of rights and control, but in the field of communication. “Participation’ or ‘consultation’ is seen as improving communication between the ‘masses’ and the experts’. While this may give tenants the chance to make their voices heard, it is essentially a diversion. Unless people can control how the money is spent, the impact of their views will remain minimal. Some tenants’ associations fal for ‘participation’ concessions, but there is a growing tension between demands by community groups for more say and a better deal, and attempts by public bodies to develop more sophisticated techniques for dealing with and managing people. Through participation and other communication techniques local authorities are becoming better informed, but they stil have al the power and control. As administrators become more sophisticated and better understand the importance of the social content of housing development, new kinds of professionals — ‘the soft cops’ — are being employed to work closer to the people and provide corporate bodies with a more human face. This would be all right ifpublic bodies directly represented the needsof the ordinary people they control. But state and local authority agencies increasingly reflect the needs and priorities of capitalism and big business. Public housing and rehabilitation policies have grown out of the attempts to redistribute wealth through services to the poorer sectionsof society, but in practice they have also provided the mechanism to boost private power and profits. Problems of finance, land costs, and organisation of labour have been left to market forces, allowing construction firms and property companies to exploit urban renewal, rehabilitation, and public spending. Industry and private property stil receive massive government subsidies, while in public housing there is a move to deny subsidies to tenants altogether. Even at the local level, decisions on projects are too often influenced by a network of graft and corruption which is only now beginning to be revealed. The state manages the people for the benefit of private wealth and capital. It is in this context that the very real economic powerlessness of working class people must be understood. Established housing policies reflect not so much the needsof the people, but the need to provide an adequate supply of labour where big business requires it. The broader needs of the ‘community’ are generally ignored, especially if ‘Industry and private property still receive massive government subsidies, while in public housing there is a move to deny subsidies to tenants altogether. Even at the local level, decisions on projects are too often influenced by a network of graft and corruption. The state manages the people for the benefit of private wealth and capital’ they involve capital expenditure for facilities such as nurseries, meeting places, rooms for voluntary and collective activity, and places for kids and old folk. Housing for the people is the little box and no more. The young professional whose social conscience would have directed him toward local authority | work istherefore faced with atremendous dilemma. Since working on public housing projects often has no more social benefit than working on speculative offices, many architects are now looking for new roles, often through voluntary and independent agencies doing work thatcanbelooselydescribedas‘advocacy’—or ~ they may even refuse to build at all. *Advocacy’ can be seen as a facet of ‘community’ work, and itcontains many dilemmas and contradictions. The detached and independent community worker in a working class area can providea useful resource to powerless people by stimulating local initiative, building up solidarity, and providing the finance, telephone, duplicator, and information. Community workers can also play a manipulative role, focusing the interests of residents on, for example, local authority plans for participation. But the encouragement of independent, critical action inevitably leads to conflict and confrontation as the demands on the authorities become more articulate and persistent. 7 RIBAJ January 1974 ; : party has let them down and that only direct action and ‘illegal’ formsofprotest have any effect, In the past, rent strikes have succeeded in saving thousands of pounds’ worth of rent increases for tenants. Recently, in Kirkby in Lancashire, however, the total rent strike has been used as a weapon, and this tactic will inevitably spread to other areas. The complete withholding of rent raises the question: why pay rent when mostof it goes into the pockets of moneylending organisations as interest repayments ? In fact, many tenants are asking: why pay rent at all? Instead, if tenants controlled their own estates, they could manage them inamore humane way, making regular contributions for repairs and to a citywide pool for building more houses. The more progressive politicians are now recommending that the new community councils could be responsible for local housing management, or that council housing could be handed over to locally run cooperatives. The politicians, however, are not prepared to face the problem of interest rates and housing finance, and tenants’ control will be meaningless unless the crippling interest charges and loan debts are removed. The popular ideaof giving tenantsa financial stake in their estates isreally just a way of conning them into accepting moreof the interest charges. But tenants’ control should not involve subsidising the profits of moneylenders: it should be a militant objective, similar to that of workers’ control at the point of production. Only when there is real tenants’ control can architecture reflect the needs of the people who use the buildings. While we, as architects, may expend agreat dealoftime and energy intrying to provide the best kind of environment for our anonymous clients within present financial limits, our work will be undone by those who finance and control housing. The struggles over these issues must be won before itwill be possible to build homes which are fit for humans. ‘The problem of unjust distribution of power and resources can be solved only when people control their own lives by collectively organising so that they have the power to fight back. The working class has had to do this in industry, and is now having to do it in the community. Working with the community means recognising the need for people to Organise action which is autonomous and politically conscious’ RIBAS January 1974 “ny people in community work projects are oking to young radical architects and planners to work with them, so that community groups can have their own ‘experts’ to help articulate their criticisms and organise counter proposals to the Jocal authorities’ plans. But the expert’s role must be the secondary one of helping the community to work out its own answers: providing expertise is not the complete answer to the people’s problems, Projects like sNAP in Liverpool, which is thought by many to beashining example of how ‘experts’ like architects and planners can work more sensitively with people, may be doing little more than providing the authorities with a more flexible tool for manipulating people. In the SNAP report [reviewed in the RIBAJ last June], urban problems were seen as the result of technical and administrative failures. The control of power and resources, and the distribution of income, were not considered as central issues affecting community problems. The illusion of advocacy is that by making expertise available to poorer and less powerful groups in society, inequalities and injustice can somehow be balanced. It assumes that the technical solutions and expertise of the professionals issomehow objective and ‘nonpolitical’, but in fact the ideas and ideologies of professional education over the years have helped to integrate professional services in the existing power structure. Advocacy, where itsees people’s problems as soluble in terms of administration and technical processes, will tend to reinforce people’s dependence on experts to solve their problems for them. The problem of the unjust distribution of power and resources can be solved only when people control their own lives by collectively organising so that they have the power to fight back. The working class has had to do this in industry, and is now having to do it in the ‘community’. Working with the community, therefore, means recognising the need for people to organise community action which isautonomous and able to generate political consciousness. The solutions to people’s problems will have to be fought for and won: they cannot be handed out by socially conscious experts. Those experts who become involved, therefore, must first and foremost be political agitators. Finally, to return to the problems of council tenants, Iam convinced that the primary issue will become one of rents, around which the community organisations will grow. As housing policy becomes more clearly controlled by the State, so community action will become more militant. The working class has a fragmented tradition of rent strikes, which can be used as an economic weapon against the system. Studies of rent strikes have shown that the majority of people are disillusioned with constitutional means ofgetting things done. They feel that the Labour e overwhelming Brighton confere the party also restoration of alJ public spen- ding cuts for the next two years advisers and, most important the introduction of the Govern with proper procedures nanded the happens to be the next one in of all the British public, of the Delegates at Brighton in addition voted by a huge majority for the expansion of direct labour departments and ing enterprises some pointing a working has “shown aware specified whats wrong with atough, durable wall finish,everywhere else? Awarding these public ui sects would be a far better bet than giving them to these yall Tom, Dick and Harry iding contractors who don't give people a fair deal,” he said ‘The trouble with the building industry is that the natient has been dying slowly vision interview rooms being next door to the air-ducting equipment and gantries having to be erected to accommodate the television cameras because the television companies found the intended positions on the balconies unsuitable The architects had replies ready when questioned by BD. They justifiably pointed out the new headquarters tn south centre is an all purpose build Later we a spray guns. application yet retainsthe pots otherattributes ing, intended just as much for Several delegates were entertainment or sporting London apparently dismayed the events as conferences, and this washed-out, ascetic colouring precluded the normal cosy in the auditorium and by the atmosphere found in con fact that it resembles a large ference halls The decision to switch the nal. According to press room scemed “foolish” si this e it difficult to commented associate, John August. He said the trouble The part of the building over camera positions was designated for press received difficult to understand because the cold shoulder from the the television companies had sports arena more than a be involved in the proceedings party organisers who decided given the balcony positions the instead to use the restaurant for OK during the design stage. Atany rate the architects will attending yeant the clos- get ample opportunity for user ing of the restaurant and no feedback during consultations meals available in the building over the conversion of the Georgian terrace in Walworth the journalists other than snacks Other upsets included the road, London which is to be the rooms chosen tor quict’’ tele- party's new hq Eric Heffer. Opening of 1977 Labour Pa yConference. public ownership at the cost, be a “‘colossally expensive have no doubt, of hundreds of blunder’ said Peter Morley, millions of pounds,” he said president of the National The reasons for this were not that a proper case had been made out for a more efficient E Ueto Biteesennaililll major industry to come into Sensible, moderate is the very worst nationalise,” he Morley, “and construction just Minister, his colleagues and wing of the and cost-conscious industry. but “because socialist dogma said Morley urged the whole the means of production,” said industry to convince “the Prime requires public ownership of all line.” colossally expensive blunder He did however hold open stakentime.Buthereit is.Fresh. Pas For instant information tick | 14] on reader inquiry card Peter Marsh reports from the Labour Party Conference in Brighton was in the right direction, but not nearly enough, he said Other speakers pursuce the same, familiar theme, but it was left to Eric Heffer, MP to supply the emotional appeal. Reminding delegates he was set out by the party's national executive, which included radical measures to reform the professions. (News, Sept 9) The only reference to the yarious institutes came from Norman Mikardo of ASTMS who said they were often “fragmented and insular” But they have much expertise and learning in the technical field and we must take their views into account In plans for the future,” he said All the motions were carried by vast majorities with the few hands raised in disapproval earning boos and mutters from the rest of the delegates anyenvironment you caretoname.We felt there wasn'ta wall in the country that would escape our Labour Party votes to nationalise the construction industry leaving it for the usual econo mics cycles to determine And he reiterated that direct works departments had a powerful role to play if given the status of “municipal build and equipped accounting ‘We've made Portaflek kinder Conference facilities come under fire NFBTE hits out at ‘expensive blunder’ MacphersonThse FreshPaintPeople. hope for the future that any Government attempt- out that Callaghan ing to nationalise, or even part- himself acutely nationalise, the construction the vote losing industry, would be com- capacity of the left’s demands mitting.” Although Portaflek did in fact become the undisputed brand leader itwasmostly ment’s much-postponed Bil “If the Government were to be re-elected with majority the construction industry would be the next LABOUR Party members, who spent time last week criticising design details at the new Brighton Centre, where their annual conference was being held, stumbled upon an embarrassing coincidence. For Russell Diplock Associ- ates, who designed the centre for Brighton Council, are also the architects for the party's Labour's new hq will be in this Georgian terrace in Walworth Road “basically a construction worker” himself, he said the huge numbers of unemployed in the industry was something LABOUR’s plans to nationalise the construction industry would for the nationalisation of the banks opinion in the Labour Party and elsewhere will, |am sure, recognise that construction — by virtue of its very size and diversity — which the party ought to be deeply ashamed Federation of Building Trades Employers last week He said a public procure If the lett Labour Party's Executive Committee has its way, millions upon millions of taxpayers’ and ratepayers money will be sacrificed on the altar of socialist theory,” Morley told NFBTE members in South Wales. industry to National dded a whole range of subtle,beautifulshadesandtexturestosuitevenyourbestfriendsarenotsupeto thing. The problem was one that tell you about. Ours did. Finding the formula which isalmost odour free in THE nationalisation of the construction industry coupled with an immediate Government-led reflationary injection of £1 100m is now official Labour Party policy. Voting in favour of this by an majority at its nce last week ment agency was needed to work out plan programmes of public works instead of and cruelly for a long time. Our statement is the only answer to curing the patient and making him a healthy being,” he said onthe snozzle. The conference also accepted the proposals on construction Hard on the surface. Easy on the eye. And now, atreat to the nose We started with a wall finish that was tough, durable, hygienic, quick to apply and cheap to maintain. expanding their pow Danny ¢ rawford the building workers union UCATT proposing the motion, said construction had too long been “bottom of the list” for Government help The aid, in the form of cash injections in recent months, ‘or use in heavy-traffic areas. So NLL Trade Division, Donald Macpherson & Co Limited, Radcliffe Rd., Bury, Lancs. Drop in delegates attending conference PROVISIONAL _ bookings the high cost of attendance for this year’s RIBA annual £60 plus accommodation and The conference happens to conference indicate a dis- fares. The original cost-cutting clash with the National appointing response with measure of holding the confer Housing ‘77 exhibition and only about 250 delegates ence in London (instead of Town Planning Conference in expected at the final roll- Bournemouth where it was Harrogate, and this 1s expected call, Last year more than originally scheduled) seems to to attract some of the potential 300 turned up and in prev- have backfired. The organisers delegates, said Murray ious years the figures usually haye been charged, internally, forthehireofthehallandthere evened out at about 400 a has been only a small handful year. of architects taking up ofters of ~ Last minute bookings and free or cheap hospitality from day tickets could swel the total London architects but it is unlikely to go over the The organisers have also 300 mark preliminary been unlucky with their main breakdown of the delegates crowd-puller, Peter Jay, who Today and To eheldar RIBA in ¢from October 19-22 Students — eavily subsidised can dl for just £5. displays on show AT LEAST ten different Monique Faye, tapestries from exhibition displays will be on degree students at the Royal show during the conference College of Art, panels on next week, including the first Charles and Ray Eames loaned show of the winners of the by Herman Miller, an Building Design/RIBA Round- exhibition by the Architectural about competition. Press called “Salvage and Other attractions include a Photographs from a collection display of delegates’ own work, taken by Edwin Smith. an exhibition of work by archi- During the conference fects under 35, panels illus- delegates will also be able to trating good landscape design visit two exhibitions of work Provided by the Landscape trom students at Central Lon- Institute, a display of work don Polytechnic and the Poly- from the London Region technic of the South Bank. branches titled “And All the displays will be open tomorrow’, photo murals by to non-conference delegates. was suddenly whisked off to his local authority representatives. new job in Washington earlier BD. goes daily Last year private firms sent 121 this year, and is now unable to iclegates outweighing the 107 attend BUILDING DESIGN will be pub- from public offices. This year Conference co-ordinator, lishing a daily newspaper at this the trend appears to have Lesley Murray, said she was year's conference — along similar hopeful of a few more during lines to the highly successful issues f contributing the last week. “But we are still produced at last year's meeting in involved, but a bit below last year, although Hull. Delegates will find their free s thought to considering the economic sit- copies in the main hall on Thurs- ye the economic recession and uation I don’t think it’s too day, Friday and Saturday mornings. ALLOM O60 Recessed LUMINAIRES Change of face on keynote speaker Students at conference as part of course NEARLY 30 students and staff from Liverpool University School of Architecture will be ALLOMSee Forinstantinformationtick IZ |onreaderinquirycard THE 1977 trial scheme to invite local architects, who are not Thursday October 20: at the attending the conference, along Foundling Hospital, Blooms- to some of the evening social bury, WCI. Buffet, wine and events has met with a “mild” 18th century music. Tickets £9 response, although the each. 8 — Ilpm. Organisers are hopeful of a last Thursday October 20: buffet minute rush for tickets nearer and disco dance on HMS bad,” she said \ NUMBER of minor changes attending this year’s conference have been made to the conter in mass as part of a two-week ence programme Peter course into the effect of Chamberlin of Chamberlin, different practice management Powell and Bon, has been Structures on design forced by poor health to pull out The conference will act as a climax to the course, which is in introduction mto the way in which the final design is influenced by the size and approach adopted by the practice, contractual arrang ments, the type of client, and physical considerations on site. The 23 students attending in block are all on the Part I B(Arch) course, and are in the fourth year of their studies, Michael Manser Clare Frankl of the Thursday morning ses- having just completed a trad- sion. He was originally sche itional BA duled as one of the speakers to Before coming to London for respond to the keynote address. the conference the students will His place will be taken by look at a number of different Michael Manser. practices to try to understand The three other architects the ways in which design is chosen to respond are Cecil formed. Speakers from the Elson, of Elson Pack and Building Design Partnership, Roberts, Gordon Wigglesworth the PSA design office, Ormrod of the GLC, and Clare Frankl, and Partner, a medium-sized a late addition representing local practice, and an ex- young salaried architects. employee of Ove Arup have The aftern session on beenlinedup Friday has been modified The idea of finishing the Slightly from the original plan course at the conference was of Six architects speaking on six dreamed up by year tutor, Alan specific issues (patronage, Brookes. “The conference is directorships, salaried archi- perfect for the course we are tects, the building industry, running here. It couldn't be bureaucracy and controls, and better for us,” he said education). The session is now likely to be conducted as an informal relaxed debate cover ing the subjects more broadly New trial scheme response ismild Wednesday October 19: open- ing reception with buffet supper films, cabaret and review Tickets £8 each. 7.30pm — lpm. the time. “The programme is Belfast has been cancelled due listed in the next column. to lack of response, Evening socials 8 BUILDING DESIGN, October 14, 1977 Variety of exhibition 1s wing back towards Pi and attracted nearly 150 people, mostly representing local h Clerkenwell Workshops. The Dove Centre of Creativ- Glastonbury in Incorporating living as wel as working, and crafts teaching along with production, itisalso in ost authority development and planning departments Last Thursday, however such symposium sponsored by the RIBA and the created Fede mbitious and idealistic. wil influence their future development. Although in general the con- ference was dealing with work ing communities in specific buildings, the desire to se the principle broadened out to include an urban area encom- passing also residential, retail shopping andsocial accommo- aaa wasvoicedbyanumber of5 -JohnMorton, who presentedthe Barlow Mow t t Tee a ‘ a : Hence Sa dallk would Ifthe event can be viewerd as another nail in the cofin comprehensive redevelopment, grandiose commercial and civic schemes, and 30 years (or Workspace, thought that, to do so, the local authority should take the initiative in setting up 4 non-profit trust as a service company, especially in a con- servation area Bi id ; iorattack on the whole f tocraftsmen’ shopfronts th cosa) He saw wy P ceses."Hesaw workingcom munities asaremedial mea sure,countering "30yearsof fipt” and the theat of speculativedevelopment. : “P° Franks thinks the local sometimes crippling a wh town, the concept ofadiversi- fied “community small cSoembinedbled papetrstheatreand cle’ firms looks increasingly attrac ema reclaimed tive facingbricksandtradewindowsto eands— Scuffham’s plea for further irms_collaborat exploration of the possibilities outeachfirmlosingItsown pl dividuality.” Six Londo’ in Heading community proposals. Unless The conference blurb des elma esieieg eeesnere relaxations were made, or a While putting the working system of grants analogous to communitiesconceptinamore Housing Improvement Grants set up, the present situation ing by sharing a building (or for indu buildings), together picked up from the up services and facilities, with flor by Manuela Sykes, En teni trial Chaplaint x se consumption c consumptionof« ing historical build- Act intended as a undertake worth, v nOfficerofthe of V n¢ t! tnd reat b ha ld mak wil be caled) were sen bl under Section 1 floweringofideas like “‘self king iner city” ils, likethe pre ingnedsf r 1 1 c | pri mw | pace fr The new bulldings Later in the day, Reynolds emphasized the political and social necessity for authorities meeting current standards and to channel their limited aid to industry in such a way a’ to minimize unemployment Sitatead picturesquebasinonthe North London Isacomplex community and that the work- the resent highly _popul feels the nn focal authority work are usually so high that many necessary pt jects become unfeasible. speakers noted the difficulty of dustrial of which are of revolving fund, has ben mad ani tectur vailable under the administrs wellas economic, ¥ tion of the Industrial Common Thetensionembodiedinthe Ow shipMovement(ICOM). o industrial ° hat aditional d . 4 HAVING demonstratedIntheClerkenwellWorkshops“theprinciple of quick, cost-effective renewal using existing alldings,” Mike Is now seting his sights onthe 5 ling area. With an £8000JieGrantessetinguptheCerealrastforUrban Renewalandhas work tlswekonsxseslntheClerkexvell tto nied“outthat aditional.decision-making It creates dela : sisdeCOMCO andSeaT Aiea lecoration anc tenance requirements largest supplier ofprecast concrete structure : 7 ¥ adecade. raceof planingightandhavebenvacantfradecade.Theeraofre peoplea Screen che eds ntenance requiremen What BP frames,Whateveryournceds,Atcost canalmost “| tronthaleratr Anumberofspeakerstes Atcost Frames.Buiilt-in fire EaeresistancemeansbuiltIneconomy|nestndustrialDivisionSE ES }buldin, acts the to catalyst tomarket placepro htheorg i fire-casing steelwork sitetnotonlycastlgnleatimeconeinatae iharencronetheater . Green Conservation oe rojects range from creating& garden, omen tet 1gwith astudytoassess what growsrat the iothe reinstatement of “thelast example of early htheprovisionof RRpeatee rf quirementupto‘and Tees tproductionfacilitiesare excessof30metres. An: 7 t retextnicturalfeare rebullttoaccommodate,onceagain,craftsmen'sresideonctehse Wreenndtthleirhweroksopacressabore.Pranksodkethertso be taken ov ‘completionnext year by acommunity organ! Caer [easenemunderacevensawhichwouldforexample, ‘ y Teen Ua id ong the largest and most advancec “Ope todealwithaservice threstoreys.Andmeetthefire Ss eryon schedulei A ape Position Rh society onth twa pilars company having ful responsi r ring up to 4hours fire = of“acquisitionandcompet vfortheenterprise. Most esistang houtanyaditional sitework Henenlase} sured. And you 1ebenefitsofhigh technology duct project, give special thought to the fire regulations. AndthenthinkAtcost.Evenifyouonlywant | requlre the occupants to take on apprentices. lesaw in orking ofthe ae communities” the possibility ca fortheco-operative, limited: withaconsultativefunction a TM =s = I 1 peor eur co uns |: )ld Rond Street. L MuntaRoad.Stil ' WIN SDA Ted. DA Tel:Stirling6291 1demonstrationfwhaltocalsathortiy rees Coulddo.Atpresent,winotbuhdget idam renewal projects, the council's reralkasl been rastcieliaita But, of course, the TY AlthhaismsadeTheAtcostGroupBritain's eratesbeakperkibanytpeteage(teClerkenwell” Shownhereinthetpresentconditionth,eyhavespe30nytearsunder | certainlymeetthem-includingclearspansin peaneXUDayouineLaingseOUAen | pan. aIt-i _—— For instant information tick inquiry card 01-495 080. nd Contain‘saveral]lonter:oes BUILDING DESIGN, June 17, 197 15 conference held at the RIBA last week on the role of work communities in urban renewal. up-market, relatively elegant conversions for architects, graphic designers and other professionals, likeSDey reet an #pace tallarger lower budget conversions for skilled crafts- Mike Franks of the Clerken- wel Workshops stressed that local authorities for the future development of working com- munities, Anational “revolving fund" was suggested by Ron Renata paestedby,Ron ValuerattheGLC, speaking fromtheflorinanindividual capacity,toenablelocalautho- ritiestounderwrite“thetop slice of therisk" in setting upa working community. He also pointed out that one obstacle to the development of more we's is the reali cally high i|pree which 5 are oeiriany vacate Dales edthekeyroleofsympathetic theareawastherealworking realistic perspective, this also highlightedthediversityofthe schemes which had earlier been presented. They ranged from ditions would continue. authorityhasavitalroletoplay but that this partnership with a non- promis commun. . He which condemns many people to work in “Dickensian” con 4 BUILDING DESIGN, June 17/1877 IT IS very unlikely that five Bob Maltz reports ona years ago, when the con- cepts embodied in “Worl ing Communities and Urban Renewal” were the concerns of a few voices in thewilderness, aconference on the subject would have hi kSi Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource AJ, BD, Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource From Nov 1975 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/843df6d463a695d580e52aff8e779f16.pdf 084eacb15546a83326f3644c1a5a3a76 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Press Cuttings Subject The topic of the resource Various articles and comments incl NAM PDS Group about RIBA proposals Description An account of the resource BobGilesisamemberoftheRIBA Salaried Architects’ Group and isstilemployed inthe GLC architects’ department. The AF went to see him, them in the public sector, but some still have very positive ideas about their future role. This week, the AJ gives the views of three architects working at the drawing board in the public sector. Next week we shall be looking at the ideas of one chief architect. serve the community, almost like corner shops. Certainly there would be no ‘career Structure’ or ‘promotion prospects’ bur motivation to go into public service should coincides with a period of economic diffi- culty... .’* The political basis of the cuts in public expenditure thus disappears, public sector architects are separated from their context and SCALA can address itself to finding a technical solution to a technical problem. Why should leaders of the profession shy away from a reality so apparent to everybody else? Is it because they are unwilling or unable to accept that the model of architec- tural practice which has been pursued for over half a century is not (and probably never has been) relevant to the practice of architecture as a public service? The promulgation of this model is reinforced by the control of architectural education, employment and regulation (ARCUK) by the Icaders of the profession, It defines the architect as an independent entrepreneur Following the collapse of the GLC archi- not be about self-enhancement at the expense tects’department,BobGilesandmanyofhis oftalent.Itshould,hefeels,haveanelement operatinginanidealisedprivateeconomy,in architect colleagues are looking for some of what George Smiley called ‘a sense of competition with other architects and in con- satisfactory alternative employment. As one of the Salaried Architects’ Group, he has campaigned for years for more authority to John Murray and Bob Maltz are unattached be delegated to job architects. However, architects, trade unionists and members of the despite his optimism when Fred Pooley’s New Architecture Movement and both are practice groups were first discussed at the GLC, (AJ 29.11.78 p1022) he cannot raise anyenthusiasmnowtheyhavebeensetup. The initial idea has been badly mutilated by Savage cuts in both the number of architects and their workload and, in any case, all work hierarchical pyramids that stil exist in most public architects’ offices and sees no reason to have an architect at the top of them. He argues that once an architect leaves the draw- ing board he loses touch with his expertise and is no better than any other administra- tor. It is the very existence of these large hierarchies, completely divorced from clearly locates them as actors or victims on a building users, that has brought about the political stage. downfall of the public office. So tightly They are not alone in this predicament. It is definedaretherolesofthedifferenttiersof onethattheysharewiththeonemillion service’—and that means working with, as flict with other professions and trades in the well as for, the community. building industry. Imposed on the public sector, this model has resulted in a view of councillors, tenants and fellow public sector workers (who suffer under similar models) as obstacles in the path of their architectural creations, rather than collaborators in the effective provision of desired services. employed tn the public sector. They write: Discussionsonthefutureofarchitectureasa Thekeytotherealisationofanewrolefor public service are su.facing in the archi- public architecture is an alternative model tectural press. Not since the AJ Guest Editor based on: series in 1952 has there been any widespread on education buildings has been excluded informed consideration of this matter. The and obstructive hierarchies and moves from the groups for the time being, so harbinger of the long overdue debate is less architects working on ILEA buildings welcome. Public expenditure cuts, parti- remain in the same old empire, pyramid and cularly in housing and education, mean that all. towards a structure based on co-operative | principles; e forging strong technical and’ political there will be less work for architects, At the Giles continues to be bitterly critical of the same time, as local councils come under in the production of buildings, such as increasing pressure to reduce staff, depart- housing officers, valuers and building ments of architecture rank a close second to direct labour organisations as prime targets for the ‘back to private profit’ movement. Architects in general, but especially those associations. who work in the public sector, find them- selves thrust forcibly into a spotlight which The clear aim should be to create integrated public development teams, including al those who are involved in the production and subsequent management of building, which would be accountable to councillors and tenants ona local basis. authority that those professionals who householders on the country’s council and This model is dependent on collective action actually carry out the work rarely, ifever, get housing association waiting lists, and with of architects and fellow workers, acting a chance to meet their real clients. Every- other public sector workers and the people through strong inter-disciplinary unions like thing has to be relayed through each layer of for whom their services are intended. Thus NALGO and TASS, for both its implemen- the pyramid and several committees. No the position of the public sector architect is wonder public architecture is unpopular—it Not separate from that of the tenant, housing is imposed upon its users, whether they like officer or building worker and cannot tation and successful operation. Substantial moves in this direction have already begun in two boroughs. Professional institutions that seek to line up architectural staff in al sectors behind the owners of private architectural firms, merely it or not. Since no system is foolproof, Giles sees no point in employing endless numbers of ‘back stops’ to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Architects are professionals and should be allowed to take responsibility for their own work, without layers of higher-graded pro- fessionals to supervise them. He thinks that more public money is wasted in employing people to ensure that mistakes are not made than could ever really be justified. The only hope for public architects, argues Giles, is if the impenetrable hierarchies are dismantled and small local offices set up to reasonably be considered in isolation. Yet this is precisely what the RIBA and offshoots like the Society of Chief Architects 736 AJ 15 October 1980 ae CAWG, NAM, individual architects and neighbourhood groups must back him up. in Local Authorities (SCALA) are trying to hinder the active trade union and political do as they attempt to come to terms with the dismantlingoftheWelfareState.ThePresi- dent of SCALA, instead of acknowledging that to provide or not to provide council housing and other public building is and always has beena political act, now seeks to redefine the problem in technical rather than politicialterms:‘Thepatternofdemandis changing in many services. This arises from demographic change and other factors. This involvement of architects in campaigns againstthecutsinpublicservices.Itisonly through such involvement that the new model will be built. *(From: letter to Public Service and Local Governmest, September 1980 by President of SCALA.) MurrayandMaltzlookforwardtodiscussingtheseissuesand appropriate action with other architectural trade unionists at the New Architecture Movement Congress in Edinburgh on 7, 8 and9 November 1980. ¢ internal reform which abolishes arbitrary working links with other disciplines involved workers; e forging similar grass-roots organisational links with building users through tenants’ Next week, the Society of Chief Architects in Local Authorities (SCALA) isholding aone-day conference to discuss the future of local authority architecture. After the government cuts, many architects may have decided that there is no work for What future for public sector architects? Time please From M. W. Jeffels Diparch, RIBA, Acting County Architect, County of Cambridgeshire Sir: In his article on the 1980 JCT contract (AJ 1.10.80 pp667-669), Donald Valentine is concerned that it doesn’t make the failure of the employer to gain possession of the site a ground for an extension of time, and he suggests that architects should advise their clients to add this as a further reason for extending time. In my view we should try to avoid amending the contract and I would suggest that the architect has two practical solutions if the problem of late possession arises. He either issues an Architect’s Instruction to vary the date of practical completion, which would then be a relevant event as specified by JCT 1980, or he grants an extension of time under Clause 25.4.12 due to the failure of the employer to grant him ingress to the site through land owned by himself. The first alternative is the one which I would pursue in these circumstances. M. W. JEFFELS Cambridge Martin Richardson refreshes the parts... windows an added interest while the occu- pants stil have full security. This device is particularly suitable for doors to narrow entrance hall lobbies, which are usually left unventilated. A range of windows was marketed in Sweden some years ago with this arrangement, including insect grilles behind the louvres, but so far UK manufacturers have not, to my knowledge, shown interest in this idea. RICHARD BURFOOT East Twickenham, Middx Essex guidelines From 7. K. Simpson, architect Sir: The two schemes under fire in your ‘Colchester Camouflage’ article (AJ 27.8.80 p390) are, of course, pure Essex Design Guide (EDG). The South Woodham Ferrers complex, alas nowareality, which also falls under the critical axe, was of course definitive Design Guide. Remember the guide? The panacea for al that had ever ailed architecture since the dawn of time, and hailed with bouquets strewn in its path by the technical press including the AJ? Mr Dan Cruickshank amusingly and naively divides ‘blame’ for the Colchester schemes between ‘the council’s influence and tendency to favour the traditional approach’, and ‘the architects’ tendency to embrace the spurious principles of pastiche’, etc. Is Mr Cruickshank stil not aware that these schemes, as all schemes submitted through boroughs and districts in Essex (with thankfully, stil one notable exception) are of necessity pure EDG, because nothing short of this will ever get consideration. If any Contracting out From Peter Hampton RIBA Sir: Having read the new 1980 JCT contract, and your appraisal (AJ 1.10.80 pp667-669), it becomes ever clearer that an architect who allows his client to sign one is in grave danger of being sued for negligent advice. For many years the JCT contract has been ... other architects can’t reach. inclined so far towards the contractor as to earn the name of the ‘Contractor's Spot the difference contract—that this issue just has to be From Martin Richardson Darch, RIBA unacceptable. Thank goodness there is a Sir: The short answer to Mr Hossack’s letter ‘blame’ or criticism is due, it should surely better alternative—the Faculty of Architect's contract which puts the architect’s authority where it should be, in his own hands. PETER HAMPTON London SE1 Clear up on dereliction From Paul Spelzini Sir:IfeltIhadtoreplytoarecentreport(AJ upresidenceallhisspotshadgonc.But 17.9.80 p534) entitled “How to tackle whether this is due solely to the excellent derelict land and vandalism’. I am not as night ventilation only further detailed concerned with the latter as with the former, research would ascertain. a major factor in creating vandalism. MARTIN RICHARDSON A deliberate policy of under-investment by London WC2 successive governments is causing deteriora- Private view at the louvre tion of the national building fabric which is From Richard Burfoot DipArch, RIBA severely hampering efforts to provide better Sir: Your letter from Mr P. G. M. Hossack living and working conditions. John (AJ 24.9.80 p583) regarding the provision of Kelcey’s view that derelict land is a valuable night ventilation to casement windows, is resource may be true, but it is also a scar on the landscape and a drain on national resources. Consequently, Iwould advocate that derelict land be cleared of obstructions and rotting buildings, irrespective of ‘economic’ factors or red tape (listings, etc) to provide eco- logical zones in city areas. As a result more is no, it is not another instance of archi- tectural considerations over-riding people’s be laid at the shrine of the EDG and at the feet of those who accepted its ‘guidelines’ as mandatory. I somewhat gloomily forecast the future preferences. I am told by Milton Keynes Development Corporation Housing Department that they under the guide (letter AJ 5.4.78), and have never had a single complaint about although I am pleased to see the AJ night ventilation on the estate. One occu- pant, however, did tell me that since taking apparently changing horses, I am at the same time surprised that it got so far into midstreambeforeitdidso! J.K. SIMPSON Westcliffe-on-sea, Essex Dan Cruickshank replies: The AJ initially welcomed the Essex Design Guide because it sought to stop the worst of speculative housing in the county by instructing the builders and their architects how materials and clevations were traditionally treated in Essex. Before the appearance of the EDG it was common to get the same sort of boxes on grid layouts most interesting. House occupiers do need to have an additional means of ventilation while that one could have found in Dorset or the window remains closed. This is parti- Devon. The link between this and the guide, cularly important for older people living in admirable in intention but questionable in single storey houses, or in apartments practice, is not as direct as Mr Simpson directly adjoining an access balcony, who need positive security. I have for some years used a vertical louvre, suggests. Indeed, one of the more poignant aspects of the Colchester story is that the borough council, far from being dragooned by the requirements of the EDG genuinely interesting city areas could be created and many problems associated with dereliction, doors with an internally opening insulated wanted this type of scheme. It was made including the investment and safety aspects would improve. PAUL SPELZINI Potters Bar panel, usually side hung which, if necessary, may be in two or more sections to give high or low level ventilation. Louvres can give clear to both firms of architects at the outset that only ‘traditional’ style design would be considered. AJ 15 October 1980 in wood or metal, to one side of windows and CAWG, NAM, individual architectsand neighbourhood groups must back him up. New Architecture Movement, 9 Poland Street, London WI. 3rd April 1978. Dear PUBLIC DESIGN SERVICE CONFERENCE, UCATT HALL, GOUGH STREET, BIRMINGHAM Yours sincerely, for Public Design Group, NAM. Invitation PUBLIC DESIGN GROUP As you may know, the New Architecture Movement decided at its Hull Congress in November 1977 to develop further its policies relating to the Public Sector. Since then, work in this field has continued steadily and the Public Design Group which was delegated at Hull to arrange a conference now invite you to attend this, the first NAM Public Design Service Conference in Birmingham on Saturday 6 May 1978. During the past months we have met regularly and consolidated our programme. In addition to refining our critique of architectural patronage and local authority working arrangements, we have been considering the origins and evolution of local authority architectural departments, their internal structure and their relationship to the profession, private practice and to society as a whole. Papers on these will be available at the conference. We feel that discussions have now progressed sufficiently for interim proposals to be made. At the same time areas of further study and action have been identified and more support is needed to extend the work of this group. We therefore hope that you Will wish to participate in the conference and to contribute subsequently to the programme. As you can see from the attached papers it will be a very full day. We hope you will be able to attend, and we look forward to receiving your application as early as possible and to seeing you in Birmingham on th May. Freeson must take the initiative but — ; CAWG, NAM, individual architectsand . neighbourhoodgroupsmustbackhimup. STR LE f ere Leche t rehabilitation The Architects’ Journal 30 August 1978 | Astragal | Squeals of delight an Gambolling at the Ritz. a ee No doubt it’s due to the warm weather—a condition which encourages useful reflection —that Ifind myself ruminating rather excessively upon historical matters thisweek. But events have conspired to exaggerate the condition. For example, Ifound myself being entertained at a reception in the gambling dens of the Ritz and, as Ichomped my lobster and quaffed champagne, Iwas assured that ‘Conservationists and socialites throughout the world breatheda sigh of relief when London’s Ritz hotel was reprieved from decline by anew management’. For two years, Iwas told, the basement had been closed and used for storage—sacrilege. But now all is put right (that is, returned to the original 1906 design) and gold leaf, ‘faux marbre’, lush carpets, and specially designed French rococo furniture have returned to these quarters. OPEN THE COMMUNITY CHEST The initiative being taken by the RIBA Community Architecture Working Group (CAWG) towards launching a community aid fund is extremely welcome. As we reported last week (p356), CAWG is collecting data from architects engaged in ‘community work’ to demonstrate to Housing minister Reg Freeson the need for such a fund. What no one has given much thought to is how such a fund should work. Should it be controlled by central government, local government, neighbourhood groups orthe RIBA? Should the money be used to subsidise private architects? Or should efforts be concentrated solely on expanding local authority departments? The latter approach was advocated by the Public Design Group of the New Architecture Movement recently, but they have not spelt out how it would work. CAWG has so far not committed itself. The Netherlands system (see p374) is therefore particularly interesting because the Dutch appear to be several years ahead of us. There neighbourhood groups really do have some access to and control over architects; tenants are allocated to new flats before they are designed and therefore can be involved in the design process. The main lesson to be gleaned from the Netherlands, however, is that the system evolved as it did only because of both pressure from local neighbourhood groups (often assisted voluntarily by architects) and an enlightened government. If we are to progress in this country Freeson must take the initiative but CAWG, NAM, individual architects and neighbourhood groups must back him up. The designer responsible, Robert Lush, worked with GLC historians to get all the details right. And getting it right has been pricy. For example, the walnut doors alone cost £1000 apiece. But the press release (from which Ihave been quoting) ends with a spasm of unexpected perception: ‘whether f 4:| Building The Architects’ Journal 30 August 1978 Defending the faith Taken out of context Cl/SfB| 81 The Welsh way Astragal [the rich and famous] will appreciate the care and expense that are being used to restore this spectacular example of Edwardian rococo abounding with stucco and extensive gold leafing isamoot point’. The Ritz’s press officer has stolen my words. should be abetter balance between the two sites and wants the expansion to take place not at Headington, Oxford, but five miles away at Wheatley. It also thinks that the depart- ment of architecture should be the unit to move to improve the balance. Oxford County Council isapparently proposing to move the Oxford School of Architecture from Oxford to Wheatley, a pleasant village five miles to the east.At Wheatley there is already a part of the Oxford Polytechnic using buildings put up fora teachers’ training college. The Poly isdue to expand by 6000 square metres and from 3200 to 3600 students in the next couple of years and there are at present only 700 education and management students at Wheatley. The county thinks that there It’s a subtle scheme. Bear in mind that there are, of course, far too many university students in Oxford anyway, let alone polytechnic ones, and that the factories at Cowley are the only really important features of the city.Recall also that the influence of Oxford buildings on architectural students can be very upsetting. Remember too, that there are an excessive number of architects in practice anyway and that architectural study may make a man discontented with his environment for life. All this supports the argument that any step taken to destroy an architectural school must be welcomed. Isolating a school of architecture in a village is just such a step. The art historians’ favourite church in Muswell Hill, London. The way the listing process is being run down is really getting beyond a joke. The list for Swansea has not been revised since itwas first compiled in the early 1950s and, says the Welsh Office, will not be until the 1990's. As one would imagine, many buildings in Swan- sea which are now listable are not protected. Also, again as we would imagine, several of these potentially listable buildings are cur- rently threatened. Notably the Carlton cinema, built in the early 1900s and the Palace Theatre of 1888. Both are important survivors in this much-devastated city and both could be found suitable new uses if there was some official move to save them. Surely, since the Welsh Office intend to be so feeble, the city council should serve Building Preservation Notices on the buildings. The Welsh Office would then have to take some action and, who knows, do its duty and safeguard thehistoric buildings under itscare. There can’t be many threatened buildings to have had Sir Hugh Casson, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, Sir John Summerson and Sir John Betjeman as its champions. The lucky building that these illustrious fellows are now fighting (or at least writing letters) for is the somewhat unlikely Broadway church in Muswell Hill, North London. Built in 1903 and designed in a curious eclectic Art Nouveau style by George and Reginald Baynes, the church is listed grade II and its owners, the United Reformed Church, want todemolish itand sell the site for commercial development. As a result of the application a public inquiry was held a couple of months ago whose decision is still awaited. Certainly the inspector should find in favour of retention for not only is the church important in itself, and in a key position in a well preserved Edwardian suburb, but also the local group (BROACH) fighting for ithas collected 9000 signatures from locals calling for the church’s preservation and has produced a scheme showing how itcould successfully be tumed into a centre for music. Carlton cinema in Swansea. CI/SfB, 81 bakbmesilt) rehabilitation WORKING FOR AN ENLIGHTENED LOCAL AUTHORITY ALLOWS ONE TO PUT INTO PRACTICE ONE'S CONCEPT OF ARCHITECTURE AS A SOCIAL SERVICE . 4+.THE SOUAL SERVANT. THE AGED... THE INFIRM THE HANDICAPPED / AND HOW BO THEY LIKE THE NEW BUILDING, MATRON 7 HOSTEL FOR HAUNICAPPED OLD PEOPLE CLASS 6p/s Obituary Charles Eames Charles Eames, who died last week aged 71, was one of the most influential furniture designers of this century. He trained as an architect and worked in Eliel Saarinen’s office. Street, London E8. 13.00-17.00. With Eero Saarinen he was one of the first to appreciate the potential of new production techniques and new materials. His first outstanding design (with Saarinen in 1940) was for an armchair in die-moulded aluminium and plywood. The famous rotating “Eames chair’, with its mighty headrest and stool, was also designed in laminated timber and aluminium (1957) but the majority of his post-war designs were for furniture in various kinds of plastic; many are produced by Herman Miller Inc. Eames did not limit himself to furniture design. In 1949, the steel-framed house he built for himself at Santa Monica, Cali- fornia, out of standard components ordered from a catalogue, showed a humane and delightful approach to industrialised Plymouth Polytechnic one-day conference ‘The teaching of colour in schools of archi- building that has, unfortunately, been too little followed by Ltd). At TCPA, 17 Carlton others. All his work: his furniture, exhibition stands, films and toys showed the Eames hallmark—painstakingly thorough, yet full of wit and chann. House Terrace, London SW1. Admission: 20p. At 18,30. 12 September RIBA/DIA private view of Alvar Aalto exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burling- ton House, Piccadilly, London WI. Fork buffet supper with wine will be served in the galler- ies during the evening. Cash bar on arrival. Tickets: £6-50 from Anne Corke, RIBA Conference Office (01-580 5533 ext 225). 19.30-22.30. (Exhibition open to public from 16 September to 15 October). 18 September One of Eames’ wittier designs. ad The Architects’ Journal 30 August 1978 an s Diary IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE NEEDY AND DEPENDEAST MEMGERS OF A CARING ComMMUNITY OH WE ABSOLUTELY ADORE IT, DoNT WE MR CHATTERLEIGH 7 2 September NAM Public Design Group tecture’. Speakers include Martin mecting “Theory and Practice’ at Wilkinson and Tom Porter. At Centerprise, 136 Kingsland High 9-10 September NAM Leeds Group Forum, main topic NAM Constitution. At Red Ladder Theatre Building, New Blackpool Centre, Cobden Avenue, Lower Wortley, Leeds. Details from Norman Arnold, 9 Midland Road, Leeds. Plymouth Polytechnic, Palace Court, Palace Street, Plymouth. Details from: Joe Lynes, prin- cipal lecturer, School of Archi- tecture (0752 21312). 27 September The Polytechnic of Central Lon- don: one-day course on arbitra- tions. At PCL School of the Environment, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1. Inquiries to the Short Course Unit (01- 486 5811 ext 397). 6 October Corrections O The figure of £74 000 quoted in the news item about the newly converted premises for RIBA Publications Ltd (AJ 5.7.78 p48) comprises not merely the conversion cost—as implied in our note—but the entire budget including freehold purchase of the old building, conversion costs and all fees. ( In ‘Use of redundant build- ings 2’ (AJ 22.3.78 p568) para 2.02, the correct address for SAVE should read 3 Park Square West, London, NW1 4LJ (01-486 4953). ( Russell Rose was the job architect for the Dutch Quarter, Colchester (AJ 26.10.77 p780-1 and AJ 17.5.78 p952). Future events TCPA Planning Forum ‘Hous- ing in the inner city’. Speaker: A. F. Rawson (chairman, Bar- ratt Developments Southern th la ees, 372 The Architects’ Journal 30 August 1978 1‘Concrete Armada’ by Deanna Petherbridge. 2 ‘Brick Knor’ by Wendy Taylor. 10 eweee ~[ James" Latnamesuggetcans vi ,] ITCTFs illustrated RS Time2 wo eA i” { \ | 4 :i i { Berto)PATS eeaie) 19.10. asoeOreee ~ a nt to know.’ fa ceri, 5ht AT 15 October | —— ize amen das aun a @ ARE: “gaan on)a5 ane. 4B MEER OTeh ee cuaeo one-theperson nd, on the way, aoente aCR psa.Meeye me PS | t | | AJ 15 October 1980 a} coincides with a period of economic diffi- culty... .'