REINSTATING THE GARDEN INTO ROBIN HOOD

by Jake Holmyard

My design proposal delivers a joyful solution to the large number of Tower Hamlets residents on the waiting lists for social housing, currently at 19,000. The Tower Hamlets housing department currently have to buy back ex council homes to deal with the lack of social housing available, acquiring 162 ex council homes in 2017/18 at a cost of £60.4 million.

I chose to showcase my project against the Smithson designed Robin Hood Gardens estate. The existing Eastern block and central amenity space are the only elements not to have been demolished since its replacement scheme was granted planning in 2012. Although disputed throughout the world of architecture and design the decision was made to entirely replace the exemplar example of brutalism architecture. Throughout the design process I have analysed and reacted to the design decisions of the original estate, turning many of them into joyful creations. I have designed homes and spaces to be joyful and set a precedent for joyful development.