RUS IN URBE – Alton Estate, Roehampton Walk
RUS IN URBE – Alton Estate, Roehampton Walk
Saturday 3 September 2022
Start/ Finish time: 11.30 am/ 1.30 pm
Place: Roehampton Library, 2 Danebury Avenue, SW15 4HD
Suzanne Waters will lead a walk around the LCC Alton Estate (1953-1959), Roehampton, looking at both Alton East and Alton West. Alton East, built slightly earlier, was greatly influenced by Scandinavian architecture. Whereas Alton West demonstrated the trend to towards New Brutalism espoused by Reyner Banham, seen in the Corbusian inspired slab blocks on Downshire Field.
The Alton Estate is one of the icons of the post-war public housing programme of the LCC Architects Department, under Sir Robert Matthew, which pioneered a mixture of high and low-rise on their estates. The architects designed a layout which respected the site’s topography, with landscaping that enhanced the picturesque setting.
In the past few years some of the buildings on the estate have been threatened with demolition, including Allbrook House and Roehampton Library and more recently Laverstoke Gardens. Hence the reason for our visit.
Suzanne Waters is an architectural historian currently working at the RIBA who was brought up on the Alton Estate.
Members: £16 Non-members: £18
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The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
Above: Allbrook House and Library, Roehampton. Photograph: Historic England (James O. Davies)