* The political basis of the cuts in public expenditure thus disappears, public sector architects are separated from their context and SCALA can address itself to finding a technical solution to a technical problem. Why should leaders of the profession shy away from a reality so apparent to everybody else? Is it because they are unwilling or unable to accept that the model of architec- tural practice which has been pursued for over half a century is not (and probably never has been) relevant to the practice of architecture as a public service? The promulgation of this model is reinforced by the control of architectural education, employment and regulation (ARCUK) by the leaders of the profession. It defines the architect as an independent entrepreneur operating in an idealised private economy, in competition with other architects and in con- flict with other professions and trades in the building industry. Imposed on the public sector, this model has resulted in a view of councillors, tenants and fellow public sector workers (who suffer under similar models) as obstacles in the path of their architectural creations, rather than collaborators in the effective provision of desired services. The key to the realisation of a new role for public architecture is an alternative model based on: internal reform which abolishes arbitrary and obstructive hierarchies and moves towards a structure based on co-operative principles; e forging strong technical and political working links with other disciplines involved in the production of buildings, such as housing officers, valuers and building workers; e forging similar grass-rootsorganisational links with building users through tenants’ associations. The clear aim should be to create integrated public development teams, including al those who are involved in the production and subsequent management of building, which would be accountable to councillors and tenants ona local basis. This model isdependent on collective action of architects and fellow workers, acting through strong inter-disciplinary unions like NALGO and TASS, for both its implemen- tation and successful operation. Substantial moves in this direction have already begun in two boroughs. Professional institutions that seek to line up architectural staff in al sectors behind the owners of private architectural firms, merely hinder the active trade union and political involvement of architects in campaigns against the cuts in public services. It is only through such involvement that the new model will be built. (From letter to Public Service and Local Government, Sepiembee 1980 by President of SCALA.) Next week, the Society ofChief Architects in Local Authorities (SCALA) isholding aone-day conference to discuss the future of local authority architecture. After the government cuts, many architects may have decided that there is no work for Following the collapse of the GLC archi- tects’ department, Bob Giles and many of his architect colleagues are looking for some satisfactory alternative employment. As one of the Salaried Architects’ Group, he has | campaigned for years for more authority to be delegated to job architects. However, despite his optimism when Fred Pooley’s practice groups were first discussed at the GLC, (AJ 29.11.78 p1022) he cannot raise any enthusiasm now they have been set up- The initial idea has been badly mutilated by savage cuts in both the number of architects and their workload and, in any case, all work on education buildings has been excluded from the groups for the time being, so architects working on ILEA buildings remain in the same old empire, pyramid and al. Giles continues to be bitterly critical of the hierarchical pyramids that still exist in most public architects’ offices and sees no reason to have an architect at the top of them. He argues that once an architect leaves the draw- ing board he loses touch with his expertise and is no better than any other administra- tor. It is the very existence of these large hierarchies, completely divorced from building users, that has brought about the downfall of the public office. So tightly defined are the roles of the different tiers of authority that those professionals who actually carry out the work rarely, ifever, get a chance to meet their real clients. Every- thing has to be relayed through each layer of the pyramid and several committees. No wonder public architecture is unpopular—it is imposed upon its users, whether they like it or not. Since no system is foolproof, Giles sees no point in employing endless numbers of ‘back stops’ to ensure thar nothing goes wrong. Architects are professionals and should be allowed to take responsibility for their own work, without layers of higher-graded pro- fessionals to supervise them. He thinks that more public money is wasted in employing people to ensure that mistakes are not made than could ever really be justified. The only hope for public architects, argues Giles, is if the impenetrable hierarchies are dismantled and small local offices set up to them in the public sector, but some still have very positive ideas about their future role. This week, the AJ gives the views of three architects working at the drawing board in the public sector. Next week we shall be looking at the ideas of one chief architect. What future for public sector architects? Bob Giles is a member of the RIBA Salaried Architects’ Group and ts stil employed in the GLC architects’ department. The AF went to se him. John Murray and Bob Maltz are unattached architects, trade smionists and members of the New Architecture Movement and both are employed in the public sector. They write: serve the community, almost like corner shops. Certainly there would be no ‘career structure’ or ‘promotion prospects’ but motivation to go into public service should not be about selfenhancement at the expense of talent. It should, he feels, have an element of what George Smiley called ‘a sense of service’—and that means working with, as well as for, the community. Discussions on the future of architecture as 4 public service are surfacing in the archi- cectural press. Not since the AJ Guest Editor series in 1952 has there been any widespread informed consideration of this matter. The harbinger of the long overdue debate is less welcome. Public expenditure cuts, parti- cularly in housing and education, mean that there will be less work for architects. At the same time, as local councils come under increasing pressure to reduce staff, depart- ments of architecture rank a close second to direct labour organisations as prime targets for the ‘back to private profit’ movement. Architects in general, but especially those who work in the public sector, find them- selves thrust forcibly into a spotlight which clearly locates them as actors OF victims on 4 political stage. They are not alone in this predicament. It is one that they share with the one million householders on the country’s council and housing association waiting lists, and with other public sector workers and the people for whom their services are intended. Thus the position of the public sector architect is not separate from that of the tenant, housing officer or building worker and cannot reasonably be considered in isolation. Yet this is precisely what the RIBA and offshoots like the Society of Chief Architects in Local Authorities (SCALA) are trying to do as they attempt to come to terms with the dismantling of the Welfare State. The Presi- dent of SCALA, instead of acknowledging that to provide or not to provide council housing and other public building is and always has been a political act, now seeks t0 redefine the problem in technical rather than politicial terms: ‘The pattern of demand is changing in many services. This arises from demographic change and other factors. This al Murray aed Maltz look forward to discussing these issues and appropriate action with other architectural trade uniocists at the New Architecture Movement Congress in Edinburgh on 7,8 and? November 1980. 4| ee |National architectural service? The A:rchitects' Journal 2 March 1977 ‘Boss architects’ But David Gosling said that those speaking posal were merely ‘representing their own positions or chief architects’ and the RIBA was supposed to represent architects, the majority of whom are salaried. ‘If we oppose this proposal we will be seen, in Hellman’s words, as the Royal Institute of Boss Architects.’ was not up- Several other speakers said that if the proposal accepted then something much stronger would come Adams said that the institute’s study of the profession, Bernard shortly, shows that the majority of which will be published the there or it could ‘find some way of salaried architects are not happy with their lot. Either could ‘sit on the safety valve’ in which case institute would be a ‘certain explosion’, the pressure and find a new kind of professionalism’. relieving to defer a decision was an attempt to Brown said the decision kill the proposal and ‘puts its finger on the [lack of] of the Council’. sincerity against the pro- as partners all ae! ps > the professional class, the need for accountability in the pro- posed fund, the need for community schemes to be locally based. ‘Many people working in this arca think that the prin- ciples of the RIBA aresagainst the principles of community architecture’, he said, affirming his belief in ‘4 community 4, _\ 3 |were another example of architects believing themselves to |be ‘a panacea for social problems’. The paper did not recog- |nise severe problems: the suspicion by the working class of ite ’aa |Benefit communities, not architects Student member David Breakell believed that the proposals architecture that benefits communities, notarchitects’. Jim Johnson agreed. Very often the community architect needs to become a kind of entrepreneur—taking initiatives for people who will not do so for themselves. A new concept of professionalismisneeded:‘it’softenamatteroftakingsides’. The institute, he thought, should take ‘a persuasive not @ pre- scriptiveattitude’.DavidPercivalwantedtoseethefeescale pressedcodeofbuildingregulations;second,forahighly revised to be appropriate for community work. efficient enforcement service operated by ‘adequately skilled James Latham suggested that the industry’s pressure group persons’, and third, for ‘as far as possible uniform interpreta- oeftheCounde Savidge ideas get wide support In the debate on the building regulations, councillor after councillor reiterated the same proposals for reform as spelled out in the AJ by Rex Savidge. Thedebatecentredonapaperfromtheinstitute’sBuilding Control Committee which called first for a single clearly ¢x- TA ‘The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 on Westminster, the Group of Eight, should take up the pro- posal for a fund. The Government is committed to improving the inner cities but doesn’t know what to do, he argued. Nego- tiations with Whitehall should start immediately. Salaried architects sat upon After one of the most fraught debates of the day’s meeting, Council rejected a proposal by the Salaried Architects Group to immediately set up a Salaried Practice Advisory and Con- ciliation Panel. Instead, by 18 votes to 17, a much-amended motion was carried agreeing in principle to the notion of such a body but referring the idea to the membership and public affairs committee and to the membership in general for its views. Jake Brown, who put forward the proposal on behalf of SAG, voted against the amended motion because he said it was an attempt to sweep the issue under the carpet. The SAG proposal, described by Brown as a ‘spring lamb’ in its mildness, is aimed at providing a means by which salaried architects could protest against employers who prevent them carrying out their work with proper professional responsibility. The panel (five members including two salaried architects and two principals/chief officers) would be appointed by Council and could only act with the co-operation of its members. Un- like an industrial tribunal it could not have statutory power. Yet Council members expressed their disquiet with the pro- posal. Ray Moxley said he had a ‘gut feeling of anxiety. It could be very damaging to good relations in practices.’ Eric Lyons said it could ‘seriously jeopardise the future of private practice ...to see this institution as a quasi trade union would be very worrying’. Allan Groves, chief architect ofCornwall, said it would be ‘divisive’ and was unnecessary because ‘chief architects in the public sector are responsible individuals’. RIBAGOUNC : ; subsidised by fees from otherwork. Alan Meikle, introducing the paper on community architec- ture, emphasised that community architecture is not ‘a pass~ ing trend’. Economic and social pressures will ensure that, for many architects, the nature of their job will change, he said. There will be much more concern with the existing stock i 3. Now it’s the turn of the infantry: house-to-house work |anu fine-grainplanning.” ( |Much is being done but not enough, he argued. So anational |fund is needed to help the poor acquire the skills ofarchitects, |just as the legal aid scheme and the National Health Service |help them get access to the services of the otherprofessions. |A Community Aid fund should be set up by the Government to help poor people pay for architectural advice. Council agreed by a massive majority that the institute should press Whitehall to provide cash for this purpose. The fund would |cover fees for community schemes including abortive work, |non-architecrural services related to home improvement and fees for full services for housing rehabilitation, which is often |and by extension, directly with the inhabitants. “The day of |the big battalions with their bulldozers and tower crancs is ‘This kind of architecture can only be practised with the know- |ledge and consent of the user’, he said, “we must be moving towards an architecture for everyone, not just for those who have the money to pay forit.” Lotham: Whitehall talks should start immediately. baile againgge!meetinif Nittional Krogty Pore To suggestthatthe,ptiblig 9dJ résifmably iknorantof St ictural caine cerstharhas.Beught oTarepypodana sh the } reputid to Prafgs Comments ) cin +}, Fhereave ingund muledheg pga yara sare modularragigdesignSah y ho a Crohg fyétédines the onthe icedu demonsiarlor,THate02 Leagueiscomplet PT theuseofviolegce'fshemHrotXo- esré SESS, au his letter (AJ 4.1.78 p7) than is - illustrgt a a inthearticle cepttha Ryle deteahi AJen i Apna ~| thectigui,= cea rathJK use Ras own money i At itsobjectivesa) acwcoesforthelowWgubli<4\ASuithiehainal_\ An ‘Architects agaitet dens ff National FrontTMtarfipantey has been set up,to enfouragd! ) » architects?SdHvindK{ ofthemt ziLeague. The a intentionjd bgnae SaPO} t signaturesdtLooWarg hitects Cy and\£5000 intdonaiSiots to. theA LScafes16.5Sal A massive response of this sortcanbel}++eyeBoB } of the Natis iu Brtai counter theunpretedented Nazi Propaganda to which the electorat: is going tobe , exposed Iath‘eg ack Sn IcallupeénaiBARE demonstrate their ahbortuke of racialism by writing to‘give support to this campaign, irrespective of other political differences. Letters of support and donations should be sent to “Architects against the National Front’, c/o The Architectural Association, 34-36 Bedford Square, London, WCI1B 3ES John Sell London WC1 ee Recollections of violence From Geoffrey Maddison RIBA, AADip!, MRTPI Sir; Your correspondent A. Anderson PUN eeoneronpeene Ppastebrmo fWhi en, gine - complam, /¥ i\ sone ent, disgri inssting f uniARelligencel &We’ woltd sugkest th: ‘Goth ‘compejence CORN ay auseful i}. wulge! tab hthe'pub! hf,5‘intelligen,ry= vy NYyWretfeb sewho find e lre pe OLA lnnang Fe alfo a ah, The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 733 qualification. Put against the RIBA, SAAT iss*Hlinitsinfandydandunless $ Fascists in London in the 1930s; my own visits to oom any. he Austria in crab re includingbejngaeay! wastocarrytheargument nerchristopbblign} GestapowhenItriedtoseTebeyondtheengineeingcirclein.*schatny;moveaiwaiyf)dup Photographs of evidence of aptj)=4ne Sir: The objegt of the Ie on limig state debigycaJ ‘Ate 77 p1201 ath pate will definit bth sides, juWshagdakafpnhiy Reng) c cretive, kriow-it-a MTaeakG ingsin theirsHa wBeebyandBillen Ulnton N «PaniDAO }ow SAAT the only hope From §.mele have Jewish violence in Vienna and a “a y]a ekweston era Or mharter rather than writh tt prejudiced red scare hysteria shown by Meese whosq attituleist ander hit was previouslyy confined a sintendedtobe contfovepdl. a mal opinionlabourthediahdonAasfitrary fe | ieDurSdieenthere ckwork, The figBures ip —- rey diso; freeeprohcesslegiayt Pe webrokethatdow great Tho ember that the argicles in i¢saméansvWerusing;J197](repripy asatOAT CP110thanusidgAVWe;Hanokybidsstiekei rae that he €Ane shme dealt adequately pfich the evel ofthenewdhaftBS449, jets f;actors,Hytosis iyteleee Bepate soe <q riticismofthecurent <as‘ind"thatmaywel} CP114 i)AN Agigbed ths Midd TM io ‘ishTaohie‘ dai a 1 ang,sAAiSteayy wcthts my aWrarded, ean li ; Whatwedany Aino 4 ~sénse’ig the OF Mi sicy in shortestsupply,particujgtly where fashion and progress are concerned G. ae bets Ao > G A4Hodgkinstn letter above). members. Ihave astrong feeling that if some review is not made soon, the R pamey inda take-over bid.by shar very (evidert—based Ppirel) and simply, on the fact that there will be more of them than us! Philip W. Heeks “Crewe and Nantwich, Cheshire : London W4 a a a ee té Technicians’ training wl From Philip W. Heeks Sir: uM | Twould like to stronghy *ey fi the let from B@. Tint AJ 30.11.77 p1961), Satie to architectural technician training My own view is that as the RECS now have a bridging, courge fo eyabersofST,.s¢should the yolbam haveabridgeforSAAT to totally demolish 17 listed buildings and partially demolish five others, in the Queen, Foregate, Frodsham Street area ofthecity. Ifnthhi Rey: are not going forthasc wv mentioned above; then what are they going for? nsstheSince would begin to id“y t he editors engineersare prepared to ope Kj Acepniebpaehibnona lad From John Sell RIBA Sir A. Anderson is incorrect in both the points he seeks to make (AJ 12.4.78 p678) attack- ing the Anti Nazi League. the latter would begin to com- prehendichgincering realities themannerofeee them" opinion in this country, united « forthe soleobjectiveef Opposing.the poi of racial by the National ¥ront and other Nazi organisations Among oe thousands who have givent su ort to the Anti Nazi Lea cmeiiAbey ‘A shtcoft’ S§ir * Tohi Gielgud, Pete Buon 'i Cleo L3ine, ints M Michael*Parkinson’ a Previn The second paragraph of Mr Anderson’s letter cdr, only refer x toac paysasceayyn Srpanfsed a by tH BitmifigHam Ang “A RacialistCGommittesAR ON mil + ici " a with e ee obectsincludney wen rhehup~gilrcominghttechniéians socialpriority Bye no rote of ite it,1¢Willstayth woe oar | ANnti-Naziaesan) Sca¥sbrook yeybehthtetenteeoftheanti-_ ressreports,and Mlfission . roadbpjldittglobby*howsthar” mee none of itsmm ti ’ salt this Yarn. ispossiMe anstttat Ohi re sj bienseatdesign OW Pirliamentacceptsthatthe Weide fromG.M.Roseland psppleSreotaay o NSNareeas Mosley’s|AHodgkinson Tens (AJ 12.4.78 p678) refers to the Anti-Nazi League as being odious and implies that its Sir; a Afthe regi MOI tocar * pees(AJ5:4,78 2637),Iie} Neth hq Kok CrRAtRoid° people. Imysqlf havéheen c xhpalyttlege forthe.By Ao ght years with SAAT as, the,a / oly hopep Al Tretogn: fi aigingysnyie i ith present and future empl yaa of the heagJAf ane} oPHNCanWaspwheoal ate\) confused e eS ai‘terePRO aeaePee cah yj take tq hainthese quabfic nS,6, atbotertaiglyrare. Renee anda lot of Practiges § Nesto % Further recollections of violence (sec oviteaanags;,* Whe eal TheAntiNaziLeagueisnot pyc lentWaragainstaD ¢ ndengagaen! aCommunist front apisation« but an organisatig priothdd Vv V5ve ine pat byaverywidecross-Sectionof da We ear TRearticle,cover: ,aspectof ergs ofs ipimty 3 the appligation o Agate te Meavehale ay ay demiginhi— biplais tehnlticz Up firswy QbA hicg eke heirorric 5 T(soncepe’a doesnotinA { ‘ SARE merefygeflectsthecriticismWs hoserjousissinapros CP11¥ made ateverypectin lit é ae fe criticisry fe ca)pve v on that code since jtapp, Nuintt a eb sis intakeinganarbi- ts sevenforthesafetyfactor {Harry ae | 119. brey Says no more in CNaweregiso equal ose 386 ‘ \ » The Architects’ Journal 2 March 1977 . Diary 2 March The possibilities of community architecture meeting organised ternational Council of Socicties by Nottingham New Architec- of Industrial Design at the May ture Movement group, at the Fair Theatre, Stratton Street, Peacock Hotel, Mansfield Road, j London WI. Speakers include Nottingham. Guest. speaker Selwyn Goldsmith. Adam Purser, NAM, London. 16-17 March 19.30. 3 March Official vandalism: housing in the inner city lecture by Jim chow preanised by NORSAG, at the Departiient of Architecture, Infor systems for de- | signers symposium and* exhibi- tion at the Universiy of South- ampton, organised by the Design Group. Details: Publication Ser- vices, 33/35° Foxley Lane, High WAKE UP, SIR — YOUVE BEEN MADE } Edinburgh University, 22 Salyington, Wotthing, Sussex, +) REDUNDANT/ \Chahibérs Street, Edifburgh, at 117.15 “4 March’, 5 ay Discourse in architecture lecture by Francoise Choy in Lecture \ Theatre 1, Architecture Unit, ¥ 4)Pobytechnic’ of Central London, BD13 3AD (0903 65405). 23-25 March ———————— ee Design guidance a three ‘stage workshop organised +by\ the School for Advanced Urban Studies to proyide a forum’ to discuss how design guides are 35 Marylebone Road, ‘London | preparedy their,impact on. devel- opment control and-thteir pérfor- “mance. Details; Judith Tyler, School for Advanced Urban Richard MacCormac: an archi- \ Studies, ‘Rodney, Lodge, Grange tect’s. approach’ to ~architécture Road, Bristol: BS8 4EA; (Bristol mecting at North East London; 311117). Polytechnic,: Department of 23-25 March aa Architecture,ForestRoad,Lon- rN eeeobe NW1, at 18.00. i sSe _ 7 March |EiDeadwood| CHIEF ARCHITECT) don, E17, at 18.30. . — a + Aspects of health ‘provision building programmes course for architects, administrators and , YOURE UNAWARE OF w THE Wider ISSUES § March ‘ Tropical architecture lecture by pFactifioners on the designiprob- vere LADDIE f vf Otto Koenigsberger at the Lec- “lents ing region#i\ant ajgrice tures. Theatre, 'sDepartment >of + health authorities) organiséd by Fine ‘Art, Neveanle Univecsity, the IpSituseof Adv: anced Afchiy |) tectural Studies. Derhils: they Secrosary, IAAS, King’s Manors at 13.00. / a —_— : - 7 Yor’, YOT ZEP (0904 26912). 28 March-2 )April tony 1 > seminar with speakers Gordon *“Rok? “and Patrick-\Morréay; at, 7 8 March Tube structures and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Correction)“; Liverpoo}] Polytechnic, Main 6 Wérdhe ddiwings hahdbsoky Jiy‘hecture_Theatte, Byrom Street, i26.1.77, IS5,/p188, para 1.02 § Liverpool 1, ag 14.30 third line sHould ready ¢he:values 8 March }\ aX Lecture by. Geoffrey. Darke t otganised by); N@RSAC, at 17,15. See above for venue. 8Mairch LA ASS Lecture by Cedric Price in the Main Auditorium, South Bank Polytechnic, Wandsworth Rbad, London SW8, at 16.30. 8 March RABAS*Lalk in’: can we afford the building regulations? Walter Segal will open the discussion with Eric Lyons in the chair, at the RIBA, 66 Portland Place, * London W1, at 18.30. — ‘9 March Milton Keynes lecture by Derek Walker ofganised by Oxford Polytechnic, at Museum of ‘Modern Art, 30 Pembroke s Stteet, Oxford, at 19.30. th 9 March Le Thoronet, La Tourette lec- ture by Dr Geoffrey Baker, at Plymouth Polytechnic School of Architécture, Studio 3, at 14.00. AJ © \ i7'S ALU RieHTs OFFICER = / I've'Gor Aim | Future events The designer and the disabled conference sponsored by the In- =. 1 :V2‘and, of course, | XA¥ FS compil, p186, should read. eqm- passes 9 , : Innnext week’s. Guy ‘Hawkins looks at Water- field School, Thamesmead—a turning point in the design of comprehensive secondary schools. ® UY Git mavens LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE IN THE NEWS AGAIN / fi ‘The Architects’ Journal 2 March 1977 ponds and redecorate Sydenham station. The fifth campaign is intended to encourage Londoners to plant more trees. A special committee chaired by architect and tree enthusiast Sydney Chapman will advise public auth- pees and individuals and, in some cases, it will help with cash. Neut Fe duce partial services only, said Nisbet, and ‘such policies declare only too clearly that the cor- porate client has no requirement for independent professional advice’. Even so, Nisbet pointed to the greatly increased status of the qs. Partly as a result of the power of the corporate client, most qs firms now find that a large pro- portion of their appointments are made direct by the client without prior selection of the qs by architect or engincer. Qss’ status has also been enhanced by their appointment as project co-ordin- ators of design teams, said Nis- bet. ‘We are all proud of the fact that a quality surveyor was chosen to manage the team for the National Exhibition Centre and that the project was success- ful in terms of both time and cost.” This role for the qs is growing and, according to Nisbet, there seems little doubt that there is ‘a tendency for clients to look to them for financial management in the full sense of accepting res- ponsibility for ultimate costs. And no doubt it will soon become apparent that responsibility can- not be undertaken without the authority to take such actions as would ensure compliance with the financial brief.’ Local authority single person housing is being provided for the first time, by a London borough at least. Haringey implemented this policy from 1 January and other boroughs will follow suit. Haringey gives priority first to those over 50 who cannot afford a mortgage, then to people over 35 earning less than £35 per week. Those under 35 get the lowest priority. There are also residence qualifications. The sixth campaign aims to use waste land and buildings al over London. The pilot projects include the conversion of waste land by the canal in Paddington to a temporary park, the creation of a permanent park in the Isle of Dogs and the foundation of a city farm in Newham which will incorporate grazing land, a tree nursery and a communal vegetable plot. The seventh campaign is intended to clean up London’s build- ings and streets. The west front of St Mary le Strand, the portico of St Paul’s Covent Garden, the Ritz and Grand Buildings in Trafalgar Square are all to be cleaned this year. Build to human scale: Shore Listed building legislation is not overruled by Dangerous Struc- tures or public health legislation. Answering a question in the House of Commons last week, Environment Secretary Peter Shore made it clear that listed building consent must be obtained before any demolition works are carried out on listed buildings—even those that have been classed as Dangerous Structures. pt In the past there has been con- fusion over this point because several listed buildings, for ex- ample the 1760 tapestry factory in Streatham Street, London (AJ 17/24.12.75 p1282), have been demolished as Dangerous Structures without listed build- ing consent. Large corporate organisations, both public and private, are crod- ing the professional role accord- ing to qs James Nisbet. Recently Nisbet talked to the qs division of the RICS and explained that thegrowthoflargecorporateSSesa clients, with their in-house pro- fessional teams, tended to reduce independent professional firms to ‘a reservoir of supplementary manpower to be called on from time to time as necessary and to follow instructions’. There was an unnecessary tendency for in- dependent qss to be asked to pro- P. E. O'Sullivan, professor of architectural science at the Welsh School of Architecture, Univer- sity of Wales, is one of four new members appointed to the Advis- ory Council on Energy Conser- vation by the Secretary of State for Energy, Tony Benn. Manor Farm scheme in Stornoway, Council’s Architect's Department. Peter Shore, Secretary of State for the Environment, spelled out the Government's thinking on new housing when he opened the GLC exhibition ‘New directions in housing’ at the Design Centre last week (AJ 23.2.77 pp330-334). Shore welcomed the ‘trend back to building on a human scale” and opined that ‘when historians look back on the ’sixties I think they may categorise it as an age of illusion, of false hope and false dreams—a period in which we thought we could & solve society’s problems by turning to the new and theuntried, WY breaking with the past. In no area is this more true than 'n the field of housing architecture where, with the best of “‘ntentions, though the worst of consequences, politicians, planners, architects—with few dissenting voices from outside —saw the block and other high density dwellings as the answer. This approach did answer one problem—slum clearance— for we saw a faster rate of planned redevelopment than any other country in the world. But I think we can now acknow- ledge that we probably created as many difficulties for our- selves as ever we solved.’ No more comprehensive redevelopment He criticised the notion of comprehensive redevelopment (though ‘I am not one who believes that bricks and mortar as such must be preserved, whatever the cost, just because they are 50 or more years old’). But, said Shore, ‘where we build new we must place a premium on trying to preserve the sense of community, the street patterns, the facilities and al the other familiar landmarks which give people their sense of identity with an area’. He stressed that a strategic housing plan for London with an inter borough allocation is ‘vital to ensuring that all Londoners in need have a fair chance of a decent home’. Shore congratulated the GLC for providing housing ‘on a human scale’ and for being ‘in the forefront in promoting methods of consultation and participation’. The pitched roofed, low rise, consciously urban way ofdesigning Symbol of social division ‘Tower blocks’, he said, ‘and high density barrack blocks are not liked, and are not good places in which to bring children up. And then there were, and are, the community defects of this kind of vast institutionalised building. Up to the sixties, particularly in areas outside the inner city, the bulk of muni- cipal housing had been terraced or semi-detached—of a similar design to the kind of house desired by owner-occupiers. The tower block broke away from this common pattern of design, and divided people not only by tenure, but also by the style oftheirdwellings.Towerblocksbecameasymbolofsocial -_ division, and understandable discontent, and have in my view added to a sense of polarisation betwecn tenure groups.’ He enthused over ‘the move back to the basic, well tried and well loved idea of houses—where possible with gardens’. “2 ese) i TI ,1 eal : jl ne housing has reached the farthest corners of the kingdom. This ts the 'eo a ya —— Deena ef. Western Isles, designed by the J 0 | ~~ —v “Michael Heseltine's present policy (on council house sales) is enjoying only a limited Success — by the end of the present term of this government, he will be lucky to ownership against their will. have sold more than 10 per cent ofthestock.Heknowsthatthe article—thatmostcouncil next 10 per cent will be far harder to sel. On the other hand, the proposals we have made would bring about the large redistribution of wealth this country has ever seen — from the state to the individual.” So concluded a recent article in The Times, “How All Council Tenants Can Become Instant Owners", (May II 1982) by Peter Luff and John Maples. The theme of the article was simple. Most council tenants want to be owner |occupiers. Public housing is expensive and inefficient. Society isbecoming increasingly divided between those who own and those who rent. The solution could hardly be simpler; transfer the ownership of al council houses to existing tenants by converting rents into mortgage repayments. At a stroke this would satisfy widespread aspirations, Nothing new There is nothing new about this idea. A similar proposal was advanced in the mid 1970s by Frank Field, former director of the Child Poverty Action Group and now a Labour MP, and then in 1978 by Peter Walker, former Conservative Environment Secretary Unfortunately the latest authors seem to have learnt little from the extensive debate which accompanied the earlier Suggestions. tenants would rather be owners — acomprehensive NEDO Nobody involved in housing could pretend that al is rosy with public housing. But equally those who advocate radical solutions ought to be a bit more honest about the likely implications. The truth is that the above proposals would have dwellings with very low very serious social and economic repercussions, potential market values would be permanently trapped in poor repercussions which scem to have been totally ignored by their architects. First, there is the effect of coercing tenants into home Contrary to the assertion in the survey of tenure preference in 1975 found that 55 per cent of council tenants preferred council renting. The National Dwelling and Housing Survey in 1978 found that 74 per cent of council tenants were very satisfied or satisfied with their accommodation, Not expensive Secondly, there is the impact on public expenditure. In fact, the provision of council housing is not ‘enormously expensive’. Studies have shown that the real rate of return on investment in council housing has averaged 2¥4 per cent in the last decade While this is slightly lower than comparable rates of return on industrial and commercial investment, the social benefits of housing would lead one to expect alower than market rate of return, In addition, under existing financial arrangements, Owner Occupation costs more in public subsidy than public renting. It is also not the case that public housing ‘results in poor use of the housing stock’ as claimed. The average vacancy rate is no higher in the public than the private sector, the household-dwelling fit is much closer in the public than the private sector while under- occupation is much higher among Owner occupiers. The impact on the distribution of wealth could be much more complex than the authors suggest. Local authority dwelling market values are lower, on average, than owner occupied dwellings. Tenants in difficult to let and unpopular properties. especially those on low incomes. Mobility would thereby be discouraged for whole sections of the community. Private tenants would not benefit at al. If the authors are really committed to a more equal wealth distribution, more effective polices are available. Their proposal would be both capricious and inequitable. There is also the impact on the one and a quarter million households on waiting lists. Access to decent housing for these would be removed at a stroke. Indeed, the proposal would end the prospect of reasonable housing at reasonable cost for the large number of poorly housed, homeless and newly formed households unable to make their way in the private sector. The ‘right to buy’ is proving more successful than the Government —at least in its own terms — originally expected. In the 15 months since its introduction in October 1981, no less than 422,900 tenants had applied to buy, some seven per cent of al local authority tenants. Actual sales have risen beyond initial estimates, reaching an expected 134,000 in 1981/82 and a forecast 165,000 in 1982/83. A recent thorough and up to date review" of both the effect of sales and the future of public housing are hardly supportive of Government assumptions. The book forecasts a bleak future for public housing on current policies and trends with sales creaming off the best of the state and local authorities being left with the most unpopular dwellings; with subsidies continuing to fall and new building confirmed to special needs; and with increasing maintenance problems as the stock continues to age. Equally, Luff and Maples’ proposal will not put an end to “a two national country divided between those who own and those who do not’, as they claim It would simply recreate the same divide within one tenure that exists between sectors at the moment and which is being exacerbated by sales. The only real prospect of reversing current trends towards a society Segregated by tenure and class is to remove the artificial advantages — financial, social and legal — afforded to owner occupiers by successive governments. Stewart Lansley Vohn English, Ed. The Future of Public Housing, Croom Helm, 1982. PSLG July/August 1982 1) 51 CUSIB (Amw) Housing AJ7July1982 ee eeeee = ‘ CONVERT RENTS TO MORTGAGES? CPEEY CUSEB (Amw) (1976 revised) (Amw) 16 PSLG July/August 1982 yworpremper 1982 HUMEOTyewsween atOxford Polytechn: chelsea=<Qama> Circle 9 on Reader Inquiry Card vpair-was shown on television, there were 51 : 74 CUSiB (Amy) : 5 Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life that some power take offs are more reliable than others. But ifthe PTO that supplies power to your specialist machinery lets you down, the rest of your machin- P a units are the most reliableonthemarket | isquite simple. Only Chelsea PTO’s have afacility which as Chelsea power take offs. And that’s our exceptionally = Telex: 335665. fast delivery service. So ifyou’d like full technical literature, contact Spicer Power Products at Spicer Power Products Division, | Racecourse Rd, Wolverhampton WV6 ONE. Tel: 0902 773814. \ ery will be useless. And with some applic- ations, you can’t afford to take that chance. So if your application demands a high level of reliability and performance, there’s only one owertakeoffthatyoushouldever puton. They’re called Chelsea power take offs and they’re manufac- tured by Spicer Power Products Division. And the reason why our | allows you access to check backlash and accurate fitting. Which means that ifyou don’t s ecify our PTO’s, you won't be able to check a hothe® your | vehicles are suffering from prematurely worn gears, and they could break down with- out warning. Thankfully however, there’s @ still one thing that’s as reliable CI/SfB (Amw) (1976 revised) (Amw) — multi-disciplinary approach )in building, is to close. [thas years ago to promote a area in the next year. On the question of anew body to take over the work, Mr Jefferson said, “We're putting quite a lot of resources into our |institutions that it would have liked. STANLEY FLOATS BUILDING REGS RELAXATION provide the right type of land as their predecessors in the Labour government.” Mr Moody went on in his speech to forecast that the increasing cost of land would force many small builders out of the industry because of the large amounts of money that had to be tied up in expensive land There isachance that a similar unit of some sort will survive, though probably not in report from the continuing professional development working group which recommended a yoluntary system of education, backed by incentives. The York Centre was: The Government iscurrently )York. The York Centre |Advisory Committee will discuss the setting up of another body, possibly in London, at its meeting in November. This toowilldependoninstitutional to have played a major role in the guidance and co-ordination of the RIBA approach, a job which may now fal to the RIBA. investigating “without commitment” the possibility of relaxing some of the rules governing health and safety requirementsinnewhousing,in purchases. YORK CENTRE TheYorkCentre,setupfive educationasa“keypriority” made its mark, with proposals for continuing education having been taken own programme, and I'd be the up by the RICS, IOB, and last to say that there would be |finally,lastweek,theRIBA, anythingtospareforoutside ~wa who also announced the closure. But ithas not had the support from the work". Compulsory education The RIBA council accepted a - support.Governmentfunding »Acompulsionincontinuing favouroftheuseofinsurance. es ASBESTOS RULES TO BE TIGHTENED Specifiers of products containing asbestos are explicitly obliged to consider its substitution by other materials * the recommendations of the final! report of the advisory | committee on asbestes, published this week. “he committeewantsastavuto! ban on new applications of blue asbestos and statutory control limits on the use ofbrown and white asbestos. There is no quantitative evidence of a risk to the general public from exposure to asbestos dustssays the report, and in worker exposure ithas not been possible to identify a threshold limit, so the committee rejected an across- the-board ban on asbestos. Instead of a “hygiene standard” which implies a level below which exposure is safe, the committee wants a control limit introduced. This gives a realistic level of airborne dust )seems unlikely. The York Centre consisted basically ofits director, Dick |Gardner, plus secretanal support. Its total expenditure |over the five years has been some £70000. Mr Gardner is currently on holiday and unavailable for comment. | That the York Centre has |survived as long as it has is |probablyduetogenerous funding from ARCUK, some |$50 000 in the last five years. |The feeling isthat ARCUK may be unwilling to fund at this level given lack of support from other bodies. The RIBA, paying an the centre last year. The objective of the York Centre, Philip Groves of the advisory committee told | Bralding this week, was to jchange the climate on continuing education. It could fairly be said to have done that, he thought. Without the York centre report last year, the adoption of continuing education at the _RIBA council last week would not have taken place. education is ruled out by the group, unless after a period of several years the voluntary scheme fails. This is recognised as a hot political issue which needs to be discussed further, the report says. Speaking at the first international conference on house warranty, Housing Minister John Stanley told 300 delegates that the Government was investigating the possibility of removing from local authorities the obligation to Cost of the enterprise would be about £19 000 a year—a modest sum to change the outlook and standing of the professions,itcomments.Inthe designofhouses,matenals next year, the outlines of the scheme will be worked up, linking up with the regions and identifying topics of interest. Full development would be in the years 1981 to 1983 by which time the climate of opinion will shave changed, the group hopes, and offices will have started training budgets, the RIBA will have produced guidelines for standards of development, and members will have begun to keep a record of involvement in courses, in office events and personal studies. The group presses for the scheme to go ahead as rapidly as possible, but with its in built dependence on the York Centre, used, and the standards of construction. The present requirements would be replaced — to a greater or lesser degree —by the use of insurance. This would probably operate on the health and safety aspects of housing in the same way that NHBC guarantees presently affect the physical fabric. France has used such a system for some time and provided the Government was satisfied that minimum standards were being set and met and that policies for the conservation of energy were being followed, Mr Stanley saw regulate housing standards through the use of minimum requirements governing the CASH CRISIS CLOSES ry Mr t= SS Andrew Tait, NHBC director, opening the first International Home Warranty Conference, London, on Monday index-linked grant, gave £650 to Building 26 October 1979 E rT ll The York Centre has discharged its role, RIBA |president Bryan Jefferson the RIBA programme may need | no reason why a similar system | above which no person should claimed this week. This had |been to map out the work tobe | Centre at its next education some revision. ARCUK wil consider its should not be employed inthis | be occupationally exposed. country. This recommendation has position in relation to the York HBF president Don Moody _| been welcomed by theAsbestos done and to arouse interest. It | committee meeting in |Was essential that the RIBA now] November, but has not yet been| problem caused by land Government is aware of the picks up on the work, he said, ; asked whether itis prepared to | shortage “they do not seem at |and it would be taking continuing | support any new initiative. present any more willing to AUS Serrember- 1962 ae S _ SpainWasCheaatanhaeineae aS ‘ , there were atOxford Polytechnic. 74 pe ‘ ‘ _ OT Ree CIUSEB (Amw) (1976 revi )(Amw) renee NUEEF TIE a CI/SEB (Amw) complained that although the Cement Manufacturers : Assdctation, which says that it wil provide additional reassurance to building workers handling asbestos cers 2r.. AJ 8 September 1982 TorWnurDErUy — atOxford Polytechnic | CUSSS (Amw) City Centre Edge Hill Wavertree In place of riots The venue isachurch inToxteth,Liverpool 8, Wednesday 14 July 1982 ar 20,30. One Section of the church has been cleared of pews, and grouped around trestle-tables covered with house floor plans are over 70 men and women of all ages. Reflecting the area’s 35 per cent unemployment level, many of them are unemployed, the remain- der mostly in low paid manual and service jobs. All of them are currently living in some of Europe’s worst housing—crumbling six- storey municipal tenements, often without hot water. This is the Mill Street Co-operative and its members have met in the hall two or three nights a week for over three months, designing their 54 new ‘dream houses’ with architect Martyn Carmichael Associates. Even when the World Cup match between England and Spain was shown on television, there were Coppin of Brock or Public Sector SomethingincrediblehashappenedinLiverpool—arguablythemost important step forward in British housing for decades. Without anyone in the rest of the country really noticing, an era spanning 60 years of paternalistic quietly come to an end. In itsplace funded housing has taken over in which the users are firmly in the driving seat. Nick Wates reports. COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE THE LIVERPOOL BREAKTHROUGH | There have been endless research Studies and experiments. Occasionally, as at Byker in Newcastle for instance, architects for new schemes have worked closely with the tenants, but they have always remained accountable to the localauthority. Housing Phase 2 Liverpool City Council no longer uses its own architect’s department to build, on Spec, new public housing for rent—apart from a small amount for special needs. Instead it funds the people who need new housing to Organise the design, construction and management of it themselves through self- generating, self-reliant co-operatives. Liverpool’s first new-build co-operative scheme of 61 homes was funded by the Housing Corporation and is now two-thirds occupied. Nine more, involving 341 families, have been approved and are at various stages ofdesign and construction, and several more are in the pipe-line. All but one are being funded by the city council, /. It works like this. Local authority tenants living in slum clearance areas or deterior- ating tenements organise themselves into groups—so far ranging from 19 to 61family units—and obtain the Management services of one of Liverpool’s co-operative develop- ment agencies: Co-operative Development Services (CDS), Merseyside Improved Houses or Neighbourhood Housing Ser- vices. With its assistance they register as a ‘non-¢quity’ housing Co-operative with limited liability, locate a suitable site and negotiate to buy it. (So far nearly al the land has come from Liverpool City Council or the Merseyside Development Corporation.) They then select a firm of architects with whom they design a scheme which is submitted to a funding body. The scheme is then submitted to the DOE for Subsidy and yardstick approval as on al localauthority funded housing association schemes, When the houses are built, the co-op members become tenants of their homes, paying standard fair rents, but they are also collectively the landlord, responsible for management and maintenance. The full significance of events inLiverpool has not yet been Brasped nationally. The need for participation by tenants in public housing has been talked about foryears. 1 The spread of new-build Co-ops in south Liverpool, Solid dots show sites of those already approved, open circles indicate where co-op members are moving from—invariabl yclose by. Merseyside Development Corporation’s area 18 Shown hatched, with the International Garden Festival site in tint in the south. Co-ops inorder offormation: 1 Weller Streets, 61 units, nearly complete 2 Hesketh Street, 40 UNILS, ON Site 3 Prince Albert Ga rdens, 19 units, on site 4 Dingle Residents, 32 UNITS, on site 5 Grafton Crescent, 30 units, On site soon 6Southern Crescent, 40 1s, design Stage 7Mill Street, 54 units, design stage 8 Shorefields, 46 units, design stage. Two other schemes (Leta Claudia and Thirlmere) not shown on the map are on site in north Liverpool. public housing provision has a new way of building publicly CI/SfB (Amw) (1976 revised) (Amw) But the Liverpool new-build co-ops are totally different. The tenants are not being asked to participate or be involved—they are actually and firmly in control: they choose the professionals they want to work for them, they choose the site, the layout, the floor plans, the elevations, the brick colour and the landscaping—albeit within the normal yardstick restrictions—and, when built, they manage and maintain the estate. The implication of all this for architects and other professionals is immense. Only a handful of firms are involved in the work so far but already they have developed a unique new style of working. Instead of being accountable to council committees or housing association managers, they are accountable to the consumers who are making very different demands on their talents. The architect’s vision, technical expertise and design skill are as important as ever, but, in addition, a new range of knowledge and skills has to be learned. no absentees from the co-op meeting Tonight they are finalising details of their floor plans. Some people are opting for a combined kitchen/diner, others a combined living room/diner, while some want three separate rooms. Coppin moves from table to table, pointing out problems and suggesting ideas on cach person’s layout: “If you want a carpet in your dining room, the last thing you want is french windows into the garden as that’s your only access.” ‘Why not switch the sink round so that you can reach the drainer better?’ You'll get more space in the living room if you turn the staircase round the other way.” Mostly his advice is heeded, occasionally ignored—it’s up to the future occupant to decide—unless the co-op as a_ whole considers the chosen design so bad as to seriously jeopardise future lettability. In the end, the Mill Street Co-op opts for six basic house types with 16 variations Design mectings have become a regular feature of Liverpool 8 nightlife. The previous evening, a few streets away, 10 members of the design committee of the Shorefields Co-op were deciding on brick colour and elevations for their 46 new homes with three architects from Innes Wilkin, Ainsley, Gommon. Daye Ainsley displayed coloured Pantone drawings with a range of They're not houses for people. 1 think the options, 7. After discussion, one banded council housing thing is going to dic out and brickwork solution was rejected because it more houses are going to be built like we're 2 Fohn surveys the site of the co-op’s 46 new homes from afifthfloor access balcony ofdoomed tenements in Liverpool8 where most of the co-op members now live. They wilbe the first new homes built on land controlled by the Merseyside Development Corporation. The site for the International Garden Festival ts in the distance 3 The last days of back to back terraces around Weller Street where 61 families formed Liverpool’s first new-build co-op. Their new homes, mostly complete, are les than half a kilometre away. looked too ‘Noddy-like’. Another suggestion was ruled out because it was too ‘Corpyish’, that is, too much like Liverpool City Council housing The first thing that most co-ops tell their the major spur for the housing co-ops, and few cities better demonstrate the tragic and like those built by the council. ‘Council costly failure of Britain’s public housing. housing is the worst housing ever,’ said Despite having a ‘gross surplus’, almost one- architects is that their homes must not look atOxford Polytechinix 74 CUSIB (Amw) John doing it. It’s more personal—each one personally designed—and it doesn’t cost any more.’ Reaction to ‘Corpy’ housing has indeed been Bailey, chairman of Shorefield Co-op, 34-year-old Bailey, chairman of the Shorefield Co-op ‘Ivs boring, pathetic, inhuman—like someone went into the architect's department and said, “I want 400 houses—get the drawings in by half-three.”” unemployed bricklayer ee AJ 8 September 1982 AJ 7 July 1982 | { 0were ageriene Sr Co-op leaders put the council’s failures down to the fact that tenants w not involved in design and, as a result, the council did not build what people wanted. Furthermore, tightly knit communities were broken up in the rehousing process, causing widespread alienation, which, coupled with irresponsive management and maintenance, led to uncontrollable var m and violence They are convinced that their new homes will not suffer the same fate. For a start, al the co-ops are building on sites close to their old homes (se map and picture) and, by movir masse, the intricate web of family and kir ship ties and local associations will not broken In addition, their involvement in the design and construction process will give them a pride in their homes which no council tenant ever has ‘Once you've designed it yourself you're going to look after it,’ stated one co-op member. ‘You’re not just going into somewhere they’ve built for you. Council estates deteriorate, but ours aren't going to be like that. They’re going to be the best.” In a letter to a local councillor, the chairman of one co-op wrote: ‘Apart from the ambition which comes from the very fact that we are doing something for ourselves there are also prevalent feelings ofbeing part of, taking part in, belonging to and being. It is a very healthy attitude that is positive and contagious.” The community architects Four Liverpool architectural practices are currently working with co-ops Brock Carmichael Associates (two schemes); Innes Wilkin, Ainsley, Gommon (three schemes); McDonnell Hughes (one scheme); and Wilkinson, Hindle and Partners (three schemes). They range from small to medium-sized practices, engaged in a variety AJ]8September 1982 brick colours with architect Dave Ainsley at an architect Mike Padmore to help them choose landscaping for 6] UNITS OF FAMILY HOUSING FOR WELLER STREETS HOUSING COOPERATIVE LTD MINERAL CONTRACTOR WM TOMKINSON& SONS LTD. ; i cheSupparrcommemtryarcemexeurewey CommunityDevelopmentProject(CDP)privateinitiat ee ba. fora numberofyearsattheAands at Oxford Polytechnic okihete CUSIB (Amw) : re 4Some of the Weller Streets Co-op members ture to celebrate the beginning of work on site, August 1980. 5 The Thirlmere Co-op is addressed by 1s secretary, Mrs Martin, in the local church hall where itholds al itsmeetings 6Architect David Wilkinson discusses site with mem 1Co-op Shorefield Co-op’s design committee chooses rT scheme. ae grecimenre ny ryury198zZ = t that are having their top floors cut off to form single-storey houses at a cost of £20 million. Only last month the council agreed THE LIVERPOOL BREAKTHROUGH \ ‘ evening meeting. ler Streets Co-op members visit the Ness university botanical gardens with landscape third of the city’s housing stock of 75 000 units is now classified as ‘hard to let’, including much built since the war. Some 6000 homes are empty because no one will live in them. Much is scheduled for demolition, some is undergoing desperate last ditch surgery, like the ’50s walk-up flats pose for a pict to demolish some *50s low rise housing wernerere 54 "for anum! atOxford Polytechnic —-7-+ _ 74 CISEB (Amw) AJ7 July 1982 ray Grafton Street Cis 20m 19 z ; of work throughout the Liverpool area. In services all but two of those currently in existence. In a special pamphlet for co-ops called Choosing an architect, CDS describes the architect’s appointment as ‘one of the most important decisions that the co-op will take.... The architect is the co-op’s employee, agent, teacher, adviser, designer, negotiator.’ It also stresses that ‘the co-op and its architect will work together very closely for up to three years and the human or personality angle will be very important.” CDS provides co-ops with a list of firms it considers competent from which to short- list, although co-ops can of course add to the list if they choose. The pamphlet lists questions which might be asked at the interview, for instance: “What was the worst mistake you ever made as an architect?” While advising on procedure, CDS plays no part in final selection: this is up to the co- ops. The chairman of one co-op described the judging criteria as: Community Development Project (CDP) private initiatives have been more errective” by architects working with co-ops. 10 Grafton (Brock Ca rmichael). A central pedestrian spine and minimum car penetration provides an easily defensible core for the close- knit community. 11 Shorefields (Innes Wilkin, Ainsley, Gommon). Rejecting anything remotely addition, Merseyside Improved Houses 1s doing one scheme in-house. Invariably the architects actually doing the work are in their twenties or thirties. The starting point for architects is being interviewed by the co-ops, & process conducted with remarkable rigour. The co- ops usually insist on visiting previous examples of the architect's work, followed by an interview. One co-op interviewed no less than eight architects and made its choice by secret ballot using a non-transferable vote system. Co-ops are advised by their co-op agency on how to select an architect. The most active agency so far has been CDS, a non-profit- making registered housing association with a stock of 900 houses in the area controlled by avoluntary management committee elected from tenants and co-ops buying its services. CDS has played a pioneering role in getting the new-build co-op movement rolling, and 9 Ground floor plans for the Shorefield Co-op. Of 20 alternatives drawn up by Innes Wilkin, Ainsley, Gommon, the co-op chose the topfour shown. The bottom one was evolved with three families who wanted separate dining rooms overlooking the rear garden. A wide variety of site layouts has been evolved ‘| The people must be the ones who tell the architects what should bebuilt. 2 The architects’ involvement with the co-op must be total. 3The architects should act as advisers and scribes. (Tell us what is and isn’t possible and suggest alternatives.)’ Communicating and learning Selection over, the first task is educa- tional—for the architects to discover the needs and aspirations of the co-op (both individually and collectively), and for the co- op members to learn about architecture and the building process. ‘It’s like teaching the first three years of an architecture course to 70 people in 6 weeks,’ said architect Bill Halsall, partner in Wilkinson, Hindle and Dartners, ‘but it’s a mutual process. It is possibly more important for the architect to be able to listen and learn, and in the process unlearn previous professional preconcep- tions.” AJ 8 September 1982 Fol'years atihe AA and wscurrently afacarch musent 74 ‘Corpyish’, the co-op opted for semi-detached houses in spec-style arcadian layout, a solution made possible by a virgin unrestricted site. 12 Weller Streets (Wilkinson, Hindle). A courtyard scheme with six houses per court. 13 Leta Claudia (Wilkinson, Hindle). The solution for this long narrow site was evolved using a flexible model. Unlike other co-ops, old people wanted to be separate from families and their bungalows are grouped at the top right round a communal room/co-op office. 14Elevations for Grafton reflect a desire for a change, something different from normal council schemes. make design decisions’. All the architects have used models of various kinds, but in the end found that drawings are the most effective design tool which, perhaps surprisingly, people soon find easy to use and understand. ‘At first we couldn’t understand drawings,’ said Francis Mogan, secretary of Mill Street Co-op, ‘but once Martyn (the architect) had sat down and drawn little people and furniture on them, people soon got the hang of it.’ The architects have similarly found that people soon grasp the complexities of government yardsticks, Building Regu- lations and space standards, so that, as one put it, ‘cost yardstick densities are bandied around as easily as the latest supermarket prices’. Through developing a close working rela- tionship, professional barriers are broken down. ‘Professional people are no longer faceless. We’ve broken down the language barrier and learned how to handle the professional mystique,’ said one co-op chairman. Another said: ‘Professional people usually think they're better, superior. We didn’t know what they were about at first; now we know they’re people who can be very useful.” ‘The co-ops have an enormous loyalty to their architects, vying with each other as to whose is best,’ said CDS development officer Paul Lusk. ‘People talk about “our” architect, which isincredible when you think how architects were thought of a few years ago.” Each co-op has different priorities and these are reflected in the design solutions they evolve with their architects. The layouts of the schemes on the drawing board, for instance, vary considerably, Some have gone for semis, some for a more urban streetscape with small courts and alley ways. One scheme has old people in three single-storey houses, while another has integrated the old people in special flats which are deliberately indistinguishable from adjacent housing. The co-ops also vary in the extent to which they encourage individual eccentricities. Some have restricted themselves to a limited range of house types; in others almost every house is different. Same fee—harder work Inevitably working this way involves The practices vary in their relationships with local hall but regularly visit the architects’ architects in a great deal more work than deal with internal layouts and finishes. Most co-ops set up a design base in a convenient Wilkin, are ‘the most effective way of choices. To avoid this they see competition allowing people without design skills to between architects in getting the work as 55 AJ 8 September 1982 offices. they would have devoted to an equivalent ‘An early breakthrough was to sit around a amount of public housing in the past—an table—instead of round a room,’ claimed estimated 7hr per week over two years, Halsall. ‘It was psychological—developing a according to one architect. Yet, although it is the co-ops and are developing and refining new techniques all the time. A common early ploy is to give everyone a tape measure. “The most useful phase ever was when people measured the furniture in their own homes, cut it out in cardboard and fitted it on plans,’ said Coppin. ‘They were getting physically involved and it was the most useful device for getting past the threshold of people just thinking they were getting a new home.’ Architect Mike McDonnell visited al his co- A variety of techniques have been used to op members in their own houses. “It was familiarise people with the design process old rope, designing council housing,” workman-like attitude—and helped develop too early for those involved to have made a the idea ofprofessionals and co-op members working together on an equal basis rather than the architect lecturing. The first architectural discussion is how you organise yourself in the room.’ final calculation, at 6 per cent of contract price the work is stil thought to be profitable. CDS believes that this merely demonstrates that for 60 years architects of public housing have simply not been doing their work thoroughly. ‘It’s been money for and make them aware of the options and claimed Lusk. ‘Architects didn’t put invaluable. It gaye me a tremendous insight into what people were like and really helped with discussions.” Some co-ops have opted for having a design committee which liaises with the architect, work were shown using slides or an epi- CDS’s main concern now is that architects others have involved everyone al the time. diascope. Coach trips to see other examples should not try to save time by bull-dozing One co-op set up an ‘outside’ committee to of housing and landscape are extremely through their own ideas instead of deal with layout and an ‘inside’ committee to popular and, according to Dave Innes presenting co-ops with a wide range of choices open to them. Kids haye made models at school and taken part in painting competitions of houses. Examples of other anything in apart from reading design guides on what people were thought to want and producing standardisedplans.” CUS (Amv) AJ 7July 1982 ay jury T9sZ THE LIVERPOOL BREAKTHROUGH foughtintoSaltiey,Birmingnam,vyureeevee:VS——— Z~ Cane Project (CDP) private initiatives have been more effective the Support community architecture group in London. He taught for a number of years at the AA and is currently a research stedent atOxford Polytechnic Community Development overtime rates dedicated difficulty 1s An additional absurd financial that architects are not guaranteed any fecs at all until the site 1s purchased, by which ume a substantial amount of work has already been done. Some firms have had to work for up to two years Wjthout receiving any income and with the prospect that if the project fell through they w ould never receive any involved in the Despite this, all the architects work are finding 1t extremely stimulating ‘Working with a co-op presents the architect with an opportunity to open design precon- ceptions to criticism from which to learn,’ wrote Danielle Pacaud of Innes Wilkin, Ainsley, Gommon. ~There are obvious gains gers having first st the stirring of concludes Work enjoyable. Itisthemostrewarding discovered homes hav: designer under CUSIB (Amw) AJ7 July 1982 the architect’s imagination from the rman mee a neighbourhood and build new homes designed to their own specifications to be owned, controlled, managed and maintained by themselves 1s 4 remarkable one for which there is not space here. Now, though, the battles are over and most of the co-op members are settling down in their new homes and proudly showing visitors around, casually pointing out snagging details which would normally only be spotted by 2 trained building surveyor and monitoring the final construction process ‘What's going to happen behind this wall here, Bill (the architect)? If we don’t fil it with earth it’s going to become a rubbish trap.’ Bill agrees, and a solution 1s quickly 15 Members of the Thirlmere Co-op discuss the site layout for their 40 new homes on site with architects from Merseyside Improved Houses 16 Weller Streets Co-op ‘dig-in’, August 1980. Everyone in the co-op joined in to clear the site. Four lorryloads of cobble-stones were gathered and used later for landscaping. The event was also a good morale booster ata slack time between design and construction. essential. An architect who skimped would never get another job, at least in Liverpool On the other hand, the anti-social hours that architects have to work can create stresses within practices (and marriages), and the amount of extra work required would not be possible for practices paying normal Architects have to be in users rather than man ect, not mines local authority housing, as well as from the overriding emphasis on cost In eloper housing. On reflection, the co- ive works so well that to return to other systems of housing production would seem for us a step backw ards into contradictions whose resolution has been the first new-build co-op scheme is already three-quarters built and provides grounds for hope. This is the Weller Streets Co-op which is also important because it 1S having a vital call on an arc the imagination of the pressure tO consider primarily trying to live in his or her buildings rather than trying to organise the smooth management of them.” A report by Innes Wilkin, Ainsley, Gommon with co-ops is proving very experience in housing design that we have had as a practice Or as individuals. It releases stereotype of t building user conceived from a housing manager's point of view that agreed before we move on The scheme comprises 10 courts with six houses around each ‘We wanted itsmall and intimate,’ said one co-Op member. The courts were designed as the key to estate management, with decision making devolved to each court as much as possible They are seen as communal rather than public open spaces, where toddlers can play freely, although they are linked by a network of paths and the public are free to wander through. However, care was taken in the planning to ensure that they won't be used as short cuts, 12. Significantly the co-op had to fight hard for the courtyard layout because the city owsoe Paving the way Whether the universal optimism by tenants ind professionals involved is well founded will not be finally proved until the new din for some years. But ‘demonstration effect’ in stimulating the growth of Liv erpool’s other Co-Ops Much of the philosophy and techniques of communal design and participation Which are now becoming Widespread in Liverpool were evolved by the Weller Streets Co-op, CDS and architects, Wilkinson, Hindle and Part- ners. ‘Weller Streets paved the way by showing that the seem y impossible could be achieved,’ said Walter Menzies, special projects manager of Merseyside Improved Houses—Liverpool’s largest housing associa- tion—which 1s now moving into new-build co-ops and already has two under its wing in its role as an enabling agency The story of how 61 families living in sordid back to back slums, galvanised by their local milkman, fought bureaucracy and political inertia to make history by getting £1-3 million of public money to buy land in their AJ 8 September 1962 AJ7 July 1982 57 AJ 8 September 1982 THE LIVERPOOL BREAKTHROUGH engineer insisted there should be 4 Jitter every day. In practice, people take a designed by its users to be maintained by its hammerhead to accommodate articulated pride in doing it,’ said the co-op chairman. users—a concept which could offer an alter- lorries turning in each one. This would have (The co-op symbolically got its own back on native to the current choice between an completely destroyed the co-op’s concept by the city engineer by insisting on calling its increasing burden of landscaping main- requiring 12 houses round each court instead new street ‘Weller Way’ despite his protesta- tenance or a featureless, bland environment of six. ‘The whole point was that we didn’t tions about the “obvious implications’ .) attempting the unachievable goal of no want articulated lorries turning in our The designissimpleand almost utilitarian, 17. maintenance.’ Residents 1n each court had courtyards,’ said a co-op member. The city The same red brick is used throughout their own ideas and preferences, so that each engineer stood firm, so the co-op decided to (‘Everyone was in favour of using different will have a very different feel. have the courts ‘unadopted’, which means It, coloured bricks, but everyone wanted redin Weller Streets’ houses are less customised rather than the council, will have to maintain them. It was a decision that no conventional housing association could possibly have taken. their own courts’). “Bay windows were than some of the co-ops’ now on the drawing thought to be a bourgeoisie irrelevance,’ said board, with only six different house types Halsall. ‘Instead they went for super out ofa total of 61 units. (Members picked insulationstandardstocutdownfuelbills.’ outofahattodecide,withineachhouse High priority was given to quality fixings to tYPS> who should have which house, but reduce future maintenance, and to security, many people have since swapped.) A major So far this has not been a problem. ‘Each courtyard has 4 cleaning rota to sweep UP 17 Liverpool’s first new build co-op scheme, Weller Streets, completed summer 1982. 18 Co-op chairman Peter Tyrrel with his family one week after moving into their home. defensible space and ease of management The scheme was designed withmanagement very much in mind and the architects have provided each house with a manual. The co- op could have taken out a management agreement with CDS but, significantly, decided last year to dispense with its services altogether. ‘We feel we've built up sufficient expertise to run it ourselves,’ said a co-op member. ‘If they hadn’t designed their own scheme, they couldn’t have managed it,’ commented Bill Halsall. Landscaping also received high priority, with co-op members visiung other land- scaping schemes (notably Runcorn) and botanic gardens with landscape architect Mike Padmore of COMTECHSA (AJ 7.7.82 p74), 8. According to Padmore, the landscaping is ‘a unique pilot scheme, exploring the possibilities of an environment cy eee ee prUEE UL CIC CHMLITY UTA yoruntary-ana —$—<$—— een currentryWTEsCSCSTUSENT at Oxford Polytechsic Community Development Project (CDP) private initiatives have been more effective 74 CUSEB (Amw) 58 AJ 8 September 1982 AJ 7July 1982 ae sayy re 74 CUSEB (Amw) New horizons Despite their achievement, the Liverpool co- ops have only just begun to explore the potential of user control. The current schemes are being conducted within an extremely tight framework of yardsticks and space standards, which leaves little room for experimentation, creativity and significant individual eccentricity. The present financial arrangements, for instance, are a deterrent to users doing any self-build, since it would just lead to a reduction in the grant. The tight restrictions and control over the form of public housing were introduced in part to protect users against architects who were working at arm’s length. With architects working directly for users, many of the restrictions could be relaxed. Regardless of whether new-build co-ops on the Liverpool model become more wide- spread, those involved think there are extensive possibilities for the lessons and techniques being developed there to be applied in other directions. There is no reason, for instance, why the close working relationship between architects and users existing in Liverpool’s co-ops could not be equally successful in other forms of tenure— for instance equity sharing or even in the private spec market. CDS might well be proved right in denying that Liyerpool’s new-build co-ops represent the end of council housing. ‘It’s the beginning of council housing,’ it says. ‘It’s public sector housing phase Day It may also signal the beginning of a new era for housing architects generally in which users, at last, become the clients. sail 7/pte x ed LPL ILO 19 One of Weller Streets’ 10 courtya rds. There are six houses in each with those for the elderly indistinguishable from the rest. t. ‘ Ao Oe monyhallecys elvideeefiat am Soerent caagaglReSom the rehab co-ops and, having proved themselves, new-build was a_ logical development. Liverpool’s housing policy has three com- ponents, according to chairman of housing, Chris Davies: stopping decay through a massive programme of housing action areas in strict order of need anyway, involving tenants effectively in design requires, by definition, preselection of tenants. This has always been the main stumbling block in the past in this country (although other coun- tries like the Netherlands have been doing it for years (AJ 30.8.78 p374)) because Labour and other politicians fear that they cannot predict who will be in priority need suffi- ciently far in advance. Co-op members, they say, are jumping the waiting list. Liverpool has clearly decided that any injustice in preselection—and indeed acertain amount of self-selection—is far outweighed by the benefits of self-determination and involvement. Tt is significant that many Labour coun- cillors in Liverpool who were formerly opposed to co-ops are now starting to show more enthusiasm, and the council is attempting to allay some criticism by incorporating co-ops in a more compre hensive housing programme. One scheme with Merseyside Improved Houses now on the drawing board will entail offering everyone in a tenement clearance area the choice ofeither forming anew-build co-op or being transferred to municipal accommoda- tion or moving into rehab property. ‘It’s a model of how local authorities should deal with housing,’ said Menzies. row blew up when one member wanted a containing 30 000 properties; cheap green bath, and in the end it was decided that everyone should have white. This reflects partly the co-op’s particularly strong egalitarian principles which are mile of the sites); and new-build for rent evident throughout the scheme, and partly the fact that it was the first and already had enough on its plate. ‘The whole thing was touch and go,’ remarked a co-op member. ‘We only managed to sign the contract two months before the Government’s housing moratorium. We could have fallen by a green bath.’ through housing co-ops and housing associations. The most important breakthrough isthat it is now official council policy that tenants shall be involved in the design of their new rented houses. The council only supports housing associations on that basis. ‘It is the way forward for the public sector,’ said Davies. ‘We've got to have people involved in order to strengthen the community base and to give people more responsibility, self- control and self-respect.” developer housing for sale (2000 have been built, mostly by Barratt’s and Wimpey’s, and most of it sold to people who lived within 1 As the good news ripples through the city, new co-ops are forming faster than the professional services can cope. ‘The trouble now is controlling the co-ops,’ said Davies. ‘We haven’t got money for endless new- build co-ops.” He is in the process ofturning one down and delaying another. Whether Liverpool’s lead will be followed is difficult to determine. Charles Barnes, a DOE principal architect in the North-West, who has dealt with the Liverpool co-ops, is personally enthusiastic about them. But he stressed the importance of local authority support: ‘The local authorities are the key link in al this. They’re providing the funds. This department can’t do anything unless the co-ops have the backing of the local authority.” Inevitably there are stil many unanswered questions, Will the co-ops stand the test of time? Will they manage to maintain the current enthusiasm and involvement to handle maintenance and management effec- tively? What will happen when people start to leave, and others, who were not involved in the design process, take their place? If the public sector were to rely completely on co- ops for al new-build, will some people be left out? The last point is the nub of Labour council’s reluctance to be more positive about co-ops (or any kind of tenant involvement in design)—it does not secure rehousing in strict order of need. Leaving aside the question of whether current waiting list procedure houses people .Pe * ks * ee Tenants’ control for real In the long term the importance of Weller Streets’ scheme is that it happened at all. It has demonstrated beyond doubt that tenants’ control over the process of design and construction of their homes is possible, even efficient. Catherine Meredith, director of CDS, points out that despite delays due to being a pioneer, Weller Streets was the ‘fastest housing association new-build scheme on Merseyside, from land registra- tion to start on site. So much for the argument that participation slows the process down too much.” As a result of Weller Streets’ success, tenants’ contro] is becoming a reality in Liverpool. That the co-ops emerged there is due to a unique combination of local determination, patient hard work over the last decade by a wide range of radical professional enablers, and oscillating party political control of the city council, which culminated in full backing by the ruling Liberal Party, with, significantly, active support from the Tories. Since 1970 rehab housing co-ops have been making their mark in Liverpool, with some two dozen co-ops now having rehabilitated over 1000 properties (AJ 29.6.77 p1215). The co-operative servicing agencies (secon- dary co-ops) and many of the architects now doing the new-build work cut their teeth on PHOTOGRAPHS: CDS 4,16;MIH 5,6,15; COMTECHSA 8;NICK WATES 2,7,18;JOHN MILLS PHOTOGRAPHY 5,17,19. — 74 wt | 1 ‘The failure of many attempts over the last three decades to tackle the problem of inner city decline successfully 1sstriking. Theproportion of national resources devoted to resolving the problem isclearly an important consideration, but it is noricea ble that large sums have been spent to little apparent effect.” (Lord Scarman) for a number of years at the AA and is¢ urremily ® research student at Oxford Polytechsic HERE ILLTHE Architects as fund raisers Many of the so-called community architects work in inner city area with voluntary involved: for instance, Shankland Cox on the groups. These groups have made use of Inner Area Studies, although this involved *Tom Woolley is an architect with experience ranging from community work oa 3Glasgow housing estate 10 practisingwith the Suppor¢ unity architecture group in Londen He twught minimal contact with community groups (AJ 19.1.77 p140), and Rod Hackney, who was brought into Saltley, Birmingham, by the Community Development Project (CDP) ‘urban programme! finance to rehabilitate there (AJ 5.10.77 pp630-636). buildings or even construct new ones. But there have been some encouraging deve- To obtain approval for grant aid, project lopments recently with the establishment by initiators have to demonstrate the feasibility the voluntary sector of some technical aid and likely cost of any building work. For centres. In _ Liverpool there are some time many sympathetic local architects COMTECHSA and the Community Pro- and other professionals have provided this jects Advisory Service, and in Manchester information—usually without payment. The the Community Technical Aid Centre. In early discussions about community architec- Glasgow ASSIST (AJ 10.11.76 pp899-908) ture, for instance In the RIBA Community Architecture Working Group (CAWG) report (AJ 39.11.78 p1023), were verymuch has been offering aid on an informal basis and there are plans for an aid centre in the city. In Newcastle the Architecture Work- concerned about the extent of such shop is increasingly taking on this role. In ‘speculative work’, Some private practices London Support and NUBS (Neighbour- even found that once the project was hood Use and Building Services) exist and approved, local authority architects would plans are well advanced for an organisation attempt to take over and their speculative called CLAWS (Community Land and investment would be wasted. Workspace Services). However, there is stil Experience has shown that community a yawning gap be filled between the architects should know a lot about fund demand and readily available professional raisingsothattheycanassisttheirclientsto advice. obtain the finance for the project as well as their own fees. Over the years it has not been easy for com- munity groups t0 find sympathetic profes- sionals who understand these problems. With the exception of SNAP (the Shelter Neighbourhood Action Project, AJ 3.1.73 pp249-250) in 1969, there have been few organised interventions to provide technical aid to community groups: This is surprising when one looks at the extensive serics of measures aimed at dealing with the inner city’s ‘pockets of deprivation’ or releasing ‘community initiatives’ to tackle social problems, 2. Some private practices did get edoibaCoedol ARD—REPORT ? fs ANDREW WI! 4, Tom Woolley* looks at the crucial issue of community architecture funding in the contextof government strategies to tackle inner city problems of urban deprivation and unemployment. He talks to Tom King,Minister forLocal Government and Environmental Services, about the role of the new Urban Initiatives Fund and examines some of the issues and problems in financing the voluntary sector. The announcement of the Government's £100 000 Urban Initiatives Fund (UIF) is important because it provides additional funding (albeit a small amount) for com- munity projects. It also indicates 4 change of emphasis in its recognition of the contribu- tion of voluntary groups in tackling inner city problems and of the importance of providing professional advice to those groups engaged incapital (building)projects. There is some debate within the profession about whether this new government finance should go to agencies such as community technical aid centres or tOprivate practice. Concern has also been expressed by some (for example, P. Lambert’s letter in AJ 16.6.82 p35) that much of the UIF money might be snapped up by the RIBA to finance its administrative work promoting com: munity architecture rather than going directly to projects. CUSSB (Am) private initiatives have been more effective AJ7July1982 Increasing emphasis on the voluntary sector The interview with Tom King shows that the provision of government funding for government technical support to voluntary initiatives marks 4 significant recent shift in policy emphasis. Despite 14 years of inner city schemes, poverty, unemployment, de- caying environments and social conflict remain. They were brought sharply into focus by the 1981 riots. The Conservative Government, committed to cutting public expenditure, has actually increased its budget for the inner city as 4 result; the traditional urban programme allocation for 1982-83 1s £24-6 million compared with £16-5 million in 1981-82. An increasing share of this money 1s likely to go to the voluntary sector, which is some recognition of the claim that voluntary and \ Carol Bucknell News and Features hs NOQUIR READERS’ ENQUIFha Fach feacur | CISyB The AJ15ave Please appl ; ntlybeen Alison Gauldie BA Buildings BUILDINGS EDI TOR DipUD, RegArch i ISSN 003-3466 Elwyn Jones CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMEN T MANAGER David Thorne SALESOFFICE MANAGER Brian Storey PRODUCTION MANAGER Willie Evans ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER Malcolm Todd AJ7 July 1982 FEATURE SEDITOR dD, wickshank BA NEWS EDITOR Charlorte Bilis DipArch, RegArch ASSISTANT NEWS EDI OR Belinda Ward BA Patrick Haxway Dip ASSISTANT BU Buchanan BArce Lynne Jackson INGS EDITORS ArchitecturalPracticeResearchand Advertising ADVERTISEMEN Roger Beil LONDON AND SOUTHERN AREA MANAGERS T MANAGER Phillip Capstick Malcom Hasniten Barry Law Rickard Maguire BA MIDLANDS AND W ALES MANAGER Ronald Baker NORTHERN AND 5 OTLAND MANAGER Circulation CIRCULATION Eamonn Vincent MANAGER COVER: British architecture for export (see p23). Illustration | based on Moroccan tiledesign Limelite Finishing Specially formulated for use over Limelite Plasters. It is porous, assists rapid drying out of walls- permitting early decoration. | PLASTER | | APRODUCTOF —_— ata Tilcon Limited SPECIAL PRODUCTS DIVISION Limelite Lightweight Plasters— Sales Office |74 COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE: Where will the money | come from? Tom Woolley discusses the funding of community architecture in the inner city, and interviews local government | minister Tom King about the UIF and the voluntary sector NEWS SECRE TARY Limelite Renovating Controls dampness passing through plastered walls and is also suitable where new damp- proof courses OF systems have been installed. | | 79. ASTRAGAL Vauxhall Cross double; Classicism revived in Shepherds Bush, Winchester and CoventGarden 81 LETTERS: Double takes of people and pictures; Jolly Jencks; Popular views of community architecture |86 HELLMAN ANDDIARY | | 83 REPORT: LDDC planners put to the test; Commons favour Vauxhall Cross SDO; Lubetkin’s Gold; Bristol’s fate reconsidered THE ARCHITEC TS’ JOURNAL | 7JULY 1982 Editorial Consultant DACA, Bayne© BE, Hon FRIBA | SECRETARY TO THE EDITORIAL CONSULTANT NUMBER 27 VOLUME 176 Please use the yellow AJ Reader’s Enquiry Card atthe backofthis journal when seeking information about products of trade literature advertised or reviewed in this issue It helps both the manufacturer and the AJ to know the original source of the enquiry Editor LeiteReiremsten é E Information Library TECHNICAL EDI TOR MA, MA(Arch), RIBA TIVE TECHNIC ‘AL EDITOR 1sMSc NT TECHNICAL EDITORS Anthony Ferguson MSc BArch, RIAS Graham Parsey ASSIST TYPRODUCTS EDITOR Jane Taylor BSe (Eng) LIBRARIAN Dorechy Ponrin ALA Limelite Cement Backing Dry bagged LIGHTWEIGHT plasterwith similar properties to 4 1:1:6 cement:lime:sand mortar. The ideal backing - offering a hard durable background surface, developing very little suction. Lingerfield, Scotton, Knaresborough North Yorkshire HGS 9JN Telephone: Harrogate (0423) 864041 Telex: 57471 | Gillan Collymore EDITORIAL SEC RETARY ¥ CARDS; Amew form oJ lypaid en be Al prices quored are for pounds sterling For more details enter 1748 on AJ enquiry card | Telex 8953505 —_—_— SS a ee em | Ealing |Greenwich 8 13 | |Haringey = 1 ee OFINNERcity| |THE FAILURE FROM |Havering - _Hounslow 8 |POLICIES: EXTRACT AGOVERNMENT REPORT* | 4 | |andChelsea — 13 | | didnot | ‘Local authorities |Lewisham |Merton |Newham |Redbridge |Southwark |Tower Hamlets |Waltham Forest 3 8 2 4 3 7 2 | |explicitly and consistently |attempt to channel traditional 6 — urban programme funds |towards the worst areas.’ 12 | — | 138 | | | | | 2 5 = |Harrow 1 1 | | Borough Local Volun- | Kensington 5 2 Wandsworth 4 6 4 6 | |Westminster — |TLEA |GLC TOTAL 3 | 14 author- tary | ity organisa- | projects tion | projects | 3— — 3 | Barking |Barnet 1 6 | Bexley 3 1 | |Brent 1 = | |Bromley |Camden |Croydon 3 8 1 66 1 | 3 | 13 | | one lar e~ Selected bibliography - The urden programme, the partnerships at work, Department of the Enviroament, 198) Review ofthetraditions!urbanprogramTMs Department ofthe Environment Inner Cities Directorate, March 1950 Donnison, D. and Soto, P The good city, Heinemann, 1980 The Econoreist, 13.382 pP 40-32, 10.4.82 pp3?-35, 2, 82 pp3e-+0. Eversley, D. ‘Retrospects and prospects’, The Planner,November 1981 Gough, L.,Thepolitical economy of the Welfare State, Macmillan, 1979, Hall, P. (ed) The inner cary te context, Social Scence Research Council, 1981 Potiey for the anner calves, HMSO, June 1977 The Brixton dirordert, H MSO, November 198) Whosefoun1IrayeHMSO,1952,(ReportofDurham conference) Home, R. K. Inner city regeneration, Spon, 1982.* Jones,C. (e4.) Urban deprrvatior and the inner <tly, Croom Helm, 1979 Lawless, P. Britain's tuner cities, Harper and Row, 1981." London Comenunity Work Service Newsletter, June 1952, No4l, Urban Aid Supplement Nabarro, R. and McDonald, L. “The urban programme’, The Planner, November 1978. Inver city mettoork, National Council for Voluntary Organisacion®, May 1952 Steen,A.D.Newlifeforoldcxticeaiofmindsustry,198) Regenerating our snner cities, Trades Union Congress, July 1981 *AJ ‘best bays’ OF FUNDS FOR TARY GROUPS* [HISTORY OFINNER CITY | Contact the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, Inner Cities Unit, 26 Bedford Square, | | London, WCIB 3HU (001-636 4066) \4 eS | POLICIES | | | | | | and Education Priority Areas. | 1968 Two weeks after Powell’s | ‘Rivers of blood’ speech, Callaghan lau nches Home | Office run Urban Aid Programme, Community Development Projects (CDPs) | | Urban Development | Corporation and Enterprise | Zones established. | «Many projects funded by local | |authorities, however, didseem— | |Urban programme: | (a) traditional urban programme |for deprived areas not including | inner city partnership and rogramme authority areas (b) inner city programme— partnership and programme authorities Local authority grants—rates funded Local education authorities— especially youth services Conservation—most architects will be aware of these sources The Sports Council Tourist boards The Arts Council | Health authorities | European social fund, EEC | The Prince of Wales Committee | Charitable sources Parish funds Commerce and industry Breweries—where licensed bars are included in schemes |Manpower Services Commission | | Liverpool8. As well as running jts own direct jabour | team, theNewcastle workshop hasmoved from being an environmental education 1972 | New Conservative Government commissions Inner AreaStudies. Peter Walker pratses SNAP. | resource [0 becoming 4 technical advice | service, But, aS competition for funds becomes fiercer, the survival of even this | |1973 enterprise 1s 1n question (AJ 9.6.82 p38). | 1982 Large increase in inner city spending announced. | | FJome Office Urban | Riots in Brixton, Toxteth, Moss Side, ete. Heseltine becomes M inister for Merseyside. | workers with tradesmen supervisors, has managed to employ 4 site architect to super vise their building projects, but he is paid £89 a week while the supervisors he instructs get £116 a week. |4969 ShelterNeighbourhoodAction | | Project(SNAP) setup1 | 4979 | Heseltine announces poltcy | review. Local government and | other spending cuts stepped up. | Centre for Environmental | Studies closed. | | to fall under the category of | | “more of the same”’.’ | | <Yoluntary sector projects | appeared,onthewhole,tofulfil | more of the traditional urban | sinner Cities Directorate, DOE, 1980 3i ) 1978 Inner Urban Area Act comes | practices with expertise in community Pro jects and technical advice centres. An exampleofthis partnership isthe Design Co-operative's close relationship with the nearby Community Technical Aid Centre in Manchester. However, such developments are themselves hampered by shortage of funds to which the UIF will only make a small contribution. | into force. Partnership scheme | | 15 ‘programme authorities’. Urban aid continues as “rraditional urban ard’. | Ian Finlay, of the Design Co-operative and | chairmanof the RIBA’s Projects Committee, ser up, with bulk of money going £0partnership areas and | | Architect as enabler Finance is likely to be one of the main topics under debate tomorrow, 8 July, at the RIBA’s community architecture conference. No clear policy has yet emerged from the RIBA, but it seems likely that the emphasis will be on a partnership between private believes that the Government will have to provide increased finance for such develop- ments. He, like Rod Hackney (AJ 13.1.82 p22), considers that it is time that free architectural advice 15 available like legal aid and most medical services. He argues that environmental problems are often at the root of medical and legal issues, and that local authorities are increasingly unable oF unwilling to tackle such problems. However, until funding is adequate and pro- vides for the essential professional contribu- tion to the job, it will be difficult to evaluate just how effective professional enabling can be. The imaginauon, skill and commitment are there, but theireffective application is threatened by 4 combination of bureaucracy and shortage of moncy- *From the London Community Work ServiceNewsletter | Deprivation Unit set up. | 1974 | Comprehensive community | programmes setup. | | 4977. CDPs closed down and Home | Office refuses 10 publish final | report. Labour Government | | | publishes White Paper on | policy for the inner cities and | DOE takes over responsibility from Home Of Ice. programme criteria than those | ‘submitted by local authorities.’ *Further information may be obtained from three | papers which will be available shortly Funding and planning a pacant building project, Funding skills and rechnacal support, and The role of local authorities. _— —= |1982 URBAN PROGRAMME | |PROJECTS IN LONDON* | AJ7 July 1982 Fighting for fees to the voluntary Given a shift in emphasis sector, will it be any easier for community groups to get professional advice? Urban aid and partnership funds for capital projects usually allow for fees at normal RIBA rates. These only become available once a project is approved. But thecrucial work is usually to establish the feasibility of projects: few voluntary groups can raise enough funds to mect the hourly charges of the professionals engaged in thisessential work. Experience in the field hardens some to this problem. The Design Co-operative in Manchester told me that it always charges £10 an hour after attending one or two initial meetings. In order to pay for such unfunded fees, some groups raise the money in 2 variety of ways, ranging from local authority grants to jumble sales. do give free In some cases local authorities assistance to voluntary groups in preparing applications, but this is very rare. Local councils of social service may attempt to co-ordinate applications to ensure that those most likely to succeed are pushed forward. However, many promising initiatives fail to get past the first stage. The usual pattern of project funding is to put together money from a variety of sources, 5. Typically, 4 redundant or tem- porary building isacquired for low costwith financial assistance from the local authority, urban programme money pays for materials and fees and the Manpower Services Com- mission (MSC) pays for building labour. Any shortfall comes from fund raising and private sources. expertise The accounting and management to co-ordinate this work is considerable, especially when some agencies persistently fail to recognise the problem. The MSC, for instance, assists many projects through its Youth Opportunities Programme (YOP) and Community Enterprise Programme (CEP). However, the MSC has completely failed to recognise the importance of professional input to projects. Many job creation schemes involve building work and the MSC regional committees always demand ahigh degree of technical detail, drawings, specifications, work programmes, cash flow schemes, plan- ning permission etc before approval is given. But even after approval no allowance is made in the funding arrangements for professional fees. this A number of projects have overcomearchi- problem by employing unemployed tects and technicians on their schemes. The Neweastle Architecture Workshop, for example, employing 20 trainee building > 75 lu arecent conference organised by the Labour Co-ordinating Committee, called ‘Beyond welfare’, has started discussions about more democratic and attractive objectives for the Welfare State. Itsuggests that local authority services should be devolved and demo- cratised, but there have been few steps (0 develop this in public architecture offices. It therefore seems likely that, in future, private and voluntary initiatives will be to the fore. in terms of the urban programme, despite the fact that the voluntary sector has received only asmall portion ofavailable funds. Apart from massive expenditure on expen- sive research (for instance, Inner Area Studies and CDPs) 75 per cent of traditional urban aid allocations between 1968 and 1969 went to local authorities. When implement- ing the cuts, local authorities have used inner city money to keep departmental pro- grammes going, rather than evaluating the most effective ways of spending It. This clearly influenced Lord Scarman in his strongly worded condemnation of the failure of inner city policies (sec caption to fig 1). The DOE’s own Inner Cities Directorate has produced evidence to support this picture, J. Some local authorities in London stil do not give grants to voluntary groups, 4, but in other areas urban aid andpartnership funds have become a lifeline to a whole range of esssential projects. The competition between groups to obtain such funds is fierce and there are always many more applications than money to meet them (for example, there were £1-5 million’s worth of bids for £0-5 million of partnership money in Manchester last year. In some areas attempts are made [0 COo- ordinate applications, but the overall short- age of money leaves a great deal of dissatis- faction. The most successful groups are arguably those that are most sophisticated in assembling finance rather than those most capable of doing an effective job. Because of the expertise required to tap such funds, an inner city network of highly professional organisations has grown Up, many advising or servicing voluntary groups to the extent that the term ‘voluntary’ sector issomething of a misnomer. A Ao THE MINISTER’S VIEW Tom King, the Minister for Local Government arid Environmental Services, was worried about inner city projects becoming dependent on state finance when I talked to him recently in his Marsham Street office. His solution is to ‘get the voluntary sector moving’, and he em- phasised that ‘public money will never do all the jobs because there is such a massive amount to be done. The Government will do what it can but its skill is to get the maximum gearing with other funds coming in to support projects.” He was prepared to admit that ‘under the squeeze, local authorities tended to cut the voluntary side to protect their own programmes’, but pointed out that the recent increases in budget would benefit voluntary groups. However, King stressed that projects should not expect to recetve a continual injection of public money: ‘I don’t automatically subscribe to the idea that they are all by definition totally unsustainable or unviable in their own right.’ His policy ts to cut out waste and help in a cost- effective way to encourage projects that will be self-financing. Groups obtaining funding under urban programme schemes will be given time limits to stop them running on and on, he said. Part of this strategy of increased support to voluntary groups ts to encourage technical and professional advice. This is the main purpose of the Urban Initiatives Fund (UIF). King explained that the idea of a fund had emerged from discusstons during the European Cam- paign for Urban Renaissance (ECUR) (AF 6.1.82 p21). Despite criticisms from people like David Eversley, who called wt an ‘intellectual middle-class professional movement’, King considers that ECUR has been a success—its exhibition of demonstration projects had ‘stimulated people around the country 10see what they could do themselves’. King believes in the power of example and hopes that good professional advice would encourage more successful voluntary projects in urban renewal. He sees COMTECHSA* as an example of effective professionalassistance. He would not say what criteria had been used to assess the many applications which have well exceeded the £100 000 available in the UIF, but a decision on its allocation ts expected shortly. Applicants have to match any grant pound for pound, bur King hopes that a number of differ- ent approaches will be supported so that the most successful can be evaluated in use. Look- ing into the ‘foreseeable future, he said that the fund would be renewed each year. «Cocamunity Technical Services Agency, based inLiverpool. Itis financed langely by Inner City Partnership fiands. In 1980-81 its budges was £61 000, which isas indication ofbow thinly spread the£100000UIFmvoncywillbe.COMTECHSA ismanagedby representatives ‘ofthe community groups Htserves and local sympathetic professionals. Restructuring the Welfare State Early critics of community architecture, such as the New Architecture Movement’s Public Design Service Group, saw com: munity architecture as a threat to local authority departments. While some see current developments as recognition that voluntary groups do a better job than the more bureaucratic local authorities, others warn against the dangers of state services being whittled away and replaced with cheaper private groups which exploit the social concern and goodwill of unpaid volunteers. Much of this has been seen in the social services, where cuts in home help and nursing services, for instance, have put more burden on low income families. However, Ian Gough, in his book, The political economy of the Welfare State, argues that a preoccupa- tion with the cuts obscures an understanding of what is really happening— @ restructuring of the Welfare State which includesprivatis- ing many state-run services. The present Government has been able to implement many of these changes without much opposition because of widespread public dissatisfaction with public services, particularly in housing and health. Even the left of the Labour Party and the trade union movement has belatedly recognised this, and mame | ARCHITECTURE AS COLONIALISM |Colonialism isnotarelicofthe past—empire building inforeign ey - . “i of this year’s RIBA conference if t there was a genuine desire to listen to people outside the profession. lands—nor tsit just a superficial charge to be levelled at those members oftheprofession who f build models ofMilton Keynes in the Muslim deserts. C aphilosophy that tsvery much alive right here and now in the UK. (It could have been the subject ‘olonialism ts 2 Colonialism always includes three essential processes: the occupation of territory, the resettlement of communities and the destruction of indigenous cultures. If theprofession continues to claim some responsibility for the ‘world about us’ (as this year’s conference title would suggest) then 1tmustalso recognise the colonialist natureof so many of its actions. To absolve itself the profession must accept | 4 humbly, in principle and in practice, that because of our history and our narrow class base, we architects actually know very little about our own subject, ‘the whole environment’. So often we are brutally colonising an area and its people, feeding them only our narrow perception ofculture. Brian Anson in this, the second and final part of ‘Architecture as colonialism’ (Part 1,AF 30.6.82, pp29-44), suggests that the profession can choose one of three routes for the future. Two of them he considers disastrous; the third, ifchosen, will mean that to recognise our profound ignorance will not be depressing—on the contrary it could offer us a genuine cause for celebration in 1984’s Festival ofArchitecture. fie’ AJ 7July 1982 61 an ~— cnSe IEE oe Gio eerie eed ES mera ar ke ae | | | | | | 68 ]Frontis page: What environmental usefor the future of Bootle? 1 The two-faced profession—culturally oe Ay 7July 1952 AJ7 July 1982 we a 3 routes for the profession James Bellini, in his book Rule | Britannia: a progress report for domesday 1986, describes the Britain of a few years hence thus: ‘There will be a small closed world where knowledge is God and the altars are tended by a monastic order of information brokers. And there will be a vast backwater economy around it, where unemployment, menial work, moonlighting, barter and brigandry are | the standard features of everyday life.’ Many would argue that, in parts of the country, that world already exists. Bellini omitted to sketch out its envi- ronmental characteristics but we can imagine them—indeed, in some regions, we can already see them: | decaying industries, decaying housing estates and decaying landscapes. Such dereliction is no longer nicely confined to traditionally poor areas and the inner cities—it is rapidly spreading. Chronic unemployment, leading in many cases todisillusionment, apathy and bad health, prevents even ‘average’ | people maintaining their own personal environment. It is a cancerous phen- omenon which the architectural pro- fession has assiduously ignored. In the first part of this article (AJ 30.6.82, pp29-44) I suggested that the RIBA was perfectly correct to describe architecture as ‘the whole built envir- onment’ and pointed out that this wide- | ranging definition was verified by the fact that no architect (no matter how small the practice) has ever refused a major city development on the grounds that it did not form part of their sphere of knowledge. | Throughout the “60s and ’70s the pro- fession largely neglected its social responsibilities just as it ignored, or more often aided, the breaking-up of indigenous communities in the interests of comprehensive redevelopment— indeed the RIBA president, Owen Luder, is on record as declaring in 1972 that ‘the most successful architects are those who know the property field’. In its current neglect of the growing dereliction which is helping to fuel communal violence, the profession con- tinues to ignore its social responsibility. In the first section of this article I sketched out three community situa- tions with some reference to the ‘spatial culture’ within each environment. The case studies were chosen carefully to illustrate by comparison two of the essential problems of the architectural profession—its inherent ‘colonialist | character and class base, and its pro- found ignorance of the ‘spatial cultures’ of many communities. which way will you go? . a But, as a profession, we have also been in- volved in the other aspect of colonial- ism—the neglect or brutalisation ofthose we have either ignored or seen resettled. As part ofits social responsibility, the profession has never seriously considered how itmight put its talents at the service of those who inhabit the slums and grey areas of our environment. The profession’s general ignorance of the case, to be recruited from the ‘other’ classes. This is not to imply that the profession has a great knowledge of the numerous other ‘cultures’ within our society (rural, suburban etc) but at least architects are closer to these communities. Most architects will totally re- ject the idea that our profession 1s related to a colonialist mentality, yet We really are en- gaged in the same game. To the present day we frequently (and with- out protest) create our architecture on ‘occupied’ land—the compulsory purchase order and the comprehensive development area have been used for the same ultimate purpose (profit) and with the same success as was the bayonet in the past. We ought to have been perfectly aware that, through our architecture, we have aided the ‘forced’ re- settlement of communities of long standing and played a direct part in the destruction of their social cultures. The ‘language’ in the streets of many ‘gentrified’ areas of the UK is totally alien to that heard even a decade ago. These changes (in which the profession was heavily involved) were not slow and gradual, incorporating the best aspects of traditional cultures, often centuries old, but swift brutal acts of aggression. What, after al, is Covent Garden but a classic case of ‘colonialism’? people’s social culture has produced what are now aptly termed ‘the new slums’. Although the architectural profession has largely identical characteristics (as an elite) in the countries of al three case studies (the UK, Ireland and Germany), 4comparison of the ‘cultural strength’ of the three com- munities highlights the subtlety of the British system of social and environmental control, of which our profession is a part. Despite the severe problems it faces, the cul- ture of the Irish community is by far the strongest of the three, ifonly by virtueof the retention of its language. However, the furure is ominous: 4 member of the West Donegal community writing [0 the European Court of Human Rights received the reply that ‘no further letters in Gaelic will be acknowledged’. The German community, although with a similar working-class history to Bootle, is the ‘culturally’ stronger of the two. One explana- tion for this is that European communities, owing to their continuing history of wars, revolutions and occupations (and thus resist- ance), have a greater ‘sense’ of struggle ofall kinds, including community action. Architecture as colonialism Colonialism, in pursuit of profit and power, always involves three essential processes: the occupation of territory, the resettlement of communities and, to consolidate its con- | quest, the destruction of indigenous cultures. Having no interest in those com- munities the occupation of whose territories would bring neither power nor profit, it ignores them. Those it resettles it always ignores, in some cases first brutalising them. | Colonialismisnot4relicofthepast(empire- | building in foreign lands), it is @ philosophy—very much alive—which sees territory as merely a profit, of power making mechanism. As he threw starving | peasants of West Donegal off the land in 1849, the words of Lord Brougham that “it is the landlords inalienable right to do as he pleases, otherwise money will cease to be invested in land’ were only a more honest | version of those of one particular GLC | chairman, who in 1970 informed the Covent Garden architects and planners that they | should have nothing to do with community organisations because ‘they are more trouble than they are worth’. In its basic objectives, colonialism 1s more successful in its own domain than in ‘foreign | lands’. The British working class has been, justifiably, described as ‘the last colony of the British Empire’. If my reference to working-class culture seems excessive it is because this class has been the most neglected or brutalised by the architectural profession which tends, in any illiterate. (Illustration by Brian Anson.) i —e AJ7 July 1982 ARCHITECTURE AS COLONIALISM ART IN ACTION BRIAN ANSON "=noo eeeeee ee eb eA As regards Bootle, |know from personal ex- | perience that I totally failed to understand | how brutal and oppressive the environment of the dockland community was until I had left it. Jingoism, false patriotism and propa: ganda still prevent—as they did in my child- hood—the poorer communitics of the UK from fully appreciating the extent to which they have been conned into accepting, among other things, 4deprived environment of scandalous proportions. However, as the communal riots (with their shocking results) have proved, things are rapidly changing. Timidity isbeing replaced by community anger and violence towards the environment. The architectural profes- sion cannot hide from this; first because, as architects, we have a clear duty to face up to the problems of the ‘whole built environ- ment’, and, second, because the anger will | not be contained. I suggest that there are three basic routes | which could be followed and the future of the profession will depend upon which one we choose. 2 This year’s conference theme, but some worlds | are ignored. 