Lauded as a “pioneer of quality public housing”, the 2018 Royal Gold Medallist Neave Brown is best known for his housing schemes in north London. Here’s a look at five of his key residential projects at home and abroad.
Brown, 88, was named the 2018 recipient of the 2018 Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) yesterday, recognising his lifelong commitment to architecture.
Brown studied at the Architectural Association in London before going on to work for the architects departments at Camden Council, and latterly closed his practice to take an art degree at the City and Guilds of London School of Art.
His low-rise by high-density housing in the London borough of Camden – particularly his Alexandra Road estate – are widely recognised, but Brown also went on to design housing in both the Netherlands and Italy.
Brown is currently the only living architect to have all of his projects in the UK listed by public body Historic England. His receipt of the Royal Gold Medal comes at a time when the fate of post-war buildings is firmly in the spotlight.
Sitting on the board that selected him for the award was architect Ted Cullinan, whose now-demolished Horder House has just been included on a list of lost treasures by preservation body the Twentieth Century Society.
Winscombe Street, London (1965)
Neave Brown designed 22-32 Winscombe Street, a row of five terraced homes in the Dartmouth Park area of north London, for himself and the families of his friends.
The private co-housing scheme was funded in its entirely from a loan from Camden Council, and was to become the prototype for his larger public housing estates he designed.
Brown lived in at Winscombe Street for 40 years before moving to his Fleet Road development.
Alexandra Road estate, London (1978)
Located near Swiss Cottage, the Alexandra Road estate comprises 500 homes, as well as numerous community facilities include shops, a community centre, a recently renovated school for children with special needs.
The striking stepped formation of the blocks rises to just eight storeys, and walkways run through the tiers of the scheme.
RIBA president Ben Derbyshire holds the project up as an example for what social housing could be today.
“The government must empower and then encourage every single council across the country to build a new generation of well-designed, affordable and sustainable homes that meet the needs of the millions of people currently failed by the housing market,” he said, announcing Brown as the winner of the medal.
Dunboyne Road Estate, Fleet Road, London, England (1975)
Dunboyne Road estate near Gospel Oak was Brown’s first housing project for Camden. Brown lived in the estate following a 40-year stint at his Winscombe Street design.
Each of 71 maisonettes and apartments have a private terrace and communal garden, and are housed in blocks that flank a central pedestrian walkway. There is also a shop and a studio onsite.
The Zwolestraat Development, The Hague, the Netherlands (1994)
Designed with David Porter, this high-rise 500-apartment block in The Hague also houses a hostel and hotel, and boasts a 25,000-capacity underground car park.
Smalle Haven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands (2002)
Housing 73 apartments as well as live/work spaces, shops and offices, Small Haven was completed by Brown in 2002 while studying for his fine art degree.
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