The Twentieth Century Society

Campaigning for outstanding buildings

Modernist Bethnal Green Walk

Modernist Bethnal Green Walk

Thaddeus Zupančič will lead a socially distanced walk of post war modernist architecture in Bethnal Green.

Saturday 7th August 2021

10.30 am to 11.45 am

IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE BOOKING: PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE A SMART PHONE WITH THE ZOOM APP AND A RELIABLE MOBILE DATA CONNECTION (SEE BELOW).

We shall see numbers of examples modernist architecture commissioned by Bethnal Green one of the most progressive housing boroughs in London after 1951.

The Greenways Estate includes flats by Yorke Rosenberg & Mardall (1956-9), and two cluster blocks by Denys Lasdun, Sulkin House and Trevelyan House (1955-8, Grade II), which were significant for new ideas of urban form as well as their sculptural qualities.

Across the road is the Cranbrook Estate (1955-65) by Skinner & Bailey (and Lubetkin), which features one of Elisabeth Frink’s first public sculptures - the Blind Beggar and His Dog (1958, Grade II*) commissioned by the borough.

We will also visit the LCC’s Parkview Estate by De Metz & Birks (1950-3) and two schemes by Donald Hamilton, Wakeford and Partners (Approach Road Estate, 1951, and Approach Estate, 1960-2) for Bethnal Green, and one by John D. Hume, the borough architect of Tower Hamlets and his department, Patriot Square (1974-5); the last is just behind the former Bethnal Green Town Hall (Percy Robinson & W. Alban Jones, 1909-10, extended by E.C.P Monson in 1937-39), now a hotel.

Thaddeus Zupančič is a Slovenian-born writer and translator. On his Instagram account @notreallyobsessive he documents modernist council estates in London. He also manages C20’s Instagram account @c20society.

Meet time/place: 10.30 am at Bethnal Green tube station, in front of St John on Bethnal Green.

Finish time/place:  11.45 am at Bethnal Green tube station, in front of St John on Bethnal Green.

Members:  £15. Non-Members: £22.

Not a member yet? Join here and benefit from event ticket discounts. Looking to support our campaigning? Donate to our casework  here.

Participants must bring a fully charged smart phone with a reliable internet data connection, headphones and have downloaded Zoom on their phones in advance of the tour. Remember to stay at least two metres apart from each other where required. Zoom joining information will be sent out to all participants with the confirmation email before the tour. Get in touch with kate@c20society.org.uk with any queries.

Booking Closed

Unfortunately, booking is closed for this event and we are no longer able to accept new bookings.