3 Option two: defensive architecture. | | | | 70 vo AJ 7July 1982 AJ7 July 1982 uf > Route 1: ‘Steady as she goes’ This will be a continuation of the profession’s present course—really two routes in parallel but not in conflict, despite their different appearances. At one level is a profession obsessed with advertising, directorships, liabilities and ever-larger combines. Concomitant with this will be the continued expansion of architecture as an international pure ‘art’ form, complete with drawing sales, _ exhibitions, cultural jamborees and a continuous search for quiet cathedral towns (rapidly diminishing in number as Bellini’s ‘brigandry’ spreads) in which it can continue to ‘talk to itself? and ‘rage’ over the latest stylistic ‘battles’. For both profession and society the results of this course will be disastrous. Society will lose out because, despite its social failing and ineptitude, the profession has a wealth of creativity to offer all the people in this country. Architecture will lose because it will bring upon itself the naked hostility of a growing community of people who sce that they have as much right to a civilised habitat as they have to some form of dignified work. As the tensions grow in our society we will be reminded of the old adage that “if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem’. Characteristic of the blindness of the present route is the mind-blowing insensitivity of the RIBA’s decision to hold its 1984 ‘birthday party’ on the theme ‘The art of architecture’ in the drowsy environment ofOxford. Some will argue that the problems outlined in this article are being tackled by the much- lauded new venture of ‘architecture work- shops’, backed by both Government and the RIBA. They have recently becn described as ‘a major breakthrough on a national basis’. Leaving aside the fact that they represent @ minute element in the whole fabric of the profession, their performance so far would suggest that, at best, they are reformist (and paper over the cracks of the real problems) and, at worst, deeply sinister. If the work- shops idea was ‘to combine education and training in the built environment’ (thestated aims of the Newcastle venture), then their ‘curriculum’ must have excluded some very crucial subjects (rack-renting, land speculation, class and cultural take-over and environmental neglect on acriminal scale) or else their ‘pupils’ were mute, docile or architecturally brainwashed at an carly age. One would expect any normal community of people, being provided with the real reasons for their substandard environment, to give vent (at least initially) to a show of anger and protest. No such outburst has yet resulted from the activities of the workshops. On present evidence the advent of the archi- tecture workshops will not alter theexisting course of the profession; it will stil be ‘steady as she goes’—to social disaster and disgrace. This will be a development which acknow- ledges the growth of a violent society and Not al British landlords in West Donegal were brutal; some of them, though patronis- ing, genuinely wished to ‘improve the con- ditions of the peasantry’, yet their land ‘improvements’ depended upon the destruc- tion of the people’s most important cultural traditions—the inherent egalitarianism and countenanced by the system. The plan therefore included ‘safe houses’ for those on the run, Those who would condemn such ascenario as exaggerated and extremist should consider that it was outlined three years before the Liverpool riots. This route would also be disastrous for al sides: not as disastrous as the present route (which will in any case lead to the develop- ment of defensive architecture) for there is evidence that some form of creativity arises out of overt struggle. Yet few couldscriously desire such a scenario if for no other reason than that it would waste the immense amount of creative potential presently lying dormant in our society. There are two specific prerequisites for this path, the only way that gives the profession any chance at al of producing a socially acceptable architecture. The profession must first reject its obsession with corporate imagery and esoteric ‘cultural’ debate, and, having done so, must become involved in a major way with the areas and classes it has so long avoided. The second requirement is crucial: the pro- fession must drop its arrogant belief that it can ‘teach’ the communities of these areas about the environment; such an approach is impertinent in the extreme, given the record of architectural disasters. If their declared in- tentions in the Press are accurate, the RIBA’s Architecture Workshops are afaulty concept from the start, in that they propose to ‘educate’ the people in environmental matters. It is we, the architects, who need the education. The ‘spatial cultures’ outlined in the case studies were the people’s environmental knowledge—information without which any concept for improvement of their environ- ment is facile. I described only three examples (two of them working-class, since I consider the improvement of working-class environment a priority) but every community, whatever its class, has a unique ‘spatial culture’. If we ignore this then we not only design in a vacuum but, ironically, our creativity can actually be destructive. The communities of whole streets identical to the one described in dockland Bootle, but closer to metropolitan centres (particularly London), have been eliminated through the application of, among other things, ‘creative’ ideas. It is good for an architect to make @ humble dwelling more beautiful by the application of design talent, but ifthis results in the landlord (in his determination to get ‘more of this class of person in’) evicting the indigenous community, then the end result js bad. If the architect, in the quite proper aim of brightening up 4 grim environment, eliminates the vital physical elements in the community culture (for example, the blank gable wall which is the only ‘football pitch’ for the local kids), then the end result is again negative. Route 2: ‘Defensive architecture’ I proposed that a block within the area should be deliberately burnt and vandalised and then encased in an (exquisitely designed) glass sheath. It would contain a continuing anti-colonialist exhibition showing not only what Britain did to its colonies, but also how city areas were raped and exploited by the powerful world of property, aided and abetted by our profession. Defensive architecture is not to be confused with Oscar Newman’s theory ofdefensible space (and that is not to devalue his contri- bution to our understanding of architecture). Newman's analysis refers to the defending of space within communities; defensive archi- tecture will deal with whole areas designed in such a way that entire communities not only totally control their neighbourhoods but ensure the ‘other side’ keeps out. It will be created on both sidesof the divide in our society with the majority of the profession continuing to serve the ‘small closed world’ of Bellini’s scenario. A minority ofarchitects who have long endeavoured to put their creative talents at the service of the more de- prived communities will, in their frustration at the profession’s obstinate refusal to libera- lise(letalone‘revolutionise’)itself,developa Route3:‘Celebration’ defensive architecture for their side. There will be a difference in the two styles. One will continue to be ‘a green and pleasant Jand’, but with more private roads and, most importantly, guarded by the State through whatever ‘law enforcement’ arm iteventually creates. The other will be more aggressive in character and with one prime purpose in its design—to keep the State out. Space does not allow detailed description of the numerous examples of defensive architecture which have come out of Belfast in particular in recent years, but they include the ‘creation of open space’ (free-fire zones) by the army and the ‘physical removal’ of modern blocks (designed by architects to make the streets ‘more interesting’) by the Provisional TRA, who feared they would become conyenient observation posts for the army. In 1978 I described the streets of my home city, Liverpool, as ‘Belfastian’ in character and argued that ‘there is little difference between the Falls Road and the Shankill Road and the streets of Liverpool 8’. As an ‘academic’ exercise I designed a piece of defensive architecture for the centre of the city. I will only briefly describe some of the principal elements in the plan, 3. The first objective was to define the area that could be successfully defended against the ‘forces of the State’. Thus market forces (the MEF areas of the plan) are excluded as being too powerful to contend with. The streets of the defensible area are al renamed: ‘Street of Loneliness’, ‘Street of Irish Sorrow’, ‘Sam Driscoll Way’—the first to make the point that architectural training and practice seldom comment on the sad and derelict as- pects of our environment, the second to re- emphasise my contention that architecture has a ‘colonialist’ character and the third in memory of the many ‘ordinary’ people who struggled so hard for a better environment in the days of community action. The project made the point that, despite the fact that ‘participation’, ‘Jocal initiatives’ etc are now fully accepted processes in our establishment philosophy, this does not mean that sofa! control will ever be Oepe tries THO tenet a seg peeee er ae 2 eer Ahe orSN ‘learns how to live with iv. | AJ 7July 1982 Conclusion alone cannot solve the pro- The profession blems that led to the riots but it can recognise the part it played in their creation. Many architects might then join’ those who have taken to the streets, learn from them and, ultimately, co-operate with them in creating a more humane environment. If the profession does not take this route (and ‘a dozen architectural workshops by the end of the year’ is just an insulting gesture) then architects are in for a bad time. of the Perhaps the most dramatic example is the profession’s current social irrelevance high probability that, had the RIBA been located in Liverpool’s Upper Parliament Street or Brixton’s Railton Road and not in salubrious Portland Place, it would now be a burnt out shell. magazinenot- The decorum ofaprofessional withstanding, the justified hostility citizen of one of these environments prevents me diluting his reply when questioned on the architecturalprofession: ‘The bastards who design this shit in which we are forced to live make a lot of bread from it—when the time comes we'll burn them too!” But then perhaps Ihave got italwrong. Per- haps the profession is acutely aware of the future implications of the ‘whole built en- vironment’ and is seriously preparing tode- fend itself and its creations from the ‘prigandry’. This might just explain why Lt Gen Frank Kitson, former GCC Northern Ireland and foremost ‘counter insurgency’ expert, was going to be one of the principal speakers at the RIBA conference! of a 71 —on SA y= the caretakers, the typists, the canteen | 4 Recognising our ignorance of others’ cultures workers of their own institution. Thus they ought to be a cause for celebration; we can learn leave the school of architecture a homo- from one another. geneous mass, thinking and talking the same current stylistic irrelevancies. It is an immense tragedy. The recognition of our ignorance is not a depressing idea; on the contrary, it is a cause for celebration. “To know what you do not know—that is wisdom,’ said Confucius. The creative environmental knowledge we do possess is marred and rendered less effective than it could be because of its narrow base, but al its philosophies are not to be despised—they are just wrongly directed towards ‘the small closed world’ and not to society at large. Our acquisition of the knowledge possessed by the people will immeasurably enrich our own knowledge base: it will ‘feed’ it and, through this process, it will develop and thus live. The people’s acquisition of our ideas will similarly enrich them. Surely such a prospect can only delight us. The celebration of co-operation being sug- gested is in contradistinction to the absurd theory that architecture, in order to gain social acceptability, must ‘give the people what they want’, a notion as ridiculous as that of Anthony Caro at the recent Art and Architecture symposium that ‘people do not know what they want; when they get it they like what they get’. The citizens of Liverpool 8 and dockland Bootle may eventually require and demand defensive architecture but, like any other sane community, they would infinitely pre- fer an architecture composed of the richness of their own culture plus the wider ideas of any architect (from whatever class) who had goodwill towards them and was offended by the dereliction in which theyexist. co-operation with which they shared good | and bad land. Creativity, in the world of architecture and | environmental design, 1s not an abstraction: it must be related to social reality. The rota! experience of the physical environ- ment resides, by definition, within society. Every man, woman and child possesses cle- ments (possibly only munute ones) of the ‘knowledge’ that we architects need to do our job properly. It is a concept far beyond the (now sopatronising) ideas ofparticipation, consultation, town trails and the like: it is | based on a shocking realisation that, because of our history and our narrow class base, we architects actually know so little about our own subject, ‘the whole built environment’. Indeed in the considered view of those who | have already taken to the streets, we are simply illiterate in the matter. Our system of architectural education per | petuates this creative ‘narrowness’. Students embark upon architecture with a combined wealth of environmental knowledge—the expert knowledge, rich in detail, of their own neighbourhoods. I once taught a class of students and was able to draw out of them a massof environmental knowledgeof ‘spatial culture’ in which they were the experts: the spatial patterns of an African village, of growing up 1nFlorida, ofaNew England in- dustrial city, of growing up on the edge of the Libyan desert, and a dozen other such spatial culrures—it was only 3 small class! Retaining the definition of architecture as ‘the whole built environment’, we must work from the basis that, at one level, there are perhaps.20 million architects in the UK alone. Yet in al my experience with students they have never been encouraged to share this knowledge with each other, let alone with ee The Otis award To be given to the architects making the most significant contribution to the urban scene in the UK. First announced: AJ 16.6.82 p31. Sponsors: The Otis Elevator Co Ltd, in association with the AJ. Judges: Richard Rogers, John Outram, AlecClifton- Taylor, Simon Jenkins, Leslie Fairweather. Prize: £10 000. Closing date: Nominations by 3 September 1982 at 17.00. Details: See AJ 16.6.82 p31 or contact Barry Wheeler (Otis Award), Otis Elevator Co Ltd, The Otis Building, 43/59 Clapham Road, London, SW9 0JZ (01-735 9131). | | Current AJ competitions and awards | The AJ has two competitions and one award scheme currently under way. Here is a reminder of the crucial details and dates. Judges: Maurice Culot, Nicholas Cooper, Leslie Fairweather, A new leaseof life for Belsize Wood Ideas wanted for the future ofa9 acre site on the fringe of central London (below). First announced: AJ 24.2.82 p38. | 7 Sponsors: Belsize Conservation Area Advisory Committee, AJ, Camden Society of Architects, London Region RIBA and London Environment Group. Judges: James Stirling, Jake Brown, Leslie Fairweather and a representative from the Landscape Institute. | 5 Prizes: Total £500; first prize £300. | Closing date: Tuesday 31 August 1982 at 17.00. NB No further copiesof the conditions are being issued. | Po e but risk * Condensation * Mould growth * Delay and deterioration % . of decoration Efflorescence Rust and pattern staining * Material wastage Excessive labour Measured drawings * High maintenance International competition to measure and draw historic buildings, structures, machinery and archacology. First announced: AJ 3.3.82 p31. | by using Sponsors:WigginsTeapeandtheAJ. other Plasters! 2 IanKennedy. Prizes: Total £2500; first prize £1000. Closing date: Friday 29 October 1982 at 17.00 | Details; Apply to A. J. N. Edwards, Wiggins Teape (UK) PLC, Chartham Paper Mills, Canterbury, Kent, CT47JA. Architectural photographer of the year This competition will not be run this year, but is programmed again for 1983 when it will be held in conjunction with the a For more details enter 1748 on AJ enquiry card ys mats ’ 7 ; Victorian Society’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Details will | 2 —— AJ 7July 1982 ~~ uave scaled the be announced in the spring of 1983. PSLG March 1980 ee ee| fith the For more than 50 years, the provision of public housing on 4 large scale has been a central plank of successive government housing policy. In consequence. municipal housing now caters for about a third of the population One can speculate about what might have been without state intervention on this scale. But there is litthe doubt that public provision has been a major explanation tor improvements in housing conditions in past decades. As a recent NEDO report has argued, “its achievement must be regarded as among the successes of British social policy.” This is not to say that Council housing does not have its problems Local authorities have estimated 250,000 of their dwellings to be “difficult-to-let”, a product of deteriorating environments and obsolete physical structure and design Housing management still leaves a lot to be desired. Local authorities are too often insensitive and unresponsive. and standards of repair in many areas are simply appalling Tenants also lack real choice and mobility. and generally tind it difficult to realise rising housing aspirations The problems associated with e¢n- vironmental and physical decay are gradually being recognised, but the cuts in housing investment will severcly delay the improvements required, In an attempt to give tenants more tirmly based rights, the Torys version of the “Tenants Charter” contained in the Housing Bill/Act gives tenants security of tenure, the right to sub- let, take lodgers, make improvements and apply for improvement grants The Bill also requires landlord authorities to establish and make publicly known, arrangements for consulting tenants on issucs of housing management. These are steps in the right direction, and may lead to some backward authorities reviewing and improving their practices In view of the Conservative Government's drastic policies of the past twelve months or so, and in particular the controversial legislation consuming housing and local government, this year's National Housing and Town Planning Conference (The Brighton Metropole, 28, 29 and 30 October) should be quite a powder keg. Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Heseltine, will bravely step into the jaws of the > ctocodile when he presents his Ministerial Address and, no doubt, will emerge again » <unscathed, without even a trace of plaque. >Among the diverse problems to be ironed out at — the canference will be public behaviour in the environmentSEE a housingtheelderly, . Gocial services-departments, planning in the. Sp eighties and housing management, ‘repairs and © feature, time is running out for public housing so. there may..be nd need to ever consider the . problems of maintenance ormanagement. TTTTT I] maintenance. But,-asStewart Lansley points.aut- in his opening article to this speciak PSLG _ 2 sa Not far enough But they hardly go tar enough. Two im portant provisions in Labour's Housing Bill. for example. have simply been dropped by the Tories. These would have relaxed residential qualifications and facilitated mobility by empowering the Secretary of State to require local authorities to make a proportion of their relets available to tenants moving trom other areas Significant as some of these problems are. the bulk of council tenants are happy with their housing. A survey in 1975 found that 75 per cent of council tenants were satisfied, though 40 per cent still had a preterence tor owner occupation An important feature of British public housing has been its comprehensive charac: ter. Since 1946, it has, in principle, been open to all — not just to working class - — — —_—* —_——- ai 2oe —_— a) pid a ———— - j => ol eeeed, Somaya —_— 4 oa ——~ wun } to ownere their own home . that ownerC- homes Provides greater freedom. dkernative 2 } aluminium plates for someon 40] Aj 20 February 1980 x This trend is hardly surprising. The tempt to put the financial and other benefits — But without radical changes in policy — and role choice between renting and buying 1s. as a of renting and buying on a par. households soon — the shadow may soon become a ing. recent Fabian author put it, far trom a with sufficient resources to make @ choice shroud. das z oT toTMown theirown homeaaEpa: : / j '- = cent. In 1975, 45 per cent of the poorest tenth of households lived in council genuine toss'up’. Financially, owning 1s will generally opt tor purchase housing. In 1976. only 2 per cent ot generally a much better bet than renting Time is running out tor public housing as professional workers and Il per cent ofem- Many other advantages lie with buying, a a comprehensive sector catering for a wide :m. ployers and managers lived in the public situation that is not the ‘natural’ one that range of income and social groups. What we jis sector. In contrast. 65 per cent of unskilled this and the previous Labour Government — are witnessing is the gradual demise of Fhe manual workers were council tenants, com- have claimed, but one created and fuelled public housing into a largely residual. pared with 55 per cent in 1970. Current by successive government policy. The facts Government policy will therefore simply are that housing preferences have been ar reintorce a trend that is already well under _ tifictally distorted in favour of home owner- way ship. Until changes are introduced which at welfare role — towards the polarisation ot any society. by income and class, between the ng two major sectors Council housing ts cer- and tainly passing under a deepening shadow jical | occupation provides greater freed es om. PSLG October LYS0 five 6! ach the leir /Yop BHOUSING! households. In contrast. social housing in other countries has played a more limited welfare role, catering mainly for the poor and disadvantaged. In the United States, for example, the share of public housing stands at about 5 per cent, and ts largely limited to low income houscholds. In 1970, 70 per cent of tenants were non-white, 40 per cent were one-parent families and 40 per cent were elderly and disabled, with only 25 per cent of houscholds containing wage-carners In Britain, public housing has catered tor a cross-section of the population. Despite this. its existence as a@ major and com prehensive sector is now under real threat Partly this is due to the policy innovations of the present Government Insignificant New building, already at an all time low since the war, could collapse to less than 30,000 by 1983, according to a recent report ‘ by the Commons’ Select Committee on the Environment. The new measures to boost sales will not have a significant effect on the 5 size of the public sector, at least tor some } time. With a current stock of 6!2 million dwellings, sales would have to rise above even the Governments most optimistic target of 200,000 a year, to have any i noticeable impact. Where sales will have an impact. however. — and a crucial one — ts on the quality of the stock and the range of houscholds catered tor by the public sector Despite denials by the Government, sales will lead, in the main, to a loss of better quality dwellings in popular areas. and bet- ter-off tenants The Government's retreat trom public housing is therctore important, but it is not the only factor threatening its vote Recent years have seen a gradual concentration of poorer households in the public sector Between 1967 and 1975, the proportion of all households in receipt of sup- plementary benefit’ living in municipal housing rose from 45 per cent to 37 per faith the PSLG March 1980 |2 iterative aluminium plates for someon | on The Government's retreat from public housing will mean that there may never be any more interesting local authority estates such as the one at Virgt Walk and Cherry Laurel Walk, in the Borough of Lambeth. | ‘ |d yes he f} ; a The ho; cant hea to InLondonW10 there’sahousewithafront wall measuring just four feet nine inches. In Oxfordshire there's a modest pile called Blenheim Palace that boasts a handy 200 rooms. Fooca(aoemdar alasccmaorremeORritllore other homes in Britain, from one-bedroom flats to eighteen-bedroom vicarages. Glow-worm gas central heating boilers can heat them al. And when we say ‘heat’, we dont mean we can just slap in any old boiler. With the biggest range of domestic gas boilers be authoritieswant.erate ‘Fi GhawawormLimuted,NeatinghamRoad,Belper,DerbyDESIT AdiviseeofTlGasHearinLgidow Circle 11 on Reader Inquiry Card pee," URAL a Baris in the country, we have the most economical unit for every size of house. With our combination of wall-hung, free- standing and backboilers, with conventional or balanced flues,we can fitaboiler anywhere. Up and down the country, local authorities are specifying Glow-worm boilers at the rate of over 300 per day. Which means we dont just have the biggest range of boilers for local authorities. We also have the kind of experience local Too many proye : san oe ane tocommission then slumimium piate for somecun c whereby a t1( ng ical fole ing a as each A the mative 2 to own their occupation provides uld preter that owner greater treedom own homes. council ifitwas years of thIe original sold within purchase This pre-emption clause designed to prevent the owner selling at a Profit within the five year period. A further Circular tssued in 1977 enabled councils t increase the discount to 30 per cent, but only with Department of the Environment consent The 1974-9 Labour Government. for I to rescind 4 DOE Circular in 974 (70/74) irgued that it would be wrong to sell houses in areas with a ontinuing Never bund 6,000 in € also points out that any old piece « alloeamkYelo) housing always has been a political pawn — up and down with the fortunes or misfortunes of successive governments. In the sixties the emphasis focussed on building more and ‘better’ UToaohMeyerTTCMTTathconstruction thisgeneralconsent has tailed-off dramatically and, in Michael Heseltine’s own words, ‘will never get back to the scale it was ten years ago’. Provision of new housing is being left to the private sector's CTIAERYCLTaLingenuity,sometimesin partnership with local authorities. At the same time, to continue updating the existing housing stock and its immediate environment, is imperative. In this, and the next two issues of PSLG, we are devoting our main features to the changing aspects of housing. The following article, by Stewart Lansley, Senior Researcher with the Centre ion Environmental Studies and author of consent to local authorities that houses could be sold atfull market value. without restriction, or at as much as 20 per cent below that value on condition that houses were offered back to the their opposition to sales, did little need for rented accommodat theless, sales fell sh irply to ar 1976, but subsequently rose to reach 28.000 n 1978. Then in March 1979, follow ng the growth in sales in some areas, Labour issued a circular preventing sales in certain narrowly detined circumstances Owner-occupation Council house sales are an integral plank of current Cx nservative housing Pp »licy a reflection of their determined Support for pation and their vision of Pe(TNTeeNT)ItaILO TAMTe Owning democracy But this time, the proposed policy has a new twist — compulsion. The aim is sales on a massive scale, and it is the element which has aroused particular controversy The generosity of the discounts is also Not all parts of the Housing Bill published in December have aroused political con troversy. Indeed, some sections remair largely unchanged from Labour's Bill » hich fell with the election. Most Parts of the proposed Tenants’ Charter, and the greater availability of grants for repairs and im provements have bipartisan Support. Other elements, however including the proposed shorthold tenancies, and the new local authority subsidy system particularly the intention to reduce the overall level of sub sidy — are being hotly debated But most controversial of all is the Proposal embodied in the Tenants’ Charter to give council tenants the statutory right to buy their own homes at fixed discounts of up to 50 per cent. This is already set to provoke a bitterly fe Ught parliamentary bat tle, which will almost certainly forex the Government into the use of the guillotir e The selling of council houses is not a new policy. Sales in England and Wales re #peak of 62,000 in 1972. This tollowed the e Heath Government's provision of genera highly contentious. Purchasers receive discounts from assessed market value of 33 per cent after three years’ tenancy. rising by one per cent for each year to SOper cent af ter 20 years or more. The option clause JEposit provides at year time continued from p42 H ATacteyKMey TeGovernment's decision to sell ofa large portion of the country’s council house stock. argued that most households w 718 " 177ayy : sef0COM 1 ic sfor someone fo¢ Option to buy at the price fixed att of the original 4tluation has also aroused wide concern Most of the arguments about stiles have already been widely aired Supporters have sluminium plate c ‘| ultimate value of the scheme as some | allocations ofcapital expenditure will be | marginal or accidental overspending’. _ F measure of the value of the scheme’. At | made, as before, under five main | The new broad controls on capital is IP diay Nick. et — — — ———-— =perwnmcsutinapresOrmn UTE" proposa aanrnrour OWCVETS cotomancan awe ee 5 Milton Anonue Re RIBA Comumlis Prelutieriane, CUSHE 81(A}p) = _Af30January 1980 *. ye > LONDON W.1. pessapo “ait Counate OF Te ultimate TEATUTE OY Mis Proposals that although | However intend to make directions Tory measure of the value of the scheme’, At | made, as before, under five main | The new broad controls on capital DEMOCRATIC DESIGN A ONE DAY CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS FACING LOCAL AUTHORITY ARCHITECTS AND TO BRING TOGETHER IDEAS FOR RADICAL CHANGE. U.C.A.T.T, HALL, GOUGH STREET, BIRMINGHAM SATURDAY 6TH MAY, 1978, AT 10.30 A.M. REGISTRATION: £1 (EXCLUSIVE OF MEATS), FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE WRITE TO: PUBLIC DESIGN GROUP, NEW ARCHITECT MOVEMENT, 9 POLAND STREET, A MEW ROLE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY ARCHITECTS DEPARTMENTS value of the scheme as some | allocations of capital expenditure will be | marginal or accidental overspending’. | CISIB 81(Ajp) AJ30 January 1980 Discucsios m o fete af anclulectie as a public Senet ane Surfacinugr hie avetulicturak guess. Not sorce tha AT Guest EMI Senisin (952 Lastherebtonanysilesprtad rsfomtd Conidtation or Mus malléy. The harlovingoy sf the long averdul Acbato is Less ttle. Public Expenditure Cuts ,particularly bn hoting amd LAucahar moans thot there will he Lass ote qr archutects Ar Ke same tome, as lal ouuck Cane hid) ncnasing pressinfeo teduce Shh, clopadtments ef ardulacture fank a chow Second fp Direct lalouY Crgamasahions aS promt iagels Pv te “back fp private profit WaovreweTD frchilictstimgonoval, but expecialythoseoko sores,te public Seep ford HomselvesAroust forccbly tify Spotlightasbuchclearly IecalesthomasacotfrWicksens| @ am a felibical stage: They ase not aloe din Tes precicawumt, It t ane usbuclr royShape thr Ke ore million Beetle houscholds on fhe coumpry’s Comet and housing asspiatio waiting lists,and C sat Chey peble Sect rotleoy)avd fspreafLefr wlian.thong Gernees ane tnttrdad. pabliescctvarellect isnotseparatefroHoatfhe tovand| tousung offeced AVbuilding wirtheny ard cannot : keasmably be conrsidend tn (Selatan, [et Thr is precisely what the RIBA and off shats ihe te socuity 2} Chil Aeluitets om Umal Authentics (SAA) are hymng clo as fray attmpl b cane to Wars tultr te Thus He potion of mctsbeds the ClsrmantingoftheLlelfiseult,ThePresideatfScatA, | Wstiad 4 ack nouledy lng thot fo provide VW Not fe Prom hy CE Repoblic Soniee » C aie prwulgatior 0 This melel isKerafrced by (ew Corhal of architictwal pepulatine(7i2cvid). Itaefumesdlearchilelas Bee dinAafe dint Srtreprevscu ofeling Marx dalisod : educatior ,omplayntict and / “in Ikitbecouse tHeyanounwillingvUmal4salccept thatAo metel ofarrchpaicktiszlinal hich has been pelaEe eeae) povedhasbeer) rolaeu%t tsproachesafarctlichan S é. Protea Cconowny |La canpotitian dull. othe archiltels “7 Be nae eae secttusmnuedelhasee, isothers (tle SufedUndoy Sumilay mgels) =—etatoret Chat et pe eneinptt.of © Te bey *® te Kealisahien of a ren) role fev public arcdulecture 15 an alteyalne nud based om s @y Gene Mefovwr biel elelsnasarlularyavd *e ob Shuctr bithianclues ard www Poses OL Shuictuhe - based arcoefibralireprcples (b) ForgingShongCechrucalandpleticalwerlonrglinksvoit Olay Avredlinatirurlsed dn te ae ¥ buildings, suchas bee—lEea,hosingqfecen|heey workeo tikes i CHSIB B1(Ajp) By oeeI | Ville: foto Proisiar al Aes pad Seytees , trade Unions dfar- the claw ann rbouldbe 4 create Unteqatidpublic 9 dudlnig mel aceoumnbaletoeouraiodllinenrson a (gal Lam. This wislel to dehtrdodt calloetedé actiar of avtulll® and fle wert ae acting D tins We UALCO and TA SS 7 bot, Us lanyploutnbohi throug. Shong tnlaAirciplonay ound Gucci oprrotin Subsfartal nor tix thar rection — RE erewecoranarnnre: ena anchitidined “Professional ‘ merely ; cumey)of private avclalirel : badly pln Murer) and Bal malt. are tmaltahad aretulich hadeuUnuaustsmApearNA EPOCs 6Og BABaIaciap Te)Tesiferia Ge clincuniFnigne Gussanc offppiats action atte wil. Me arnclelitiel pads undtausts ho act» tede tier aco jfotiltcal Le Solupe-T | a ime wn eanrpangus agennsh EY up fhe | Bee stjp cn at Seto> ie eel beelund Te cul > ee ww publec Lovitz , ab in, Reegh Sucl. : | Ln plenad soar Ce WS niglek ttl be 1] belt» eln Muvar{ Bob Male. a. lie “hs elgihsse one ai paie aeNarecalaty14YO, Interim Proposals and tenants. my the his hi To achieve an effective Public Design Service the NAM Public Design Group proposes local authority design and build teams which are area based and which will be accouritable to users ¥ DESIGN TEAMS SHOULD BE AREA BASED INSTEAD OF FUNCTION BASED. We suggest the following interim proposals which are feasible now and which create the potential for further change : td LOCAL AREA CONTROL OVER RESOURCES. AREA DESIGN TEAMS SHOULD BE MULTIDISCIPLINARY. JOB ARCHITECTS SHOULD REPORT DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE. z : * " ABOLISH POSTS BETWEEN TEAM LEADER AND CHIEF ARCHITECT. = ESTABLISH JOINT WORKING GROUPS WITH DIRECT LABOUR ORGANISATIONS. For further information contact : Public Design Group New Architecture Movement 9 Poland Street London W 1 — aes van” estimofatthee|feature :re ultimatepatieoftheschemeassome ilese 1 sure ofthe value oftt 1 t 4 INTERIM PROPOSALS: _1, LOCAL AREA CONTROL OVER RESOURCES Since control over design cannot be separated from control over the resources of land and finance, changes are required in the formal counci] structure to enable control to be exercised at community level. Although counicllors are elected on an area basis they serye on function-based committees (housing, education) which have contro] over the expenditure of money on the provisioonf services across the whole local authority area, Real local needs tend to be subordinated to an assumed general interest. The role of a councillor as a committee member therefore may be in conflict with his or her role as a representative of a local interest, In order that local area interests are safeguarded, jt js suggested that a further tier be added below the main functional committees (c.f. neighbourhood councils), These would be area committees consisting of representatives of loca] tenants and residents organisations, local councillors and trade unionists, The size of the area would obviously be a matter for discussion. These committees should deal with al] council] matters relating to their area and would consequently relate to several or a]| of the main function-based committees, They should have powers of recommendation and of veto in their relationship to the main committees, They should brief architects and have power of approval over designs and standards, 2. DESIGN TEAMS SHOULD BE AREA-BASED INSTEAD OF FUNCTION-BASED So that they can relate to Jocal area committees and the requirements of local people, The present arrangement of function-based architectural teams servicing function-based client committees and departments has two major disadvantages. Firstly, in providing a service within this structure, architects are isolated from the people who will use their buiidings. Architects work on a Borough- wide basis, and people's needs and wishes, insofar as they are taken me as |alloc neas some/ allo 1fesch re",At Teenie Vitoyoravtet (American) tutors": ang | Goesm't catch his real atfec- remember, I'ma fan. had been invited to make .anyMors©5)and”9)tionforMarcarntiasRuatuadlinBiessenbos.csncninAstilsneeileal \ A —_— into account at all, are averaged out and presented to the architect in briefing guides as criteria to be designed for in much the same way as are site constraints. The total constitutes a design problem and the concept of the a-political officer paid to solve technical problems is thus reinforced, Similarly the professional ideology of individual architects expressing themselves in their designs is sustained, of that action. the recipient of decisions by others. P 218 CUSIB 81(Ajp) AJ30 January 1980 Secondly, this system creates a "closed circuit"! method of liaison. For the architect; architect-client department- client committee. It is illogical as well as difficult to break this circle to relate to local residents or even loca] councillors. The public also find this organisational] boundary virtually impregnable, They are vulnerable to officia] action yet the boundary renders the officers immune to the consequence It should be noted that the term ''area based team'' as distinct from ''function based team'' does not necessarily mean that the team is located in an area, ([t merely means that a team is responsible for the work in an area. As such, it would offer the architects a variety of types of project. It would also enable them to initiate action in their area instead of being 3. AREA DES|GN TEAMS SHOULD BE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND SHOULD HAVE AROUND TWELVE MEMBERS AS A SUGGESTED OPTIMUM : 4. JOB ARCHITECTS (and other team members) SHOULD REPORT DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE The term multi-disciplinary would in the local authority context include planners and valuers as well as the more usual design team members such as quantity surveyors and engineers. Each job architect and team member should be responsible directly to the committee for the work he or she carries out, In this way PARRACTELORRIOeee) aeaena not only will committee members relate to the person actually producing the work, but job architects will be aware that they work in a political forum as well as a technica] one, 5. ABOLISH POSTS BETWEEN GROUP LEADER AND CHIEF ARCHITECT Group leaders should become responsible directly to the area committee and thus to the Council for the collective work of the group, The chief architect would then perform a co-ordinating role amongst the groups, similar to the role performed by the elected leader of the counc!] vis-a-vis committees, Occupants of redundant posts to be found a more usefu] role in the new structure. It is envisaged that in the future group Jeaders shou]d be subject | to election by their group and that the chief architect should be elected from amongst group leaders, with periodic change built in. lt should be noted that the present vertical structuring of the - architects departments stemmed from the late |9th Century private practice model, That is, from a form of practice compriseodf one | principal and a small number of apprentices, The largest practices of that time had one partner and around 25 apprentices. As private practices grew so did the number of partners, each being equally responsible under Partnership Law, (A common ratio of partner to staff is 1:15), In public practice the concept of one chief remained so that when the chief architect became responsible to the council for the actions of more than 100 staff, intermediate grades were introduced whose sole function was to contro] the job architect, Theirs is a non-design function and their status is dependent on increasing the proportion of procedural and managerial matters. under their control, They form an effective boundary between job architect and chief architect, let alone between job architect and counci]lor or job architect and user. en trern Ree primesse ne 218 <5 a — + ---- 2ne epee rr L Leeratenripeniveentxignh apt Rae ee otal” and more ominously, ne “con= Uinues, ‘perhaps an estimate of the ultimate value of the scheme as some measure ofthe value ofthescheme’, At| ected Imanotner sipmiticancrmmncnnr-ae! feature ofhis proposals that although| ho allocations of capital expenditure will be | m; made, as before, under five mair Rca mand . ren SS 218 YE, ~ee se~ departments. CISEB 81(Ajp) a —; 6. ESTABLISH JOINT WORKING GROUPS WITH DLOS To ‘consider how toachieve better designed, constructed and maintained buildings. In the longer term it is envisaged that separate professional teams should disappear in favour of design and build teams within the service of the local authority rather than within the building contractors! organisation, Summary: it is clear that many if not all, of these proposals could be put Into effect fairly readily, \t may be noted that in at least two London Boroughs, proposals similar to these are being actively discussed as departments of architecture are re-organised, These proposals are seen as part of a continuing process of democratisation of local government, without which a lasting communi ty architecture is not possible. They are not seen as a final solution but are offered as practical proposals applicable at this stage. The next stage in the development of these ideas is to widen this discussion to include representatives of tenants, local councils, relevant questions which should be considered but which are outside the scope of this report. e.g. * The relationships between architects and other council] i central] government and NALGO and other public sector unions, In advocating these proposals it is recognised that there are other * Devolution of power from central to Jocal government, particularly in relation to the control over building finance at present exercised by central government departments, ——S es AJ30January1980 Pr. woure-ve-tae value Of thescheme” At |m aaa i ere ns for ESeas aer itare2WiW.bemargin1aloracciidentaloverspending”. » under five main | The new broad controls on capital NtaterAtLtOT 19. pendence to elect a -—+—How the RIBA for m of building contract dictates the relationship between architect and building worker by separating design and construction, how this is necessary in the public sector, and how a new gement could be evolved to facilitate the on of local authority design and build teams. un arran format tectural education, including abour Party proposals for The role played by archi further discussion of the L overcoming the present sectar bias. (3)- jan and private practice Sreagcaas-—- ae: owe ontrols on AJ 30) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource AJ, BD, NAM Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978-1980 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/54c84b3f9580a50bc8050ba2b7ad4730.pdf dd9fa473ae21b57994e20a4b8bdd7c13 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Ladder of Citizen Participation Subject The topic of the resource Article from AIP Journal copied by John Allan to NDS Group on 17.5 77 Description An account of the resource —. Kam /mid-o >» LamDen/ AG (S oe I>. Ou QOSBu vo a5/ man Ves77 So NETLLAEAree 7 ot i ©]. Lnweny Ant) tytn hes, TT rene. ~ Ahen 2 aoha oo — / LOus 052 Ones Ue “ws HKPe SfLOK. ATI , |sy 6 OL Sl Al 2\Fr0.Q4 Bs 69 BALL wo,Asod WCWLIC wn! Lectin, ord & Vas Cu Arr LO, AQ, Qke1We Adepron. short: What is citizen participation and what is its relationship to the social imperatives of our time? Citizen Participation is Citizen Power Because the question has been a bone of political conten- tion, most of the answers have been purposely buried in innocuous euphemisms like “self-help” or “citizen involvement.’’ Still others have been embellished with misleading rhetoric like “‘absolute control’’ which is something no one—including the President of the Sherry R. Arnstein is Director of Community Development Studies for The Commons, a non-profit research institute in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. She is a former Chief Advisor on Citizen Participation in HUD’s Model Cities Administra- tion and has served as Staff Consultant to the President’s Committee on Juvenile Delinquency, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of HEW, and Washington Editor of Current Magazine. you pavjicipate; he participates; we participate; you paryicipate , . . They profit. 216 AIP JOURNAL JULY 1969 Sle 64. EMPTY RITUAL VERSUS BENEFIT There is a critical difference between going through the empty ritual of participation and having the real power needed to affect the outcome of the process. This difference is brilliantly capsulized in a poster painted last spring by the French students to explain the student- worker rebellion.?, (See Figure 1.) The poster highlights the fundamental point that_participation without redistribution of power is an empty and frus- trating process for the powerless. It allows the power- holders to claim that all sides were considered but makes itpossible for only some of those sides to beneitt. It maintains the status quo. Essentially, it ts what has | ’ The idea of citizen participation is a little like eating spinach: no one is against it in principle because it is good for you. Participation of the gov- erned in theic government is, in theory, the corner- stone of democracy—a revered idea that is vigorously applauded by virtually everyone. The applause is re- duced to polite handclaps, however, when this princi- ple is advocated by the have-not blacks, Mexican- Americans, Puerto Ricans, Indians, Eskimos, and whites. And when the have-nots define participation as re- distribution of power, the American consensus on the fundamental principle explodes into many shades of outright racial, ethnic, opposition. | “4 There have been many recent speeches, articles, and books! which explore in detail who are the have-nots of our time. There has been much recent documenta- tion of why the have-nots have become so offended and embittered by their powerlessness to deal with the pro- found inequities and injustices pervading their daily lives. But there has been very little analysis of the content of the current controversial slogan: participation” or “maximum feasible participation.” In an A LADDER OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION , The heated controversy over “citizen participation,” “citizen control,” and “maximum feasible involvement of the poor,” has been waged largely in terms of ex- acerbated rhetoric and misleading euphemisms. To encourage a more enlightened dialogue, a typology of citizen participation is offered using examples from three federal social programs: urban renewal, anti- poverty, and Model Cities. The typology, which is designed to be provocative, is arranged in a ladder pattern with cach rung corresponding to the extent of citizens’ power in determining the plan and/or program. : ideological, and political “citizen A Mer Coan Lu strtute of Plan NEV Journ! 007 R.Arnstein United States—has or can have. Between understated euphemisms and exacerbated rhetoric, even scholars have found it difficult to follow the controversy. To the headline reading public, it is simply bewildering. My answer to the critical wat question is simply that citizen participation is a categorical term for citizen Hower, It is the redistribution of power that enables the 1ave-not citizens, presently excluded from the political and economic processes, to be deliberately included in the future. It is the strategy by which the have-nots join in determining how information ts shared, goals and policies are set, tax resources are allocated, programs are operated, and benefits like contracts and patronage are parceledout. Inshort,itisthemeabynwhsich theycan induce significant social reform which enables them to “share in the benefits of the affluent society. FIGURE 1 French §tudent Poster. In English, 1 participate; J tokenism because the groundrules allow have-nots to advise, but retain for the powerholders the continued right to decide. Further up the ladder are levels of citizen power with increasing degrees of decision-making clout. Citizens ARNSTEIN Another captian about the eight separate rungs on the ladder: In the rea} world of people and programs, there might be 15Q rungs with less sharp and ‘‘pure’’ distinc- tions among fhem, Furthermore, some of the character- istics used tq jllystrate each of the eight types might be 217 8 7 6 5 4 3 : ° 1 FIGURE 2 Citizen control Delegated power Partnership Placation Consultation Informing Therapy Manipulation Degrees = of citizen power Degrees — of tokenism can enter into a (6) Partnership that enables them to negotiate and engage in trade-offs with traditional powerholders. At the topmost rungs, (7) Delegated Power and (8) Citizen Control, have-not citizens obtain the majority of decision-making seats, or full managerial power. Obviously, the cight-rung ladder is a simplification, but it helps to illustrate the point that so many have missed—that there are significant gradations of citizen participation. Knowing these gradations makes itpossi- ble to cut through the hyperbole to understand the increasingly strident demands for participation from the have-nots as well as the gamut of confusing responses from the powerholders. Though the typology uses examples from federal programs such as urban renewal, anti-poverty, and Model Cities; it could just as easily be illustrated in the church, currently facing demands for power from priests and laymen who seek to change its mission; colleges and universities which in some cases have become literal battlegrounds over the issue of student power; or public schools, city halls, and police departments (or big busi- ness which is likely to be next on the expanding list of targets). The underlying issues are essentially the same —"nobodies” in several arenas are trying to become ‘‘somebodies” with enough power to make the target institutions responsive to their views, aspirations, and needs. LIMITATIONS OF THE TYPOLOGY The ladder juxtaposes powerless citizens with the powerful in order to highlight the fundamental di- visions between them. In actuality, neither the have-nots nor the powerholders are homogeneous blocs. Each group encompasses a host of divergent points of view, significant cleavages, competing vested interests, and splintered subgroups. The justification for using such simplistic abstractions is that in most cases the have-nots really do perceive the powerful as a monolithic “'sys- tem,” and powerholders actually do view the have-nots as a sea of “those people,” with little comprehension of the class and caste differences among them. It should be noted that the typology does not include an analysis of the most significant roadblocks to achtev- ing genuine levels of participation. These roadblocks lie on both sides of the simplistic fence. On the power- holders’ side, they include racism, paternalism, and resistance topower redistribution. On the have-nots’ side, they include inadequacies of the poor community's Eight Rungs on a Ladder of Citizen Partict- pation been happening in most of the 1,000 Community Action Programs, and what promises to be repeated in the vast majority of the 150 Model Cities programs. Types ofParticipation and “NonParticipation” A typology of eight /evels of participation may help in analysis of this confused issue. For illustrative pur- poses the eight types are arranged in a ladder pattern with each rung corresponding to the extent of citizens’ power in determining the end product. (See Figure 2.) The bottom rungs of the ladder are (1) Manzpula- | tion and (2) Therapy. These two rungs describe levels of “non-participation” that have been contrived by some ;to substitute for genuine participation. Their real ob- |jective is not to enable people to participate in planning _or conducting programs, but to enable powerholders to “educate” or “cure” the participants. Rungs 3 and 4 progress to levels of ‘‘tokenism” that allow the have- inots to hear and to have a voice: (3) Informing and (4) Consultation. When they are proffered by power- holders as the total extent of participation, citizens may ' indeed hear and be heard. But under these conditions — “] fasF “ waa ool Nonperticipation they lack the power to insure that their views will be heeded by the powerful. When participation is re-| political socipecanomic infrastructure and knowledge- base, plus difficulties of organizing a representative and “muscle,” hence no assurance of changing the status accountable fitizens’ group in the face of Entity, quo. Rung (5) Placation, is simply a higher level alienation, and distrust. stricted to these levels, there is no followthrough, no ianaa PREFERS re orHaat | One hopeful note is that, having been so grossly affronted, some citizens have learned the Mickey Mouse game, and now they too know how to play. Asa result | applicable to other rungs. For example, employment of the have-nots in a program or on a planning staff could occur at any of the eight rungs and could represent either a legitimate or illegitimate characteristic of citi- zen participation, Depending on their motives, power- holders can hire poor people to coopt them, to placate them, or to utilize the have-nots’ special skills and insights.4 Some mayors, in private, actually boast of their strategy in hiring militant black Icaders to muzzle them while destroying their credibility in the black community. The signators are not informed that the $2 million- per-year center will only refer residents to the same old waiting lines at the same old agencies across town. No one is asked if such a referral center is really needed in his neighborhood. No one realizes that the contractor for the building is the mayor's brother-in-law, or that the new director of the center will be the same old com- munity organization specialist from the urban renewal agency. After signing their names, the proud grassrooters dutifully spread she word that they have “participated” in bringing a new and wonderful center to the neighbor- hood to provide people with drastically needed jops and Characteristics and Illustrations It is in this context of power and powerlessness that the health and welfare services. Only after the ribbon- characteristics of the eight rungs are illustrated by cutting ceremony do the members of the neighborhood examples from current federal social programs. council realize that they didn't ask the important ques- tions, and that they had no technical advisors of their 1. MANIPULATION own to help them grasp the fine legal print. The new shiny new neighborhood center. Unfortunately, this chicanery is not a ynique example. Instead it is almost typical of what has been perpetrated in the name of high-sounding rhetoric like “grassroots participation.”Thisshamliesattheheartofthedeep- seated exasperation and hostility of the have-nots toward the powerholders. In the name of citizen participation, people are placed on rubberstamp advisory committees or advisory boards adds to their problems. Now the old agencies across for the express purpose of “educating” them or engi- town won't talk with them unless they have a pink paper neering their support. Instead of genuine citizen par- slip to prove that they have been referred by “their” ticipation, the bottom rung of the ladder signifies the distortion of participation into a public relations vehicle by powerholders. This illusory form of ‘‘participation’’ initially came intovoguewithurbanrenewalwhenthesociallyelite were invited by city housing officials to serve on Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs). Another target of ma- nipulation were the CAC subcommittees on minority groups, which in theory were to protect the rights of Negroes in the renewal program. In practice, these subcommittees, like their parent CACs, functioned of this knowledge, they are demanding genuine levels mostly as letterheads, trotted forward at appropriate times to promote urban renewal plans (in recent years known asNegro removal plans). At meetings of the Citizen Advisory Committees, it "was the officials who educated, persuaded, and advised the citizens, not the reverse. Federal guidelines for the renewal programs legitimized the manipulative agenda by emphasizing the terms ‘‘information-gathering,” “public relations,” and “‘support’’ as the explicit func- tions of the committees.* This style of nonparticipation has since been applied to other programs encompassing the poor. Examples of this are seen in Community Action Agencies (CAAs) which have created structures called “neighborhood councils’ or “neighborhood advisory groups.’ These of participation to assuge them that public programs are relevant to their needs and responsive to their priorities. bodies frequently have no legitimate function or power.® The CAAs use them to “prove” that ‘“‘grassroots \changing the racism 4nd victimization that create their people” are involved in the program. But the programm may not have been discussed with ‘‘the people.’” Or it may have been described at a meeting in the most general terms; “We need your signatures on this pro- posal for a multiservice center which will house, under one roof, doctors from the health department, workers from the welfare department, and specialists from the that afternoon of pneumanja and dehydration. The employment service.” overwrought father cqmplained to the board of the local 218 Alp JOURNAL JULY 1969 center, which is open 9 to 5 on weekdays only, actually 2. THERAPY In some respects group therapy, masked as citizen par- ticipation, should be gn the Jowest rung of the ladder because it is both dishonest and arrogant. Its adminis- trators—mental health experts from social workers to _psychiatrists—assume shat powerlessness is synonymous with mental illness. Qn this assumption, under a mas- querade of involving ¢itizens in planning, the experts subject the citizens ty clinical group therapy. What makes this form of “participation” so invidious is that citizens are engaged ip extensive activity, but the focus of it is on curing them of thejr ‘‘pathology’’ rather than pathologies.” Consider an incidept that occurred in Pennsylvania less than one year ago, When a father took his seriously il baby to the emergency clijnic.of a local hospital, a young resident physicjan on duty instructed him to take the baby home and feed it sygar water, The baby died Community Action Agency. Instead of launching an investigation of the hospital to determine what changes would prevent similar deaths or other forms of mal- practice, the board invited the father to attend the CAA’s (therapy) child-care sessions for parents, and promised him that someone would “telephone the hos- pital director to see that it never happens again.” Less dramatic, but more common examples of therapy, masquerading as citizen participation, may be seen in public housing programs where tenant groups are used as vehicles for promoting control-your-child or cleanup campaigns. The tenants are brought together to help them ‘‘adjust their values and attitudes to those of the larger society.” Under these groundrules, they are diverted from dealing with such important matters as: arbitrary evictions; segregation of the housing proj- ect; or why is there a three-month time lapse to get a broken window replaced in winter. The complexity of the concept of mental illness in our time can be seen in the experiences of student /civil rights workers facing guns, whips, and other forms of terror in the South. They needed the help of socially attuned psychiatrists to deal with their fears and to avoid paranoia.’ 