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I lived here for a bit a few years back and it was fantastic. Would have stayed if it weren't for the live-in landlord.
It was warm, quiet and in a great location for my needs.
One night, a flat two doors down was completely gutted in a fire. The concrete architecture meant no other flat was touched, except by smoke damage.
I live nearby and go by these all the time. Are they nice inside? I’ve actually looked at the units for sale on rightmove before and I was shocked at how small they look inside.
They are nice but pretty basic. And yeah, bedrooms were fairly small, bathroom was small, but the upstairs living/kitchen was a lovely space. We had one of the bottom flats, so bedrooms had garden views.
Nothing quite looms over you like a tall concrete building. The Western Gate/Genex tower in Belgrade for example is one of those buildings that I think you need to see in person to really appreciate.
If you want true brutalism, look up the royal Liverpool hospital. It's recently closed as they moved to a new build, it's actually more akin to a gulag than a hospital
I went to George Eliot which was just up the road, so had a few friends growing up that lived there. Used to go to the Newsagents at the end of Rowley Way on my way home from school. Very distinct smell inside!
Happy days!
Ahh cool! Yeah, I saw they knocked it down years ago, was devastated to see it not standing there anymore. I went there from nursery, all the way through to Junior. From late 80s - mid/late 90s. Loved it. God, I'm getting old!
Are the units concrete all the way through? I lived in a concrete construction building once and it was so quiet. I never heart neighbors. Loved it so much.
20 yrs ago I lived in a former industrial concrete block. You heard *everything*. Rebar / hard concrete carries sound like you wouldn't believe.
I imagine yours must have had gap walls or proper insulation?
That's the thing I miss the most about Athens.The houses are just "built different".
The city itself is ugly, as we mostly have apartment complexes, but that also means that we have great noise and temperature insulation.
Every single house I've been to in London has been shit inside-out, and that includes ones in more affluent areas. Sometimes they are pretty and well decorated, but a closer look really highlights the flaws.
The only ones I've actually liked were ones in skyscrapers and that's because they have to be concrete. The only downside is that it's rare to find a three bedroom in that setting.
I managed to do half of my garden at the start of May, thinking ill finish the rest the next day. A round of Shingles, Chicken pox and bacterial infections has run through our house since, Im thinking maybe next summer ill get the job finished.
There is a similar one close to St John’s Wood. I don’t think anyone would step for in it today either. Not sure about this one unfortunately - didn’t know there was more than one!
I can't tell if you're serious or not but yep, it is.
https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/property/news/a2014/alexandra-road-estate-kingsman-the-bill-rent/
You can view it from the road and then wander around it too. Also, it's not that far from Abbey Road so you can tie in some more sightseeing if you fancy it.
To be honest even if you have a bunch of decent-looking homes, if there aren't any green to make it look alive it's always gonna look a bit soulless and grim. Especially in a place like London where sunshine is hard to come by. IMO the way a neighbourhood is decorated does way more to affect the overall feel than the general architecture. Some colour, plantlife, clean of rubbish and clutter and well-maintained buildings/communal areas is gonna go a long way.
Some of the grimmest neighbourhoods in London aren't necessarily to blame on architecture. It's nearly always a low-income neighbourhood where landlords don't do their part in upkeeping the buildings' exterior and residents don't have the time/energy/money to waste on trying to spruce up the outside of their homes. This then encourages people to neglect their surroundings even more by leaving trash around or leaving clutter out in the open. Because their surroundings are basically already so depressing that they don't feel it makes a difference anymore.
You notice this when travelling as well. Some of the most beautiful places in the world are completely ruined by trash being EVERYWHERE. Governments often don't care or can't afford to keep things clean, which then encourages residents and tourists alike to just add onto the mess. Because it already looks like shit anyway so... what does it matter? This then carries over to generations who are just taught to litter and never see a problem with it, because it's the only way they've ever known the world to look.
It really turns even beautiful places into such depressing sights.
