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All the United Kingdom England London Blenheim Gardens Estate

Blenheim Gardens Estate

A wonderfully preserved example of London's 1960s-style high-density, low-rise public housing.

London, England

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Partridge
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Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Blenheim Gardens Estate.   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Blenheim Gardens Estate is a beautifully maintained and living example of the  1960s public housing vision of Ted Hollamby.

London in the 1950s and '60s was facing a public housing crisis as a consequence of the destruction from World War II and the growing urban population. Driven by government housing density targets, many new-build developments resorted to high-rise blocks, with the accompanying undesired consequence of a loss of community feeling.

In 1963, Hollamby was appointed as the chief architect of the south London borough of Lambeth. He set about implementing his vision of liveable, low-rise public housing, which nevertheless met the practical need of a high density of inhabitants.

Blenheim Gardens Estate, built between 1969 and 1974, is one of the best-preserved examples of such architecture. It remains a lively and mixed community to this day. It has features that characterize the work of Hollamby and his team, including separate vehicular and pedestrian spaces, a landscaped central mall, flats above garaging, and community buildings.

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Urban Planning Houses Architecture Homes

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Blenheim Gardens Estate is around 15 mins on foot south of Brixton rail and underground stations. It is immediately north of Brixton Windmill.

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Partridge

Published

May 3, 2019

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  • http://research.historicengland.org.uk/redirect.aspx?id=6324|%20Housing%20in%20Lambeth%201965-80%20and%20its%20National%20Context
Blenheim Gardens Estate
25 Prague Pl
London, England, SW2 5ED
United Kingdom
51.455082, -0.127059
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