Alexandra Road Estate
A fairly predictable stop on my "social housing pilgrimage" across London was the Alexandra Road Estate, in Camden.
I'd read a lot about it, so I went on a cloudy summer day.
Designed by Neave Brown and built between 1968 and 1977, the estate is known for architectural innovations such as its "streets in the sky" concept, which fosters a sense of community through shared spaces for residents.
It's Grade II* listed and widely praised for its design, though, as often happens in these places, it has also faced challenges: high crime, vandalism and poor maintenance.
Even so, the atmosphere during my visit was great.
The spaces were well kept, there was greenery everywhere, people were hanging around looking relaxed, and there was plenty of chatting from terrace to terrace. Everything felt quite... right.
It was a genuine pleasure to feel that a well-designed estate can actually "work".
I was there as a tourist, I must say.
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