DOI Artikel:
Jones, Sydney R.; Forrest, George Topham [Ill.]: The Roehampton Estate: illustrated by drawings prepared in the office of the architect to the London county council
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41869#0054
THE ROEHAMPTON ESTATE
and materials have been short, troubles with the operatives of the building
trades have been endless, and the costs of all work have soared to hitherto
unknown heights; while, secondly, there has been a great shortage of
houses available for the middle and working classes. The demand for
architecture therefore has been, and still is, great, but economic sources of
supply are not easy to discover.
It is well known that when the problem of housing the working classes
became acute, the Ministry of Health attempted to provide a solution.
Viewed solely from a financial standpoint, the Ministry’s scheme was not an
economical proposition. But the demand for houses was so pressing that
the authors of the scheme considered that any possibility of delay could not
be entertained, nor did they deem it wise to rely on the ordinary avenues
of trade to satisfy the demand. Thus it happened that local authorities, as
well as societies, private firms and individuals, were empowered to embark
on building operations on a large scale, with the guarantee that a proportion
of the cost would be provided from the funds of the State. Many public
bodies availed themselves of the opportunity offered, and the results of
their action can now be seen in many parts of the land. Of the
housing schemes that have
matured it must be stated, with
regret, that a proportion have
no claim whatever to artistic
consideration, and little good
can be said of them. They
merely represent great oppor-
tunities lost; and the creation
in our midst of characterless
houses built to standard pat-
terns, proves that the worst
fears of those people who have
the housing question at heart
have been realized. Fortun-
~ v ately, however, this state of
z7 affairs does not obtain every-
v.u/7 where. Certain public bodies
have realized their responsi-
bilities and, in the face of great
difficulty, are carrying their
work to a successful conclu-
sion. The London County
Council can justly claim a
COMBINED ENTRANCE TO FOUR-ROOMED COTTAGES prominent place amongst this
40
and materials have been short, troubles with the operatives of the building
trades have been endless, and the costs of all work have soared to hitherto
unknown heights; while, secondly, there has been a great shortage of
houses available for the middle and working classes. The demand for
architecture therefore has been, and still is, great, but economic sources of
supply are not easy to discover.
It is well known that when the problem of housing the working classes
became acute, the Ministry of Health attempted to provide a solution.
Viewed solely from a financial standpoint, the Ministry’s scheme was not an
economical proposition. But the demand for houses was so pressing that
the authors of the scheme considered that any possibility of delay could not
be entertained, nor did they deem it wise to rely on the ordinary avenues
of trade to satisfy the demand. Thus it happened that local authorities, as
well as societies, private firms and individuals, were empowered to embark
on building operations on a large scale, with the guarantee that a proportion
of the cost would be provided from the funds of the State. Many public
bodies availed themselves of the opportunity offered, and the results of
their action can now be seen in many parts of the land. Of the
housing schemes that have
matured it must be stated, with
regret, that a proportion have
no claim whatever to artistic
consideration, and little good
can be said of them. They
merely represent great oppor-
tunities lost; and the creation
in our midst of characterless
houses built to standard pat-
terns, proves that the worst
fears of those people who have
the housing question at heart
have been realized. Fortun-
~ v ately, however, this state of
z7 affairs does not obtain every-
v.u/7 where. Certain public bodies
have realized their responsi-
bilities and, in the face of great
difficulty, are carrying their
work to a successful conclu-
sion. The London County
Council can justly claim a
COMBINED ENTRANCE TO FOUR-ROOMED COTTAGES prominent place amongst this
40