3. INFORMING Informing citizens of their rights, responsibilities, and options can be the most important first step toward legitimate citizen participation. However, too frequently the emphasis is placed on a one-way flow of information —from officials to citizens—with no channel provided for feedback and no power for negotiation. Under these conditions, particularly when information isprovided at a late stage in planning, people have little opportunity to influence the program designed “for their benefit.” The most frequent tools used for such one-way com- munication are the news media, pamphlets, posters, and responses to inquiries. Meetings can also be turned into vehicles for one-way communication by the simple device of providing super- ficial information, discouraging questions, or giving irrelevant answers. At a recent Model Cities citizen planning meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, the topic the official, the citizens accepted the “information” and endorsed the agency's proposal to place four lots in the white neighborhood.* 4. CONSULTATION Inviting citizens’ opinions, like informing them, can be a legitimate step toward their full participation. But if consulting them is not combined with other modes of participation, this rung of the ladder is still a sham since it offers no assurance that citizen concerns and ideas will be taken into account. The most frequent methods used for consulting people are attitude surveys, neighborhood meetings, and public hearings. When powerholders restrict the input of citizens’ ideas solely to this level, participation remains just a window-dressing ritual. People are primarily perceived as statistical abstractions, and participation is measured by how many come to meetings, take brochures home, or answer a questionnaire. What citizens achieve in all this activity is that they have “participated in participa- tion.’” And what powerholders achieve is the evidence that they have gone through the required motions of involving ‘'those people.” Attitude surveys have become a particular bone of ARNSTEIN i 219 «Pee contention in ghetto neighborhoods. creasingly unhappy about the number of times per week they are surveyed about their problems and hopes. As one woman put it: ‘Nothing ever happens with those damned questions, except the surveyer gets $3 an hour, and my washing doesn’t get done that day.” In some communities, residents are so annoyed that they are demanding a fee for research interviews. Attitude surveys are not very valid indicators of com- munity opinion when used without other input from citizens, Survey after survey (paid for out of anti- poverty funds) has ‘‘documented”’ that poor housewives most want tot-lots in their neighborhood where young children can play safely. But most of the women an- swered these questionnaires without knowing what their options were. They assumed that if they asked for something small, they might just get something useful Residents are in- a (a ie ‘in the neighborhood. Had the mothers known that a free prepaid health insurance plan was a possible option, they might not have put tot-lots so high on their wish lists. A classic misuse of the consultation rung occurred at aNew Haven, Connecticut, community meeting held to consult citizens on a proposed Model Cities. grant. James V. Cunningham, in an unpublished report to the Ford Foundation, described the crowd as large and “mostly hostile:”’ ® tives, almost all of whom were attending three to five meetings a week, devoted an hour to a discussion of the placement of six tot-lots. The neighborhood is half black, half white. Several of the black representatives noted that four tot-lots were proposed for the white district and only two for the black. The city official responded with alengthy, highly technical explanation about costs per square foot and available property. It was clear that most of the residents did not understand his explanation. And it was clear to observers from the Office of Economic Opportunity that other options did exist which, considering available funds, would have brought about a more equitable distribution of facilities. Intimidated by futility, legalistic jargon, and prestige of was ‘‘tot-lots.” A group of elected citizen representa- . Members of The Hil] Parents Association de- manded to know why fesidents had not partici- pated in drawing up the praposal. CAA director Spitz explained that it was merely a proposal for seeking Federal planning funds—that once funds were obtained, residenty would be deeply involved in the planning. An oytside observer who sat in patie vices 5. PLACATION It is at this level that citizens begin to have some degree of influence though tokenism is still apparent. An example of placation strategy is to place a few hand- picked ‘‘worthy” poor on boards of Community Action Agencies or on public bodies like the board of educa- tion, police commission, or housing authority. If they are not accountable to a constituency in the community and if the traditional power elite hold the majority of seats, the have-nots can be easily outvoted and outfoxed. Another example is the Model Cities advisory and planning committees. They allow citizens to advise or plan ad infinitum but retain for powerholders the right to judge the legitimacy or feasibility of the advice. The degree to which citizens are actually placated, of course, depends largely on two factors: the quality of technical- \ ambiguity is likely to cause considerable conflict at the assistance they have in articulating their priorities; and the extent to which the community has been organized to press for those priorities. ‘end of the one-year planning process. For at this point, citizens may realize that they have once again exten- sively “participated” but have not profited beyond the extent the powerholders decide to placate them, It is not surprising that the level of citizen participa- tion in the vast majority of Model Cities programs is at the placation rung of the ladder or below. Policy- 1968 before the second round of seventy-five planning makers at the Department of Housing and Urban De- grants were awarded) were released in a December velopment (HUD) were determined to return the genie 1968 HUD bulletin.11 Though this public document ofcitizenpowertothebottlefromwhichithadescaped usesmuchmoredelicateanddiplomaticlanguage,it 220 AIP TOVIRATAY warn Results of a staff study (conducted in the summer of (in a few cities) as a result of the provision stipulating “maximum feasible participation” in poverty programs. Therefore, HUD channeled its physical-social-cconomic rejuvenation approach for blighted neighborhoods through city hall. It drafted legislation requiring that al Model Cities’ money flow to a local City Demonstra- tion Agency (CDA) through the elected city council, As enacted by Congress, this gave local city councils final veto power over planning and programming and ruled out any direct funding relationship between community groups and HUD. HUD required the CDAs to create coalition, policy- making boards that would include necessary local power- holders to create a comprehensive physical-social plan during the first year. The plan was to be carried out in a subsequent five-year action phase. HUD, unlike OEO, did not require that have-not citizens be included on the CDA decision-making boards. HUD's Performance Standards for Citizen Participation only demanded that “citizens have clear and direct access to the decision- making process.” Accordingly, the CDAs structuted their policy- making boards to include some combination of elected officials; school representatives; housing, health, and welfare officials; employment and police department representatives, and various civic, labor, and business leaders. Some CDAs included citizens from the neigh- borhood. Many mayors correctly interpreted the HUD provision for “access to the decision-making process’ as the escape hatch they sought to relegate citizens to the traditional advisory role. Most CDAs created residents’ advisory committees. An alarmingly significant number created citizens’ policy boards and citizens’ policy committees which are totally misnamed as they have either no policy-making function or only a very limited authority. Almost every CDA created about a dozen planning committees or task forces on functional lines: health, welfare, education, housing, and unemployment. were invited to serve on these committees along with technicians from relevant public agencies. Some CDAs, on the other hand, structured planning committees of technicians and parallel committees of citizens. In most cases, have-not citizens In most Model Cities programs, endless time has been spent fashioning complicated board, committee, and task force structures for the planning year. But the rights and responsibilities of the various elements of those structures are not defined and are ambiguous. Such the audience described the mecting this way: “Spitz and Mel Adams ran the meeting on their own, No representatives of a Hill group mod- erated or even sat on the stage. Spitz told the 300 residents that this huge meeting was an example of ‘participation in planning.’ To prove this, since there was a Jot of dissatisfaction in the audience, he called for ‘a ‘vote’ on each component of the proposal. The vote took this form: ‘Can I see the hands of al those in favor of a health clinic? All those opposed?’ It was alittle like asking who favors motherhood.” It was a combination of the deep suspicion aroused at this meeting and a long history of similar forms of “window-dressing participation” that led New Haven residents to demand control of the program. By way of contrast, it is useful to look at Denver where technicians learned that even the best intentioned among them are often unfamiliar with, and even in- sensitive to, the problems and aspirations of the poor. The technical director of the Model Cities program has described the way professional planners assumed that the residents, victimized by high-priced local storekeep- ers, “badly needed consumer education.” 1° The resi- dents, on the other hand, pointed out that the local storekeepers performed avaluable function. Although they overcharged, they also gave credit, offered advice, and frequently were the only neighborhood place to cash welfare or salary checks. As a result of this con- sultation, technicians and residents agreed to substitute the creation of needed neighborhood for a consumer education program. credit institutions in the 7 ARNSTEIN technicians, lawyers, and community organizers. With these ingredients, citigens have some genuine bargain- 6. PARTNERSHIP At this rung of the ladder, power is in fact redistributed through negotiation ketween citizens and powerholders. They agree to sharg planning and decision-making responsibilities through such structures as joint policy boards, planning coramittees and mechanisms for re- solving impasses. After the groundrules have been established through some farm of give-and-take, they are not subject to unilateral change. Partnership can wark most effectively when there is an organized power-base jn the commynity to which the citizen leaders are accpuntable; when the citizens group has the financial resoyrces ta pay its leaders reasonable honoraria for their time-consuming efforts; and when the group has the respurces to hire (and fire) its own 221 attests to the already cited criticisms of non-policy- It also urge. CDAs to experiment with subcontracts makingpolicyboardsandambiguouscomplicatedstruc- underwhichtheresidents’groupscouldhiretheirown tures, in addition to the following findings: 1. Most CDAs did not negotiate citizen par- trusted technicians. A more recent evaluation was cisculated in February ticipation requirements with residents. 2. Citizens, drawing on past negative experi- 1969 by OST], a private firm that entered into a con- tract with OEO to provide technical assistance and trajn- ing to citizens involved in Model Cities programs in the northeast region of the country. OSTI's report to OEO corroborates the earlier study. In addition it states: 2 ences with local powerholders, were extremely sus- picious of this new panacea program. They were legiti- mately distrustful of city hall’s motives. 3. Most CDAs were not working with citizens’ groups that were genuinely representative of model neighborhoods and accountable to neighborhood con- stituencies. As in so many of the poverty programs, those wha were involved were more representative of the upwardly mobile working-class. Thus their ac- quiescence to plans prepared by city agencies was not In practically no Mcadel Cities structure does citi- zen patticipaticn mean truly shared decision- making, such that citizens might view themselves as“thepartnersinthisprogram. .,.” likely to reflect the views of the unemployed, the young, the more militant residents, and the hard-core poor. In general, citizens are finding it impossible to have a significant impact on the comprehensive planning which is going on. In most cases the staff planners of the CDA and the plaryners of existing agencies are carrying out the actual planning with citizens having a peripheral role of watchdog and, ultimately, the “rubber stamp” of the plan gen- erated. In cases where citizens fave the direct responsibility for generating program plans, the time period allowed and the independent technical 4. Residents who were participating in as many as three to five meetings per week were unaware of their minimum rights, responsibilities, and the options avail- able ta them under the program. For example, they did nat realize that they were not required to accept techni- cal help from city technicians they distrusted. resources being made available to them are not adequate to allow them to do anything more than generate very traditional approaches to the prob- lems they are attempting to solve. 5. Most of the technical assistance provided by CDAs and city agencies was of third-rate quality, paternalistic, and condescending. Agency technicians did not suggest innovative options. They reacted bu- reaucratically when the residents pressed for innovative approaches, The vested interests of the old-line city agencies were amajor—albeit hidden—agenda. In general, little or na thought has been given to the means of insuring continued citizen partici- pation during the stage of implementation. In most cases, traditiqnal agencies are envisaged as the implementors of [lode] Cities pragrams and few mechanisms have peen developed for encouraging organizational chapge or change in the method of program delivery within these agencies or for in- suring that citizeng will have some influence over these agencies as they implement Model Cities programs. ... 6. Most CDAs were not engaged in planning that was comprehensive enough to expose and deal with the roots of urban decay. They engaged in “‘meetingitis”’ and were supporting strategies that resulted in “proj- ectitis,"” the outcome of which was a “laundry list’’ of traditional programs to be conducted by traditional agencies in the traditional manner under which slums emerged in the first place. By and large, peaple are once again being planned for. In Most situations the major plan- ning decisions are peing made by CDA staff and approved in a formalistic way by policy boards. 7. Residents were not getting enough informa- tion from CDAs to enable them to review CDA de- veloped plans or to initiate plans of their own as re- quired by HUD. At best, they were getting superficial information. copies of official HUD materials. we At worst, they were not even getting. 8. Most residents were unaware of their rights to be reimbursed for expenses incurred because of par- ticipation—babysitting, transportation costs, and so on. 9. The training of residents, which would en- able them to understand the labyrinth of the federal- state-city systems and networks of subsystems, was an item that most CDAs did not even consider. These findings led to a new public interpretation of HUD's approach to citizen participation. Though the requirements for the seventy-five ‘‘second-round” Model City grantees were not changed, HUD's twenty-seven page technical bulletin on citizen participation repeat- edly advocated that cities share power with residents. cies. It has a veto power in that no plans may be sub- mitted by the CDA to the city council until they have been reviewed, and any differences of opinion have been successfully negotiated with the AWC. Representatives oftheAWC (whichisafederationofneighborhood organizations grouped into sixteen neighborhood “*hubs’’) may attend all meetings of CDA task forces, planning committees, or subcommittees. Though the city council has final veto power over the plan (by federal law), the AWC believes it has a neighborhood constituency that is strong enough to negotiate any eleventh-hour objections the city council might raise when itconsiders such AWC proposed in- novations as an AWC Land Bank, an AWC Economic Development Corporation, and an experimental income maintenance program for 900 poor families. 7. DELEGATED POWER In most cases where power has come to be shared it| — between citizens and public officials can les taken by the citizens, not given by the city. There aIso result in citizens achieving dominant decision- is nothing new about that process. Since those who have making authority over a particular plan or program. power normally want to hang onto it, historically it has Model City policy'boards or CAA delegate agencies on s hadtobewrestedbythepowerlessratherthanproffered whichcitizenshaveaclearmajorityofseatsandgenuine by the powerful. specified powers are typical examples. At this level, the Such a working partnership was negotiated by the ladder has been scaled to the point where citizens hold residentsinthePhiladelphiamodelneighborhood.Like thesignificantcardstoassureaccountabilityofthepro- most applicants for a Model Cities grant, Philadelphia gram to them. To resolve differences, powerholders wrote its more than 400 page application and waved it need to start the bargaining process rather than respond at a hastily called meeting of community leaders. When those present were asked for an endorsement, they angrily protested the city’s failure to consult them on preparation of the extensive application. A community spokesman threatened to mobilize a neighborhood pro- Ohio; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; test against the application unless the city agreed to give Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut; and Oakland, the citizens a couple of weeks to review the application California. and recommend changes. The officials agreed. “In New Haven, residents of the Hill neighborhood At their next meeting, citizens handed the city ofi- have created a corporation that has been delegated the cials a substitute citizen participation section that power to prepare the entire Model Cities plan. The city, changed the groundrules from a weak citizens’ ad- which received a $117,000 planning grant from HUD, visory role to a strong shared power agreement. Phila- has subcontracted $110,000 of it to the neighborhood delphia’s application to HUD included the citizens’ corporation to hire its own planning staff and consul- substitutionwordforword.(Italsoincludedanew tants.TheHillNeighborhoodCorporationhaseleven citizen prepared introductory chapter that changed the representatives on the twenty-one-member CDA board city’s description of the model neighborhood from a which assures it a majority voice when its proposed plan paternalisticdescriptionofproblemstoarealisticanaly- isreviewedbytheCDA. sis of its strengths, weaknesses, and potentials.) Consequently, the proposed policy-making committee of the Philadelphia CDA was revamped to give five out obtained a subcontract from the CDA for more than .interesting coexistence model for hostile citizen groups of eleven seats to the residents’ organization, which is called the Area Wide Council (AWC). The AWC be resolved through negotiation. This isaparticularly $20,000 per month, which it used to maintain the neigh- borhood organization, to pay citizen leaders $7 per meeting for their planning services, and to pay the salaries of a staff of community organizers, planners, andothertechnicians.AWChasthepowertoinitiatecilshavefinalvetopowersevenwhencitizenshavethe plans of its own, to engage in joint planning with CDA majority of seats on the CDA Board. In Richmond, committees,andtoreviewplansinitiatedbycityagen- California,thecitycouncilagreedtoacitizens’counter- 222 AIP JOURNAL JULY 1969 to pressure from the other end. Such a dominant decision-making role has been at- tained by residents in a handful of Model Cities includ- ing Cambridge, Massachusetts; Dayton, and Columbus, Another model of delegated power is separate and parallel groups of citizens and powerholders, with pro- . vision for citizen veto if differences of opinion cannot _ ~ . ‘too embittered toward city hall—as a result of past “collaborative efforts’’—to engage in joint planning. Since al Model Cities programs require approval by the city council before HUD will fund them, city coun- ing influence over the outcome of the plan (as long as both parties find it useful to maintain the partnership). One community leader described it “like coming to city hall with hat on head instead of in hand.” In the Model Cities program only about fifteen of the so-called first generation of seventy-five cities have reached some significant degree of power-sharing with residents. In al but one of those cities, it was angry citizen demands, rather than city initiative, that led to the negotiated sharing of power.* The negotiations were triggered by citizens who had been enraged by previous forms of alleged participation. They were both angry and sophisticated enough to refuse to be “conned” again. They threatened to oppose the awarding of a planning grant to the city. They sent delegations to HUD in Washington. They used abrasive language. Negotiation took place under a cloud of suspicion and rancor. 8. CITIZEN CONTROL Demands for community controlled schools, black con- trol, and neighborhood control are on the increase. Though no one in the nation has absolute control, it is very important that the rhetoric not be confused with intent. People are simply demanding that degree of power (or control) which guarantees that participants or residents can govern a program or an institution, be in full charge of policy and managerial aspects, and be able to negotiate the conditions under which “outsiders” may change them. A neighborhood corporation with no intermediaries between it and the source of funds is the model most frequently advocated. A small number of such experi- mental corporations are already producing goods and/or social services. Several others are reportedly in the development stage, and new models for control will undoubtedly emerge as the have-nots continue to press for greater degrees of power over their lives. Though the bitter struggle for community control of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville schools in New York City has aroused great fears in the headline reading public, less publicized experiments are demonstrating that the have-nots can indeed improve their lot by handling the ARNSTEIN to develop a series of economic enterprises ranging from a novel combination shopping-center-public-housing project to a loan guarantee program for local building contractors. The membership and board of the non-. profit corporation is composed of leaders of major com- munity organizations in the black neighborhood. 2. Approximately $1 million ($595,751 for the second year) was awarded to the Southwest Alabama FarmersCooperativeAssociation(SWAFCA) inSelma, Alabama, for a ten-county marketing cooperative for food and livestock. Despite local attempts to intimidate the coop (which included the use of force to stop trucks on the way to market), first year membership grew to 1,150 farmers who earned $52,000 on the sale of their new crops. The elected coop board is composed of two poor black farmers from each of the ten economi- cally depressed counties. 3. Approximately $600,000 supplemental grant) was granted to the Albina Cor- poration and the Albina Investment Trust to create a black-operated, black-owned manufacturing concern us- ing inexperienced management and unskilled minority group personnel from the Albina district. The profit- making wool and metal fabrication plant will be owned by its employees through a deferred compensation trust plan. 4. Approximately $800,000 ($400,000 for the second year) was awarded to the Harlem Common- wealth Council to demonstrate that a community-based ($300,000 in a veto, but the details of that agreement are ambiguous and have not been tested. Various delegated power arrangements are also emerging in the Community Action Program as a result of demands from the neighborhoods and OEO’s most recent instruction guidelines which urged CAAs “to exceed (the) basic requirements” for resident participa- tion.4 In some cities, CAAs have issued subcontracts to resident dominated groups to plan and/or operate one or more decentralized neighborhood program components like a multipurpose service center or a Headstart pro- gram. These contracts usually include an agreed upon line-by-line budget and program specifications. They also usually in¢lude a specific statement of the significant powers that have been, delegated, for example: policy- making; hiring and firing; issuing subcontracts for building, buying, or leasing. (Some of the subcontracts are so broad that they verge on models for citizen control.) development corporation can catalyze and implement an . economic development program with broad community support and participation. After only eighteen months of program development and negotiation, the council will soon launch several large-scale ventures including operation of two supermarkets, an auto service and repair center (with built-in manpower training pro- gtam), a finance company for families earning less than $4,000 per year, and a data processing company. The al black Harlem-based board is already managing a metal castings foundry. Though several citizen groups (and their mayors ) use the rhetoric of citizen control, no Model City can meet the criteria of citizen control since final approval power and accountability rest with the city council. Daniel P. Moynihan argues that city councils are representative of the community, but Adam Walinsky illustrates the nonrepresentativeness of this kind of representation: 15 other federal agencies. Examples include: 1. A $1.8 million grant was awarded to the Hough Area Development Corporation in Cleveland to plan economic development programs in the ghetto and program. Some are even demonstrating that they can do al this with just one arm because they are forced to use their other one to deal with a continuing barrage of local opposition triggered by the announcement that a federal grant has been .given to a community group or an all black group. 1 Who . . . exercises “control” through the repre- sentative process? In the Bedford-Stuyvesant ghetto of New York there are 450,000 people—as many as in the entire city of Cincinnati, more than in Most of these experimental programs have been capi- talized with research and demonstration funds from the Office of Economic Opportunity in cooperation with theentirestateofVermont. Yettheareahasonly one high school, and 80 per cent of its teen-agers are dropouts; the infant mortality rate is twice the national average; there are over 8000 buildings abandoned by evesyone but the rats, yet the arca received not one dollag pf urban renewal funds entire job of planning, policy-making, and managing a 223 NOTES 1 The literature on poverty and discrimination and their effects on people is extensive. As an introduction, the following will be 224 AIP JOURNAL JULY 1969 during the entire first 15 years of that program’s operation; the unemployment rate is known only to God. Clearly, Bedford-Stuyvesant has some special needs; yet it has always been lost in the midst of the city’s eight million. In fact, it took a lawsuit to win for this vast area, in the year 1968, its first Congressman. In what sense can the repre- sentative system be said to have “spoken for” this community, during the long years of neglect and decay? Walinsky’s point on Bedford-Stuyvesant has general Yale University Press, 1968). applicability to the ghettos from coast to coast. It is therefore likely that in those ghettos where residents have achieved a significant degree of power in the Model Cities planning process, the first-year action plans will call for the creation of some new community institutions entirely governed by residents with a speci- fied sum of money contracted to them. If the ground- rules for these programs are clear and if citizens under- 2 The poster is one of about 350 produced in May or June 1968 at Atélier Populaire, a graphics center launched by students from the Sorbonne’s Ecole des Beaux Art and Ecole des Arts Decoratifs. stand that achieving a genuine place in the pluralistic the American Institute of Planners, XXXIV, No. 5 (September scene subjects them to its legitimate forms of give-and- 1968), 290-1. 5U.S., Department of Housing and Urban Development, take, then these kinds of programs might begin to Workable Program for Community Improvement, Answers on Citt- demonstrate how to counteract the various corrosive political and socioeconomic forces that plague the poor. Community Action Agencies,” CAP Grant 9499. In cities likely to become predominantly black 7Robert Coles, ‘Social Struggle and Weariness,” Psychiatry, X XVII (November 1964), 305-15. I am also indebted to Daniel strident M. Fox of Harvard University for some of his general insights into citizens’groupslikeAWCofPhiladelphiawilleven-therapybeingusedasadiversionfromgenuinecitizenparticipation. through population growth, it is unlikely that tually demand legal power for neighborhood 8See, Gordon Fellman, “Neighborhood Protest of an Urban self- Highway,” Journal of the American Institute of Planners, XXXV, government. Their grand design is more likely to call No. 2 (March 1969), 118-22. for a black city ‘hall, achieved by the elective process. 9 James V. Cunningham, “Resident Participation, Unpublished Report prepared for the Ford Foundation, August 1967, p. 54. In cities destined to foreseeable future, it is quite likely that counterpart CDA.11U.S., Department of Housing and Urban Development, tain demands for resource with residents and anticipated the need for a period in which a allocation weighted in favor representative citizens group could be engaged, and the ambiguities remain predominantly white for the 10 Interview with Maxine Kurtz, Technical Director, Denver groups to AWC will press for separatist forms of “Citizen Participation in Model Cities,” Technical Assistance Bulle- neighborhood government that can create and control tin, No. 3 (December 1968). decentralized public services such as police protection, 12 Organization for Social and Technical Innovation, Six-Month Progress Report to Office of Economic Opportunity, Region 1, education systems, and health facilities. Much may February 1, 1969, pp. 27, 28, and 35. depend on the willingness of city governments to enter- 13 In Cambridge, Massachusetts, city hall offered to share power of the poor, reversing gross imbalances of the past. of authority, structure, and process would be resolved. At the re- quest of the mayor, HUD allowed the city to spend several months community control are; of Model Cities planning funds for community organization activi- it supports separatism; it creates balkanization of public ties. During these months, staff from the city manager's office also Among the arguments.against helped the residents draft a city ordinance that created a CDA com- it enables posed of sixteen elected residents and eight appointed public and minority group “hustlers” to be just as opportunistic private agency representatives. This resident-dominated body has services; it is more costly and less efficient; and disdainful of the have-nots as their the power to hire and fire CDA staff, approve al plans, review all white prede- model city budgets and contracts, set policy, and so forth. The cessors; it is incompatible with merit systems and pro- ordinance, which was unanimously passed by the city council also fessionalism; and ironically enough, itcan turn includes a requirement that all Model City plans must be approved out to be by a majority of residents in the neighborhood through a refer- a new Mickey Mouse game for the have-nots by allow- endum. Final approval power rests with the city council by federal ing them to gain control but not allowing them sufh- statute. . 14U.S., Office of Economic Opportunity, OEO Instruction, cient dollar resources to succeed.*® These arguments are Participation of the Poor in the Planning, Conduct and Evaluation not to be taken lightly. But neither can we take lightly of Community Action Programs (Washington, D.C.: December 1, the arguments of embittered advocates 1968), pp. 1-2. of community 15 Adam Walinsky, “Review of Maximum Feasible Misunder- control—that every other means of trying to end their standing” by Daniel P. Moynihan, New York Times Book Review, victimization has failed! February 2, 1969. helpful: B. H. Bagdikian, Iv the Midst of Plenty: The Poor in’ America’ (New York: Beacon, 1964); Paul Jacobs, “The Brutalizing of America,” Dissent, XT (Autumn 196-1), p. 423-8; Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton, Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America (New York: Random House, 1967); Eldridge Cleaver, Soul on Ice (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1968); L. J. Duhl, The Urban Condition; People and Policy in the Metropolis. (New York: Basic Books, 1963); William H. Grier and P. M. Cobbs, Black Rage (New York: Basic Books, 1968); Michael Harrington, The Other America: Poverty in the United States (New York: Macmillan, 1962); Peter Marris and Martin Rein, Dilemmas of Social Reform: Poverty and Community Action in the United States (New York: Atherton Press, 1967); Mollie Orshansky, “Who's Who Among the Poor: A Demographic View of Poverty,” Social Security Bulletin, XXVIL (July 1965), 3-32; and Richard T. Titmuss, Essays on the Welfare State (New Haven: 3 This typology is an outgrowth of a more crude typology I circulated in March 1967 in a HUD staff discussion paper titled “Rhetoric and Reality.” The earlier typology consisted of eight levels that were less discrete types and did not necessarily suggest a chronological progression: Inform, Consult, Joint Planning, Negotiate, Decide, Delegate, Advocate Planning, and Neighbor- hood Control. : 4For an article of some possible employment strategies, see, Edmund M. Burke, “Citizen Participation Strategies,” Journal of zen Participation, Program Guide 7, February, 1966, pp. 1 and 6. 6David Austin, “Study of Resident Participants in Twenty 16 For thoughtful academic analyses of some of the potentials and pitfalls of emerging neighborhood control models, see, Alan Altshuler, “The Demapd For Participation in Large American_ Cities,” An Unpublished Paper prepared for the Urban Institute, December 1968; and Hans .C, Spiegel and Stephen D. Mitten- | thal, “Neighborhood Pqwer apd Control, Implications for Urban Planning,” A Report pr¢pared fos the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Nayembey 1968. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Arnstein Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1969 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/c26f72f41c2c2ac22b68fb7b9d152409.pdf 42bb141b831baf78304d1da147ca712a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Building Design Article Subject The topic of the resource Opinion piece by Martin Pawley "Why community architecture is a busted flush" (2pp) Description An account of the resource 18 BUILDING DESIGN, February 24, 1989 g A FLUSH is a five-card poker hand with each card belotnotgheisanmegsuit.A bustedflushisafive-card poker hand in which four cards are of the samesuitb,ut the last is different. The ‘bust’? means the difference between success and failure, a five-card flush is a strong hand, a busted flush is worthless _Opinion communi a a a alt|PGure n Ipropose to this house Smmunty architecture is Martin Pawley lost the vote in last week’s International Building Press debate on community archi- ate nat 5to bes: Dr Rod Hackney and his in the community tecture — but made the best speech of the night, published here. ction; entrench that was equivalent to laying tment: pessimism inifesto ontaking of rural¢ ration RIBA The Knav t . {feisrbelideving Rod Hack ON EXPRESS [Enter 19 ENauiny caro On this card is written; “Our nvironment is abattleground forces which threaten and in the end ciety the inner ties bear deep ying housing »vement laid hallengeafewyearsago 44 ynemployment: lack of Marshalls Mono Limited Head Office Southowram S KEYBLOK MONOLOK RUSTIKAL RIALTA ARCADIAN KEYKERB THE MASTER'S DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE We invite candidates with good first degrees in architecture or an equivalent qualificationtoapply to study of our new Master's Degree. This innovative, high level, part-time course, which Started in 1988, is the only one ofits kind in the UK Itisgearteodtheambitiousandabilitiesofstudents with a passion for design, curiosity about the field of theory and the energy to bring them together with intellectual rigour At the same time, students on the course develop their other professional skills in practice Please send for prospectus and application formto THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, KINGSTON POLYTECHNIC, KNIGHTS PARK, KINGSTON UPON THAMES, SURREY KT1 2QJ. Telephone: (01) 549 6151. Fax: (01) 547 1450 ON EXPRESS Enter Q PNguinY CARD\ ‘a RIW SHEETSEAL Damp Proof Membranes Agrement ap; Sheet fo Danage inappl Small damages are May de used junction with liquid applied products © Ful technical back-up from the RIW Waterproofing . SPECIALISTS IN STRUCTURAL WATERPROOFING PRODUCTS No RIWLimitedArc House, Terrace Road South, BirSeld, Bracknell, Berks, AG12 Tel O44 861988 Telex 847990 Fax 0344 862010 Enter DO. Chane aID\ aa’| yur cards down fa pon the pe ty. Urban regener ni ui civil peaceand liberties. Andit d betting on the unseen Pi tv iftwelare'to retain our not just the cities that are in th i 1 ow. The firstis an crisis. Looking out across th Ace. It shows what Dr Hackney countryside we face the spectre It worth recalling what PSAOSIS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND THEORY g of their book 1 irchitecture how people are shaping their own environment. Itis a gory rerun of that everything is “appalling” he proposes a “crusade” : inner cities. He talks of raising £30 to £100 million to finance community architecture pro jects like Black Road alloverthe ‘We do not believe that community architecture is equal to the sheer Hackney, is equal to the sheer may have solved a lot of problems for your people. Let's sce how well they do with static Property prices. We do not belicve that de- caying Britain can be put right by a combination of media boosterism, awards, ceremon- ies, celebration dinners, cxag- ated responses to supposed attacks”, verbal exhortations, fitful encouragement by royalty, “alternative” Nobel prizes or 60-minute documentaries about five houses, In other words Mr Wates and Mr Thompson, wedo not believe you have the final card you have. We u are bluffing. Despite Mr Wate unhesitating and shamefulinvocationofurban riot and murder as the only the Broadwater Farm “What had been thought of asa model council estate turned into country. He even calls for a poverty and homelessness created by cessation of large-scale council community architectur police and 20 proach in the City of I had been injured. One where he might have known policeman had been hacked to — the community spirit is 100 death. The senior police officer proof and the governor of the for the area described it as the Bank of England can tell Peter most ferocious, the most vicious Palumbo that he need have no not ever seen in the country.” The third card is, shall we say Ten. It is the card of the where, certainly not any- the contraction of social welfare and house building today bf adeveloperon hth Knaveforw 4 ‘ Ac ehavenow Tu: Not the ¢ but ¢ ly-based enterprise ecople whe ield, is ayo archi | “real tate ket monc but ma afew 1. Ch esident of the RIBA ),000 inner-city houses reliction by all-scale at will se of 1 i-playing municipaliser ci al council. For the chance t build ¢ own urth cardis a King, or rathera environment theway they want utur 3, a “fairy princ ind so create a land as safeand o cares deeply about decay prosperous as Switzerland.” ind riot and archit J not t h T onflict and Thiasqtuite acard;it putsthe ind ractal future Kingto shame. Ifor one ulm here and now put m noney Th re four cards on the the table and say; “Show i ab: dtheoth rplayersturna me.”’ If Dr Hackney, Nick Wates and John Thompson and vhiter shade of pal he their followers were f pared to list councillors are bank- pt, they cannot afford to call this one. The archit adyabouts popu war criminals hiding in the Bolivian jungle. Ift cy fight this ust as We nselves on the mercy Mail. The money men gratefully cut their losses the “spectre decay and riot’ a year or twe spectators, the tribunes of the »wn their claims, then lievable. But eirclaims be? should have their houses the we they want them? nirty families can build emselves new houses in four years? That re is a lot of moncy in home improvement? That local authority tenants are happy about the renovation of s? Th local enterprise akes good teley ision? NoUl ITI (3SOU lt All of these are credible people, what do they think? claims, but in relation to the They focus all their attentioonn scale of the problem they don't the highest c fg the fourth card, the card of add up to a hill of beans ation Community architecture has from Thris a ’ of Aces and Knaves noraks. Besidehimis infrom Maccles- as Noel Coward S a5 colour brochure Oui; This isavery special card. It uture King; he is before an always gone further much further and with much less justification than the old mc ern architects who believed that the solutiontothesame problem laynotincharityandunpaid labour, but in planning and production on the largest pos- ae << n a company Ww} fear of failure, on the very day dy on the Court of mon Council votes for his the cessation of large-scale council house building.’ architect at the Pittsburgh conference described commun- ity architecturaes “an extension of the British class system’ Finally, totally inadequate Vos of talent to sible scale. We know what they Opinion — - shows what Nick Wates and dress, like a stockbroker, Car- artesKnechvoseitotwntriteatriedaway,thefutureKingsays 25millionclaimedbyDrcheap;arisinghousingmarket scale of the £50 billion urban crisis of house price inflation and the so. Indeed you will probably industry, house price inflation and where in America, has itproved recall that an expatriate British tionary myth ofthe move- Mansion House Square project achieved, arate of productionof no objection to people “creat- funding and begging-bowl eco ment. It is the story of how a Al the players and al the new houses more than double ing” their own houses, or their nomics apart, we do not believe z architect returned from Spectators ignore the worrying the present rate, and halfofthem own cars, ortheirown electricity that “Macclesfield technology” at 1andboughtacheap insubstantialityofthisspecial subsidiseddowntorentsthat forthatmatter.Whatweobject makesefficientuseofexpensive house in Macclesfield to live in card, Deep down, they know would not buy a Tube ticket to is outrageous and misleading design expertise or scarce mat- while he c mpleted his PhD that the future King hasnotkept today claims and promises that crowd crial sources — a belief y alternative to community ar- The house was cheap because it alhispromises. One ofhismuch But we on this side of the out the proper consideration of hemently shared by the late chitecture; and despite Mr wascondemned,oneof vauntedfundsforcimmunity housedonotwishtobemis:crucialenvironmentalissuesWalterSegal,whoseworkThompson'spromisethatitisa scheduled for redevelopment enterprise, to which a fair understood. We do not oppose We do not believe that a sharp community architecture propa- certain cure for smoking, we The threat of the bulldozers number of individuals and the idea of anybody “shaping Macclesfield developer can gandists have lately taken to cli your last card will show nterruptedyoungarchibusinessescontributed,btheirownenvironment”orsucceedwherehugesumsofparasathodughiitnweregtheirthatyourhandisvalueless tect’sstudies.Hero’thesackeditsstaffandvirtuallybuildingbette professionallydirectedpublicown Theconsequenceofsittingin apa hetic ho riders and closed down. Another has community 4 investment only barely made We do not believe that you on apoker game played for very ther they a resi- hauled its staff over the coals for gandists put it headway in the past. We do not have a patent on public consul high stakes, with no cards anda t'sassociationéndobtainedmakingloanstocallgirls.Busyprofessionally“misguidedas-belicvethatcommunityarchi-taotrsiweaotenquity—bothofgodlineintalk,isthatsooner general rovement area sta- withorganicfarming,homeo sailants”ordeliberately“tedi- tecture,evenattheundoubtedly whichexistedbeforeyouand orlateryouwillhavpeutuopor tus. By doing st of the work pathic medicine, trade with ously negative critics” We have exaggerated “turnover” of £20- will exist after you. Nor ¢ shut up. And Iam in no doubt th sely ind obtaining Australia, sex lence on mortg $toconvert the houses ty, and interfering in planning believe that your method is which it will be. that whate tenancy to owner on, it is remarkable that he height re King still has time to — they gave the dabble in community archi Hlifeat tecture in the Postman Pat from pr occupa Barber houses 1 cost projected cost of redevelop ment have heard « rid. It not foo much to he Macclesfield miracle the local authority of £127,000, less than half the f the Duchy of Corn $s, thisisthe crucial ind. Without it This was a shot heard round 1 Bakker, the Reverend Jerry Falwell, faith in thefuture Kingisindestructible unted by the spectre of be left to ti yupt © mess that ecay The Knave s. that others make.” nthe echo Look at the tk Only last month in the Sunday have already been t. The Express Mrs Isabella Hageart of Ac 5that “the environment ournalist is abattleground and the land is ays secmsto council housing, the old solu- tion, has become nothing but a table. The fifth card that the backdrof the most vicious gentlemen on the other side of F men have en the house clai »have ntheir The Ten, from uy ¢ in possession must be the Mai N irth c 4 the mn Of what we might Macclesfield tech IBY the ils of urban and rura solution to al Je: They have thems« ves i boastings ime to deal the Hack when he became irethe fourcardsonthe TS.L. ThrislingtonServicesltd TheWhiteHouse Imagine Og scale of the £50 billion urban crisis of poverty and homeless- ness created by the contraction of social welfare and industry, in the UK’s number onemanufacturer Ise inthisfield Soletyourimaginetionrunwild.Calusnowon 164formoredetailsandour 22 SS BUILDING DESIGN, February 24,1989 19 ANAC 20 HighStret Brasted KentrNi6ué Thrislington Partitions ALICE’S ADVENTURES MOI)Nae AN C19; ELTBARS 1Tel1%©)WU)(GIB THE LAMINATED GLASS. again itis Banham who spotsit: “One could nothelpfeeling that this particular garden shed with its rusted bicycle wheels, a battered trumpet, and other homely junk, had been excavated after an atomic holocaust and discovered to be part of a European tradition of site plan- ning that went back to archaic Greece and beyond.” The point being that appeal to the “primitive” in 1950s architectural discourse connoted a whole complex of reservations and attitudes towards moder- engagement. Yetin one work at nism.Ontheonehand,inthe least,theSmithsonsshowedan manner of “40,000 Years’, it extraordinary prescience about keyed into a “Family of Man” anthropology of archetypal and ecumenic form that modified but Mercifully, this story has a happy ending. Apartfromafewbumpsand bruises, our heroine’ fine; thanks to the Solaglas laminateded glass she : collided with. Made from layers of glass and tough plastic, our laminated glass (0224) 034247 (0232) 61021 O51 447 6191 021-327 2095 seuny kept firmly on the outside. Built to withstand bullets from the home-ownership world of the Privatised cighties. For if the stays f (0323)646566 ’ ere Ediaburgh O37 91 security game. Sccuricor. especially young ones, must be a top priority OF course, stubborn rezfusal to fall apart makekse Light may be free to pour through laminated shop windows, the light-fingered, however, are 091-567 1776 (0792) #99217 (0847) 62028 (0904) 690830 be delighted to speak to you. - the street, the community and cluster, the topology of habita- tion, association, and identity: in short, all that was intended for that half-heroic, half-nostalgic Bethnal-Green-in-the-air of IG enthusiasm was wildly optimistic, a kind of technolatry. A future in which consumption knows no limits, in which consumer power could replace political will, ideology, and collective action, yet somehow stil be “on the left”, now looks hopelessly mistaken in a world laminated glass’: mouth(0202)524151 (0274)733400 Bakes hassHieiosil Bristol (0272)#49617 Cambeidge (0223) 247212 bery (0227) 459001 i (0222) 143781 ary (0203) 458021 Deoncamer (0902) $20211 Dandee (0382) 43260/4)268 S . Someone who apPFpreciate: s this StIetl more than anyone is a Solaglas customer with apretty good record for knowing whats what in the accident that immediately after Smithsons went straight with Eamesian collage or Corbusian Scarborough (0723) 378133 Scunthorpe (0724)844793 Seningbowrne (0795)21534 Seuthampton (0703) 331177 Seuthend (0702) 463415 StAwitell (0726)66325 Stoke-on-Trent(O7#2) #22448 Sunderland Swaneee Theree individuaallithsemcl”ai,msof becauseitisclearnowthatmuch ‘ is replicated at the ICA, was Moore, Sutherland, Piper, and than today, but David Mellor’s and the artist's work of giving described by Banham as “a Nash.andeventheFestivalof Catalogueessaysuggeststhat:“In Signsandimagestothestagesof (0253)20106 aNATO TIfl€,OurstrongestglassCan (0204) 20444 051.525 7241 take more knocks than Fort Knox. more stentorian and global key; ilk — now are decried, in one on the other— and espectally in work of 1956 at least, the Sugden thefieldofurbanism—itrevised House,theyproducedanicon the CIAM orthodoxy to the of just that sort of consumer pointofliquidation.Itwasno directionthatinfusedIGenthu- siasms. The irony, however, is their “Patio & Pavilion”, the that it showed no exciting ; intact even if it cracks Falhiek (0324) 21691 Which means, unlike some Forfar (0907)63425 And as well as frustrating Daily Mail Home Exhibition, while in November of the same year, ARK 18 appeared with their article “But Today We Collect Ads”. Coterie If the IG as a whole can be described as a coteric of creative frictions, then those contrarics were nowhere more apparent bought council house, altered (usually hideously) by the owning-proud purchaser. “What IsItThat Makes Today's Homes So Different, So Appealing?” asked Richard Hamilton's 1956 Montage. 1989's diy alterations — that’s what! Reflection on this suburban subversion should remind us how far consumer society has come since the fifties. In many other glass, it won't splinter into shards that maim. Or possibly kil And thats why 95% of al car windscreens are laminated 041.336 BSAA Grimaby (0472) 351378 Guildford (0483) $72922 criminals, we make fires rage too. Our fire-resistant laminated glass can confounda conflagration forup to an hour. Mull it over. When you next ; specify glass, cither for a com- mercial or a domestic environment, your decision whether to choose. Solaplas laminated glass may have an awful lot resting on it. If yyou'd like to make the world Alice's real-life counterparts), please give one of our branches a call. They'd In the UK, 30,000 accidents* Lincoln (052)539131 ways the IG typified the influx of withinasinglepracticethanin provincialtalentofthattime, Liverpol 051-228 2696 involving glass occur in the home e 051-220 8171 Usedudne (0492) #523 every year; so protecting lives, Londe 01-928 $010 Londonderry (0504)43191 Malton Keynes (0908) $6477 Newcastle 91-266 6217 Newton Abbot (0626) 68919 Norshan peon (0604) 53924 (0465) 774317 Pererborough (0733) 63045 Plymouth (0752) 390123 Fecetetm.meth (e0e78n3)anSieeates the work of the Smithsons. On the one hand their “ideal home” took as its modus operandi the extrapolation of current state of-the-art techniques to the level of expendability and thrown- away aesthetics (a term of Banham’s) based on marketing stereotypes and the “nextstep”, along the lines of the fashion industry (theorized for the IG by Tony Del Renzio). But on the other there was, opposed to such nomadic “mass and bearing in mind the northern origins of many of its practitio- ners, the new brutalism might be said to have been the last expression ofadefinably North-of- England outlook in the national culture. As Denise Scott Brown puts it: “When the Beatles arrived on the scene, they too looked familiar, a second cul- tural import from the north.” The IG clementofthe existential, the realist, and the “brutal” deserves to be emphasised Mall (0482) 23432 (0483) 239439 (0475) 484ne Wight (0983) $22288 (0563) 29218 01.549 4900 aly (0592) $5311 ster (0553)734499 eos » Head over heels, in fact. Glass and Glaring Federation fgures for domestic accidents involving broken glas York GiaesmehthewovksbentservicebashedHt filledoutwiththeanarchicand matiofnsu,chavisionhasbeen Exhibitions “The Museum Without Walls” united from the start in resisting amorphous, skinned, visceral, by Andre Malraux, whom the the “yokelry” of 1940s neo- variable, flux, nebular, iri- individual inputs: “For in this IGwantedtoinvitetoopentheir romanticism—thecultofa descence,hyperspace,freefal way,thearchitects’workof 1953 exhibition “The Parallel Of national mythic landscape that Then, in the “Age of Anxiety”, Providing a context for the Life And Art”. This show, which they felt permeated the work of this was more commented upon individual to realise himself in, Supcerinclusive collection of ex- Britain. Yet they were not above this ‘imaginatioonf disaster’ that this realisation, mect ina single Was active in Britain during the act, full of those inconsistencies fifties there was arepressed ele and apparent irrelevancies of ment — the atomic futures. But every moment, but full of life.”” traordinary imagery”. It made making their own myths. Onc in @ total imagerial environment particular, that urban-primitive from a multifaceted display of cult ofa working-class existential enlarged photos and reproduc- h Corbusian dul this cultural phor islegible Richard Hamilton describes tions, drawing material from anthropos that became known, anatomy,architecatrtu,rmeic,ro half-jokinglya,s“thenewbruta- and macrostructure, movement lism”, cast a major weather-front inbrutalist workinst,he scarred the Patio as a “defensive landscape and geology, cal across the English architectural motif of the apocalyptic sub- of the human impulse toa post- graphy, anthropology andergo- nomics into a mobile scanning of cognitive and aesthetic con- nections. Banham wrote of it: “The photograph, being an _ The strain of IG primitivism artefact, applies its own laws of lime.” As Nigel Henderson said: “I is apparent enough at the ICA; artefaction to the material it it is palpable in the elemental feel happiest among discarded things, vituperative fragments filled with brash ephemera, to cast casually from life, with the other planets, a cultural space- fizz of vitality stil about them”. ship going who knows where". landscape. Primitivism atomic carth, adying world filled with rare fossils and touching memories. Whereas the cabinet of Dr Voelcker, was taking off, documents,anddiscoverssimi- orgaofn“biruts”pmigsmentin relatedtothemoreaffirmative larities and parallels between the the paintings of Magda Cordell, documentations, even where the conglomerate totems, simul- ment,theSmithsonsfromthat point began to withdraw from the Pop tendencies that led to Archigram. According to Denise Scott Brown’s thoughtful memoir, Learning From Bruta- lism, they also withdrew from Suggestive of an architect who what they called “active socio- none exists between the objects and the events recorded.” tancously prehistoric and post- nuclear, haptic and hiroshimoid, of Paolozzi, McHall and Turn- realistic social programme of the architects is less easy to see in the exhibition, though James Stirling's “bubble sculpture” for “This isTomorrow" looks bug- The second reason for refer- ‘ ringto“40,000YearsOfModern bull.Theirconnecttiootnhe hi- eyed and bowellist cnough, Art” is that it established an tech, consumer-serendipity abiding primitivism that per- meated much of the IG despite and through all ofits enthusiasms for advanced technology and nology of the future listed by urbanised life. IG Members were strain in the IG ae through the detour of the Sci-Fi — the bug- eyed monster, and the phenome- was to undergo more than one or two mutations, The connec- tion, of course, is there in the “Patio & Pavilion’, and once beauty emergent from designing Alloway: “Solar, delta, galactic, and building inastraightforward way, forcommunity lifeasitis, not for some sentimentalized version of how it should be: “Brutalism’s attempt to be objective about ‘reality’ tries to face up to a mass-production society and drag a rough poetry out of the confused and powerful forces which are at work.” Beatles 458844. Enter 1 5 ON EXPRESS ENQUIRY CARD. hedonistic gestures of an affluent individualism. When the Smith- sons described their “Patio & Pavilion” to the BBC in 1955, they invoked a like balance of collective, or rational, and appropriated by the Thatcher Government. The Independent Group: post-war Britain and the aesthetics of plenty, runs at the ICA until April evidenceofdetritusfollowingthe stockade,ashelterinaprotected releaseofhideousenergy,the garden—classicrepresentation How this saturnine mood And despite the “Ads” state- Smithsons’ collective projects — continued modernism in the Robin Hood Gardens and their Team 10 to Dubrovnik, the last CIAM. Yet this was only months after they had displayed their form, but was simply an ordinary fiftieshouse adaptedto brutalist order. In fact, it resembles “House of The Future” at the nothing so much as a tenant- Golden Lane (1952). This was Coronation Street-meets- Corbusier, perhaps the one point where a socialist framework of where the “hegemony”, or collective values was directly project of consent and legiti- plastics”, the finding of value and delight in places and things other architects found ugly, and Scott Brown regrets this withdrawal from sociological BUILDING DESIGN, February 23,1990 19 it the perfect way to safeguard a safer place (especially for property as well. For expert advice on al aspects of glas and glazing please cal our Technical Advisory Service on (0203) 20 BUILDING DESIGN, February 23, 1990 Mexx recept IT tak Mexx: view intoreception ‘Westminster schol: laboratory refurbishment. They have both obviously sorbed the influence exerted and w wdget control is a grucial (0 the success o! n’tafford n 8 fow their trollable warmth and hot water readily at hand. Whatever the size of your building, electricity canprovidecost- ctive heating. And your local Electricity business can give you al the advice you need. Because what they're ofering isateam efort. Working with you too find the best solution for your busines. maintenance costs, as well as the added economy of using _Storageheater low-costnight-rate |electricity. And whichever form of electric heating you choose, you can have a total system matched to your needs. Fil in the coupon for more information or contact the Ene: rgy Marketing Manager at your loacal to be extravagant. ySuvetural bude McAslan & Partners w 20d to note that Weston and Again,forlargerrequirementsyou can take advantage of the larger heaters, warnsagainst“over-engincer- develop ing”forthesakeoforiginality senseofresponsibilityf Engineering is only part of it, designed details and finishes worked on thi -rPateria Unitwith And so it is with modern electric spac and water heaters. Efficient, con- with savings in capital, instalation and Heroes: (Rostrum January19), then it there are no long energy-wasting Pipe runs, they are economical to. t i an ex-Hopkins man. But F ~~) Practiceprofile= _GOING INTO DET. The best teamwork in the worst conditions. The bobsleigh team A. perfect example of the efective use of energy inthecold, Fast acting quartz linear heaters, Electricity business for example, can provide heat either After al, wouldn't you like life to intermittently or in specific a as. be thar litle bit more comfortable. And where heat is ni ded over long periods, storage heaters realy comeintotheirown.Becausethey |ene make ful use of low-cost night-rate electricity to store heat and then release itgradually during the day. Compact el ctric water heaters can | be installed almost anywhere. On the wall, or under the sink. And because 12 ston JELECTRIC LET'S WORK TOGETHER - writes Clare Melhuish. } Sophistication can be quite ‘The restructureof the internal fex, alowingforofice nality through anumber of small projects for refurbishmenatnd adaptation of existing buildings. BUILDING DESIGN, February 23,1990 21 Weston Williamson have developed a distinctive modern style which has already won them three competitions, us from page 21 a Victorian prison as a graphic design studio involved the con struction of a glazed conserv toryoverlothoekcoiurntyagrds, black-stained ash with frosted glass pancls, materials used and possible conflict, into the throughout the rest of the composition intenor The double-height space Of the three recent competi tion wins, one, for Marketplace advertising agency, is another was exploited by the insertion of two mezzanines divided by refurbishment job. The existing an acoustic glass screen. Light fittings double up as sunshades for the glass roof A laboratory refurbishment for Westminster School, acom mission won on the basts of an warehouse in Bermondsey, dat- ing from 1903, impressed the architects by its “amazing re- servesof strength’’, They willbe retaining the open-plan space, supported by circular cast-iron columns, installing new services, and adding a new four-storey extension with an external lift Atroof-level, a glazed conference room will constitute a contrast- ing lightweight clement into the overall character of the building. As with past projects, the architects will also be designing the furniture provided an opport ’ plore the possibiliotfiperesfy ricallaequtipmientnangdcom ponent units off site, within a tight time-scale of cight months. The result was the subtle trans- lation of a 1930s office block into a “hi-tech” environment, a “spac © image’’, conjured entirely out of standard parts, A Birkin Haward and Richard significant element of this change MacCormac, is an interesting was the glazing of the side walls development of the previous St Augustine's church repre- church project, and one which sented a rather different chal- but with the same issue at a fight for quality of environment, achieved through effective organisation of space and light, and well-designed furniture and fittings At St Augustine's, this involved the tactful division of the existing church into two parts: a worship area and acommunity centre This project also entailed a serious consideration of the esthetic aspects of working with =—L1 the architects find particularly stimulating, being quite different from the standard commercial brief. A whole new range of criteria is involved In this case, the PCC (Paro- chial Church Council) requires an extension housing a new ance area and link between ch and enlarged church iding a church “centre” can accommodate wide ecular functiaosnwesll as worship. Thecouncil actually 1 | fai TheProfileAceptor’anexcitingnew ~ im! LT} Introducing the factory finish hanentprofilewhichtsbuiltinkeatraditionalwindowframe.andforms an exact a — Tilbury: ground-floor plan, an existing and historic building Thearchoiptetdetoccotnstsruct anew entrance porch inknappe flint and dressed stone, matching the original structure, rather than introduce any strong contrast, St John’s church, Pinner, a project Won in competition with pening. Al des (including plastering) required on completed be eliminating many risks, time delays 2 St John’s Pinner: concept sketch 22 BUILDING DESIGN, February 23, 1990 Practice profile St THE HOLE THING BEES ; A beautifully simple way Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource BD Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 24/02/1989 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/39f58996006b6ab7c352d6134d6a4dee.pdf d9cf2f62158799c8aec9fd3a4feac94b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource NAM National Design Service Subject The topic of the resource NAM goes for public sector... report of third annual congress, held in Hull. 