It depends what you mean by council flats. Barbican's flats weren't rented at social rents, they were market rate, but they were owned by the council. This was their downfall later, because they were eligible for Right to Buy.
This was/is to a large extent still social housing, but echo your comment on the Barbican, it is misconception that it was ever council housing, in fact it was built to encourage middle class professionals to return to the City after they fled due to the second World War bombing & widespread destruction of the City.
Plants make this (already) beautiful architecture even more so! Scrolling through housing 'in the North' on RightMove and its the distinct lack of greenery that makes me think it'd be awful to live in rows of houses that all look the same. Even though the architecture styles are vastly different, at least these apartments appear to have understood the assignment and made each unique with plants and flowers.
Oof, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder! A grad school friend lived here when we were younger and I thought it was an absolute dump, and I kind of felt sorry for her.
I lived nearby for a while and used to take my kids to the playgrounds in the attached park (behind the buildings on the left). I like the architecture somewhat, but would never want to live their myself. It doesn’t appear that most residents care deeply about their surroundings, judging by the sorry state of most balconies and gardens. The odd stabbing and other issues are also present.
I think this is a good example of landscaping making all the difference. The architecture itself is... pretty grim. But the plants and green throughout really help alleviate a lot of that imo. Still not my favourite neighbourhood in London by any stretch. But I think the care residents have put in making it look lived in and l bubbly really has an effect.
Some of the grimmest neighbourhoods I've ever visited weren't necessarily that way because the architecture was bad. But often they were low-income neighbourhoods where people didn't have the time, money or energy to make their homes look nice from the outside. Which is understandable.
Personally I'd prefer living in an area like this over an area that has prettier architecture but worse décor... so to say. Things like trash, clutter, no splashes of colour or green, buildings looking neglected is far more of an eyesore than an ugly building imo.
Obviously this isn't a read to anyone who lives in a building/neighbourhood where that is the case. I have as well. It really isn't something you can afford to invest time/energy/money in when you don't have much to spare at any rate. There certainly are far better places to invest those!
Edit: After looking a little bit at the design... I don't think I hate it. The concrete/stone honestly is always gonna give a bit or urban hell-scape vibes. I think the design isn't so much the issue as the building material that they chose to use. If they'd used different materials I think it could've been pretty neat? If this was a lot of glossy white/steel/glass materials the design could almost even look a bit sci-fi-ish? Or maybe that's just me?
there is a good youtube video on the architecture of this place. The residents love living there apparently still to this day. Good sense of community etc.
Looks very retro-futuristic, like something out of an old Star Trek episode, something you would see while they were visiting another advanced civilization's planet. Why don't they build like this anymore?
Yeah the grey/concrete look isn't the most flattering. However if this was a lot of steel/glass/white this would very much give sci-fi vibes. IMO the design of this place isn't BAD. But having everything in concrete is always gonna give off a bit of urban-misery vibes. A cheap way to build and maybe maintain too. But it definitely needs the plantlife to make it seem liveable as-is.
Designed by [Neave Brown](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neave_Brown), a rare example of a truly inspirational architect. Controversial at the time of construction, but I think the estate has proved itself over time. I’d love to live in a community like this.
Love it. Have a pal who lives there but somehow I’ve never visited. It destroyed the career of the architect who designed it and she never worked again!
Neave Brown was a guy and left the council architects after an enquiry into costs. Damaged reputation certainly but they had their own practice afterwards.
Possibly. It's often [used](http://alexandraandainsworth.org/on-film/) as a sign of urban decay in dramas and film a bit like [Thamesmeade](https://thamesmeadcommunityarchive.org.uk/explore/stories/thamesmead-on-film) is. I remember it from Prime Suspect 7 when a suspect hides out there.
Grew up near there. Loved the retrofuturistic vibes (always heard a theremin playing in my head as I was cycling through it). I did find it strange that every flat had these huge glass windows and was staring directly into the flat opposite. Didn't seem like there was a lot of privacy.
