Post-war mass housing: From utopian ideas to dystopian realities

Abstract

This thesis presents a comparative case study of two exemplary for the post-war period projects - Robin Hood Gardens and Park Hill. Although a lot of research already exists on post-war mass housing and on the two projects individually, they have rarely been analyzed in comparison to each other, despite sharing similar characteristics. By juxtaposing Robin Hood Gardens and Park Hill, the notions of failure and success of what once seemed to be utopian ideas for housing are investigated. The main objective of this research is to find patterns in the underlying design thinking, ideas, and practice of the architects behind these projects, which could potentially help in understanding the symptomatic decline of post-war housing. The projects are analyzed on different layers, beginning with the historical context they were built in, the thinking and beliefs of the architects involved, the intentions behind the designs and the reception of the projects. This multi-layered analysis incorporates different perspectives, from professionals to residents, revealing that historical discourse is a collection of various narratives. Rather than providing a simple answer to the decline of the projects, the thesis demonstrates that the outcome of Robin Hood Gardens and Park Hill is a complex synthesis of social, political, and economic reasons.