Bevin Court
Encyclopedia
Bevin Court is one of several modernist housing projects in London
designed in the immediate post-war period by the Tecton
architecture practice, led by Berthold Lubetkin
. Following the dissolution of Tecton, the project was realised by Lubetkin, Francis Skinner
and Douglas Bailey. The project was completed in 1954.
Located in Cruikshank Street, London WC1, the scheme is built on the site of the bomb-destroyed Holford Square in Finsbury
. It incorporates the main building of Bevin Court, plus the smaller Holford House (which echoes the form of its larger neighbour) and Amwell House (itself of interest as a modernist interpretation of the bay-fronted Victorian terrace). The group of buildings as a whole reflect Lubetkin's respect for the pre-existing urban environment, a characteristic that makes his work stand out from that of many modernist architects of his generation.
Post war austerity had imposed far greater budgetary constraints than in Tecton's housing showpiece Spa Green Estate, forcing Lubetkin to strip the project of the basic amenities he had planned; there were to be no balconies, community centre or nursery school. Instead Lubetkin focused his energies on the social space. Fusing his aesthetic and political concerns he created a stunning constructivist staircase — a social condenser that forms the heart of the building.
The building occupies the site of the 1902-03 home of Lenin, which he occupied while in exile editing the Russian socialist newspaper Iskra
(Spark). In honour of the former Soviet leader, the building was initially planned to be named Lenin Court. In addition the building was to incorporate Lubetkin's memorial to Lenin, which had been located on the site of Holford Square since 1942. However British Fascists repeatedly vandalised the memorial, to the extent that it required a 24-hour police guard. The end of World War II
marked the end of the brief thaw in Anglo-Russian relations and Finsbury Council
lost their enthusiasm for both the memorial and the proposed name for the building. When it became clear that the Borough were no longer willing to keep the memorial on site Lubetkin buried its remains under the central core of the staircase. The proposed site of the monument (to the right of the main entrance) and a viewing aperture designed to allow the building's porter to oversee its wellbeing exist to this day. Before the building was completed the Cold war had intensified and as a result the scheme was renamed Bevin Court (honouring Britain's firmly anti-communist foreign secretary Ernest Bevin
).
The building also incorporates a pleasing mural in the ground hall entranceway painted by Lubetkin's collaborator Peter Yates. This still exists, but is significantly deteriorated having been subjected to both the elements and vandalism. It has also been insensitively painted over in places using common house paint.
Notably the building successfully made significant use of prefabricated floor and wall components.
The building was given grade II* listed status in December 1998. Despite this has recently undergone unsympathetic alterations by the London Borough of Islington
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
designed in the immediate post-war period by the Tecton
Tecton Group
The Tecton Group was a radical architectural group co-founded by Berthold Lubetkin, Francis Skinner, Denys Lasdun, Godfrey Samuel, and Lindsay Drake in 1932. The name Tecton came from architecton, the Greek word for architecture...
architecture practice, led by Berthold Lubetkin
Berthold Lubetkin
Berthold Romanovich Lubetkin was a Russian émigré architect who pioneered modernist design in Britain in the 1930s. His work includes the Highpoint housing complex, London Zoo penguin pool, Finsbury Health Centre and Spa Green Estate.-Early years:Berthold Lubetkin was born in Tiflis into a Jewish...
. Following the dissolution of Tecton, the project was realised by Lubetkin, Francis Skinner
Francis Skinner
Francis Skinner was a friend, collaborator, and alleged lover of the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. He was born in 1912 in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England. While studying mathematics at Cambridge in 1930, Skinner fell under Wittgenstein's influence and "became utterly, uncritically,...
and Douglas Bailey. The project was completed in 1954.
Located in Cruikshank Street, London WC1, the scheme is built on the site of the bomb-destroyed Holford Square in Finsbury
Finsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
. It incorporates the main building of Bevin Court, plus the smaller Holford House (which echoes the form of its larger neighbour) and Amwell House (itself of interest as a modernist interpretation of the bay-fronted Victorian terrace). The group of buildings as a whole reflect Lubetkin's respect for the pre-existing urban environment, a characteristic that makes his work stand out from that of many modernist architects of his generation.
Post war austerity had imposed far greater budgetary constraints than in Tecton's housing showpiece Spa Green Estate, forcing Lubetkin to strip the project of the basic amenities he had planned; there were to be no balconies, community centre or nursery school. Instead Lubetkin focused his energies on the social space. Fusing his aesthetic and political concerns he created a stunning constructivist staircase — a social condenser that forms the heart of the building.
The building occupies the site of the 1902-03 home of Lenin, which he occupied while in exile editing the Russian socialist newspaper Iskra
Iskra
Iskra was a political newspaper of Russian socialist emigrants established as the official organ of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. Initially, it was managed by Vladimir Lenin, moving as he moved. The first edition was published in Stuttgart on December 1, 1900. Other editions were...
(Spark). In honour of the former Soviet leader, the building was initially planned to be named Lenin Court. In addition the building was to incorporate Lubetkin's memorial to Lenin, which had been located on the site of Holford Square since 1942. However British Fascists repeatedly vandalised the memorial, to the extent that it required a 24-hour police guard. The end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
marked the end of the brief thaw in Anglo-Russian relations and Finsbury Council
Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury
The Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury was a Metropolitan borough within the County of London from 1900 to 1965, when it was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Borough of Islington to form the London Borough of Islington.- Boundaries :...
lost their enthusiasm for both the memorial and the proposed name for the building. When it became clear that the Borough were no longer willing to keep the memorial on site Lubetkin buried its remains under the central core of the staircase. The proposed site of the monument (to the right of the main entrance) and a viewing aperture designed to allow the building's porter to oversee its wellbeing exist to this day. Before the building was completed the Cold war had intensified and as a result the scheme was renamed Bevin Court (honouring Britain's firmly anti-communist foreign secretary Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin was a British trade union leader and Labour politician. He served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1945, as Minister of Labour in the war-time coalition government, and as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour Government.-Early...
).
The building also incorporates a pleasing mural in the ground hall entranceway painted by Lubetkin's collaborator Peter Yates. This still exists, but is significantly deteriorated having been subjected to both the elements and vandalism. It has also been insensitively painted over in places using common house paint.
Notably the building successfully made significant use of prefabricated floor and wall components.
The building was given grade II* listed status in December 1998. Despite this has recently undergone unsympathetic alterations by the London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
.
External links
- Design Museum page about Berthold Lubetkin
- http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.18952 details of listing
- http://www.islington.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/Online/ Searchable database listing alterations requiring Listed Building Consent at Bevin Court.
- http://www.utopialondon.com/lenin-court/ Utopia London website page about Bevin Court