A documentary about the Rowley Way Estate [Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate] in North London featuring the architect and residents. Made by residents of the estate with digital:works.
Love it , looks like it could do with a good power wash but apart from that amazing , every council estate in the country should look like this , very clever design inside and out x
I'd seen this place online when looking up Brutalist architecture and remember being so surprised the first time I went there as a courier because I didn't expect it to be relatively close to me (same with Abbey Road, which isn't far from there). It's a bit grimey to be honest. There's a definite urine smell coming in through the back bit where the railway line is and it looks a bit more run down in real life...And less stairs to carry heavy parcels up would have been nice. But it's certainly still a magical place for anyone who likes the somewhat Dystopian feel of Brutalism and the impressive plant displays of some of the residents. Plus there's trees growing even though the 'street' isn't on the ground level.
I think it's one of the few successful Brutalist examples ever built. But even then, you can see how people still yearn for colourful exterior and ornament that were common in other architecture styles. A similar council estate called Brunswick was successful in that it was painted in "cream" which references the Georgian terraces surrounding it. Still, I think there are better styles out there that respects human scale and more pleasing to the eyes than Brutalism.
It's a nice idea- a good way of incorporating greenery and contact to the street with building up. Its great that they can incorporate garden space in the form of the balconiesSome privacy in the flats would be good , and they could turn that odd wee space into a park. It needs a good clean though.
![One Below the Queen [long version]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/30AYn_kc0Co/mqdefault.jpg)
![One Below the Queen [long version]](/img/tr.png)
this place is an architectural masterpiece... especially for a council estate. Great stuff.
It truely is I sprang most of my young years here with my aunt but she recently passed so the family moved.
Love it , looks like it could do with a good power wash but apart from that amazing , every council estate in the country should look like this , very clever design inside and out x
Where would you rather live, in an urban box apartment or in place like this that celebrates community and challenges its residents to grow?
Excellent observation.
amazing film!
I'd seen this place online when looking up Brutalist architecture and remember being so surprised the first time I went there as a courier because I didn't expect it to be relatively close to me (same with Abbey Road, which isn't far from there).
It's a bit grimey to be honest. There's a definite urine smell coming in through the back bit where the railway line is and it looks a bit more run down in real life...And less stairs to carry heavy parcels up would have been nice.
But it's certainly still a magical place for anyone who likes the somewhat Dystopian feel of Brutalism and the impressive plant displays of some of the residents. Plus there's trees growing even though the 'street' isn't on the ground level.
I think it's one of the few successful Brutalist examples ever built. But even then, you can see how people still yearn for colourful exterior and ornament that were common in other architecture styles. A similar council estate called Brunswick was successful in that it was painted in "cream" which references the Georgian terraces surrounding it. Still, I think there are better styles out there that respects human scale and more pleasing to the eyes than Brutalism.
AMAZING architecture. The locals will have been priced out the area now :(
My nana used to live here, we were pretty much raised here in the 80s. And I might be wrong, but the 2008 horror film Colin may have shot scenes here.
I've seen this from the bus. Fascinating to see what it's all about.
Work in the boiler room of this place... place is shambles
14:48 geo-enginerring... 18:05 more geo-engineering
you can really tell the difference between the original council tenants and the ones who have bought their flats..some come across a bit snobby
Lefty vegan types.
It's a nice idea- a good way of incorporating greenery and contact to the street with building up. Its great that they can incorporate garden space in the form of the balconiesSome privacy in the flats would be good , and they could turn that odd wee space into a park. It needs a good clean though.
13:00 geo-engineering
CAKU
Hell
christ. the guy at 7.21, with the white hair is soooo friggin negative, ae.
He's so annoying.