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Goodge Street

A politics of formulas, reading from the same script, here and there a word has faded, or been erased and a new one fitted in; but it’s a schema. Faces are airbrushed from the record. There is a sub-text of the embrace of loneliness, the strange day dreams that so many conjure up but expressContinue reading “Goodge Street”

Take to the Streets

There are three themes to this walk, housing, labour and capital. They will be interwoven into the fabric of the streets. We will visit four housing estates built by the London County Council and so we will start with a little history. 1 The London County Council A number of key determinants combined to facilitateContinue reading “Take to the Streets”

London Belongs to Me – or does it?

London Belongs to Me is the name of a rather good book by Norman Collins. It’s a rambling novel about London life before, during and after the Blitz with a cast of strong and intriguing characters. Who could write a book today with such a name? The film of the book is much chopped andContinue reading “London Belongs to Me – or does it?”

Notes on Hamburg and its Housing

One of the pleasures of arriving at a port-city is the first impression, the immediate surfaces, the familiar-strangeness. The roll of the train into the station; cinematic movement, office blocks, bridges, viaducts the electrical infrastructure of the inter-city and suburban railways, glimpses of an earlier time, when capital took different forms, red brick buildings withContinue reading “Notes on Hamburg and its Housing”

Hufeisensiedlung, Berlin

Berlin is waking up. In every house and apartment bells are ringing, chiming, clanging. The sleepy population rises from their beds; big comfy doubles with another human close beside (some loved, others not so much, if at all), single beds, bunk beds, sofa beds, mattresses on the floor, piles of rags in unusual corners. TheContinue reading “Hufeisensiedlung, Berlin”

A Walk Through Berlin

To arrive at Berlin Hauptbanhof on a train that started in London is to enter the epicentre of the 20th century. In the imagination can be conjured up the Kaiser and his entourage on horseback, decorated like Christmas trees, intrigue noted in scraps of paper that the courtiers hold. Cheering crowds wave fragments of silkContinue reading “A Walk Through Berlin”

Wohnstadt Carl Legien, Berlin

The Carl Legien estate was built between 1928 to 1930 with originally 1149 flats. The two architects were Bruno Taut and Franz Hillinger and the project manager was Martin Wagner. Some brief biographical details: Bruno Taut (* 4 May 1880 Königsberg – † 24 December 1938 Istanbul) Taut was an artist and architect and influencedContinue reading “Wohnstadt Carl Legien, Berlin”

London Notes

The journey started at the coast. The never ending sailing of the world’s cargo fleets, container ships, oil tankers, liquid natural gas carriers, specialist, technical craft. Warships, aircraft carriers, nuclear armed submarines beneath the waves. Shadow fleets evading sanctions, funding wars, killing children. As the train emerges from the tunnel under the Thames an industrialContinue reading “London Notes”

Bed 22

The nurse places her hand gently and firmly on the patient’s back. She pushes to help him stand up from his sitting position on the hospital bed. As she does so she holds his forearm to provide more support. He manages to rise half way and then drops back onto the bed. “Let’s try again”,Continue reading “Bed 22”

Suffragettes, Selfridges & Surgical Instruments

This is a walk that takes in a little of Oxford Street, a visit to Selfridges and a meander through parts of Marylebone. There is much to see in this area and several different walks could be created and each would be unique. As with all Radical Walks it’s not just the big ticket stuff,Continue reading “Suffragettes, Selfridges & Surgical Instruments”