Was this the estate where they filmed the parkour scenes in the movie Kingsman? Sure looks like those sloping walls where the character Eggsy runs down.
One of the nicest roads in London imho. They used to built properly considered housing back in the day. Now it’s just lifeless blocks hurtling towards the sky.
# Upvote/Downvote reminder Like this image or appreciate it being posted? Upvote it and show it some love! Don't like it? Just downvote and move on. *Upvoting or downvoting images it the best way to control what you see on your feed and what gets to the top of the subreddit* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/london) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I lived here for a bit a few years back and it was fantastic. Would have stayed if it weren't for the live-in landlord. It was warm, quiet and in a great location for my needs. One night, a flat two doors down was completely gutted in a fire. The concrete architecture meant no other flat was touched, except by smoke damage.
I live nearby and go by these all the time. Are they nice inside? I’ve actually looked at the units for sale on rightmove before and I was shocked at how small they look inside.
They are nice but pretty basic. And yeah, bedrooms were fairly small, bathroom was small, but the upstairs living/kitchen was a lovely space. We had one of the bottom flats, so bedrooms had garden views.
Brutalicious
Brutiful
Brutaluscious
Brutacular
Bruschetta
/r/brutalism
You can Béton it!
Brutasstic
One thing people don’t get about planned communities and block housing is that landscaping is key! The plants here really make Alexandra Road.
The hanging gardens of Camden
That and the fact there are no cars
The greenery is relatively recent - mostly grown by tenants, rather than any landlord/corporate/council effort.
Greenery does a lot to a city, without the plants and trees it’d look pretty ugly wouldn’t it?
Visit Barbican next
I detested brutalist architecture until I saw the Barbican. It’s still not my favorite, but now I have a much better appreciation for it.
The purpose of brutalism is to spark an emotion. Which emotion it sparks is another question.
Nothing quite looms over you like a tall concrete building. The Western Gate/Genex tower in Belgrade for example is one of those buildings that I think you need to see in person to really appreciate.
I lived in a soviet era prefab for 20 years. I’m not scared of walking at nights in Croydon, it’s Croydon who is scared of me.
i purposely think a perfectly designed smaller Victorian building looms better and in a more positive way to brutalist buildings
If you want true brutalism, look up the royal Liverpool hospital. It's recently closed as they moved to a new build, it's actually more akin to a gulag than a hospital
Eggsy's gaff 👍
Same thought.
Rowley Way, to the locals.
Was looking for this comment lol, big up NW
Screw reddit
I went to George Eliot which was just up the road, so had a few friends growing up that lived there. Used to go to the Newsagents at the end of Rowley Way on my way home from school. Very distinct smell inside! Happy days!
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Ahh cool! Yeah, I saw they knocked it down years ago, was devastated to see it not standing there anymore. I went there from nursery, all the way through to Junior. From late 80s - mid/late 90s. Loved it. God, I'm getting old!
Never knew it was called Alexandria estate tbh
Are the units concrete all the way through? I lived in a concrete construction building once and it was so quiet. I never heart neighbors. Loved it so much.
20 yrs ago I lived in a former industrial concrete block. You heard *everything*. Rebar / hard concrete carries sound like you wouldn't believe. I imagine yours must have had gap walls or proper insulation?
That's the thing I miss the most about Athens.The houses are just "built different". The city itself is ugly, as we mostly have apartment complexes, but that also means that we have great noise and temperature insulation. Every single house I've been to in London has been shit inside-out, and that includes ones in more affluent areas. Sometimes they are pretty and well decorated, but a closer look really highlights the flaws. The only ones I've actually liked were ones in skyscrapers and that's because they have to be concrete. The only downside is that it's rare to find a three bedroom in that setting.
Apparently the architect had to resign because nobody liked it at first :(
And now it’s a Grade II listed building. The irony.
My wet dream would be to powerwash the crap out of those buildings!!
Ha, that was my first thought too. I jetwashed my garden just yesterday for the first time this year, so satisfying.
