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Housing Form and Crisis at Robin Hood Gardens: Spatial Politics

Keith Cox

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Published in Brutalism As Found: Housing Form And Crisis At Robin Hood Gardens (Spatial Politics)

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Robin Hood Gardens is a Brutalist housing estate in London that was designed by Alison and Peter Smithson and completed in 1972. The estate quickly became a symbol of the decline of social housing in the UK, and it was eventually demolished in 2017.

Brutalism as Found: Housing, Form, and Crisis at Robin Hood Gardens (Spatial Politics)

by Nicholas Thoburn

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11597 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Print length	:	90 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

In their book, Housing Form and Crisis at Robin Hood Gardens: Spatial Politics, authors Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigley argue that the estate's design was a direct result of the spatial politics of the time. They show how the estate's layout and architecture were intended to create a sense of community and belonging, but that this ultimately failed.

The book is a fascinating exploration of the relationship between architecture and politics. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of social housing, the work of Alison and Peter Smithson, or the spatial politics of the UK.

The Spatial Politics of Robin Hood Gardens

The Smithsons designed Robin Hood Gardens to be a utopian community. They believed that the estate's layout and architecture would create a sense of community and belonging, and that this would lead to a more just and equitable society.

However, the reality of Robin Hood Gardens was very different from the Smithsons' vision. The estate was plagued by crime, poverty, and social unrest. The residents felt isolated and alienated, and the estate quickly became a symbol of the decline of social housing in the UK.

Colomina and Wigley argue that the failure of Robin Hood Gardens was due to the spatial politics of the time. They show how the estate's design was intended to create a sense of community and belonging, but that this ultimately failed because it did not take into account the needs and desires of the residents.

The Legacy of Robin Hood Gardens

Robin Hood Gardens was demolished in 2017. However, its legacy continues to influence the design of social housing today. The estate's failure has shown that it is not enough to simply build affordable housing. It is also essential to create a sense of community and belonging, and to take into account the needs and desires of the residents.

Housing Form and Crisis at Robin Hood Gardens: Spatial Politics is a valuable contribution to the literature on social housing. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of social housing, the work of Alison and Peter Smithson, or the spatial politics of the UK.

About the Authors

Beatriz Colomina is a professor of architecture and the director of the media and modernity program at Princeton University. She is the author of several books, including Domesticity at War: The Family in the Cold War and Privacy and Publicity: Modern Architecture as Mass Media.

Mark Wigley is a professor of architecture at Columbia University. He is the author of several books, including White Walls, Designer Dresses: The Fashioning of Modern Architecture and The Architecture of Deconstruction: Derrida's Haunt.