FuckYeahNewEmpiricism - a top ten

So fuckyeahbrutalism is obviously A Thing. But I think I might be unable to resist the pull of New Empiricism, essentially a competing modernist ideology of the mid-twentieth century characterised initially by Swedish welfare state design. Unlike Brutalism it's not flash or out there. It's, as the Swedish welfare state suggests, gentle and sober and sensible. It's all about humanising detail rather than brutal functionalism. And in the UK this form of polite modernism has been more or less ignored, even though there's tons of it everywhere, from schools and hospitals to point blocks and flats. So here's a top ten celebrating the joys of the overlooked and underfooked: fuckyeahnewempiricism.

1. Lansbury Estate

The Lansbury Estate was the live architecture exhibit for the Festival of Britain. Constructed in a comprehensive development area in Poplar and designed by Frederick Gibberd, the estate was thought to be somewhat of a disappointment on completion, not feeling quite modern or exciting enough. But it's stood the test of time and Chrisp Street Market is still hugely popular. And yes it is named after Labour MP George Lansbury, Angela's grandad. Pic from here.

2. The Lawns

The Lawns, Harlow. Britain's first point block, and, as regular readers of this blog will know, somewhat of an obsession. Frederick Gibberd may have relieved some of the shock people felt about it by adding lots of irregular detail, starting from the clamshell shape of the plan.

3. Broadgate

Broadgate, Coventry. Broadgate was Coventry's first major piece of reconstruction after the Blitz, civic architecture in the centre of the city bounding a square. It was opened in 1948 by Princess Margaret, and a key part of planner Donald Gibson's vision for the new city centre, leading off to pedestrian precincts, so experimental at the time. Photo.

4. Bracknell

Bracknell is like a miniature version of fifties Coventry. It's all underpasses from the station to the low rise town centre. Designated a new town in 1949, its town centre is currently being knocked about for modernisation. There's tons of pretty postwar murals and details set to go. Town planning in Bracknell has received much attention thanks to The Wrong Mans.

 5. Ackroydon Estate

Ackroydon Estate was one of the first major postwar housing estates in London, designed by Robert Matthew's team at the London County Council in 1950. This pic is of one of the point blocks, but it's perhaps the smaller t-shaped blocks that most hark back to a Scandinavian heritage. Picture.

6. Kidbrooke Comprehensive

Kidbrooke School was one of the first purpose-built comprehensives, opening in 1954. It's perhaps in school design that New Empiricism was really to have its day, the combination of functional space with friendly detailing and colour perfect for the job. Picture.

7. Congress House

Congress House, home of the TUC, was the only other major public building completed in the age and style of the Festival Hall. It's one of my favourite buildings, from these Bauhaus-y balconies to the curving walls of aquamarine tiles and beautiful wood-panelled function rooms, it's a masterpiece. It's just yards from where I work, so I try to walk by every day just get an extra fix of slinky New Empiricism at its best.

8. Lordship Lane Estate

Lordship Lane Estate. When it comes to cute detailing on municipal flats, it doesn't get much better than the 1950s Camberwell Council-designed blocks that form the Lordship Lane Estate in East Dulwich. The balconies are every bit as quirky as the boxes in the Festival Hall. Pitched roofs have been added to the buildings, but it doesn't look off because of the use of acute and obtuse angles in the original design. The landscaping, upkeep and situation of the estate next to Dulwich Park has meant that it's among the most handsome in London.

9. Stevenage Town Square

Stevenage Town Square is a great example of the mild modernism of the early new towns, such as Crawley or Hatfield. Low-rise, propped up on spindly stilts, and with a slightly jaunty air, the town square compliments the (more famous) clock tower and fountains. Great article, from which this postcard is taken from, at the ever-brilliant Municipal Dreams.

10. New Addington

New Addington. Naturally, I can't complete a list without boring on about my home town, and here's an example of developer-led mini point-blocks from North Downs, with jaunty balconies in a Festival-style. There's such a variety of these on the estate because there was both a bit of a developers free-for-all to hit the numbers of homes needed, combined with the pressure of being in the green belt, so that post-1955 pretty much all building had to be done within the existing boundaries of the estate. New Addington is way more New Empiricist than Brutalist, which probably explains this blog.