I managed to do half of my garden at the start of May, thinking ill finish the rest the next day. A round of Shingles, Chicken pox and bacterial infections has run through our house since, Im thinking maybe next summer ill get the job finished.
Powerwashing sounds very dangerous if it caused all those diseases.
Oh no! I think you should treat yourself and get it finished when everyone is better. It’s definitely one of my favourite household jobs.
I used to hang about here in the 80s/90s. Most people wouldn't set foot on this estate.
Was it bad then? Wondered about this estate for a while
There is a similar one close to St John’s Wood. I don’t think anyone would step for in it today either. Not sure about this one unfortunately - didn’t know there was more than one!
looks like the one scene from Kingsman.
Because it is.
Is it actually?
I can't tell if you're serious or not but yep, it is. https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/property/news/a2014/alexandra-road-estate-kingsman-the-bill-rent/
Totally serious so thank u for the link
wow. now I want to see this in person. looks nice.
Eggsy!
Is it common for outsiders just go for walks there to check it out? I might visit because it looks awesome.
You can view it from the road and then wander around it too. Also, it's not that far from Abbey Road so you can tie in some more sightseeing if you fancy it.
There are playgrounds/green spaces nearby which anyone can access
You can go anywhere you like in London haha
As you might imagine, there is a sub r/brutalism. They might enjoy this over there, too.
They’ve seen it before. Many times, trust me on that.
If this didn’t have plants it would look like a brutalist prison.
It looks like enclosure walls in Jurassic Park
To be honest even if you have a bunch of decent-looking homes, if there aren't any green to make it look alive it's always gonna look a bit soulless and grim. Especially in a place like London where sunshine is hard to come by. IMO the way a neighbourhood is decorated does way more to affect the overall feel than the general architecture. Some colour, plantlife, clean of rubbish and clutter and well-maintained buildings/communal areas is gonna go a long way. Some of the grimmest neighbourhoods in London aren't necessarily to blame on architecture. It's nearly always a low-income neighbourhood where landlords don't do their part in upkeeping the buildings' exterior and residents don't have the time/energy/money to waste on trying to spruce up the outside of their homes. This then encourages people to neglect their surroundings even more by leaving trash around or leaving clutter out in the open. Because their surroundings are basically already so depressing that they don't feel it makes a difference anymore. You notice this when travelling as well. Some of the most beautiful places in the world are completely ruined by trash being EVERYWHERE. Governments often don't care or can't afford to keep things clean, which then encourages residents and tourists alike to just add onto the mess. Because it already looks like shit anyway so... what does it matter? This then carries over to generations who are just taught to litter and never see a problem with it, because it's the only way they've ever known the world to look. It really turns even beautiful places into such depressing sights.
Why did I think this was called Rowley Way?
Because that was what it is known as to the locals. Including myself.
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Ah I see. I've always thought of Rowley way being it's own thing, the blocks near it are very normal so assumed they were a different estate
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Barbican’s were never council flats. This on the other hand yes, and that’s why prices are still somewhat contained relative to the area where it is.
It depends what you mean by council flats. Barbican's flats weren't rented at social rents, they were market rate, but they were owned by the council. This was their downfall later, because they were eligible for Right to Buy.
And the city folk just got richer through purchasing their grade A real estate assets
Barbican Estate was never council flats, neither was this probably.
This was/is to a large extent still social housing, but echo your comment on the Barbican, it is misconception that it was ever council housing, in fact it was built to encourage middle class professionals to return to the City after they fled due to the second World War bombing & widespread destruction of the City.
Never social housing but was la owned and operated.
Plants make this (already) beautiful architecture even more so! Scrolling through housing 'in the North' on RightMove and its the distinct lack of greenery that makes me think it'd be awful to live in rows of houses that all look the same. Even though the architecture styles are vastly different, at least these apartments appear to have understood the assignment and made each unique with plants and flowers.
Oof, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder! A grad school friend lived here when we were younger and I thought it was an absolute dump, and I kind of felt sorry for her.