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A ches Ws naku An More OW bation Nake preeenaleara oe a !goreGly dionAe ee Ro pena, eget ger eet eT Levdspinsh ie ieans wi beprin tl tenn, locabioankottoheebeetse Greater Lcendon Council \ Historic Buildings Board keport (27,9.72) by oe Cer CC col Lec va Gic Wie oe THE SCHOOLS OF THE LONDON SCHOOL A =£ ~“S : EP 523 sup. ie \or BOARD (1872-1904) AND THE LONDON _2-/ | COUNTY COUNCIL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ? Vine > pe Ee | <2 “1904-1910—INVESTIGATIONFOR ae ~ / ,{ PRESERVATION : ee | The Board will recall that some time &@g0 a request was made that a detailed report on Board Schools of London snould be submitted for information and consideration. It will be appreciated that a very considerable amount of research was involved in the preparation of the report which is now presented for the Board's consideration. 1 The remarkeble architectural phenomenon of the Bozrd Schools of London was conceived iin that section of the Hlementary Education Act of 1870 concerned with the special provisions to have effect in the 'metropolis'. Requiring that the name of the school board 'shall be the School Board for London!’ the Act stated that the board 'shall proceed at once to supply their district with sufficient public school accommodation’. london was thus required to lead the way with a vast programme of school building, and, dividing the district into ten areas ~ Marylebone, Finsbury, Lambeth (East and West) Tower Hanilets, Hackney, Westminster, Southwark, City, Chelsea and Greenwich, the Board set immediately about its orgenisation. Ata meeting of the Works and General Purposes Committee in May 1871 it was decided that the duties should be divided under three headings: the Acquisition of sites, the selection 'from time to time', of an architect to erect buildings, and the appointment of a consulting architect end surveyor, with reference to talcing over schools and ‘the general business likely to arise’, The importance of getting the best possible designs for all ney buildings was stressed even et this early stage_ and the method favoured was to hold limited competitions of known school architects. The intention of the Boord-had first been to research the Situation fully, but 'at the instence of Lord Sandon it was determined to build a first batch of twenty schools in the most destitute districts without waiting the result of the laborious Statistical investigations'. Eighty-four architects applied for the post of consultant architect to the Board and from these six were shortlisted: Joseph Janes, J.i, Morris, Thomas Porter, John S. Quilter, E.R. Rodson and Yiliian Wigginton, E.R, Robson was appointed to the post with an overwhelming majority at a Board meeting early in July 1871. Born in Durhan iin 1835, Robson had been erticled to John Dobson of Newcastle— on-Tyne.e In 1857 he came to London whore ne worked for three years ‘in the office of George Gilbert Scott, and met there in 1858 as a fellow pupil the young Scotsman, John James Stevenson. Setting up in practice, Robson was Appointed Architect to Durham Cathedral and in 1864 became «chitect and surveyor to Liverpool City Corporation, a post he held for nearly five years. During this time he was responsible for the new ilunicipal offices end riany other public Works and improvements in the city. It was the prospect of the massive School Board commission that brought Robson finally to London: he resigned from the Liverpool post in 1859. Fhilip Robson wrote in a Memoir of his father that, seeeees ON the 2 75ing of the Forster Fducation Act my father determined 4f he cowl te Lead the way with regard to Educational Buildings'. Shortly after his aprointment in 1871 Robson took J.J. Stevenson into a partnership that lasted into 1875 and there can be no doubt that this action was decisive in the development of the Board School Style, as it came to be known. i However, for the first two years of the Board's existence, Robson and his partner had little or no influence upon the designs of the schools, for the competition system was pursued with the somewhat panic-stricken zeal of the. early Board until its unwieldy and expensive administration and by no means alvays satisfactory results led to its rejection in 1873. A characteristic example of these first competition schools was that at Johnson Street, Stepney, by T.R. Smith, opened in 1872 and now destroyed. In the Gothic manner, with little to distinguish it from the numbers of parochial and national schools that had gone before, Smith's design represented all that was to be rejected so dramatically within a year of its completion. Robson himself wrote in 1874, Pe e Johnson Street School cannot, when critically considered, be regarded the light of a success which invites general imitation.' One school emerged from the competition system to foreshadow the elements of the Board School Style: that at Harwood Road, Fulham, designed by Basil Champneys and opened in October 1873 (now demolished). The distinguishing features of this building - the red brick walls articulated with slender brick pilasters, gable ended roofs, tall chimneys, tell white-painted sash windows and mild Renaissance details - were those of the 'Qucen Anne’ manncr, about to become one of the stormiest controversies in art and architectural circles of the 19th century. Robson's ovm comments on Champney's school in his book School Architecture of 1874, were restrained in their approval, but reflect the crucial influence that Harwood Road must have exerted upon hin: 'The style in which the building has been thought out", he wrote, ‘is a quaint and able adaptation of old English brick architecture to modern school purposes. Apart irom the opinion, which may be termed that of fashion, because of its temporary nature, but which runs for the moment headlong after e favourite style, even when carried out in the most tasteless and unmean— é: manner, this building must be regarded as possessing decided architect-— ural character. The war between the rival styles has raged so long that we are in some danger of forgetting the existence of certain broad first principles common to the great architecture of all times and countries, and whicn are certainly never absent from the more conspicuous and representative examples. Among these first conditions of architecture must be ranked a regard tox good form, geod proportion, good grouping and, above all, good architectural character and good colour .....- .. The design in question must rank as thoughtful and artistic work, whatever may be our individual preference as to style.' . : With these words Robson was justifying his own decision, when in 1873 with Stevenson in unofficial partnership with him, he took over the designing of all Board Schools and chose to express the new age of education with the new style of architecture. : | The division of responsibility for the 'School Board style’ is by no means a straightforward matter, and was, it seems, already a subject tor arguaent in 1874, Stevenson was undoubtedly one of the principal spokesmen and apologists for 'Queen Anne' and among the first actually to have built in the new style. In 1870-1 he designed Red House, Bayswater Road for himself, in red brick with pedimented gables, tall chimneys and flat arched sash windows, at a date when Norman Shaw, later to be the arch—protagonist of the style, had not yct abandoned the picturesque Tudor of his work of the '60's. In 1874 when the programme of the Board Schools had already been formulated with Robson, and Shaw's Lowther Lodge Kensington, a classic example of 'Queen Anne’ was only in course of building, Stevenson read before the General Conference of Architects at the R.I.B.A. a paper entitled 'On the Recent Reaction of Taste in English Architecture’, a key document in the history of the Queen Anne revival. Emphasising the close affinities of Queen Anne with classical architecture - in the search for an appropriate label for-the style the term Free Classic was often recommended — Stevenson depended heavily for his justification on the practical ari economic advantages of the new manner, 2 reflection, no doubt, of the discussions he and Robson must have had when establishing a coherent and viable house style at the School Board. The central argument of his paper, quoted below, is immediately applicable to the Board's work: “(The Style) has much to be said for it on practical grounds. Take the ordinary conditions of London building - stock bricks and sliding sash windows. A flat arch of red cut bricks is the cheapest mode of forming a window-head: the red colour is naturally carried down the sides of the window, forming a frame; and is used also to emphasise the angles of the building. As the gables rise above the roofs, it costs nothing, and gives interest and character ........ to mould them into curves and sweeps. ~The appearance of wall-surface carried over the openings, which, in Gothic, the tracery and iron bars and reflecting surface of thick stained glass had taught us to appreciate, is obtained by massive wooden frames and sash bars set, where the silly interference of the Building Act does not prevent, almost flush with the walls, while to the rooms inSide these thick sash bars give a fecling of enclosure and comfort. . : : With these simple elements the style is complete, without any expenditure whatever on ornament ........ There is nothing but harmony and proportion to depend on for effect. We may, if we have money to spare, get horizontal division of the facade, in this style, as in Gothic, by string courses and cornices, and we have the advantages over Gothic that we can obtain vertical division by pilasters, which, though not constructive any more than string courses as used in modern Gothic, have at least as much meaning in a London house as pointed window arches ..... The style in all its forms has the merit of truthfulness; it is the outcome of our common modern wants picturesquely expressed. In its mode of working and details it is the common vernaculer style in which the British workman has been apprenticed, with some new life from Gothic added ....." 3 Later, in his book House Architecture, published in 1880, Stcvensor referred Specifically to the Boarda Sc Schools in this Context: "Within the last year or two there has been a revival of the ‘Queen Anne! - style for town houses and even for streets. The fashion scems to be spreading. It has received some accession of force from the schools of the London School Board, planted in every district of London, having been mostly built in that style. For the architecture of a few of the earliest of these I am responsible, having found by the practical expericnce of a house I built for myself in this manner, that the style adapts itself to every modern necessity and convenience. In that case I made no attempt to follow any particular style, the style grow naturally from using ordinary materials and modes of work, and trying to give them character and interest ........" eee nnd a - _—- - ote So * 1874 was the year in which Robson too published his important document School Architecture, already referred to above, in which, together with examples upon which he comments, he sets out to justify the adoption of the Queen Anne Style. More ideological in approach than Stevenson and less passionate, perhaps in his advocacy of the new style per se, Robson was nonetheless well aware of the great opportunity for changing the face of ‘London and the course of architectural development that his post as Board Architect was offering: "Among so large a number of new school houses," he wrote, "some are “4 fortunate in being placed in positions where they can be easily seen and it becomes of some importance to consider what style is most suitable ......! His rejection of Gothic - in theory, at least - seems characteristic now of the evangelistic fervour that the Act had inspired in the Victorian reformers in Education: "A building in which the teaching of dogma is strictly forbidden, can have no pretence for using with any point or meaning that symbolism which is so interwoven with every feature of church architecture as to be regarded as € its very life and soul. In its aim and object it should strive to express civil rather than ecclesiastical character." Thus, he reasoned, the idiom previously employed for National Schools in England (Gothic, that is) would be entirely inappropriate, and for the added reason that it would lack "anything to mark the great change which is coming over the education of the country." But a precedent had to be found somewhere - these were, after all, the 1870's ~ and it was observed that "iin London the plainer and less expensive buildings forming by far the most numerous class, must always be constructed of brick." Moreover, "specimens of good and thoughtful brickwork in sufficient numbers still remain scattered among the old architecture of the city and its suburbs to form the basis of a good style suited to modern requirements — Hackney and Putney, Chelsea and Deptford all furnish old examples." With a final flourish of logic Robson concluded, "The only really simple brick style available as a foundation is. that of the time of the Jameses, Queen Anne and the early Georges, whatever some enthusiasts may think of its value in point of art. The buildings ...... are invariably true in point of i@ construction and workmanlike feeling. Varying much in architectural merit, they form the nucleus of a good modern style." ‘Robson seems to have been unwilling to acknowledge Stevenenson's contribution fully. Philip Robson recorded that his father had observed how he "was occupied often in the afternoons rubbing out what John had done in the morning," and in School Architecture Robson did no more than mention in passing that "severai of the designs selected for illustration are from the pencil of my partner tir J.J. Stevenson, who, althoush haying no connection with the School Board, has rendered much valuable assistance in their work." Together with schools that are a clear expression of 'Queen Anne’ there are illustrated, in Robson's book, others that reflect a more conservative attitude to Gothic, as for example those at Winstanley Road, Battersea (demolished) and Mansfield Place, Kentish Tow (demolished); it is likely that these examples reveal Robson's individual hand, while the first group was predominately Stevenson's responsibility. Vith its immediate roots in the work of Philip Webb and W.E. Nesfield in the 1860's, the Queen Anne style was developed mainly in the field of domestic architecture, and it is reasonable to suppose that Stevenson, having "With the most basic means availeble for buildings regarded as nothing more than utilitarian, they si.ccessfully combined architectural distinction with good, honest construction. ‘Thoir essential charm is in the grouping of their building masses which is always interesting without boing contrived". In the informality of Robson's schools lies the central difference between them and the schools designed by the second Architect to the Board after 1884. Designing for smaller numbers of pupils than his successor, Rooson was able to Maintain the domestic scale and assymetrical plan which were crucial to the idea of the Board Schools as part of an Enplish vernacular revival. E.R. Robson resigned from his post in 1884 and returned to private practice. His later independent works included the People's Palace, Mile End Road and € these poor persons brighter, more interesting, nobler, by so treating the necessary Board Schools planted in their midst as to make each building undertake a sort of leavening influence, we have set on foot a permanent and ever active good - this is no mere theory - it is already proved by the manner in which builders of ordinary houses are imitating the Board Schools in every direction.'! ea applied its forms at an early date to his own house in Bayswater, provided the impetus for Robson's adoption of the style. Certainly little that fore- shadows the Board Schools of 1874 is to be found in the ponderous semi- classical formality of Liverpool Municipal offices. Whatever the truth of the matter, the influence of the Board Schools of London upon both the school and domestic architecture of England during the last decades of the 19th century was profound. It was Robson himself wno, in two articles published in the Art Journal in 1881 related the schools to the Aesthetic Movement as a whole, and he who should be allowed the last word: - "It must always be among the high purposes for which the Act exists to make any home brighter and more interesting, nobler if you will. We have seen how abject are the homes of countless thousands. If we can make the homes of Little remains of the schools with which Robson illustrated School Architecture, and where they have survived, as at the Charles Lamb School, Islington, they have often been enlarged almost beyond recognition. Indeed, examples of Schools from the whole period 1873-84 that have not been subjected to over~ whelming alterations ze now rare. € necessities of planning to introduce variety and intcrest into what might have becn a bleakly functional structure. Thus the decorative possibilities of the white sash windows and their repeating rhythms, the soaring chimneys and spirelets and the colour contrasts of yellow bricks with red briok dressings, white stone plaques, copings and cornices, were all exploited. So, too, were the opportunities for interesting formal compositions that the flexible plan afforded, with its simple units of hall, classrooms and cloakrooms on each storey. Hermann Nuthesius, the eminent critic of English architecture at the turn of the 19th century, wrote of the early Board schools in 1900: Usually, like Park Walk, Chelsea, they are of three lofty storeys, their height emphasised by the thin brick pilaster strips that frame the tall white painted Sash windows. The steeply pitched red—-tiled roofs are enlivened by delicate lanterns and pretty stonecoped gables carrying one of Robson's rare concessions to pure decoration —- the stone plaques with their flower reliefs that became one of the hallmarks of the early schools. Other small enrichments were the familiar title plaques and, occasionally, a wall panel in bas-relief of Knowledge strangling Ignorance, from a model designed by Spencer Stanhope. Robson was otherwise dependent solely on his materials and the bare Me Royal Institute Galleries in Piccadilly - both buildings of distinction. Eis successor as Board Architect was Thomas Jerram Bailey, who had been : Appointed chief draughtsman to Robson in 1873. Bailey had served his : apprenticeship with R.J. Withers and worked as an assistant to Ewan Christian before entering the School Board's Architect's offices in 1872 at the age of 28. In 1881 he became an Associate of Royal Institute of British Architects and a Fellow in 1893. In 1904 when the London County Council took over the School building programme of the London School Board, he was appointed Architect to the Education Department and, exempted from retirement in 1908, he continued to hold office for two more years and died only six months after he finally retired early in 1910. The R.I.B.A. dournal's obituary notice began: "By the death of Mr T.J. Bailey we have lost a member whose influence on the evolution of school planning during the last 25 years can hardly be exagserated." Drawing attention to the "enormous numbers' of schools built to his designs Since 1884, the report concluded: . "There is probably no type of modern building which more nearly combines the werits of carefully thought out planning with an xchitectural treatment so thoroughly expressive of its purpose, as a typical London Board School." Having observed the building of the Schools for more than ten years and contributed, no doubt, to details of their design, it is not surprising that Bailey's own work after 1884 was essentially a development of Robson's proto- types. But the assymetrical plan and the vocabulary of architectural rooms which had been evolved for the small schools of the '70's - and were essentially domestic in character - now had to be adapted to the demand for much larger buildings. Wherever possible, as Bailey himself explained in his paper quoted below, the domestic scale was maintained, but it is in the massive schools for up to 1500 pupils that the development of his individual style can best be appreciated. His first response to the problem of the long clevation was to multiply the familiar units of the original small schools: the Munster school and its twin the Sir John Lillie in Hammersmith are of this type, but in their plans that uncompromising rectangular symmetry which became the characteristic of Bailey's large schools, is already firmly established. The Hall forms the entral core and, unfolding on either side f it, are, in sequence, the staircases, the cloakroom blocks and classroom wings. Behind the hall, and completing the rectangle, are ranged in line the principe] classrooms. In his paper The Planning and Construction of Board “Schools, read before the R.I.B.A. in 1899, Bailey revealed the extent to which the problem of restricted and awkward sites had dictated the devclepment of his monumental school tyne: "WInere sites are sufficiently large and level, schools of all one storey aro usually built - as a rulc, a senior mixed school, consisting of classrooms grouped round a central hall, with an infants' department as a separate & pbuilding. Another type is to put the boys' and girls' as a two-storcy pbuilding; again with separate infants' school. This type is suitable for a large site where the levels are inconvenient for a one-storey school. The majority of sites will only allow for three-storey schools ...--." Proceeding to describe this type as being the most usual he explained: "The infants are naturally on the ground floor, on a level with their play- -ground, the girls on the first floor, the boys above. The London School | Board consider a hall indispensable to every department of a school. 7 \ Experience has shown that nearly every school built in London has required enlargement. There must naturally, however, be a limit to the Size of a School, so that the departments do not become unwieldy. The maximum size or accommodation of a group should not exceed 1,548 ...... and if further accommodation is required, it should be provided by a separate mixed department ...... On the other hand, if a smaller school is needed to begin with, it is convenient to take the figures named as a maximum, and built a portion first, leaving it to be added to as needs arise ....!" "The main line of classrooms should, if possible, face the playgrounds rather than a noisy road, and draw their light from the east, as that aspect suns up the rooms in the early morning and does not disturb them for the day. TI never build to the cheerless north if I can avoid it .....; the classrooms in the Wings cannot be so considered, but it would be impracticable and unworkable to place them all in one line. The hall, facing west, provides a good reservoir of sun-lighted air to help the classrooms, and, not being seated or reckoned in the accommodation, is a cheerful place into which to march the classes for recreation or collective purposes. Architecturally also, this elevation, being the more broken up (comprising, as it does, the main lighting of the hall, the Staircases, cloak and teachers! rooms and blocks, and gable end of wings) is more desirzble for a street front than the long unbroken lines of classrooms, though the aspects of the site do not always allow for this." Thus, for example, the Munster Road school Successfully presents its hall elevation s the principal front, while the Sir John Lillie has its classroom range fronting onto the main Lillie Road. By the late '90's Bailey had evolved for the large schools that bold ana monumental front which, though differing widely from Robson's prototype, is often held to be Synonymous with Board School architecture ana appears, with only minor variations, throughout London. Good examples are Vauxhall. Manor, Lambeth, Montem, Islington and Rhyl, Camden. The Slender central lantern and delicate gables of the earlier schools have given way to elaborate twin cupolas over the staircase blocks, to flank the plain central mass of the hall, and heavy pediments Surmount the wings. In this school type each part of the plan was expressed as a Separate architectural unit, linked primarily by the majestic Symmetry of their arrangement in 4 B C DC B A rhythm. The later development of Bailey's work - for the School Board and then for the L.C.C. - shows a general tendency towards a more Sculptural style and a more richly decorative use of materials, as shown for example in the magnificent South Hackney School Cassland Road or Torriano School in Camden. The plan, however, remained basically unchange@, and the variations in architectural treatment, although astonishingly inventive, were little more than superficial, Bailey was essentially an eclectic architect: reflections of current architectural fashion ~ the Ndwardian onilence of Ei. Mountford or Ernest George in the South Hackney Upper School, Hackney and the Harion Richardson School, Tower Hamlets, or the eccentricities of Art Nouveau in the Torriano and Kingsgate Schools, Camden - are constantly to be found, although his own feeling for sombre Baroque symmetry and mass is never absent. In the area office at St John's Hill, Wandsworth, Bailey achieved a final refinement of Edwardian "Wrenaissance" brick architecture and brought to a close the vernacular revival in which the carly Board Schools had played so important apart. That Riley had retained a firm influence on the designs produced in his office is indicetea by the fact that architectural standards abruptly declined after his retirement despite the continuing presence under his Successor R. Robertson, of his principal assistants, H.R. Perry and G.L. Wade. The contribution of Robson and Bailey to school architecture and to London erchitecture in general has been all but ignored for sixty years, although the — 8 o The School Board's real concern, fom the beginning, for architectural values, "The policy of the School Board has almost always been to Give these a buildings, as public buildings, some dignity of &ppearance, and make them ornaments rather than disfigurements to the neighbourhoods in which they are erected .... It was found that the difference of cost between bare utilitarianism and buildings designed in some sort of Style and with regard for matcrials and colour, was rather less then 5 per cent. At the same time, this ornamental appearance may be scured either by richness of detail, or by a dignified Grouping of masses; it is the policy of the Board, while studying, in the first instance, suitable arransements for teaching, not to Set aside the dignity and attractiveness of buildings, which the Board have e* feltshouldbeacontrasttotheirpoorSurroundings,!! 7A a . : - = One valuable assessment of the merit of the Schools was published in the Architectural Review in 1958 where it was stated, with reference to the early schools but with equal truth in the context of the 1884-1910 period. “Robson's achievement eesee lay firstly in his incisive analysis of his objectives, his ready understanding of the challenge which new social demands had placed before him; Secondly, in his prompt understanding that designers Such as Champneys and Stevenson had hit upon a stylistic approach that might be developed in answer to this challenge; thirdly, in the Superb confidence and virility with which he and his staff carried through the development of the style, Giving power and sometimes Grandeur where its originators could only achieve charm; anc, lastly, in the truly Victorian drive with which he pushed a vast programme of work to completion with architectural standards of the very highest order maintained throughout ......!! _/ *wirtuosity of their schools is everywhere apparant. The pleasant Spreading buildings of the Single storey schools Give a village air to arid suburban streets, while the larger Schools, their beautiful detailing expressly concentrated in their upper storeys, were built to S02r above the -crowded streets, often the only concession to dignity among the Victorian slums. Was emphasised in the Final Report of the Board, published in’1904: Z eley Principal sources School Board Chronicle “inutes of the London School Board rinal Report of the School Board for London 1870-1904. 1904 *loor Plans of L.C.cC. Blomentary Scnools, 1,.C.C. 1931 V9. Architacture U.R. Robson, 1874 "By sheer Victorian ruthlessness the L.S.B. achieved a far higher degree of standardisation than most education authorities have achieved since the last + Although the L.S.B, Schools vary from very plain building to the Greatest elaboration according to the openness of their sites, it cannot be Said that, in practice, Robson was over—anxious about tailoring each shool to suit its locality. The positive result of this is that these buildings, strong in personality, do a very great deal to set a stamp of unified character on the hodge-podge of Victorian London ....,." : (UOic of E.R. Robson, P.A, Robson, 2.1.B.A. Journal, February 1917 2 : renee COUR F On $ne Recent Reaction of Taste in English Architecture, J.J. Stevenson, 187} (i) Early Robson (ii) Classic Robson (iii) Late Robson (iv) Early Bailey (v) Classic Bailey (vi) Late Bailey (i) EARLY ROBSON (3) Camden Institute, Holmes Road, Caniden. (liolmes Road School, opened April 1874) S: 3-storeys, assymetrical plan, plain coped gables; square-headed windows on first floor and end bays of second floor are recessed in Gothic relieving arches. Brick buttress piers divide the bays. Elegant lantern spire. (fhe Victoria, opened January 1876, date plaque 1875, additional Junior Mixed School by Bailey, 18S) Two storeys, assymotrical plan. Single-storcy hall block on Becklow Road has square stone flower plagues in gables. Two storey end bays contain a large Gothic wincow with glazing bars in ogee-form and figured rclicf panel and titles tadlot in elnvorate Gethic frame with crockets and angel corbels. House Architecture, J.J. Stevenson, 1880 Das Englische Baukunstder Gegenwart, Hermann Vuthesius, 1900 Das Englische Haus, Hermann Muthesius, 1904 Ovituary of E.R. Robson, The Builder, 2nd February 1917 Obituary of T.J. Bailey, The Builder, 25 June 1910 R.I.B.A. Journal, 24 September 1910 Towers of Learning, David Gregory—Jones, Architectural Revicw, June 1958 In the following descriptive list, principal features only are noted. The Original names are given in brackets with the date and indication of type. Asterisks and letters indicate schools of closely similar typee The list is divided into the following groups: Of more than 550 schools built or projected during the period 1871-1910, 351 have been considered as possessing architectural and historic interest, while the remainder have been demolished or altered too extensively to merit consideration. The selection of the 37 buildings listed below has been dictated not only by individual architectural merit, but by the degree to which the schools illustrate the characteristic qualities of Board or early L.C.C. school architecture, and by the need to represent the principal stages of development. The architectural importance of each school within its _immediate neighbourhood has been taken into account, and wherever possible, a balanced distribution of selected schocls among the I.L.B.A. areas has been attempted. Minor external alterations and additions have not necessarily ruled out inclusion. The process of modification according to changing needs began almost immediately after the completion of the first Board Schools and has continuec ever since, though with declining respect for the character of the original buildings. Victoria Junior School - Becklow Road, Hammersmith. 4 f Hackney end Stoke Newington College for Further Education, Oldfield Road, Hackney. : » 10 (ii) CLASSIC ROBSON (5) aie Colville School, Lonsdale Road, Kensington. (Buckingham Terrace School, opened June 1879, Classic Robson) 5 storeys, assymetrical plan, with flat range of classrooms as principal front, hall and staircases at rear. Date and title plaques on ground floor, end bays. First floor windows recessed in blind arcade. Stone coped gables with ball finials and decorative plaques. Thomas Jones Primary School ~ Freston Road (ex. Latimer Road,) Hammersmith. (Latimer Road School, opened January 1880, date plaque 1879) 3 storeys, symmetrical plan with hall at centre of main facade, flanked by staircase blocks and recessed classroom Wings. Small shaped stone-coped gables with ball finials, flower plaques and semicircular pediment caps. Cut brick scroll decoration surmounts the title and date plaques on the. staircase blocks. s : J Sucen's Park School, Droop Street, Westminster. A Pinar (Droop Strect School, opened November 1877, early Robson, with much later alterations) Kingswood School, Gipsy Road, Lambeth. 2 storeys, assymetrical plan; fine corner sitc. Triangular gables, some Stone-coped. Elegant louvred ogce-roofed lantern with fleche. Ono of the two good stone gates to playground is intact. (Salters Hill School, opened April 1880, alterations 1905) - 3 storeys, assymetrical plan, halk at rear; the five stone-coped gables of the main front each have stone plaques in the apex with scrolls, pediment and finial. Buttress piers and pilaster strips. Tiny lantern tower. Park Welk Primary School, Park Welk, Kensington and Chelsea. (Park Walk School, opened January 1881, dated 1880) zee ve 5 storeys, assymetrical plan, flat classroom ranse to Park Wall’ and hall and staircases at rear. Shaped and pedimented brick gables, some with stone flower plaqyes. Date and title plaques on end elevation. (Oldfield Ro2d School, opened January 1882, additions 1899, dated 1881) 3 storeys, hall enclosed by classrooms in assymetrical plan. Brick gecbles with stone flower plaques alternate with paired circular windows in upper storey. First floor rectangular openings with brick corbelled stone cills, and fromee by pilaster strips. ,7 4 the (iii) LATS Rosson (5) “Weavers Fields School, Mane Street, Tower Hamlets. z ——— ergs school (Hague Strect School, opened October 1883) 5 storeys, assymetrical plan. Gables only at ends of classroom range, the other units finished by crenellated Stone-coped pzrapets. Cloakroom block expressed externally as hexagonal turret with Spire and lantern. ‘First floor openings recessed in pairs in relieving arches. *Kenmont Primary School, Valliere Road, Hammersmith. ——— mary school (Kenmont Gardens School, opened February 1884, date and title plaques 1883) As last. Primrose Hill School, Princess Rozd, Camden. Eltringham Primary School (Single storey infants block only) Eltringham Street, Wandsworth. (Princess Road School, opened Februsry 1885) 3 storeys, assymetrical plan, the principal bays surmounted by a variety of extravagant Stone-coped Dutch gables. (Eltringhem Road School, opened January 1886, dated 1885) Single storey, assymetrical plan, long classroom range to York Road, 2 dormer gables and broad ond gebles with flower, monogram and date plaques énd finials at base and apex. Stone coping. Daubeney Junior School and Daubeney Infants School, Daubeney Road, Hackney (Daubeney Road School, opened May 1886, dated 1884) Junior School: 2 storeys, symmetrical, classroom range as principal front, triangular gables with shaped stone coping. Date cnd title plaques. Good wrought-iron railings. Infants School: Single storey, assymetrical plan, classroom range as principal front, trianguler gables with shaped copings, the large end -gables carrying elaborate stone finials at base and capex and stone plaques. Good railings. (iv) EARLY BAILEY (6) Copenhagen School, Boadices Street, Islington. eeLeeROO (Bondicca Street School, opened February 1887, dated 1885) 3 storcys, assymetrical plan, with architectural features th-t emphasise this. H22i enclosed by classrooms and cloakrooris. Roof playground with picrced p2rapet. One staircase block boldly treated as ansle turret with Surmounting lantern. Gable end of one classroom wing has pediment with floral relief decoration and large shell motif below. r ——— “* Laneford School, Marineficld Road, Hammersmith. } Sa : =e <i = X eee 12 a Riversdale Primary, School, Merton Road, Wondsworth. 3 storeys, assymetrical plan; unusual use of Board School decorative features. Projecting turret with copper ogee roof and Spire on side elevation; main front with two smal] Stone-coped shaped @2bles and one large gable with corbelicd lantern at “pex and finials at base. Ivydeale School, Ivydale Rond, Southwark —chool (Ivydale Road School, openod August 1892) **Munster Primary School — Filmer Road, Hammersmith. S ey school (Munster Road School, opened June 1893, drawings dated October 1890) Fine island site. 3 storeys, symmetrical plan, principal front of 7 bays with central hall, staircase blocks, cloakroom bays and gable ends of classroom wings. The hall block With sm211 centrally placed 2-tier lantern, has crenellated parapet and giant brick picrs surmounted by stone corbels, Scrolled gables Over classroom wings, return elevations and six main bays of the rear elevation, where rear staircases are pressed as round arched recesses, : **Sir John Lillie, Lillie Road, Hammersmith. —_—_—_— _(Merton Road School, opencd May 1891, dated 1890) (Lillie Roza School, opened September 1893) Similar to Munster Ps. (Longford Road School, opened June 1890, enlarged 1893) Similar to Munster PS (below) 2 (v) CLAssic BAILEY (8) — et B Hungerford School, Hungerford Road, Islington. (Hungerford Road School, opened April 1896, enlerged 1904) -3 storeys, symmetrical plan, facade of 7 units; stairense towers with leaded Ogee roofs surmounted by tiny wooden balustrades ond lentern spires. Cloakroom blocks with Shaped coped parapets and trianguler pedimented classroon Wing bays. This school is of the type repeated, with minor variations of detail and different tower form in Rhyl School, Camden. B WNontom Primary School, Islington. —eeeeeee——— (Montem Strect School, dated 1897) Similar type to last. -: : B Vauxhall Manor School (annexe) Kennington Road, Lambeth. nor school Similar type to Hungerford School. 353 Richard Atkins School, Kingwood Road, Lanbeth. =e ensschool (Beixton Hill School, onened fugust 1897). Similar to Kennington School (below) but the towers lack 2 contral lantern. BB Kennington School, Cormont Road, Lambcth. ———— (Cormont Road School, cpened January 1898) 5 5 storeys, symactrical plan; 7 unit hall facade to Cormont Road; a variation on Hungerford ang Rhyl Schools type, with different These ench have 4 corbelled angle turrets and a centrel lantern Spire, while the gables of the classroom wings arc shaped, with Single circular openings. form of staircase towers. (vi) LATE BAILEY (10) ALLEL C Rosendale School, Turney Road, Lambeth. EEechool Rhyl School, Malden Road, Camden ve School (Rhyl Street School, ovencd August 1898) 5 storeys, symmetrical plan, principal front of 7bays, central hall 5 windows Wide, the first Storey arcuated with Stone~banded pilaster Picrs; flanking Staircase towers with spires of intricate snd fanciful form; cloakroom bays with date tablets end railed playgrounds Over; classroom wing bays with Giant Ionic brick pilasters and triangular stone pedinents, BB Henry Compton School, Kingwood Road, Hammersmith (Kingwood Roaa School, opened March 1898) Similar to Kennington School (above). B Smallwood School, Smallwood Road, Wandsworth. _ oe =Kood School 2 (Smallwood Road School, opened February 1898) Similar to Hungerford School (above) C Sunnynill School, Sunnyrill Road, Lambeth. FonS REsensigroemaoe i= schoo) (Rosendale Road School, Junior block opened January 1900, Infants School added 1908, domestic, for School Board) j Single Storey, both blocks with symmetrical plan and elevation. Low red- tiled roofs broken by broad gables with pebble dash finish, deeply moulded "cornice! Surrounds and small tablets with date and LSB monogram. End gables of Junior school contain vestigial shaped 'gabdles' in facing bricks. Delicate lantern with spire and weather-vane. A school with closely Similar characteristics to those of Rosendale is South Hackney (Upper) Scnool, Casslana Road, Hackney. (Cassland Road School, opened August 1902, for School Board) (Sunnyhill Roza School, opened January 1901, datea 1900) Similar to last. 2 storeys, Symmetrical, all req bricks with terracotta dressings. Main facade with central 4—bay hell flanked by Staircase blocks and classroom Wing bays. Outstanding Yor the exuberant uSec of terracotta decoration: cudins, cnannelied pilasters, modillion cornice, window arcoitraves, friezes and pediments, the Staircase towers terminating in deep frieze, cornice and balustrated parapets with elaborate angle urns, all in terracotta. Good wrought iron reilings and gates and low enclosing wall with Stone copins and pedinented piers, nh 1h Millbank Primary School, Erasmus Strect, Westminster. ° x —— ime ny school Kingsgate School, Messina Avenue, Camden. aware school (Kingsgate Road School, opened November 1903, for School Board) (The Nillbank, opened January 1902, domestic) Ei Scparate single storey and 2 storey buildings, assymetrical plans, excellent Stone date and title plaques. The Single storey (infants') school has gable ends with rough cast finish characteristic of Bailey's small shools. The two- Storey block has eccentric Spire and gables with pilaster strip motif. +Charlies Lamb Junior School, Dibden Strect, Islington. (Popham Road School, 1875, 1903, mostly Bailey for School Board) Bailey's work of 1903 was to attach a School of his classic symmetrical type to Robson's early building, illustrated in his 1874 book on School Architecture. Parts of this are still visible. Bailey's principal front hes the central halj block expressed as a projecting splayed bay on 3 Storeys, with buttress piers at angles. The staircase blocks are without towers but numerous tall chimneys enliven the roof. The classroom wing bays have triangular gables with pairs of round Windows. The school exhibits the Q@rmre Sculptural tendencies of Bailey's late work. 2 storeys, assymetrical plan; extravagant use of highly mannered stone details — bands, parapets, date vlaque and gable copings, eccentric circular louvred lantern. Gordon Primary School, Craigton Road, Greenwich. (The Gordon, opened August 1904, for School Board) (Senrab Street School, opened April 1907, for L.C.C.) > Pane 1 2 ct o borcys, symuotrical plan, a variation on the familier classic Bailey type ange rraicen ron facade; heavy classical details in stone. Hell front has trircase blocks with Squat copper turrets; closkroom blocks terminated by tone arches Springing from Giant pilasters. Trianguler stone pediments with date and L.C.c. monogram surmount the rear and return clevations. Stone- banded chimney stacks. i 3 storeys, symmetrical plan; terracotta dressings and date plaques; a variation on Bailey's late '90's type with 7 unit hall facade, the classroom range facing Craigton Road. Staircase blocks flanking 5 bay hall torminate in terracotta balustrades and are linked to hall by the cornice which is @oontinvea round the triangular gable ofthe classroom wings. Marion Richardson School, Senrab Street, Tower Hamlets. I.L.5.4. Division Office, 92 St. John's Hill, Wandsworth. (Dated 1909, for L.c.c.) ALtHOuEN not built as 2 School, the offices were designed for the Education Depsrtmcent under Bailey's Supervision: it scoms appropriate thet one example of this branch of his work should be represented here. The office is conceived as an elegant "Wrenaissance! town house. Built of brick, it is of two storeys, with dormers ond is 9 bays wide with plain sash windows and 15 modillion cornice, Stone pilasters énd a bold Segmental pediment with high relicf decoration and date inscription emphasise the entral entrance, The dominant feature of the steeply pitchca tiled roof is the central dormor with its Surmounting wooden balustrade framed between two delicately detailed tall chimneys, Torriano School, Torriano Avenue, Camden. school (Torriano Avenue School, opened November, 1910, for L.C.C.) 2 storeys, Symmetrical plan, principal facade 5 units wide, the stcircases placed in the wings. Central hall of five windows with three miniature dormer &ables; flanking classroom bays with belled g2ble ends finished with white painted rough-cast; cloakroom blocks at the ends of the facade aro of unusual cubic form; the Separate units of this School are much more closely inter-related on the facade than in the Symmetrical schools of the 1890's. RECOMMENDING — (a) That the Boora adopts the attached list of School buildings Set out in the foregoing report as representing the best remaining examples of the work of E.R. Robson and PJ. Bailey in the remarkable sequence of designs produced for the London School Board and the London County Council between 1873 and 1910. (b) That the officers be euthorised to investigate any means by which preservation might be achieved. (c) That a furthor report be Submitted in duo course, AR/HB/NME/5869 > OF SPRCLAL ADCEITECTURAL INTEREST. SHAS GOO e! Se5)) Salat CAuty GRESNVICH 172 Euston 2ozd Lancaster Grove 30-2 Cannon Street *Bishopsgate (ambulance station) “Carmelite Street “121 Charlton Road Eltham High Street Eaglesfield Rd., Shooters Hill 1912-3 Lakedale Rozd, Plunstead Tunnel Avenue, ©=.Greenwich Eltham Road, Lee Green Sunbury St., Woolwich EACKNSY HAMMERSEITH TSLINGTON Ta Homerton High Street Shepherd's Bush Road 685 Fulham Road Mayton Street, Holloway *Calverley eae *217 Blackstock Road Old Court Place, Kensington ‘ Basil Street *Herne Hill ' 41,5 Norwool Road Gresham Rozd, Brixton *aterloo Roid (ambulance stn) *Renfrew RNoud, Kennington 19071 1913-4. 1896 1908 1906-7 1902-3 High Street, 1902 191),-15 1$06 : 1885 1896 1907-5 1901, 1905-6 1887 (Tose I know to be in other use marked with * but others may now have joined 4 LVTSIAM “Lewisham High Stre.4 1899 1903, 1902 Evelyn Street, Yoolstone Road, Perry Vale Deptforat SOUTHWARK 306-8 01d Kent Road 1903 *59-61 Chatham Rd, Bettersea 1906 TOVSR HAMLETS eae eee west Ferry Road, Millwall Brunswick Road, Bow 1904, 1910 WANDS YORTH Trinity Road, Tooting 1907 WOSTUINS TSS Chiltern Street Greycoat Place, 1888-90 1505-6 The Euston Fire Brigade Station was designed in the Fire Brigade Branch of the L.C.C. Architect's Department's Constructional Division in 1901 and was opened the following year. ‘The Assistant Architect in charge of the fire Brigade Branch at this time was Owen Fleming, with Charles Canning Winmill] as his second—in-command. Suston Firs 3ricade Station, 172 Suston Road, Camden. The authorship of the design of the Zuston station has been much dsiputed. When photographs of the building were published in the years imnediately after completion it was described as the work of W-E.Riley, the then chief architect to the Council. Even Riley's obituariyn the R.1I.8.A. Journal (December 20, 1937) wrongly cites the station as one of the principal works for which he was personally responsible, It was then described as 'so logical in its outwardly visible form that it would be almost possible to draw the plans from externa] examination only. It is a genuine firerunner of the modern movement towards a franker method of design and if its details were translated into concrete would immediately be recognised as such'. David Gregory Jones in his excellent essay on Some Garly Works of the L.C.c. Architect's Department (A.A. Journal, November 1954) wrote: 'I have not discover the names of the designer who deserves to be known to posterity‘;it was certain]; not designed by Owen Fleming to whom I have heard it ascribed". That Gregory Jones had consulted Fleming before writing his essay gives considerable weight to this statement. John Brandon-Jones, in the correspondence that followed the publication of the article, sugzested that Matthew Dawson, a disciple of Lethaby, and closely involved at the Council with the designer of the Central School of Arts and Crafts, may have designed the station. It seems highly unlikely, however, that an assistant outside the Fire Brigade Branch would have been given any hand in its work. There is little doubt that the man responsible for Huston Fire Brigade:Station was Charles Winmill, an architect, on the evidence of the later Swiss Cottage Station and many other stations in London, of unusual originality, and the friend and admirer of Philip Webb. As in all the best examples of L.C.C. stations built before the First World War and under his direction there are clos links in the Suston design with the Arts and Crafts movement, reflecting the association of Winmill with Webb, Lethaby, Thackeray Turner, C. R. Ashbee and others. Gregory Jones describes the station as ‘an eminently serious essay in the romant its multitudinous forms seem drawn together by the concentrating force of its own personality...... Certain details such as the entrance porch to the flats which the station contains are eccentric and mannered in the style of Mackintosh while the whole building is perhaps over—picturesjue for a city site. But it extracts undeniable power from its corner position and is extravagantly fertile in ideas —- note the treatment of the lintels over the garage doors.....' The Suston Fire 3rigade Station, with the Swiss Cottage Station at the junction of Ston Avenue and Lancaster Grove, is not only among the best examples in London of this building type, but must be considered as one of the most outstanding achievements of early L.C.C. architecture. Marke) Como Csndio- Wehaidi 5-50 IZ) Gwe —PYO Mb.gasora>efel.ubetz lo | (OyMoye) eS ees Ligaen Felumli hel tIoigrs (8 PS Pore totatrcl«ferepyOgle ® Sop pec aeae “Shylet Sook ©fv h +sCraps Giuk =) Peer IST So Scleels wag of A jldeg g 1 The penultimate design by Inigo Jones for the Banqueting Hall 2 A working drawing for Somerset House. 3 Barry and Pugin's Houses of Parliament. 4 The Great Hall at Westminster, just before its mid-nineteenth century restoration; itwas designed by the Board's master-carpenter Hugh Herland during the 1370s. (Print: Mansell Collection.) 5 Somerset House, designed by William Chambers in 1776, was the first purpose-built government office. Inigo Jones, Christopher Wren, Robert Adam, John Soane, even Geoffrey Chaucer are among the famous figures who have been employed by what could be called the most distinguished, and certainly the most ancient, architect's office in the land. The Office of Works (as the Property Services Agency was then known) was formed 600 years ago this year—an event which is being celebrated this month with an exhibition in London's Banqueting House.