Post-war Housing, Bristol
Just published - a 24 page tabloid with a selection of photos and accompanying text of my favourite brutalist buildings in Bristol.
About 3200 homes were destroyed in Bristol during the Second World War air raids. Initially the rebuilding of housing in Bristol after the war was achieved by a combination of temporary housing and low density estates on the outskirts of the city such as Southmead, Hartcliffe, Lockleaze and Lawrence Weston.
By the mid 50s land was becoming scarce. There was a need for even speedier construction and new forms of construction led to an era of high rise housing. The 1956 Housing Subsidy Act provided funding for housing to replace slums which helped to accelerate the inner city building of high-rises.
Redcliffe
The first tower block estate was in the heavily bombed area of Redcliffe. It was designed by John Nelson Meredith and assisted by Albert Clarke. Building took a decade between the mid 50s and 60s.
Francome House (1960) is built next to the River Avon with a pleasing balance of brick, glass and coloured panels. It enjoys fine views and is blessed with balconies and penthouses. Crossing to the other side of the river you notice that the arches rising from river level to support the road above are echoed by the roofline.
Patterson House and Proctor House followed in 1963.
Dove Street
The second high-rise estate in Bristol was designed solely by Albert Clarke on the slopes of Kingsdown (between the BRI, Cotham and Gloucester Rd). It opened in 1967 and comprised of six blocks of 6 and 14 storeys. However, oppostion to this dominating development led to the Kingsdown Conservation Area being designated in 1973. Plans for three 17-storey blocks on the higher slopes were rejected.
Continued concerns over the compulsory purchase and demolition of inner city housing, plus the Ronan Point disaster in 1968, largely put an end to councils building residential towers.
Sources:
Municipal Dreams Part 1 to 1960 and Part 2 from 1960.
Re-planning Bristol - The Post-war City by Peter Insole.
Brutal Bristol collabrative zine.