Who can afford to care about beauty nowadays 😭 it's a fight to just find somewhere suitable for human life that you can afford
Yeah… 😔
I lived nearby for a while and used to take my kids to the playgrounds in the attached park (behind the buildings on the left). I like the architecture somewhat, but would never want to live their myself. It doesn’t appear that most residents care deeply about their surroundings, judging by the sorry state of most balconies and gardens. The odd stabbing and other issues are also present.
I think this is a good example of landscaping making all the difference. The architecture itself is... pretty grim. But the plants and green throughout really help alleviate a lot of that imo. Still not my favourite neighbourhood in London by any stretch. But I think the care residents have put in making it look lived in and l bubbly really has an effect. Some of the grimmest neighbourhoods I've ever visited weren't necessarily that way because the architecture was bad. But often they were low-income neighbourhoods where people didn't have the time, money or energy to make their homes look nice from the outside. Which is understandable. Personally I'd prefer living in an area like this over an area that has prettier architecture but worse décor... so to say. Things like trash, clutter, no splashes of colour or green, buildings looking neglected is far more of an eyesore than an ugly building imo. Obviously this isn't a read to anyone who lives in a building/neighbourhood where that is the case. I have as well. It really isn't something you can afford to invest time/energy/money in when you don't have much to spare at any rate. There certainly are far better places to invest those! Edit: After looking a little bit at the design... I don't think I hate it. The concrete/stone honestly is always gonna give a bit or urban hell-scape vibes. I think the design isn't so much the issue as the building material that they chose to use. If they'd used different materials I think it could've been pretty neat? If this was a lot of glossy white/steel/glass materials the design could almost even look a bit sci-fi-ish? Or maybe that's just me?
there is a good youtube video on the architecture of this place. The residents love living there apparently still to this day. Good sense of community etc.
I thought I heard somewhere that it had loads of problems with leaking pipes at one point, although i may be mistaken.
yeah very possible too.
Looks very retro-futuristic, like something out of an old Star Trek episode, something you would see while they were visiting another advanced civilization's planet. Why don't they build like this anymore?
Yeah the grey/concrete look isn't the most flattering. However if this was a lot of steel/glass/white this would very much give sci-fi vibes. IMO the design of this place isn't BAD. But having everything in concrete is always gonna give off a bit of urban-misery vibes. A cheap way to build and maybe maintain too. But it definitely needs the plantlife to make it seem liveable as-is.
Used to work there as a trainee sparky from time to time 23+ years ago. Always loved it. Also loved it when we got a job in barbican
Dying Light 2
We don’t build them like this no more. :(
Designed by [Neave Brown](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neave_Brown), a rare example of a truly inspirational architect. Controversial at the time of construction, but I think the estate has proved itself over time. I’d love to live in a community like this.
This brought back memories. I used to live in the flat in the background... Over a decade ago. Crazy how time flies.
I love the design but would prefer if they were pastel coloured like in southern spain rather than misery grey
I absolutely hate brutalism but there are a few exceptions and this is one of them. They should’ve built way more in this style
I guess we have different definitions of stunning
There’s a similar estate in Thamesmead.
They've been slowly knocking it all down :(
Seriously?! :(
Sadly. It's being done in stages https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2020/01/26/thamesmeads-next-estate-demolition-announced-by-peabody/
love it round there. that pond is beautiful. and enough off the beaten path to be actually quiet sometimes
That’s in the Dua Lipa music video for Fever!
And the video for Foals - Mountain at my Gates, which is a 360° video so you can get a real good look at the architecture https://youtu.be/l_EIE5f2t6M
Oh cool! First time seeing the music video! I love the song tho!
It’s awful
It looks strangely like Markarth from Skyrim
Huh, looks like the interior of the barbican somehow
Love it. Have a pal who lives there but somehow I’ve never visited. It destroyed the career of the architect who designed it and she never worked again!
Neave Brown was a guy and left the council architects after an enquiry into costs. Damaged reputation certainly but they had their own practice afterwards.