* Bur, of course, the Office of Works was (as is the PSA today) much more than just a design office. Under a clerk of works (a post held by Geoffrey Chaucer from 1389-1391) were gathered masterbuilders and craftsmen capable of maintaining and constructing major state buildings and royal residences. In 1615, when Inigo Jones became surveyor-general, an office structure was sect up which lasted for the next 100 years Under the chairmanship of the surveyor-general was a Board which consisted of master- masons, master-carpenters and acomptroller (who watched the money). During the period when Wren was surveyor-gencral (1669- 1718) the office reached its golden age with virtually all the country’s leading designers and craftsmen being employed by it Grindling Gibbons was master sculptor and carver in wood. John Vanburgh was comptroller between 1702-1726 and Hawks- moor was secretary to the Board from 1713-1718. After 1718, when Wren was replaced, the Board was reorganised with the various posts generally being held as sinecures by relative nonentities until William Chambers and Robert Adam became joint architects of the Works in 1761 (this was the first time in official history that the term ‘architect’ was used). Thereafter other distinguished architects again became involved with the Board—James Wyatt was surveyor-general from 1796- 1813, John Soane was an attached architect from 1814-1832. However, by the mid-nineteenth century the Board's responsibility had grown to such an extent that it became bogged down in what one can only suppose to have been a stifling bureaucracy. After about 1850 we find very few of the country’s leading architects employed directly by the Office, with most of its major building operations being undertaken (usually following competition) by leading architects in private practice, such as Gilbert Scott at the Foreign Office or Edmund Street at the Law Courts. This state of affairs continued well into this century. In 1940— *25 April-7 May, admission free. The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 PSA 600 J \ The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 Number 16 Volume 167 726 PSA 600 730 The editors 730 Notes and topics 732 Letters 734 RIBA Council 737 The week 740 743 745 761 775 See "Theroos thewhole Roof -and nothing but Contents NEWS AND COMMENT 600th anniversary of the Property Services Agency Small change from Healey Astragal on: GLC architects; RIBA future presidents; The army museum Defending the Anti Nazi League A national architectural service; SA schools get the chop; Salaried architects sat upon All-party support for Savidge; Budget brings little cheer; Workload up but jobs fall Hellman and Diary AJ INFORMATION LIBRARY Manufacturers’ catalogues helpful to the architect Coed Glas Assessment and Observation Centre Handbook of Sports and Recreational Design Glass reinforced cement 4 APPOINTMENTS Vacant posts and partnerships Registered as a newspaper Copyright © 1978 The Architectural Press Ltd 9 Queen Anne's Gate London, SW1H 9BY (01-930 0611) ISSN 0003-8466 Each feature of the AJ Information Library is CI/S{B classified and punck marks are provided. Further information about advertisements or Products file notes may be obtained from manufacturers by using one of the reply-paid folders on the last pages of this tsswe. theRoo TECTON the complete timber roofing system from Blacknell Timber has a lot of advantages. It’s light and easy to handle. It’s strong and rigid. It’s economical. It’s available. For al those reasons, if you have not specified The Tecton System before, now is the time. Tecton is the timber beam roofing system with the ability to support all types of decking over flat or sloping roofs. But its most important asset isthat itiscomplete. Blacknell developed it that way — even to the extent of taking care of fascias, and super- vision on site. That’s why throughout the country, Blacknell are recognised as experts in timber roofing. The Tecton roof provides the proof. Show us how quickly you can return this coupon and we’ll show you how Trade literature file Building study Section 3Indoor dry sports: Introduction Technical study @ coloured pages at end Blacknell Buildings Ltd., Westmead, Farnborough, Hants GUI47LB. Tel. 0252 44333. | Name __ Position _ A Add. SS SSF eS quickly we can provide aTecton roofing system. interested n rapid roofing Tell me abour Tecton. Subscription rates per paid £18 a year; abroad £44 a year (US and Canada $78); student rate £13°50 to members of a UK school of architecture. A reduced rate of £28 for a combined subscription to both The Architectural Review and The Architects’ Journal is available in the UK to architects or other members of the building dengn team and associated disciplines (see order form on last page of AJ). Single copies ef AJ: UK and Eire 32p (post paid 70p); overseas B5p (post paid £1°15). Back numbers more than 3 months old: UK and Eire £1 post paid; overseas £2 post paid. Your half-yearly volumes can be bound complere with index in cloth case for £11; carriage £1-20 extra. os tz (alea(|FRGaP)sje The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 The Architects’ Journal 19 April 19/% fae a 58 iT NTxa aDiy OANad get i l i 6 Institute of Geology, Edinburgh, 7 British Embassy, Rome, Sir Basil Spence & Partners for PSA. 8 Leicester Crown courts, Perspective designed by Midland Region PSA. pacemaker for high quality work across the range of PSA projects. Leading by example as Lacey puts it. The design panel was set up at the same time to review and discuss sensitive jobs. The pancl, made up of PSA board members including two architects from privatepractice, has a monthly programme of visits. Lacey reports considerable success with this system, but the object is not to achieve a PSA house style: "You can unify objectives not approach’ The design office on the other hand does seem to be producing 4 recognisable style. ‘We are after the logical and unpreten- tious,’ says Lacey. He sees the essentially domestic feeling of much contemporary PSA work aS springing naturally from the type of work being undertaken ‘T’'ve been keen to make sure that the design office doesn’t get all the plum jobs,’ says Lacey. As far as the future is concerned Lacey isrelatively confident. Workload is stabilising after a period of Government cut-backs, though its nature is changing. Most of the big defence projects are giving way to the programme of dispersing civil servants. The other mainstay is the Crown courts’ programme. Expansion in graduate recruitment is being sought by the agency and Lacey speaks glowingly of the committed and talented new recruits now coming to the PSA. As far as the PSA’s next 600th anniversary is concerned, Lacey hopes to see his years remembered for laying the foundations of an architecture which made ‘buildings humane, good places in which to work and for people to derive pleasure from’ 9 Worthing Crown Building, designed by Doman Hatton and PSA 10 Civil service block Liverpool, sketch axonometric, 11 Harlow telephone exchange. ‘The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 when the board was renamed the Ministry of Works—it had 6000 employees, which increased to 20 000 by 1946 and steadily gtew thereafter. Indeed, itwas to reverse the trend towards mediocrity that the Matthew Skillington report on ways of upgrading official architecture was produced in 1974. The report criticised the PSA for its ‘unsatisfactory and even daunting image’ and its con- clusion, accepted by the Government, asked for higher standards from the PSA ‘to influence for the better the environment as a whole’ As a result of this report Dan Lacey was appointed, in 1975, to a newly created top post with a brief to stimulate design awareness, At 55, Lacey is an architect who has spent his whole carcer in the public sector, rising to Notts county architect in 1958 and DES chief architect in 1964. From his 13th floor office at the DOE Marsham Street headquarters, Lacey, whose official title is director-general of design services, has care of more than 500 architects working on a £417 million annual programme. Apart from them, the PSA, which now employs almost 50 000 people, has civil and mechanical engineers, surveyors and estate managers among its professional ranks Talking to the AJ last week, Lacey looked back on his first three years as the most senior architect working for the Government. With his architects Scattered through 15 offices round the country, his approach has been at various levels, but Lacey sees his major function as being to introduce ‘values’. A first step was the establish- ment of a multi-disciplinary design office acting as a The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 Chopping Cutler The destruction of the GLC architecture department iscontinuing with accelerating speed. The latest butchery being considered by the cash-register-obsessed Tory administration is the abolition of the ILEA. If the Inner London boroughs produce a Conservative majority at the elections next month, the plan seems to be to push school building responsibilities back onto impoverished and ill-equipped boroughs. With housing already badly mauled, the total disappearance of school building would make the final rundown of the architecture department so much easier. Especially if, as is strongly rumoured in County Hall, the job of architect to the council goes to Fred Pooley, currently head of planning. Tory thinking seems to be that allowing Pooley to hold both jobs would leave both departments ripe for culling when Pooley retires in a couple of years time. 730 The Architects’ Journal 19 April 1978 —_— The architectural shop floor is coming in for attack too. “The productivity (in value terms) of GLC architects on construction work is about half the standard adopted by RIBA in the private sector’ wrote Tory GLC leader Horace Cutler in the March issue of the council’s staff gazette London Town. Horrific one might think. Get rid of the lot of them. And indeed this is what Cutler seems to be trying to do. ouwatw Ses i, SMALL CHANGE FROM HEALEY If you say it loud enough, they’ll all believe you. This seems to be the Government’s technique for dealing with the building industry. After the budget, Housing and Construction minister Reg Freeson claimed that £100 million had been injected into construction. Yet most of this bonus goes in equipping hospitals, paying for increases in the costs of school buildings already being built, and in help to householders to insulate their own roofs. Precious little new building or rehabilitation will result. The chancellor has apparently decided that he can buy off the industry by making sympathetic noises and by offering a few tax concessions to private partners. Environment secretary Peter Shore must be as disappointed as the building industry that Healey has not accepted the vital role the industry has to play in underpinning the industrial strategy. There were no tax concessions to spur factory building. And despite pleas from the industry’s representatives and from Shore, Healey has not seen fit to raise the level of public spending on building from its pitifully low level. In fact, including the £400 million which he gave the industry last autumn, he has only restored half the cuts in public spending he made in 1976 alone. No one wants to return to the overheated days of the early 1970s boom. But the quarter of a million unemployed building workers have a right to a higher level of investment in the industry. The industry’s pressure on Healey must not be relaxed. It must find MPs to fight for it in the Finance Bill battles when, in this Parliament, quite radical revisions of the chancellor’s budget policies are possible. But the productivity of GLC architects can be precisely measured by an ingenious Cost of Production Scheme which has stood up to the closest scrutiny by an all party members’ Steering group and an especially appointed assistant director general. All staff costs (including productive architects and non-productive staff) are measured on time sheets. To this is added departmental overheads and another 32-5 per cent as central ‘on costs’. If this is compared with costs of each project by the standard adopted by the RIBA in the private sector, then the productivity (in value terms) of GLC architects engaged in housing construction has worked out to be 30 to 45 per cent more than their private sector counter- parts in every year for the last 15 years. public who sources of <oanna - 22! 584") : A he U fs y buildings. arranged on The public \ Telephone 24017 k RE 31 March 1978 besa | MODERN REC ORDS GENT RE Ee i University of Warwick Library Coventry GV4 7AL Ext. 2014 Our Ref. R/RAS Dear Mr. Murray, My former colleague, Janet Druker, who is now engaged in full-time research, has passed me your enquiry of the 27th about the ABT records heres I enclose a check-list of these and information on the Centre. We should be pleased to make the papers available to you to study here; it is helpful if we could be given a few days' prior notice of your intention to visit. We look forward to your visit. Apart from the late summer bank holiday and the day » following, we expect to remain open throughout the led services on adjacent to or. University's summer vacation. peeronithe igtonSpa to On the architectural side of the question, you are probably aware of Alastair Service's Edwardian architecture (Thames & Hudson, 4977) and his collection of essays Edwardian architecture and its origins (1975), ir. both of which Gnclude material on the LCC's Architect's Dept. yetween the | Road Yours sincerely, R. A. Storey ® irs are 9.00 ns Encs- id9.00 a.m. and jar's Mr. J. Murray, 5 Milton Avenue, London N6- A rewrey wernerat euveney Buu Wie Walang med sd We West Midland No. 28A and No. 29A bus services start from Pool Meadow in the city centre. The 28A and 294A call at the Main Site of the University. vetanea inrormation about courses at the University is contained in the Guide to First Degree Courses and the graduate prospectuses, copies of which are on, obtainable on request from the Academic Registrar. s April 1977 De is ie Archivist University t yhich has a rom see ares eae ee Centre is part of a national network of repositories, Sa yocoupeuniversityandotherspecialisedarchives.The eee a enrecangivesomeadviceaboutotherpossible ical information and the principal guides to these. A selective guideOtNotheeerecentteeacrceesssions0fotherWesstMiMidlandsreposiitorieisis {| L | I COVENTRY, VVarwic = of . . University . Information for Visitors Access by rail The Euston/Coventry between the CV4 7AL TELEPHONE: COVENTRY (0203) 24011 The University is situated three miles south of Coventry and 1'/, miles north of Kenilworth, in Gibbet Hill Road off the Kenilworth — Coventry section of the A4G. pyar Access by road See the location plan inside. From Leamington Spa station Midland Red servicetso De Motorists should note the one-way traffic system in arr on the Main Site. Motoring times Birmingham 40 minutes, Kenilworth 10 minutes, Leamington 20 minutes, Leicestér 1'/, hours, London 2 hours, Oxford 1'/, hours. 517. 518, and 536 leave the bus station adjaceont the the railway station and pass Gibbet Hill Road way to Coventry. The journey from Leamington Gibbet Hill Road takes about half-an-hour. train service is half-hourly between 08.10 and 19.40 (journey time 11/, hours). There are also trains from Paddington via Reading, Oxford and Banbury to Leamington Spa, which is seven miles away from the University. Local bus services Footpath Visitors on foot should use the footpath East and Main Sites, and not Gibbet Hill Road. : The University welcomes members of the public who wish to see the campus and the University buildings. a ee ; F on LorSee a aeereSee ome Conductedvisitsforlargepartiesmaybearrangepdublic Sa Ceo ee oe big MeSemiiere ore prior;request:tothecaAecademic Reogeistrar.ThUeniv,ersit.y | are in particular invited to visit the bookshop, situated in the Arts Centre, whichare 9.00 wide range of books on sale. Opening Hours eeSee eSeSCRaeCaan eae a.m.top5.m1.5onp.m.,FridMaoyn.daytoThursday,and Midland Red bus services to Kenilworth¢, wWhiarwick, : S pe has2 eon ins Seana on ee see rat areTe MY ee Bee e. Uniwersitysine ane ; son je most frequent 9.00 a.m. pao lar's minutes. e ; 7 , and : also)pass the University. The bus stop for the University is Gibbet Hill Road; it is about five minutes walk from the stop to the East Site and fifteen to the Main Site. From Central Coventry Both the Midland Red and the West Midland No. 28A and No. 29A bus services Start from Pool Meadow in the city centre. The 28A and 29A call at the Main Site of the University. April 1977 De to 4.20 Detailed information about courses at the Universityandis contained in the Guide to First DegreeofCowuhriscehs are Registrar. on, 5 is copies obtainable on request from the Academic the graduate prospectuses, Spa to A ‘the Modern Records Centre is part of a national network of repositories, including city, county, university and other specialised archives. The staff of the Centre can give some advice about other possible sources of historical information and the principal guides to these. A selective guide to the recent accessions of other West Midlands repositories is maintained in the Centre. Je 2e 3e 4, De Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library, Coventry, CV4 7AL. RULES FOR RESEARCHERS WORKING IN THE MODERN RECORDS CENTRE 4. A Research Record form is to be completed on a researcher's first visit. 2. <A Deoument Requisition form is to be filled in for each request for material. 3. No smoking. 4, Pencil only to be used : no ink or ballpoint pens. 5. No documents may be marked. 6. Documents are not to be leaned on or have writing materials or other items laid on then. 7- Documents are to be returned to staff in the condition and order in which they are received by the researcher. August 1974. Q@re HULU UnUuGc. CU vei Ve 2we ewww ewwwnne How to find out about the Centre's holdings A Guide, describing principal accessions to June 1977, is available from the Centre, price £1.50 (inclusive of inland postage). New accessions are described in a quarterly Information Bulletin (No. 1, April 1974) and the appendices to the Centre's annual Reports give details of each year's accessions. Each accession receives a number in a running sequence (MSS.1, etc.). A numerically arranged Accessions Register with alphabetical index is maintained in the Centre. In due course check-lists or catalogues are compiled for each accession, and a set of these is held in the Centre. (Copies of most catalogues are also held in the National Register of Archives in London.) A Selective Index of names and subjects appearing in these catalogues is maintained on cards in the Centre. The Modern Records Centre is part of a national network of repositories, including city, county, university and other specialised archives. The staff of the Centre can give some advice about other possible sources of historical information and the principal guides to these. A selective guide to the recent accessions of other West Midlands repositories is maintained in the Centre. UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK LIBRARY THE MODERN RECORDS CENTRE Normal opening hours: 9 aeme - 5 Pee Monday - Thursday, 9 am. — 4 pem. Friday. Other times by arrangement. Address & Telephone no.: Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library, Coventry, CV4 7AL. Coventry 24011 ext. 2014 The object of the Centre is to collect and make available for research original sources for British political, social and economic history, with particular reference to labour history and industrial relations. How to find out about the Centre's holdings 4k. A Selective Index of names and subjects appearing in these catalogues is maintained on cards in the Centre. 5. The Modern Records Centre is part of a national network of repositories, including city, county, university and other specialised archives. The staff of the Centre can give some advice about other possible sources of historical information and the principal guides to these. A selective guide to the recent accessions of other West Midlands repositories is maintained in the Centre. The type of material held by the Centre includes signed minutes, correspondence files, runs of printed journals and ephemera of trade unions and other organisations and individuals, including some local political parties in the West Midlands. All material is kept in closed-access secure accommodation and may only be worked on in the Centre, under the supervision of its staff. Some deposits are held under conditions of restricted accesSe 16 A Guide, describing principal accessions to June 1977, is available from the Centre, price £1.50 (inclusive of inland postage). New accessions are described in a quarterly Information Bulletin (No. 1, April 1974) and the appendices to the Centre's annual Reports give details of each year's accessionSe 2. Each accession receives a number in a running sequence (MSS.1, etc.) open numerically arranged Accessions Register with alphabetical index is maintained in the Centre. 3e In due course check-lists or catalogues are compiled for each accession, and a set of these is held in the Centre. (Copies of most catalogues are also held in the National Register of Archives in London.) Classification of records held in the Centre As far as possible, a uniform scheme of arrangement and classification is applied to all accessions. The main classes are: /\ minutes (and related papers, such as 2xendas and reports) f2 financial records (e.g. account books, balance sheets) /3 correspondence (including subject files) /4 publications of the institution or individual creating the archive o /5 other publications /7 miscellaneous (this category may be subdivided in a number of ways, @efe by alphabetical suffixes: /7/LE legal papers (other than agreements: see 9 below); /7/ST staff records) [8 diaries /9 +agreements /10 press-cuttings {11 reports Examples: MSS.5/1/4 3 Accession 5, minutes series, volume 4 NSS.9/3/24 ote Accession 9, correspondence, file 24 ras 1/78 /6 sub-groups within a deposit (e.g. the personal papers of a member of an organisation handed over to it for safekeeping on retirement) MSS.78 ARCHITLOT ASSOCIATICN 1942 the AS! TANTS, PROFESSIONAL UNION later the VEYORS AND TLCHNICAL ASSISTANTS, from IG TECHNICIANS EC minutes 1919-29 (includes GC mins. 1919) & 1948-69. Council mins, 1943=42. With Kmergency ixece mins. 1938-9. Ceneral Council winse, 1942-69 AGM mins. 1919-69 with mins. of National Conventions 1919-26. Accounts bks., 1940's-60's. re sir-raid shelters & war-time building. Check-list by J. Druker, May 1977 e journal of the ABT, Mar 19/9-Nov 1968 (incomplete). tame j =C ubs. of the University of Warwick Library GUIDE TO THE MODERN RECORDS CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK LIBRARY compiled by Richard Storey & Janet Druker The Modern Records Centre was established within the University of Warwick Library in October 1973 with the aid of a grant from the Leverhulme Trust. Its object is to collect and make available for research primary sources for British political, social and economic history with particular reference to labour history and industrial relations. Since its foundation it has received records from several dozen trade unions, including numerous defunct or absorbed unions, and from a number of other organisations in the field of indus- trial relations. It also holds records from some pressure groups and special purpose organisations in other fields, as well as some West Midlands political records, business records and some important groups of personal papers. All except the smallest accessions received between October 1973 and May 1977 are described in the Guide temee published shertty. As well as a description of the records, each entry includes, where appropriate, background notes and bibliographical references. Entries are arranged in a classified sequence and a full index is provided. Occasional Publications No. 2 AS format, card covers. Price inclusive of inland postage and packing: £1.50 ISBN 0 903220 O1 6 June 1977 Onc afHe pote arjuntAs f afe bac ar tue 16 — GEE, APAFT. 15-378. hat ot bucgs tefe frt Ue tlahin-shp bsfoseer gually ad quantity 2] laboww ipinsted, Suiadiby Isa seal comapl aeft.di-d a plece --cA Yont It defoctha 1Schet aolafin%debate|yet bhAclussonsisto bawfhecerhalGutinra)arclulectarallpracecefr oe |e. quaranliz af qualily YAM Nnigag teal fifforavec wtul. He batis | tte ~ anclilicts bargair tugll.secu y : of quality asa aap? fe[etemsis fn arqualele OG ecaqusittier Hout?ThequalclyGfLhetuapronudtdaClatb}nai A>tteAeoity Spent or pone consoque-Th goon pect of write tel Ind done dnderictval tedncloridual tat Crete dab! smn - H fess a Averey Yoms yeaa Moree 2NU YWthhr be caleilalead (fy clfferers|o-flouléo yore tpThecat.Whalt|Pq cy, ae bent Hope coitl eit to thy irnf plasofqualdyfre. atin wots savy tout tor opouct guamnilets wally Lut lem quali Car oly de achive tHhbhe A Cyfyrr ansut of eboouv har bee eipadled a te fhrertuct. Tyr. ofent rey Soe Sate tucl qealily ton Lt achived an bewarlpud Tur«©nte tee Chata/tepresentRBAjoeScalePurqualdytlewe] kb ancalel. Gr addition He arelulcte urd fon Uo fees Wares not Cortef matiomals- rolatin ho qualdy but& rahe The fu avebule”gftcficspee quaiddyad ay pce te wut ot a ar allimalixe , te (fe will be turce argeal cal barelee nat +Thawllalse jaleowy font expo cted cceuy +f Yer ile gual ef + maleiel glicfucd » fofo!atsche ieee heLrintingeetragpnetegiv &das ole.Weqeavthd0XcantoVeusette,becauac , con Wane Hp A~-a-teve thin vert reduce te fee ork: ake Gp) Lacser6l al % B beducz Valse, faa a ShaslA ets xferdid ne Aprnrcpal toAAA. mM) C.creaae to prof? Jha Xiong fe scale rar be crn manistd a ae cotucl At ® netAte anCeleNtxlfefeddicebuildi~gcarsLutetuclAes spit. are A Ontese Wy MAU bualdnng Graliby. he qutstin Wwhelley Ha i¢a suka bass [ srcehy/) barvga- witt. Kearchutictiretpapsnn Y cde quali pb te crnertme ofprofesional conven of ORLA Sn fkbeatleaatlayfteh&e¢hbobelaClebacofiVemee)jeSal Ke only qparilfabteehemeut ® @) arehcabpetuyo—ThaDoaneAoacriodAg[Shisee- |"Guokionafie aghoat Quality] t“hore nocoraany Hemd quatelyae ae ,2 carMaeyyoot tzHightfu patteMightprice. eRener + RS [wot a 4 4LXMC_« band Shut Le cul a2 bp “54eee amycgoufafdsalbotwood. ie eck A lilceeenney |i ee ej | Se ee AatheGeatoled—(asCeLESEL oe Ke19%ot." aeChrorebAtulweLaveceatrable_tefa+29 ; «|publi.aed.oficln¢ WO naibie_1faseHle" |eiHeiclohgae EhAGflorFiley.FleIZ 1a)a ERMatha ear, by eer &, Say Lr1949 ue MeNon=ple cirBE | WeA-= treet ; 5 7Ga DN ei ce MAL Digithete ae. eae Iealicheetes CoH oo 20Sformewap«a paeeta tie cabotsigee AderspateBaaMMAge | pe date te eta a |eu he re ae 4i BA covetcolape iE 0 ae ef | tlepusaty pacticehoa|<I Lalrf-d 4a | caeweg ey paFeeSS er es o} v8 ug t a‘e an » evan Green Yellow Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Building Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2 December 1977 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/ac34bd3ac22c8b9fdf92b012ce29b1e1.pdf b4c86e5e019bcba88537df7264b13a8a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter Subject The topic of the resource Letter to Hawser Trunnion re RIBA Community Architecture Working Group Description An account of the resource q4th June 1977 Dear Hawser Trunnion, 197 Camberwell Grove London SES QO1 737 2618 I'm veplying to your letter about the RIBA's community architecture working group. I'm doing thais privately so as to avoid giving rise to pre conceptions. When I started to work on ‘Fight Blight! I had no other aim than to investigate alternative ways of tackling the way people live in cities. This was preceded py campaigns which I had led with architects (even RIBA members, no less) against motorways in Glasgow, CDAs in Glasgow, the GLDP and Ringways in London, an office block in Haymarket in Edinburgh. Itm saying all this by way of references. The subsequent work I'm doing at the RIBA on community architecture has as wide a brief as that as well. Not to prove a point, noe ane whatseever remotely to do with ‘safeguarding professional interests' (another preconception) ~ just to find out who is doing what, and what needs to be changed to encourage this. For all I know, I may have met more people invohved in this subject on a practical base than you have. When Rod Hackney swears by the RIBA Form of contract or Fee Scale (which presumably damns him in your eyes) he doesn't do so to protect the profession, but because he reckons that it gives the Black Road, Saltiey, Belfast and Millom people the best deal he can. Jim Johnston (an RIBA Councillor as well as ASSIST) takes an cpposite view. Presumably he too is damned for being an RIDA Councillor, . I'm hkping to demystify architecture, community architecture and buildin What upsets me is your preference ofthe ‘statutory or public bodies! as agents of change, rather than private "hartered institutions. Have a look at some of the photographs in Fight Blignt to see what these grand public bodies @o-for the slaves who are their unwilling tenants; in Lewisham not even allowed to choose their own wallpaper, in Southwark not allowed to choose the plants to grow outside their own windows. The totalitariansism of local. authorities is quite horrendous = yet I wonder how many NAM members are working for them accepting this ~ whilst criticising the politics of Persia. It is my hope that a full discussion of the relationship between designer and user within the profession, instigated and prompted by the RIBA will force designers to consider the new dimension of the occupants. I cannot see any evidence whatscever that in even a liberal or pseudo liberal autherity (such as Neweastle and Byker) the same changes could become firmly accepted. A close hook at the pressures surrounding the truth of this. I think the RIBA can help change the way that architects are prepared to work - a development£ do not detect in local authorities. I enclose £2 for past present ond future issues of Slate. Yours sincerely NeAAs Ne Cine rh es * Howser Trunnion, New Arch}itecture Movement. CARAS i{= ee PE Community architecture is beset by myths and half truths relating to the role of professionals, the rele of the public and the role of the authorities. Those talking loudest are often those not involved in the day to day supervision of a community insspared development (Partick Housing Trust, Pearman St Co operative, Black Road 2 etc) but those enjoying themselve: giving advice without responsibility. os course, there's room for both. SNL aa eeGalLl ae atSR the Byker 'experiment' will indicate Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Charles McKean Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 14 June 1977 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/76997b47427b3bc8ea5d256e26868a87.pdf b301ff299afa1d8d72252f428d65f5c9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource BUILDING WITH DIRECT Labour Subject The topic of the resource Poster promoting Direct Labour. Back page has articles about the contracting system and the benefits of Direct Labour Description An account of the resource DIRECT LABOUR CAR PROVIDE © Permanent Employment, lower Building .a >|GoodWorkingConditions; _ Casts ie nd’ Responsive OL esas SService for a «aa ii. GA ihe ae The pamphlet, fully illustr ated, exam the proble of the constructi industry order, “tw / Seea DIRECT DIRECT LABOUR COLLECTIVE, HOUSING WORKSHOP, C.S. E 5,Mount Pleasant, Londonwetxoae. Price£1:50;25ppandp. Special Rate for TU branches, Tenants Associations, Trades Councils 65p;25ppandp. ***** **.** **** CRISIS The construction industry is in a mess. Almost a quarter of a million output has slumped; building costs have rocketed; millions building workers are unemployed; and roads that are only a few years old; and yet contractors’of pounds need to be spent shoring upbuildings Building firms contract for every job they profits have reached record levels. Why is this? undertake, and want to make as much profit as possible. of the industry (and there are many) stem All the operates to the advantage of building firms, but everyone else from this basic fact. The contracting system worst characteristics has to pay the cost. The contracting system THE BUILDING PRODUCT AND ITS COST * The Greatest Profit: is made by cutting corners and generally scamping on work. More often than not the detri 1 effects of employment ona casual basis. Furthermore, employment is no longer subjected to the cycle of Stability of Employ {Di lisati Permanent employ ina DLO booms and slumps and the effects that are generated by the contracting system. Unionisation: Permanent employment has led to high levels of unionisation — an important reason for the good working conditions in DLOs. Good Working Conditions, including Health and Safety: Because the all-embracing need for profit is removed, DLOs conform to health and safety regulations. Accident rates in Manchester DLO are under half those in the private sector and in Sandwell DLO there has never been a fatal or serious accident. Good working conditions also result, since there is no motive to scamp on work or facilities. Training: DLOs offer vastly superior training facilities. They employ over 10,000 apprentices and the larger ones operate extensive training programmes. Manchester employs more that all the contractors in the area put together. This isdespite the fact that DLOs are not eligible for the state grants given to contractors. Lump labour. of the Lump: Under the Lump work is subcontracted on a labour-only basis and the worker is self-employed. Permanent employment in DLOs is an effective guarantee against the use of * A Transformed Production Process: With a considerable expansion of DLOs, planned building prog- rammes would be possible, and design and building could be integrated. Both would result in a vastly superior building product, which was more responsive to the needs of the final user. The larger DLOs have demonstrated the advantages of large-scale workshops and the planned introduction of modem machinery, * Lower Rents: The lower building costs resulting from non-contracting mean, firstly, lower rents. In addition, the expansion of direct labour leads to the real possibility of lowering the enormous burden of interest charges imposed upon council housing. Once this is achieved, rents would fall dramatically. Responsive Building Service: DLOs have no incentive to scamp work or cause immense disruption to tenants. Where they were called in to do repair work, DLOs are quicker and more reliable. Accountability: DLOs are accountable and answerable to tenant complaints. Tenants, therefore, can have a greater say in work undertaken by DLOs for, as a service, their operations are public information. Direct labour DIRECT LABOUR AS A SERVICE SLUMP IN OUTPUT Workloads have fallen dramatically over the past four years. Output has dropped by almost a third. BUT CONTRACTORS DON’T LOSE * Record Profits: Many contractors have increased their profits in every year of the slump. In 1977, Newarthill’s (McAJpines) rose by 127% to £11'4 million, Marchweil by 25% to £13 million, and Wimpey’s made over £50 million and avoided paying tax on it. Large Cash Holdings: In addition, contractors have amassed vast fortunes in cash with which to playthe money market and stock exchange. Dividends and share prices have boomed. In 1973 Costain’s held £5.7 million in cash, and Taylor Woodrow nearly £9 million; by 1976 their holdings had grown to £36.7 million and £38.7 million respectively. Few Bankruptcies: The contractors are always claiming that the industry is highly competitive and that inefficient producers go to the wall. But relatively few contractors have gone bankrupt; and the crisis has demonstrated that there is no relationship between efficiency and profitability under the contracting system. Contractors Survive Slumps: Because they can lay off workers in their thousands, and have low over- heads and fixed capital. They can bide their time, taking only the more profitable work, waiting for the next boom to come along. In this way, profitability is assured but so is a building industry with appalling characteristics. ee ee 0 Tn nn aa aao Direct labour is the workforce employed by local authorities for construction work. Most local authorities have a direct labour organisation (DLO) of some sort, undertaking the building and repair of houses, schools, roads, etc. DLOs employ over 200,000 workers. ADVANTAGES TO TENANTS From their beginnings in the 1890s DLOs were intended asa service; set up as a response to the failures of the contracting em to provide a good quality product, at reasonable cost, with good working conditions and trade union rights. THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE FOR DIRECT LABOUR * The Contractors’ Attack: Aided by their Tory allies, the contractors have mounted a massive campaign against DLOs, using all the lies and distortions they can muster. Well over a million pounds have been used to finance it. Their sole concern is to preserve profit levels. They want to take lucrative work away from DLOs, and defend their tarnished image by attacking the genuine alternative to the con- tracting system that DLOs represent. Their hysteria has reached ne v heights as a result of the proposal- by the Labour Party to nationalise one or two of the largest contractors. As DLOs are publicly owned, the have ised the link b the exp of direct labour and nationalisation. So direct labour has become a test case for contractors in the defence of their interests. The Tory Attack: Where Tories have gained control of local councils, they have proceeded in a ruthless manner to destroy the DLO and sack workers. This has occured in both Birmingham and the GLC, inspite of the savings shown by the departments. Playing with Demand: The solution to the ils of the building industry is seen by both the contractors and the government to be the stabilisation of the flow of orders. But this will not work, for it will give contractors even greater monopoly power and change none of the fundamental characteristics of the industry. What is required instead is the abolition of the contracting system, and a change in the way in which building work is organised and produced. Only direct labour offers this as a practical possibility today. The Threat to Direct Labour as a Service: Strong moves are being made by Government and the con- tractors to undermine direct labour asa service by insisting that DLOs act like contractors. They want them to tender for work, with the overriding objective of making as much profit as possible. This would hard won imp: in working diti and destroy all the principles on which direct labour is based. The main losers would be workers and tenants. This is in addition to a general policy of running down council housing which also means worse housing conditions and rents for tenants, and jeopardises jobs in DLOs. * The Fight to Defend and Expand Direct Labour: Campaigns to counteract the contractors’ pernicious attacks are underway. The Confederation of Local Authorities Stewards (CLAWS) now helps to set up ‘and coordinate action committees throughout the country. These are working towards greater unity between all sections of the Labour Movement — trade unions and residents — over the issue of direct labour. In Sandwell, W. Midlands, the Tenants’ Liason Committee meets regularly with DLO shop stewards to sort out problems over repairs and to increase the role of direct labour.Elsewhere, other council workers are also joining in campaigns: for example, in Wandsworth and Hackney in London. SSEE SS EE) ADVANTAGES TO WORKERS THE BUILDING PRODUCT — LOWER COSTS Removal of Profit: Private contractors build in order to make profits. With direct labour as a service charging at cost, this profit element is removed. For this reason alone costs will fall. Removal of Contractors’ Waste: The contracting system costs local authorities a fortune — in the costs of failed tender bids (which they end up paying through higher prices), and the whole administrative apparatus required to run the tendering system. Even more costs are involved in contractors’ time and cost overruns, site walkouts, shoddy work and bankruptcies. With work by direct labour these costs do not arise. Nor do the substantial health and social costs of casual employment. A Better Product: DLOs build higher quality, lower cost buildings than do contractors. Between 1961 and 1976 Manchester DLO saved £1.5 million against the architect’s valuation plus £2.3 million against the next lowest tender. In one year, between 1975-6, Lambeth saved £1.3 million against the next lowest tender, and between 1971 and 1977 Colchester DLO (which is now being run-down) saved £1 million. Initial high quality means reduced maintenance costs. DLOs, anyhow, provide a much better repair and maintenance service. It is far more responsive and flexible, and it is much cheaper. The GLC has estimated that it would cost at least £8 million per year more to use contractors rather than the DLO. contract terms are broken in order to increase profits. Outrageous claims for additional costs are made, and completion dates delayed. Clients, including local authorities, have little control over either the quality or the cost of the work done. Monopoly: To keep profits high, contractors fix prices through monopolies and ringing. Some individual contractors have acquired a virtual monopoly over specific types of work. Corruption is rife. The name of Bryants is now famous as a result of their bribing Birmingham’s chief architect to obtain contracts. * Design Faults: Under the contracting system, design and building are separate. Untried designs are I hed by either archi or Frantic pts to make a quick profit mean that scant regard is paia to long-term reliability and maintenance costs. Failures such as Ronan Point and high alumina cement are an inevitable and costly result. Ironically, contractors are now making money out of remedying these faults. Poor Quality, Expensive Buildings: All these features lead to an enormous catalogue of inadequate and costly buildings. £100 million needs to be spend remedying faults in motorways in the Midlands; schools have collapsed; many new council houses are chronically damp because of leaky roofs or condensation; and new hospitals in Glasgow, Liverpool and London cannot be fully utilised for years. In Camden on just one site, Alexandra Road, Laings final price is £13-15 million more than the original tender of £5 million. WORKERS Casual Employment: Most workers are only hired on a temporary basis to work on one contract. When their task is finished they are laid off. At least a third of the workforce is out of work for a part of the year. This casual employment is endemic to the contacting system. Under it the lump flourishes. Unemployment: Casual jobs mean high levels of unemployment even during booms. The present slump has led to almost 400,000 construction-related jobs disappearing. Many workers have left the industry altogether; hundreds of thousands are on the dole — 221,817 were registered unemployed in February 1978. Wages: Construction workers do not get a decent basic wage, often bonuses make up over half their pay. During slumps, bonuses are cut, so earnings fall. Limited Training: At best, contractors provide minimal training facilities. Most training is now run and paid for by the state. In spite of the chronic shortage of skilled workers, the number of apprentices em- ployed by contractors dropped by over a half between 1964 and 1973. It is even lower now, with many apprentices being made redundant. Poor safety, health and working conditions: In 1975, 18lworkers were killed on site; many were injured or maimed. An official government report predicts that, unless the situation changes, 2000 more will die during the next ten years and 400,000 will be injured. Most can be blamed on the working conditions created by management. Dust, damp and poor working conditions also make building work unhealthy. Contractors are loath to forgo profits to improve this. Site facilities and safety precautions are generally primitive and rudimentary. Low Levels of Unionisation: Casual employment means that many workers do not even belong to a union; So it is difficult to fight for better working conditions, a decent basic rate and against redundancies. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Direct Labour Collective Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/dc4369feadfeb1022f050a519d19cdca.pdf 754fc750fbbc3a249e5d94b12df73af9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource a REAL guide to Liverpool Subject The topic of the resource What architects do-some views from the ground by group of Liverpool architects Description An account of the resource ahs dt Merseyside Weak Architecture 1945 -1995? p 5 Raverttain and Price 10p . Blind Guide (25p &employedRIGAmember) We only work here! Written by a group of designers in Liverpool interested in looking for real solutions to thecitie yOoblems aREAL— torosea| Living ‘on’ Cities 1.WHAT DO ARCHITECTS DO? ~ 2.WHO CONTROLS US? 3. WHAT ARCHITECTS HAVE DONE IN LIVERPOOL. 1. WHAT ARCHITECTS DO — SOME VIEWS FROM THE GROUND. The following summarises discussions between people working for different arch’ ts practices during a series of ‘designers meetings’ held in Liverpool in the first uif of 1978. Most people know we have something to do with designing buildings, but what isitreally like? A. HOUSING — which makes up about 50% of al buildings built. 4. WHERE ARE WE NOW, AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE? In Liverpool one years housing output is made up by: Housing Co-ops and Associations doing about 1,000 conversions and 200 new houses. Council new housing, falling from 966 completions this year to less than 60 by 1982. Building companies ‘build for sale’, just started with 670 completions this year with a total of 2250 completed by 1982. Also there is the council’s modernisation programme programme and some grant improvement work, 5. THE ‘REPRODUCTION’ OF ARCHITECTS Clearance programmes have virtually stopped, and with Housing Associations rehabil- itating the remaining stock at a fairly constant rate or providing ‘specialist’ new houses (pensioners, young people etc.) the large numbers of empty sites around previously ear marked for council redevelopment will be now rapidly filled with low-density, suburban- type housing produced by the speculative divisions of Unit, Wimpey, Broseley and other familiar building firms. The council's own building programme is rapidly grinding toa halt. In Liverpool, the need is to organise and co-ordinate action and discussion between architects and other groups Designers need to open up a description of their skills which enables them to work alongside other groups rather than feeling that if they do not lead, they have failed. There is an increasing number of examples of environmental and building work being done in either a collective or co-operative way. These two articles are written partly from discussions held in the first half of this year by people interested in forming a non-professional group of building designers Now a clearer picture has emerged, a group will be formed in the autumn to continue analysis, formulate acticn on certain issues, and take on projects. If you are working in architecture or building design, want to know more about architectural organisation and practice, doing or needing projects which involve a Housing Associations are directly controlled by central government's Housing Corp- oration, originally intended to encourage small-scale organisations to develop housing which was more responsive to people’s needs (and architects and designers would be able to work more closely with tenants). The local authority system was seen to have become too cumbersome and type-cast. Now, however, the two Liverpool ‘giants’ which do the majority of the work have almost equally hierarchical structures. Another prob- lem is that the independence of associations from the local council and ‘democracy’ leaves them open to control in some cities by managers who pursue their own self-inter- est to the extent that they become like the old private landlords. Architects who discussed their work in a larger association felt they were being edged out of the hierarchy by more politically-oriented housing and building managers or surveyors. The idea of a closer relationship with tenants in design has faded as ‘feedback’ from tenants is chanelled in the form of the association management's briefing of the architectural team. Architects seldom have a place on a management team, and the con- trolling Housing Corporation itself has a distinct lack of architect members. Discussion of the range of different design possibilities, or factors such as the need for better methods of energy conservation to keep heating costs down in the future are therefore left out of the associations’ policies. In this situation design has become, like many other jobs, mechanistic: tight Housing Corporation control has squeezed design. Pressure on architects’ fees is forcing them to minimise time spent in the important early stages of design when liaison with tenants could be most useful. With only half a day during an average week spent on the drawing board, the rest of the time is taken up with form-filling and bureacratic pro- cedures, The cost of any such design choices as can be made is often outweighed pure- ly by the amount the cost of work rises while waiting for central government decisions. Preparatory work done on schemes which are subsequently axed is not paid for. Although architects can be rightly criticised for wasting money in the past, to cut out design altogether is both to threaten our jobs and waste even more money by not designing what tenants need. collective way of working etc., contact: ; ‘Designers Meeting’, c/o School of Architecture, University, Liverpool. The contributors to group discussion were:— Mike Brown, Paul Coats, Chris Cripps, Robb MacDona Bill Halsall, Jonty Godfrey, Frank Horton, Nigel J Graham Ward and others. The articles as published 4o not necessarily represent the Id, Don Field, Pete Gommon, ones, Alison Lindsay, Weak and its 1978 Conference in Liverpool: views of contributors. n from the RIBA‘s brochure for Merseyside Architecture The cover is take sares ‘Living in Cities. The Housing Co-ops, with a much smaller turnover, offer the possibility of tenant con- trol in that tenants’ co-ops own the houses by paying only a nominal membership fee. In-house architects are service agencies to the co-ops, and people working in this situation felt that, as a result, the housing product was a better deal for tenants. But the co-ops tend to be sited only in the city’s ‘crisis areas’ and don’t give an opportunity for better design as such: architects had become involved in forming a more direct relat- ionship with tenants, builders and the Housing Corporation in places in which any of the other housing solutions would be unworkable. The architect was merely outlining the rigours of housing legislation, circulars and cost-constraints (e.g. bog-roll holders are out this year — too expensive) to tenants, or explaining drawings to unskilled build- ers. Whether or not anyone thinks this is what architects should be doing, it points to the waste of the lengthy professional training needed to qualify for this job. Altern: atively, people with such skills can see how their time is spent in the implementation of tightly-controlled procedures which overrule such opportunities as might arise from more time to design, both in detail, and at the level of the whole way in which the existing street and community patterns are being reinforced. B. INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS Industrial building is one of the few areas being encouraged, and many private practices must have been cocking an eye in this direction as welfare state and other sectors have been cut back. But architects have not traditionally had much to do with factory design Such larger factories as are at present built on peripheral estates seem to be designed by developers and system builders or architects directly employed on a permanent basis by the insustries themselves. Most of these firms are south-eatern or internationally based, so their factories are not designed in Liverpool. Larger Liverpool-born firms, on the other hand, are doing little more than minor repair and extension work at present. Since 1974 the cuts in state expenditure have meant that resources have been redir- ected into stimulating industrial production. It is the state-developed Advance Factory Units which have produced a major source of industrial architecture work in Liverpool The developers are either the local authority, who use their own architects department, or the English Industrial Estates Corporation (EIEC) which uses private architects’ practices, though not as designers. Standard sets of plans and specifications, ‘proven as the most economical form of construction’ are handed to these architects to adapt to each site. Although these jobs are concentrated in the inner city where site preparation is complicated, architects can take little pride in the fact that they have designed every- thing below the ground floor slab! They then supervise construction, the whole job being on a reduced fee basis. Architects who work in this situation had many criticisms, but they were not sure whether they had the expertise, let alone the power, to participate in this field. Advance Factory Units are a direct transplant of EIEC’s forty years’ experience of spec- ulative building on areen-field sites. Their use on vacant, ‘problem’, inner-city land is not necessarily right. There are plenty of empty warehouses and industrial buildings around Liverpool’s dockland which could be converted, but in fact are now being demolished to feed the dwindling supply of vacant ‘problem’ sites! To convert existing buildings would mean a greater amount of architectural work and less waste, butwould meet resistance from financiers, developers and builders who claim that conversion work would not ‘sustain their present capacity in its existing form’. Part of the reason for the Advance Factory Programme, in addition to alleviating inner city construction un- employment is that the capacity of the construction industry should be kept up so that it will be able to cope with the next economic boom (and so more suburban factories again) — when itcomes. Waiting for the next boom, the present monetary halt in the traditional course of city expansion seems to be all that can be coped with. This, linked to the idea of in- jecting new life into the centres — ‘the old dying hearts of our civilisation’. Promotion of small manufacturers is supposed to seed new firms which will grow large, or feed new ideas to the large and perhaps be the basis for a new boom. The revival of the inner city then seems almost an attempt to re-run economic expansion in the way it worked from the nineteenth-century city to the emergence of the now-flagging twentieth-century metropolis and giant industries. But ...of the 44 Advance Factories developed by the local authority and now in use, the majority have attracted service rather than manu- facturing industries; and the service sector both ultimately depends on manufacturing, and isat present seen to be expanding only very temporarily. tstteronys urepras tomerren’s (NN cit Prodzms Architects were in the forefront of the ‘SNAP’ project which foreran the co-ops and siiowed how communities could have better housing without being smashed up. Now, a few years on, some have found themselves to have been turned into a ‘housing machine’, which although keeping streets intact is as isolated as ever from the other fun- damental problems, such as employment, which compound these as crisis areas. Architects working on Advance Factories could see the obvious inconsistency in using them. To replace industries that had been the life-blood of the nineteenth-century city with the suburban factory type is illogical. The liklihood that they employ labour from the surrounding community, which had been built for the old industries, is slim — the grant system discriminates against local firms using the units and in favour of attracting outsiders, and Liverpool! is more oriented to the one big employer, the docks, than to lots of small firms. Is it desirable for people to commute to work on One militant group of tenants has recently formed a co-op and successfully cam- painged for new houses on a vacant site: it remains to be seen whether this will provide an opportunity for a better architect-client relationship. ‘Build for Sale’, low-density, suburban-type schemes are designed by building firms as standard consumer models perfected over a very long period of time with perhaps some slight variations to suit this year’s or next yer’s fashion. This puts the user in the same position as when buying a Car or choosing soap powder from the supermarket shelf — it's all right if you can afford or your requirements ‘fit’ into the standard pattern, but you can never know whether you are getting what you want or what you are being made to want. The architect's traditional consultation with the client is out of the question. In fact the whole process from market research, design, local authority consent, contract planning to advertising is being computerised by some of the biggest firms — and more jobs are going down thedrain!. See below for private practice and local authority work in housing. central sites — a complete reversal of the original idea of moving industry to the suburbs? This is true also for goods transport: the accessibility of central sites compares unfavourably with the outskirts near the motorways. Does this mean that inner area industry will be the excuse for bringing back the idea of motorways in the old city? The scale of vandalism entails the defence of the ‘community’ factory, resulting in high fences. The need for lots of open space for storage and transport is also inapprop- riate to the close-knit character of the inner city. Architects could contribute to these problems by showing what sort of physical solutions are possible. The profession, however, is appealing for architectural leadership in creating small enterprises housed in old buildings. One or two such projects may get off the ground, but the local authority is producing more than 20 units a year. Even if 40 small firms a year are born, creating, optimistically, 400 jobs, they are not going to go far in a Merseyside which announced over 8,500 redundancies in major industries in the first three months of this year and has unemployment in some inner areas running as high as 32%. No, what is needed is for architects to forget their entrepreneurial role (which isn’t going to create much impact anyway), and