Shock new bid to save Robin Hood Gardens

Seven years ago it became a cause célèbre following proposals to knock it down.

But Robin Hood Gardens, the Alison and Peter Smithson-designed housing estate in east London, is still standing and now a fresh attempt is being made to preserve it for the nation.

Heritage lobby group the Twentieth Century Society has put in a new bid to have the 1972 ‘streets in the sky’ buildings listed after its certificate of immunity from listing - granted by then Culture secretary Andy Burnham in 2009 – expired.

A new report by the Society sent to English Heritage argues that the heritage quango’s advice to government not to list the estate was flawed.

The report said: ‘We believe that none of the reasons given for not listing Robin Hood Gardens is convincing or properly evidenced according to listing criteria, and that the previous decisions not to list were unsound.’

Richard Rogers, who in 2008 compared Robin Hood Gardens to the ‘great crescents and squares’ of Bath and argued that its demolition would be a tragedy, said he was delighted by the new listing attempt.

He said: ‘I can only say “three cheers”.

‘Robin Hood Gardens is one of a handful of great low-cost housing estates. It was a world-shaking building but it’s been looked after appallingly. Whatever anyone says, I don’t know of better modern architects than the Smithsons: they were certainly outstanding.’

The report argued that English Heritage misunderstood or misrepresented key aspects of the scheme’s design intent and level of success including its landscaping and street decks.

Robin Hood Gardens was a world-shaking building

The society also claims the global reputation of the Smithsons has grown in the past five years, adding: ‘No other British architects of the post-war era have the same international reputation as the Smithsons, save for James Stirling – who built widely abroad.’

And it questioned English Heritage’s assertion that the building is suffering from spalling and concrete decay.

‘The building has had no maintenance since 2000 while its future has been debated…The spalling is relatively minor and there is not known to be any other form of decay, either visible or invisible that cannot be readily rectified with modern repair techniques,’ the report said.

A spokesperson for English Heritage said the Twentieth Century Society had submitted its report following an application for a new certificate of immunity put in by Tower Hamlets council last year.

They added: ‘We are currently in the process of considering all consultation responses before making our recommendation to the Secretary of State.’

Robin Hoods Gardens is set to be replaced by the second phase of the 1,575 home Blackwall Reach regeneration project, masterplanned by Aedas. It is understood architects have yet to be officially appointed for the work.

In a joint statement, Tower Hamlets council, the Greater London Authority and development partner Swan Housing Association said: ‘A thorough heritage impact assessment was carried out as part of the planning application and environmental impact assessment process…We do not believe listing the buildings now would be in the best interests of residents or the wider local community, or in keeping with the changing nature of the place.’

A council spokesperson added: ‘As a council, we have a duty to provide housing that is of a decent standard for local residents. Our plans for the Blackwall Reach area will meet that duty and also bring much-needed benefits to the area.

‘Further to extensive consultation by English Heritage, the Secretary of State will decide whether the building should retain a certificate of immunity.’

Previous story (AJ 08.01.15)

Planning victory for latest phase of Robin Hood Gardens overhaul

Karakusevic Carson Architects has won permission for this 242-home, three block scheme at Robin Hood Gardens, east London

The ‘robust brick buildings’ – officially phase 1B of the Blackwall Reach Regeneration – will replace warehouses to the south of Alison and Peter Smithsons’ famous Brutalist housing estate.

The first of the 1972 ‘streets in the sky’ buildings – the west block – will not be flattened until after permission for phase 2 is approved. Demolition work has been scheduled for late 2016.

The scheme, which also includes a new public square, is backed by Swan Housing Group, the GLA and the London Borough of  Tower Hamlets (AJ 06.06.13). 

Last year Metropolitan Workshop Architects and Jestico + Whiles were appointed to review and ‘refine’ the Horden Cherry Lee and Aedas-designed masterplan for the wider 7.7-hectare site, which won outline planning in March 2012.

8 then architecture minister Margaret Hodge refused to list the Smithsons’ buildings, agreeing with English Heritage that the concrete housing estate was not a fit place for people to live in.