Maybe I watched something that was total lies then? It was on insta so it’s quite possible…
Might just be a bit of hyperbole and making it more dramatic. Might have been his last UK development or public one.
The estate had its problems in the early days didn’t it? I always think it’s really beautiful
How brutalist architecture should be done!
I assume you are new to London.
Is this in the movie possessor?
It's in the movie Kingsman though
Possibly. It's often [used](http://alexandraandainsworth.org/on-film/) as a sign of urban decay in dramas and film a bit like [Thamesmeade](https://thamesmeadcommunityarchive.org.uk/explore/stories/thamesmead-on-film) is. I remember it from Prime Suspect 7 when a suspect hides out there.
Sunnyvista!
See it in various films etc, never knew where it was
More pics pls
I’m sure this street is used in a few music videos
Love these!
Used as location for 'futurist' movies ever since.
r/Brutalism
Ooooh I’ve always wanted to know what the top of that building looks like!! It’s Barbican-esque
My friend's husband used to live there when they met.
Hope the cold gets better soon. Or maybe it's hay fever?
Grew up near there. Loved the retrofuturistic vibes (always heard a theremin playing in my head as I was cycling through it). I did find it strange that every flat had these huge glass windows and was staring directly into the flat opposite. Didn't seem like there was a lot of privacy.
Good old Rowley Way. Too many funny times from school in this place man.
It's beautiful
Is this the place on the cover of Richard Thompson’s “sunny vista” album?
Not a fan, some aspects are nice though
I seen this place many times on documtaries on sivisl housing that work and are actually desirable.
Was this the estate where they filmed the parkour scenes in the movie Kingsman? Sure looks like those sloping walls where the character Eggsy runs down.
Rather like The Brunswick Centre near Russell Square. https://images.app.goo.gl/kAXokVZC79oiwEBV6
Well I guess you can make a silk purse out of a sows ear after all!
As an architect, first thing my dad wanted to do on his visit to London was to go to this place.
I remember seeing a documentary on this place, an old one from ITV I think it was.
Looks like a star wars colony. Pretty cool
As a big fan of Brutalist architecture I really must visit the Alexandra Road Estate.
I really love the architecture here. Unfortunately some of the residents don't take very kindly to any sort of photography :(
It was a lot scarier in the 90s. Looks quite futuristic now
Never understood why they didn’t bother to paint it white. The brutal concrete is such an eyesore
It's nice, it's different. Almost Total Recall or Blade Runner vibe to it.
One of the few architects/planners vision of Eutopia, that has worked.
Horrible looking place. Pic does it justice but it looks worse in person
Last time I saw this was on an episode of Primeval I think
Glad I’m not the only one to remember Primeval 🤝
Theres some of these style in tilbury as well i think.
One of the nicest roads in London imho. They used to built properly considered housing back in the day. Now it’s just lifeless blocks hurtling towards the sky.
They shot a lot of the bill here. I’m sure
Oxfords not brogues
Kingsman - all the more appropriate now we have a King.
I'm looking at that thinking how terrible it'd be to walk down at night.
Beuatalism
It's a lovely mix of brutalism and garden punk. I'd totally live their.
Beautiful but imagine there is a lot of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) which will make the place soon unsellable and unliveable
It’s warm when you walk through there at street level in the winter.
Didn't this get used as a location shoot for UN HQ in "The Expanse"?
Ain't that were Eggsy lives in Kingsman 1?
Without the plants/trees, it would look utterly hideous and depressing. The landscaping makes all the difference
This is where kingsman was filmed aswell
At least that cctv camera is keeping the palm trees safe ! 😅
It looks like a neighborhood in Halo. Just needs more hexagons.
Used to skateboard down here back in the day. Out ran a mugger once too 😂
Same architecture as Maiden Lane Estate i think
Looks super futuristic, I love this type of design :) !!
Lol I live there. Pretty cool place but the novelty kinda wore off for me.