concentrate on simply using their skill as designers to create solutions which make it possible for the ideas of exist- ing local people and groups to be realised. A deeper dimension to the problem may be seen in that twelve giant firms account for 50% of employment. Only one of these is both locally-rooted and powerful enough to be considered internationally secure. The rest are either subsidiaries of national or foreign-based conglomerates which bear no allegiance to the area, or relatively out-worn local firms starved of the capital needed to re-equip. The furore over encouraging small firms and re-kindling the spirit of the free market and private entreprise can be seen as a smokescreen which provides optimism and diverts attention from the problems which the centralisation of big industrial capital is now posing. ‘Official Architects’ in the council's architects department control the building work of council committees. In the fifties and sixties the department was being built up on a big programme of work, some of it being put out to private practice. Although part of the state, these architects stand out for parity in status with private practices in the profession: the profession, in turn, has often been criticised for regarding its ‘official’ members as second rate. In Liverpool, the council architect's staff committee se. is to be dominated by people who are politically conservative and paradoxically, broadly opposed to an extension of state activity! With a run-down in council housing development and the growth of ‘Build for Sale’, for example, a proposal that the design and marketing functions of this new type of housing should be kept in the department never got through in spite of the fact that it was strongly backed by NALGO. Support from within the department was stalled. This was partly due to confusion created when members of the Association of Official Architects (the officer-architects’ union recognised by RIBA) warned of the danger of loss of professional status if they became too strongly identified with NALGO. The fact that surveyors constitute a strong element of the same staff committee compounds the problem: they have less to lose. Firstly, for example, the housing im- provement work that has been coming to the department has been done by surveyors who have lower fee scales. This is justified by the fact that overheads on an office built Up on massive housing developrrents are too high to allow a full architectural service. Active thinking on design, architects jobs and quality of service to tenants which could ultimately lead to reduced costs — al miss out. A second example is that surveyors have welcomed the council's share of the Advance Factory.programme, and indeed all types of industrial building on local authority sites in that the preparatory surveys and ground works fall fully within their speciality. But again, the opportunity for the type of deeper analysis of designs suitable to the locality (as outlined under ‘industrial building’ above) is lost. Employment in the architects department is down 30-40% on two years ago. Mech- anical and electrical service engineers working in the department hardly exist now, and work is going out to private consultants. The remaining supervision work on the council’s housing programme is running out. Designs still being prepared are axed as cleared sites go to ‘Build for Sale’. Educational work is at rock bottom. A programme of building for the police which has kept work levels up since 1970 is tailing off. The recently announced Maritime Museum project on the docks has gone out to competition with the council's department just on the list. Meanwhile there is no defence of the architects’ real potential, and attempts to make their services directly available to the community would be blocked for not going through proper channels. . Qrtta atatnat oe eleect C. THE LOCAL AUTHORITY ARCHITECTS’ DEPARTMENT D. PRIVATE PRACTICE. Architecture is effectively controlled by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) which constitutes the majority on the Architects Registration Council UK (ARCUK). An insight into the nature of RIBA can be had from a look at the people it has gathered for its annual conference, held in Liverpool in July 1978, titled ‘Living in Cities’ and calling for a ‘general commitment to the ideas of community architecture’ Firstly, a lot of members are excluded by the cost — £65 for three and a half days Fifty buraries are offered to help counteract this to people who can offer a few ‘well- chosen words’ on why they should go, but this is on the level of a competition on the back of a Cornflakes packet. So much for architectural communities — the same would apply to much of the rest of the city’s community. Looking at what was covered by the conference speakers it can be seen that the whole spectrum of a city politics is covered — the church, industry, land, the local and county authorities, central government, the USA, all on the first morning. The second day covers the inner city partnership programme (ICPP), and housing by a local councillor, local officer, housing associations and co-ops, private developer and finally, a county officer. A closer look confirms that the conference is an annual bandwaggon, a showpiece, revealing that RIBA is unable to make a serious attempt to assist with the city’s and architects’ problems. At the centre of the public image of architectural work is the private practice, similar to the medical or legal practice. There are lots of these practices in Liverpool. Their local club is the Liverpool Architectural Society (LAS) and they are represented in the North West Regional Council of the RIBA. The five or six largest firms appear to dom- inate the LAS, but below these there are twenty or more firms with two or more part- nersm and a whole host of further smaller firms. As in all small enterprises there is an intimacy about these latter which is a relief from the big hierarchies, although those who work in them are dependent on the partners’ relationship with clients and have to help cultivate the right social climate in the firm, whoever the client may be. 2. WHO CONTROLS US, WHO REPRESENTS US? While the larger and better established firms get what little number of jobs do come to them through the organisation of the profession, the smaller and medium-sized local firm is in fact extremely vulnerable and dependent on what clients it can attract. Desian skill is very much within this context. In one discussion in our group, for example, the job of working for a private housing developer was described as: to aim at a certain market: must have Georgian windows; areas to be designed strictly dictated and un- related to government minimum standards; no direct contact with house buyers; no garages; no ‘little extras’ in houses; no storage etc Another type of local practice as represented was based on ‘community’ and housing association work. In this case lack of finacial rewards is, at least initially, replaced by the satisfaction of working with, and the support of,the local community. These arch: itects were playing a part in community development. Architects have often been prime movers in the declaration of GIAs, HAAs or community schemes which have later been backed or taken over by the state. The resulting organisations such as the co-ops have then farmed a certain amount of work back to private practices. In this way, schemes get the more specifically ‘architectural’ attention which isabsent ‘in-house’, and seems to be only attainable within the old professional set-up The co-op which has fought successfully for its own new housing (mentioned above), for example, looked at inter- nationally-famous housing architects such as Darbourne and Darke before deciding ona local practice. Existing housing associations or co-op ‘in house’ architects were not con- sidered The Anglican Bishop begins by introducing the ‘social climate’ of Liverpool — thereby instating the the profession firmly outside the embarrassment of its position in worldy politics? The result is often politcal naiveté. Next, the object of the architect's work, the city fabric, is stated in a primarily visual and aesthetic way. The visual aspect may be an important part of an architect's work, but the primacy of the ‘aesthetic’ blinds many employed architects both in their education and later in practice, to their manipulation by developers, builders and others whose motives can be less easily acceptable. Will the speaker in this case, Theo Crosby, repeat his former mistakes? His praise of Cumbernauld New Town in 1962 points to his ‘visual blindness’: “Nearby (the municipal centre) on the north edge of the hill will be a group of tower blocks. From the hill there will be spectacular views in all directions, and this centre, with its wide terraces and broad flights of steps, could be the most exciting big new thing in Britain.”’ Fifteen years later, a Sunday Times popular splash against architects led pub- lic opinion that the centre was, in fact, “expensive, out of character, impractically sited on a windy hill. . wives were left to trudge the endless walkways and ramps to a city centre that, isolated from the passing pedistrian, couldn’t fail to be dull.” Next, John Worthington introduces “‘the private initiative”, dealing with industry in terms of “creating work through small entreprises, self-help”. This is coupled with David Palmer, a Chartered Surveyor, appealing to financiers to help with non-profit- making development of ‘difficult’ inner city sites. Land, finance and industry which are at the base of Liverpool's problems are skirted around. The conference official stimulus paper, “Living in Cities ” sees the problem as one of “a graduated balance between ‘the little things and the big things’ ...in a free market economy.” Good sites, roads, well-housed labour and a local authority with an empathy towards private enterprise are all that is needed, and “there is no reason why these things should not be provided” !To reduce such closures as that of Triumph at Speke or any other of Liverpool's recent disasters to this is naive. Furthermore, Palmer's appeal to goodwill from financiers (usually mostly insurance and pension funds) on land development can be little more than a cosmetic measure when they generally have to underwrite high land values to maintain high profit rates so that such things as‘our' pension funds keep pace with inflation. Does the professional practice have a part to play in the community? Some combine community action and involvement with getting their bread and butter from such design work as results from this activity Professional ‘independence’ may have some edge in communities over agencies hampered by local or national state departmentalism Attempts by local groups to organise their own lives always cross departmental and disciplinary lines, and in so doing often expose some of the real conflicting interests which the local authority sustains. The former Community Development Projects, backed by the state, did this and where disbanded when they exposed local interests of ‘big capitals’. Opposition to recent attempts by Liverpool community groups, under the umbrella of the LCVS, to gain a say in the DoE’s partnership scheme is a more recent example. Some architects have realised the need for community organisation, but in returning to the ‘bread and butter’ aichitectural practice for community groups, such design work as comes their way can only represent Community control within the confines of a design process as defined by the ethics and codes of professional practice There is a dilemma between private practice (architectural private enterprise) and community work. The ethic of independence combined with service in itself conflicts with the iater-disciplinary involvement needed in effective community control. This dilemma is also present in other small practices trying to maintain professional integrity in the face of increasingly desperate and competitive commercial and other clients. At the same time, Monopolies Commission investigation of the fee-scale, the rising cost of insurance, and the increasingly precarious legitimacy of the architectural profession loom large as factors in the insecurity of these firms OD. PRIVATE PRACTICE. While the larger and better established firms get what little number of jobs do come to them through the organisation of the profession, the smaller and medium-sized local firm is in fact extremely vulnerable and dependent on what clients it can attract. Design skill is very much within this context. In one discussion in our group, for example, the job of working for a private housing developer was described as: to aim at a certain market; must have Georgian windows; areas to be designed strictly dictated and un- related to government minimum standards; no direct contact with house buyers; no garages; no ‘little extras’ in houses; no storage etc Architecture is effectively controlled by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) which constitutes the majority on the Architects Registration Council UK {ARCUK). An insight into the nature of RIBA can be had from a look at the people it has gathered for its annual conference, held in Liverpool in July 1978, titled ‘Living in Cities’ and calling for a ‘general commitment to the ideas of community architecture’ Firstly, a lot of members are excluded by the cost — £65 for three and a half days Fifty buraries are offered to help counteract this to people who can offer a few ‘well: chosen words’ on why they should go, but this is on the level of a competition on the back of a Cornflakes packet. So much for architectural communities — the same would apply to much of the rest of the city’s community. Looking at what was covered by the conference speakers it can be seen that the whole spectrum ofa city politics is covered — the church, industry, land, the local and county authorities, central government, the USA, all on the first morning. The second day covers the inner city partnership programme (ICPP), and housing by a local councillor, local officer, housing associations and co-ops, private developer and finally, a county officer. A closer look confirms that the conference is an annual bandwagqqon, a showpiece, revealing that RIBA is unable to make a serious attempt to ass'st with the city’s and architects’ problems. The Anglican Bishop begins by introducing the ‘social climate’ of Liverpool! — thereby instating the the profession firmly outside the embarrassment of its position in worldy politics? The result is often politcal naiveté. Next, the object of the architect's work, the city fabric, is stated in a primarily visual and aesthetic way. The visual aspect may be an important part of an architect’s work, but the primacy of the ‘aesthetic’ blinds many employed architects both in their education and later in practice, to their manipulation by developers, builders and others whose motives can be less easily acceptable. Will the speaker in this case, Theo Crosby, repeat his former mistakes? His praise of Cumbernauld New Town in 1962 points to his ‘visual blindness’: “Nearby (the municipal centre) on the north edge of the hill will be a group of tower blocks. From the hill there will be spectacular views in all directions, and this centre, with its wide terraces and broad flights of steps, could be the most exciting big new thing in Britain.” Fifteen years later, a Sunday Times popular splash against architects led pub- lic opinion that the centre was, in fact, “expensive, out of character, impractically sited ona windy hill... wives were left to trudge the endless walkways and ramps to a city centre that, isolated from the passing pedistrian, couldn't fail to be dull.” Does the professional practice have a part to play in the community? Some combine community action and involvement with getting their bread and butter from such design work as results from this activity Professional ‘independence’ may have some edge in communities over agencies hampered by local or national state departmentalism Attempts by local groups to organise their own lives always cross departmental and disciplinary lines, and in so doing often expose some of the real conflicting interests which the local authority sustains. The former Community Development Projects, backed by the state, did this and where disbanded when they exposed local interests of ‘big capitals Opposition to recent attempts by Liverpool community groups, under the umbrella of the LCVS, to gaina say in the DoE’s partnership scheme is a more recent example. Some architects have realised the need for community organisation, but in returning to the ‘bread and butter’ a:chitectural practice for community groups, such design work as comes their way can only represent community control within the confines of a design process as defined by the ethics and codes of professional practice There is a dilemma between private practice (architectural private enterprise) and community work. The ethic of independence combined with service in itself conflicts with the inter-disciplinary involvement needed in effective community control. This dilemma is also present in other small practices trying to maintain professional integrity in the face of increasingly desperate and competitive commercial and other clients. At the same time, Monopolies Commission investigation of the fee-scale, the rising cost of nsurance, and the increasingly precarious legitimacy of the architectural profession loom large as factors in the insecurity of these firms 2. WHO CONTROLS US, WHO REPRESENTS US? At the centre of the public image of architectural work is the private practice, similar to the medical or legal practice. There are lots of these practices in Liverpool. Their local club is the Liverpool Architectural Society (LAS) and they are represented in the North West Regional Council of the RIBA. The five or six largest firms appear to dom- inate the LAS, but below these there are twenty or more firms with two or more part- nersm and a whole host of further smaller firms. As in all small enterprises there is an intimacy about these latter which is a relief from the big hierarchies, although those who work in them are dependent on the partners’ relationship with clients and have to help cultivate the right social climate in the firm, whoever the client may be. Next, John Worthington introduces ‘‘the private initiative”, dealing with industry in terms of “creating work through small entreprises, self-help”. This is coupled with David Palmer, a Chartered Surveyor, appealing to financiers to help with non-profit- making development of ‘difficult’ inner city sites. Land, finance and industry which are at the base of Liverpool's problems are skirted around. The conference official stimulus paper, “Living in Cities ” sees the problem as one of “a graduated balance between ‘the little things and the big things’ ... ina free market economy.” Good sites, roads, well-housed labour and a local authority with an empathy towards private enterprise arealthatisneeded,and“thereisnoreasonwhythesethingsshouldnot be provided” !To reduce such closures as that of Triumph at Speke or any other of Liverpool's recent disasters to this is naive. Furthermore, Palmer's appeal to goodwill from financiers (usually mostly insurance and pension funds) on land development can be little more than a cosmetic measure when they generally have to underwrite high land values to maintain high profit rates so that such thingsas‘our pension funds keep pace with inflation. Another type of local practice as represented was based on ‘community’ and housing association work. In this case lack of finacial rewards is, at least initially, replaced by the satisfaction of working with, and the support of,the local community. These arch- itects were playing a part in community development. Architects have often been prime movers in the declaration of GIAs, HAAs or community schemes which have later been backed or taken over by the state. The resulting organisations such as the co-ops have then farmed a certain amount of work back to private practices. In this way, schemes get the more specifically ‘architectural’ attention which is absent ‘in-house’, and seems to be only attainable within the old professional set-up. The co-op which has fought successfully for its own new housing (mentioned above), for example, looked at inter- nationally-famous housing architects such as Darbourne and Darke before deciding ona local practice. Existing housing associations or co-op ‘in house’ architects were not con sidered Where do architects stand? Strangely, local architects may gain from this uncertainty, in that in the rush to beat deadlines forproposals for applications, d ments can only agree to resurrect their old building programmes rather than Grand the money on re-organising a joint attack. This is, however, architecture by default; mor ‘ so when the DoE itself appears to be laying the blame, perhaps rightly, for the fousin disasters of the last twenty years on the shoulders of architects. But as our owndis : cussions have shown, to cut design skills out of housing altogether (viz. run-down of local authorities and fee -cutting in housinig associaitions) may be to throw the b. with the bath water. ; eo Further speakers on housing are unlikely to give much help to the situation of arch- itects as we find them: Allan Roberts of Manchester is likely to give short shrift to architects for their performance with system builders in the public housing programme. Liverpool's new Liberal housing chairman has recently “slammed the ‘hare- brained architects and clever-dick planners’ for producing ‘zany and often bizarre- looking’ council housing estates in the past. ‘Good homes are not created by last year’s architectural competition winner’.” Finally, Tom Barron expounds ‘Build for Sale’ — the architectural component of which has already been mentioned: is the conference onOFF IDO |BRASOF RL -— : es pnyEX HowAdeyourAovAME\—~ — FACTORY Jogs gens? / NS évs I} organiser crazy when he asks us to desecrate our own jobs by asking ‘what isstopping developersbuildingmorehousesforsale?’ +f After skirting round industry and land, J.P. Mcllroy represents, under ‘the public initiative’ just how determined a stand a local authority can take in ‘empathising with private enterprise’. Formerly chief planning officer of Labour -controlled Bootle, now chief executive of Tory-controlled Sefton, created out of Bootle and Southport after re-organisation, he has been known as a strong officer, perhaps above local politics. The effect of attracting private enterprise on the local community in Bootle, however. is questionable. A vast area of working class housing was removed, for example, to make way for the Stanley office development. Although this was justified as creating jobs for Bootle, the offices pull in workers from all over Merseyside, and certainly don’t discriminate in favour of local people with a background in manufacturing and port employment. Similarly, in conjunction with Ravenseft, Bootle wasprovided under Mcllroy with the New Strand shopping centre which gaveoutlets for major shopping chains while local shopkeepers went to the wall after promises of relocation made in return for passive acceptance of the necessary CPOs, fizzled out. To sum up, the profession founds us on the church and an aesthetic basis which blinds us in our compliance with the forces which control us. We may be gingered into another year of drudgery by a vision of small enterprise workshops and land develop- ment which will never get to the real problems. We have a local authority in which we are squeezed out between ‘attracting big business’ (using outside architects) and an in- ability to relate to the local community. And we are being by-passed in housing, both in the public and private sectors. We need a new political basis for organising ourselves. The RIBA continues to ‘represent’ us by drawing its alliances with the management of a political establishment which can still, in fact, do nothing but run the old city and its communities down The RIBA tries to excuse itself for doing this, and for letting a lot of its members go down, by trying to create an atmosphere of ‘regenerating the old city’ and ‘community architecture’ while our jobs disappear. The RIBA is rightly associated with the architects responsible for the disasters of the last 20 years, but bankrupt in terms of the representation of architects as they now stand. Thesearebuttwoexamplesofsomethingwhichhasbeenparallelledintheema ingofLiverpool.WhiletheimageofthewelfarestatehadbeenthatofSi e worstaspectsofwhollyfreeenterprise,peoplearerealisinghowthelocal Lea has complied in the rape of local communities; wholesale Gestruction ae reco! was justified as attracting industries — but these are now leaving town The confusion of the architects’ fall between private enterprise ange Sa ne continues in the next morning's discussion of the ICPP. Des Nevonee eRe ebfafsecdtwoFheNnethheTLrieyaesurpyanoeteherSEiOe raiealSOeusyaadthceireseeparate rs. The ICPP is thus unable to address itselfproperly tot e o saatlackinginthenecessaryeconomicteethtocreateaJohnat oe ral roblems. In Liverpool, local political instability (the former LIE nthe : hhasbeenreplacedbyaLib/ConpactwhenLabourgainedama}Can See clection’l further undermines because departmental policies are pitcne 9) each other for reasons of short-run political expediency. UNIVERSITY OF RIALTO Community Centre. eZmi ; by Commumty Architect SNAP PROJECT AREA New-buila Co-operative BENE Eos SSOP SMI EOGLIA Pies ies Se So/ : r SNAP improvement SHELTER’S original base KINGSLEY ROAD PRINCES AVENUE RATHBONE JOINERY WORKSHOP ADMIRAL STREET designed Plz Stetion > ~E " ROAD "DISTRICT CENTRE architect - STEBLE STREET BATHS CORN and YATES STREET HOUSINGaacCO-Ol’ Housing Co-op Rehab ESSEX STREET POLICE STATION ses ? S new uses for oldbuildings DS i> } MK “Zo< £ yy , es yeSis sem :a I ATon : . Wath Sa SS BRMeare Bieaol re ge BY NOE Ge he PH CBE R: 57 Peart e Sce43 35 PACK EDN ES au SERusfori f ‘<}|if cel}aed ;- pane ; : eS 30/2 ATi) y ae pal Eed| A bHee-}5;—f2erat| W f ) o2 A S ro°))I Otho LIVERPOOL ThWe Ae,ye *raine) , ie oO me BARA eS PARLIAMENT STREET Planning Blight" FAULKNERSQUARE Sate V—"o*m@BOEBEY BSSOY yoa cmtsy SQUARE Fehabilitation and Conversion eCOMeMUNITY SOG 3 rea race | CENTRE UPPER STANHOPE STREEY Commumity centre ED cee GRANBY STREET SHOPPING improvement Project MERLIN STREET First Urban Aid Community cenére WELLER STRRETS HOUSING CO-OP “TOWN TRAIL” OUR — examples of professional architecture in the community and the alternatives. be |shopping :Social secunty, 3. ARCHITECTS IN LIVERPOOL A look at the origins and post-war development of Liverpool will show the declining local architectural involvement in the changing power base of the city. It may also help to explain something of the situation we are in now, and point the way for a reformulated local organisation of architects which can play a stronger and more realistic role in what the planners who took part in one of our discussions characterised as in effect a policy of a “managed decline’ — which is something no-one knows how to handle. The RIBA conference stimulus question, ‘Should architects commit themselves to the entrepreneurial-catalyst role as professionsal leaders; is this a vested interest in disquise; if so does it matter?’ is entirely inappropriate to the position of local archi- tects and the demise of the inner city. In ignoring the rea/ industrial and economic base of the city it masks the true basis of a profession which is still a useful form of organ- isation to its largest and still successful national and international firms which are in alliance with big capital. Its purpose may be seen to encourage the continuance of an entrepreneurial attitude in its out-dated 19th century form among the mass of mem: bers led by the profession. This leaves local architects powerless to organise against the erosion of their position by an increasingly powerful central and local state working with ‘outside’ industrialists and developers who have the area in a stranglehold. Local practices still depend on ‘professional independence’ for their position, but are undefended against fee-cutting and loss of work to nationals. Local authority work is decreasing, while central state agencies such as the PSA increase their workload. Meanwhile, successful national and international practices, well capitalised and estab- lished at a higher turnover on lower fees, draw further into ‘unethical’ package dealing and speculative enterprise. There is little on the horizon to give Liverpool! hope that it has anything to gain from ‘international expansion’: yet the idea of a non-growth economy, participation in the management of decline, is as unpalatable to the city’s managers as it is to the local architects’ society. The latter seem content to cut each other's throats and sell out to outside interests (for example, the Liverpool Architect- ure Society’s passive acceptance of the demolition of the Lyceum, its own birthplace and part of ‘our architectural heritage’) in order that those in control will get what crumbs do come their way. In the 1930s, Liverpool's architects had an international reputation for what they were doing under the patronage of the port and related industries for the city itself. In a city which had been built up by its industrial bourgeoisie comparatively ‘overnight’, there had been a strong tradition of philanthropy followed by a model municipal government. The local authority were early in their patronage of architecture. Under Sir Lancelot Keay, the council housing developments of the 1930s attained a respectable architectural clothing which was coherent with the style of the city’s other great buildings, Both shared, for example, the influence of Dudok and the Dutch School School. Working class housing attained the image of equality with the city’s industrial base. But by the 1930s, the old industries were already in decline, and new ones seen to be needed. Keay’s housing culminated in the model community at Speke which was integrated with new factory building for modern industry. Liverpool was, then, an ideal setting for the 1948 RIBA conference to catch the utopian mood of the immediate post-war era. Keay, now the first public officer president of the RIBA sat comfortably next to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, architect of the cathedral and at the pinnacle of private practice. Architects were entertained to tea at the home of the major industrialist Lord Leverhulme whose family was renowned for philanthropy (Port Sunlight) and patron- age of the arts. The RIBA banner was instated in the new cathedral by the Archbishop of York, and the LAS, celebrating its centenary, was acclaimed for its position as a foremost regional society in the RIBA. rc Aé ' i ' 4 J36 e < 2 m= 8 ' > - = PO} 2UBA OYA SOV3A90 JHL VYuViLiyY | aetndodun uv ojur , ueeg aaey fee 33S VW¥GUYA ATHO 4Se tl 4 vyONY q StLIN3W OL LON “S3HDNH * Say euNq ywouN 942 JO, $2503 Tyosu <q *‘kerted hidw3 341 J¥dS dQHS LN¥I¥A 30 "609, 943 UT 4379 UT perderseauy TTeN@ITUR 03 @2UepUCdweZI0> ye03024 = Ot Seetyeratza i] 1OOd:JUe a sOUTPTOH IWS. t ss they 3729939 ¥ 3SNNKH 91 HOAONG @ ‘L3N193Hd Se OL a fe27j730 Wrepow sbtse02d 27 UT AON “Pp @sou 37 340m eeu @usy2e Ayes JO G212e4IHOW Guy3ueyIUe sua Aq Wate BYR J0J /OHS SSI13ISN 3HON NIAZ P2TINZAIq 2UealoTaAVpar 943 eD4 Tw9p 943 P PIN wpyob sNidens DNIMOG Visa “Sdcl¥ JH1 a1 NHorF °32S 39 49013 gunsg Aig joodieAry SS3713SN3S SIHL MONS SUDLIYNANODD OVIGIING TATT dN AN VAN fone gloss sa3HTANIAR PIO We = 2903804207 suoiyin 133415 J 49 3c SLNTA 311 *aeAys aya 228A ITUA POTPPTS pue uno; 4302) @1OUA Oa 2eatuore ‘o"d ‘AW 1SHL Lhso1e *(OP TH puw 10179495 I! u-kq-A1E @LON SJOdo|ereq OU If "3 QUOF 9say Aled *uoyTes>ep q ple peuu02, © 3¥ 26U2 290s O42 JO SpiwY 637 SOUCTA SY Cd Ut pegrsosep 419307 © PEND hing w#yNb *3 ‘wnesk] oyy Uywied pInon "qn st#O4UTPT ING peretr © epead ysyTousp oF H3UesUOD UO BayetT eay3 OU Sunnok'q YT :5::: WarBOGTwasnotrevival|CaaSTRERIEE;GERdtRhemovement ofinternaet-s tonal industries to Merseyside encouraged by state regional policy. While planned net towns were the basis of peripheral expansion, the old city retained its atmosphere ca dereliction inherited from the war, and still remaining after a lack of state control habitual to a continuing conservative local authority (planning committee chairmen of the time are heard to be accused of using development control to bolster up a clique of local practices). Liverpool's first Labour council only came in 1955. : The post-war generation of architects were less concerned with making buildings which were locally acclaimed than establishing their international reputations. It was the /nternationa! Style. This ran true to the disestablishment of focal capital and the need to ally with outside, rather than local interests to be successful. By the early 1960s Liverpool had a combination of a stronger Labour leader wanting a planned revitalisation of the city, the standard approach by a developer (Ravenseft again) to round up an unprecedented parcel of central land for a shopping precinct (St. John’s), proposals for motorway development round the city centre, and the emergence of arch- itect-plans for city development. Holford, an ex- Liverpool architecture student, was a professor in Liverpool at the time. He had been director of the war-time state Planning and Resources Agency, and strongly recommended another of the internationalist and utopian socialist post-war generation, Shankland to prepare a plan. (The fact that and Shankland’s practice was designing private hotels in Jamaica at the time — ‘breaMdodern It is important to note that the butter work?’ — didn’t appear contradictory). reform and Style, originated ina mood of left-wing social Movement, the International the method of a utopian harmony between a working class and capital: it was to cfaoprimtal in the post- restructuring the built environment alongside the restructuring of war era. establishment was on the way out. Shankland Pe Liverpool's older architectural road be demolishe 1965 posed that nearly all buildings within the proposed inner ringoutof date : merit’ for the reason that they were ‘unlessofarchitectural ofhighbuilding,‘toconte | of building capital). There was a policy repor Y we (Restructuring skyline’. Ata timewhen the Buena thetraditionofthewaterfront pedestrian/tra alae inTowns’wasinvogue,therewastobeacompletetopavethewayoer ee walkways. Hisproposals were oe asystem of high-level but since (het TN based Se fortheyoungergenerationoflocalarchitects, », ee are and the new In lustries, brought work to go round, 2 large proportion velopers, such as Ravenseft, was aval a andcentralise fact building the most tightly-controlled isa ediHeOAe oreo firmsandsystemsdevelopers The impetus of building aae The position of architects working in planning at the time has been aptly summar ised: “We were not planners and we had no concept of urban change. Our naive enthusiasm and pre-occupation with built architectural form must have been a headache for the inner city residents we met. We talked about how the areas were going to be well designed in the future; Hey talked about the lack of jobs and the bloody-mindedness of Town Hall officials. We were miles apart and we could not even see it.” The emerging economic crisis brought home the idiocy of reconstruction, and an increasingly devastated commmunity strengthened its opposition. Under Amos the policy changed from what could be conceived to what could be afforded. Develop- ment plans were limited to areas which were likely to see significant change in the short term. Rehab, community projects and Urban Aid programmes replaced recon struction. SNAP took place in 1969. More recent planning policy in an atmosphere of even greater uncertainty is to monitor social and economic trends in order to present coherent policy options as clearly as possible. Architect-planners could not be further ‘our’ BEFORE (right) amd AFTER (below) in the Tntenm Planning Policy Statement under Borin practices of the time. well-known. 7 ement of a separate planning department hee1haTiandarchitects’independentcontrolover Whe e satl A lot of the new planning staff were still architects by training, but (Rain, washing and football eee no ntrolofthecity’sgrowthandarchitecturalleadershipofitsimplement on ret Spada programme became divorced: this further weakened thepotential stronlipiasrpaeinthebuildingofthecity.BorextendedShanklandsmethods sakete LS(1963),stillinwhatnowseemsthestaggeringlybanalarchitect-plan o ie Sealing for‘more data. The NBA's report on the sie housing Tae ee arate j _taking into account the outlined First prope coat Transportation StudY 11969) perfected the proposed TheMere temonthebasisofnearuniversalcar-ownership.These,andother a mreoptoortrsway a ithin the era in which statistics were used blindly to justify reconstructions : In a context of unlimited work, the passing of local firms’ contro! was probably un- bute Liverpool sou has 2 fist divinon beans p) f eee andCrgeniseronof/tse/fisoutofKeywithwhatalotofarch- 4.WHERE ARE WE ACTION. ? NOW? ASPECTS OF ORGANISATION AND ACTION aie ; . Theexample of Liverpool's history indicates radical State aénd private capital. 7A form of orgganainsiastiaotnion isneeded whicChHIETiGscapablseeeofr standing how the forms of control which architects face have chanel Th eine fa Certain sections of both the state and private capital have grown to the point whe professional organisation’, ethics and ideas no longer hold sway over an increasing! i specific and technically-defined logic of big capital’s and giant Geganleattonsv grote Working for these, architects, along with many other skills including management need to defend themselves (and increasingly do) on union lines. But membership of even white collar unions is seen to contradict the ‘profession’ and ‘being an architect’, although many of these unions are based on defence of skills. The private-independent streak and professional pride run deep, even when architects are badly paid down- trodden and overtaken by better-organised skills. : ive? collective or co-operative . Ol raig reporting in the Liverpool Echo, May 1978 liverinseciets The Property Boom’, London: Pan 1968 , propcsats forSe As, however, ‘Local Government becomesgo Part of the way to so’ vingJthe pr ationoflocalauthority willonly eracs architects eltheyie 7;InterimPlanningPolicyState’ LiverpoolCityPlannin ‘C:ityit ii’ ' feySar BigBusiness oe ' uchnick,‘UrbanRenewalinLiverpool’,Occ.Pap.onSoc.Admin.NoS3,COT] a. ’ architecturewhentheyare Seon: i - See REFERENCES: Liverpool lDistricttLabour Part y, Housing Poliicy Statement, 1978 pene VEISOUCe Demantiing Merseyside: the collapse of Regional Policy’, New Statesman, 21.4.78 . lve, ‘Large Firms on Merseyside’, i |Poly, 1978 RIESMembershipList,1977"ert a Pt : Ceemy.CumbernauldNewTown’,ArchitectsYearBook10,1962 Conner jameson, ‘British Architecture: 30 Wasted Years’, Sunday Times 6.2.77 Tae ‘onaghy, ‘Inner Cities: Government Response’, RIBAJ July 1978 . ieat merenos‘BritishInnerCityPlanning:apersonalview’,Architect’sYearBook1974 eeewLitiverpoolCityCaeDnetpraertPmlean’t,,1965” ae ofcommuniOtFyotherwiseunrelatedtogia inLiverpooln’,eunpub.d=raft,LiverpoolUniversitiyoe forms practices of Post-War Planning aswioilfotchoemrmercial Le eatsmn Newoncnsummary inArchitecturean ey andeconomic baseofcities. tfrag¢mented ,butm e q NeusareasraeaingProfessions.’NAM1977 rch. Movt. (continued) ‘Publi i StatedepartmentsDeocallySHON“ fewrch.Movt.‘WorkingforWhat?TheCaseforTradeUnionOrganisation somewha' manageme! informerlyandmergedunderacorporate i X 197; SAGManifestoinAJ,3.5.78peasLene a centralised ise. rfunectioneee withprivateenterpris Jolhohn Bennington, ’‘Local Government Becomes Big Business’, COP 1976 which enables the state to keep pace aRaaeea Proposals arising from NAM’s recent conference on 2 Public Design Service (PDS) have pointed out how an architectural ideology founded primarily on private practice has given even local authority building programmes the image of private enterprise specifically from major new ideas coming from farming out projects to private practice and competitions. At the same time as bringing the local authorities into line with private enterprise In this way, architects have been becoming involved in specific corruption scandals in handling contracts with private building firms. Finally, now, local authority architects are again caught between private enterprise and the state, torn between their profession and unionisation as their departments are dismantled. These two articles are written partly from discussions held in the first half of this year by people interested in forming a non-professional group of building designers . Now a clearer picture has emerged, a group will be formed in the autumn to continue analysis, formulate action on certain issues, and take on projects. If you are working in architecture or building design, want to know more about architectural organisation and practice, doing or needing projects which involve a collective way of working etc., contact: ‘Designers Meeting’, c/o School of Architecture, University, Liverpool. A stronger, more democratic basis for planned control over the city’s development is needed and some planners in local authorities are moving In the direction of creating a basis for this. Local architects, having barely got over the passing of control from the city architects department and local practice, and then the architect-planner and nat- ional practice, must be now prepared to think in terms ofparticipating in decisions on the city’s development, not as leaders, but from a more realistic definition of their skills. (At least, then, the dangers of repetition of the blame for the tower blocks and the concrete jungle of the sixties could not be repeated). Private practice in a society founded on the free market and private enterprise !s still the basis of the Royal Institute of British Architects. As such they may effectively represent the interests of the management of a few large offices which act as consultants or leaders on the reorganisation of state or provate projects. The ethics and requirements of practice of these are increasingly far from those of employed architects and even medium and smaller private practices. By remaining under their domination, the majority of architects cannot help themselves. One current defence of professionals is that by the Salaried Architects Group inthe RIBA. This is likely to continue the tradition of a succession of ineffective union-type challenges within the RIBA unless it can completely expose the latter’s foundation on private enterprise and recognise that their defence of the ‘profession’ is tantamount to 4 defence of craft skill. The New Architecture Movement on the other hand, ha opened up the possibility of unionisation outside the profession through the AUEW white collar section, TASS — there are no TASS architect members in the North West yet. Ther a re a hanful of architects in the building industry’s STAMP, but this new organisation still has no policy on the building firms’ strengthening grip on design. In Liverpool, the need is to organise and co-ordinate action and discussion between architects and other groups along these lines. Designers need to open up adescription of their skills which enables them to work alongside other groups rather than feeling that if they do not lead, they have failed. There is an increasing number of examples of environmental and building work being done in either a collective or co-operative way. The contributors to group discussion were:— Mike Brown, Paul Coats, Chris Cripps, Robb MacDonald, Don Field, Pete Gommon, Bill Halsall, Jonty Godfrey, Frank Horton, Nigel Jones, Alison Lindsay, Graham Ward and others. The articles as published do not necessarily represent the views of contributors. Architects working In both the state and private sectorscould unite in mutual defence if the basis was an understanding of how their work fitted into the growth, change and interaction of private andstate capitals — rather than ae ums , sph competitive discourse confined to building form and techniques {which are, any increasingly outside our control). : ThePDSisaproposedreformationoflocalauthorityarchitectsdopeee ing in local areas. The RIBA’s move into ‘community architecture ,W' ich a a S te practice in the community, would be a similar venture if based on true par Se oiPaiaetivepractice.Whichisthebetterformat?Statepineoss eT from the relatively weak and private enterprise-oriented RIBA, whose prac 5. THE ‘REPRODUCTION’ OF ARCHITECTS Entry into the architectural profession is almost exclusively in the hands of the schools of architecture. Liverpool has two schools, at the University and the Poly If the first is too accademic, international in its outlook and disregards ; Liverpool, the second is too practical and local-signed to be more ‘practical’ and local in its caucus. These two schools have played the major role in supplying the members of the local architectural establishment (in addition to many architects for other areas). Only a few technicians and part-timers now make the grade, and this is not without a hard struggle during their attendance at the schools). going on. Of course, these general criticisms of architectural education are experienced by — individuals. In fact, education is very much a biographical process which isrevealed in the life cycle of individuals. Therefore, the following, partly factual, partly fictitious case study of Joey Bishop, a working class kid who makes the architectural grade, exams helped assessment and nearly al project work with little emphasis on written elped a poor exam performance and rewarded his consistent effort. jtectural education. +1 ie |' |at }| ly ——ssy —— + Pu r HF igCees a -- 4 | .@}| + ~— = a “ysoo iE 5 | 1 con ©t- Loe f HL Ls i an t nt \ (i ne fF|}— a Wace,an zCSE,EnglishLanguage2,EnglishLiterature1,Geography1, JoeyAeae andEngineeringDrawing1,Physics1.CSEhadbeengoodfor The process of producing professional architects is dominated by several bodies, notably the RIBA, who monitor intake standards and the content of courses. The RIBA Education and Practice Committee (EPEC) plays an important role in the con- trol of education. EPEC makes recommendations to the RIBA Council, where, if agreed to, they become policy and are put into effect by EPEC and its committees. One of the most important of the EPEC committees is the visiting board. Both the Liverpool schools have recently had visiting board inspections. The outcome ofa visit- ing board inspection Is a confidential report to the head of the school in which recommendations on standards and conditions are made. The weapon of refusal to re- cognise a course is a powerful force in the schools’ educational policy. Joey was born and brought up in a two bedroomed terraced house with no bath room and an outside toilet. He attended the local state primary school, he was a well btehaved and highly regarded pupil. He was expected to pass the 11+ and go on to the local grammar school. In 1962 Joey failed the 11+ examination — and was already classified by the system as a failure. Rather than the local Collegiate or Institute, it was Earle Road Secondary Modern School, ‘Never mind, Joey, there is always the 13+”, his mother had said. The 13+ never took place for Joey, and that was how much his mum knew about education. In fact, Earle Road’s greatest claim to fame was 4 first division footballer. Enquiries among both staff and students at both schools suggest a sparse under- standing of the way their architectural education ts controlled. The two aspects of architectural education, ‘skill teaching’ anda ‘liberal education’ are encompassed by both schools to different degrees, perhaps depending on whether salaried or manager- jal positions are aimed at. The Liverpool schools don’t seem to question whether their establishments are sutiable for achieving the aims of learning, which of the many architects, technicians or builders in the city they could'leatn their skills from, or how this should be done. The result is an ad-hoc exchange of arhitects’ contributions to teaching programmes in the schools in return for qualified people to staff their offices: this depends on personal contact and there is little awareness of what is really Things started to happen for Joey in his first year at secondary school; ‘he worked well and fully deserved his high position in class’ to quote his school report. He never asked many questions, but just got on and did things consistently well. To his teachers Joey was a good pupil from a good home, he was never in trouble, and always conscientious .. .head prefect material. When he was 14, Joey’s parents visited the eco andweretoldthatJoeystoodagoodchanceofdoingquitewellatCSE.They eenbreredanesayesbrightfuturefortheirson,theydidn’tknowwhatCSEwas Fords Cerin + 'poe aqualification, enough to keep Joey away from the docks or Ns aan ae y this tended towipe out Joey's previous failure at 11. The CSE and RenESRC wouldbeJoey's ‘saviour’.MrJames,thewoodworkteacher,who dbVAISERERKS inners than you have sawn wood’, was very influencial on Joey's the doing that urrounded by spoke shaves and planes Joey was in his element. It was Rbounthewinter:eee andnotthethinkingaboutit.MrJamestalkedalot Recreate Fine education and Joey was impressed. Secondary school years passed at English laser 2 ne about them. Top of the class after top of theclass. Bad only edithath pelling) he shone at geography and technical drawing. It was suggest- at hecouldaimforajobasadraughtsman. The discussion of fundamental issues is non-existent in both the Liverpool schools. What discussion that does take place centres around such issues as course content, the desirability of lectures as opposed to seminars, year structure as opposed to work-bases or exams as opposed to continual assessment, to the exclusion of all else. Any protest is futile, disunited and ineffectual. For example, student criticism of the courses ‘jacking in real life content’ is dismissed as being of small value simply by virtue of the fact that each student is there only for 3 or 5 years. Prehensi % icate inReais so itwas off to Anfield Comprehensive Schoo! with his CSE certif FROM THE COMMUNITY TO ARCHITECTURE ..... sere ieacoecomprehensivetotake‘A’levels.‘Everthoughtaboutdoing load isgene He oe. the goegraphy teacher had asked. In for a penny !n for a pound, bit ofa surprise Se results were no surprise to Joey’s English teacher, they were 4 what was going © Joey but more than anything else he didn’t really have any idea it was all about oa mowevaly and perhaps more importantly, no-one explained what really understoc AR fact, it wasn’t until his later years of university education that he Joey was od what matriculation meant. The family had misgivings, perhaps aiming too high. However, the school fought hard for a trial year at the com: might raise some questions about arch ’iii Joey Bishop is an architect, he was trained at the Liverpoo {University iSchool of arcnitectare! He is the only child of Joseph and Mary Bishop. Joseph isachargeliand in a local facory, Mary owns a small knitwear shop. They're a Liverpool family, the most prosperous and comfortably off in their neighbourhood. They own their or . terraced house, and Joey’s first real job is to process an improvement grant applicatio for his parents’ house. ciliata Joey's first task at the comprehensive was to decide which ‘A‘ levels to try for. Joey had been good at geography and had enjoyed the projects associated with it, so it was geography ‘A’ level for him. Geology was interesting and there were plenty of field trips so he had a stab at that as well. However, before Joey could get on with his ‘A’ levels he had to get one 'O' level in English. After two attempts he succeeded in passing with grade 5. Whatever came later, this, perhaps more than anything, proved to be the greatest failing of Joey's education. At the beginning of the upper sixth,, many of his school mates were considering teachers training colledes, polytechnics and universities. The headmaster at Anfield thought it might be worth Joey trying out an application form for university in addition to the technical colleges and polytechnics he was trying for. What to apply for? The only possibility seemed to be planning, well geography and planning went together. Six choices of university doing undergraduate planning degrees. . Sheffield, Birmingham Aston, Heriot Watt, Newcastle, Cardiff, Manchester. No offers, no interviews, in fact nothing. Joey felt hard done by. Brixton College of Building made him an offer of two C's and so did the local polytechnic, so Joey set his mind on one of these, at least, that was until September and the’A’ level results came along. Joey got an A and a B. The staff at Anfield thought it would be a good idea to go to a university, but it wasn’t as easy as that. Then came September 1970, and the UCCA clearing scheme; Course Code 5100, Architecture, Liverpool School of Architecture — without knowing what ‘architecture’ was, Joey was off on his architecture education. ‘Architecture, what's architecture?’ thought Joey. The postman brought him an answer in the form of a programme of pre-term work. A book list, from which Joey was to select two and write an essay. Already Joey was at 4 disadvantage. The letter also asked him to make a diary about his thoughts and react ions in observing and studying some designed artifact. ‘What's a designed artifact?’ Joey thought. His confusion was made worse by the helpful clarification ‘anything from a teaspoon to 4city’. The jargon of architectural education was introduced early on in Joey's education, even before he arrived at the school of architecture. Joey wrote about a block of high rise flats for his pre-term essay. He noted the simplicity and symmetry of the design. He wrote about the external facade of the block of flats, the surface patterns, colours and textures. Even at this stage, with only a few preconceptions, Joey assumed architecture was something to do with ‘facades’. He thought little of his home surroundings, a house without a bathroom in.an area suffering planning blight. He thought nothing about the community. In fact, despite living at home he was to become increasingly separat- ed from his home background. He was progressively cut off from the life of hissocial group and family; neither was he a member of the ‘street gang’ and, even at univers ity, sex came late for Joey. After all, he always did his homework. Arca tecsered fFae= Wet ope — Joey consistently equated architecture with drawing, so he thought he'd be ok. He knew he had done well at technical drawing and he thought his woodwork would be useful, Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The graphic artist, from the school of art knew how to draw, Joey thought, or at least it sounded as if he did. Joey never s2 him draw. One of Joey's first projects had something to do with the ‘considers’ .on of a line’. ‘As for his woodwork experience, well, that wasn’t really on either. The yea! Joey arrived at the school of architecture the one and only craftsman technician was being laid off, Whilst Joey was at the school the workshop turned into 4 glorified model making room withalittle used wind tunnel in one corner. : Architecture must have something to do with buildings, Joey thought, but people at the school of architecture kept telling him it was more than just buildings. In fact, during his first week at the school, Joey came to the conclusion that it was glossy architecture in the university and buildings in the polytechnic. For a short time the folk singing, records, wine and coffee till the early hours: became part of Joey’s life. An occasional visit to the halls of residence to visit ‘friends’. He replaced his football scarf with a school of architecture scarf and stopped ‘going to the match’ on Saturday afternoon. In his second year Joey questioned the value of a sketch design for 2 community centre in an area of high rise housing, when the local community had said they didn’t want one. At the external review of his work, the examiner suggested that Joey got on wath wba he was told to do without questioning projects. ; as ee Haan oe to concentrate on working, 4 language he knew well, Joey kepta easene rawingskillsdevelopedtoafineartandhedrewhiswaythrough Seciea : honours degrees. Professional practice and part three examinations in, but that aspect is another story. After fifteen years of ‘graft’, Joey had made it; an architect. coceretats school of architecture was no different than secondary school or the See Sistine Soeseee of hurdles, the scholarship fence which he had jumped by, Teetinesseea eae-Heacquiredfactsratherthanhandlingandusing eed aeal Tones Ps ed to thinkdifferently, to experiment to learn but he only Relsea hiner Be is personality. In this respect the school of architecture neither indered him. eeHaeendofthecourseJoeyiswellonthewaytobeingafullypaidupmember i urgeoisie — and he doesn’t understand how it happened. PES Uatie nen the school of architecture Joey was taught many lessons. He Seaeta noc x ofparty-goingandconversationtogetherwiththepatina anvehinatlierenee: isdrivetoworkandachievewasreinforced,and,if ee eien Mey ceue increasingly competitive. Joey certainly became a highly selt- Gea shone La Aa even arrogant. Equally, he was alienated and drawn away resha SEhGGIGE meee a .Finally, the practical skills he had acquired were too open, Joaeihcd osennh ecture design skills must be arcane. ranemnitting ae a powerful socialising mechanism as well as a knowledge Graledueston palyaere oe eauOn is a subtle, but important part of the architect- EMauEISeT IST;.rchitecturaleducationisamajorpartoftheprocessof se ttioniintalclise : eo of continually recreating and maintaining the architects thi tandawaranes ociety. In fact, itis an indictment of Liverpool's educationalists enes of this is buried in the sand. ; Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Group of Liverpool Designers Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978