Council Housing And Culture: The History Of A Social Experiment (planning, History And Environment Series)

Born of idealism, and once an icon of the Labour movement and pillar of the Welfare State, council housing is now nearing its end. But do its many failings outweigh its positive contributions to public health and wellbeing? Alison Ravetz here provides the first comprehensive and apolitical history from which to arrive at a balanced judgement. Drawing on the widest possible evidence, from tenant and government records to the built environment itself, she tells the story of British council housing, from its seeds in Victorian reactions to 'the Poor', in philanthropy and model villages, Christian and other varieties of socialism. Her depiction of council housing in its mature years shows the often bizarre persistence of 'utopian' attitudes (whether in architectural design or management styles); its rise to a monopoly position in working-class family housing; the many compromises consequent on its state finance and local authority control; and the impact on working-class lives as an intellectuals' 'utopian dream' was converted into a social policy for the masses. Named one of the Top 10 books about council housing - the Guardian onlineBorn of idealism, and once an icon of the Labour movement and pillar of the Welfare State, council housing is now nearing its end. But do its many failings outweigh its positive contributions to public health and wellbeing?Alison Ravetz here provides the first comprehensive and apolitical history from which to arrive at a balanced judgement. Drawing on the widest possible evidence, from tenant and government records to the built environment itself, she tells the story of British council housing, from its seeds in Victorian reactions to'the Poor', in philanthropy and model villages, Christian and other varieties of socialism. Her depiction of council housing in its mature years shows the often bizarre persistence of'utopian'attitudes (whether in architectural design or management styles); its rise to a monopoly position in working-class family housing; the many compromises consequent on its state finance and local authority control; and the impact on working-class lives as an intellectuals''utopian dream'was converted into a social policy for the masses.

born Of Idealism, And Once An Icon Of The Labour Movement And Pillar Of The Welfare State, Council Housing Is Now Nearing Its End. But Do Its Many Failings Outweigh Its Positive Contributions To Public Health And Wellbeing?
alison Ravetz Here Provides The First Comprehensive And Apolitical History From Which To Arrive At A Balanced Judgement. Drawing On The Widest Possible Evidence, From Tenant And Government Records To The Built Environment Itself, She Tells The Story Of British Council Housing, From Its Seeds In Victorian Reactions To 'the Poor', In Philanthropy And Model Villages, Christian And Other Varieties Of Socialism. Her Depiction Of Council Housing In Its Mature Years Shows The Often Bizarre Persistence Of 'utopian' Attitudes (whether In Architectural Design Or Management Styles); Its Rise To A Monopoly Position In Working-class Family Housing; The Many Compromises Consequent On Its State Finance And Local Authority Control; And The Impact On Working-class Lives As An Intellectuals' 'utopian Dream' Was Converted Into A Social Policy For The Masses.

Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. A Domestic Revolution: Poverty, Respectability And Housing Reform -- Ch. 3. Housing For The Poor -- Ch. 4. The Utopian Roots Of Council Housing -- Ch. 5. The Artistic Inspiration Of Council Housing -- Ch. 6. Garden City To Council Estate -- Ch. 7. The Utopian Legacy -- Ch. 8. The Management Of Council Housing -- Ch. 9. 'community' On Council Estates -- Ch. 10. Patterns Of Working-class Life -- Ch. 11. Estate Histories -- Ch. 12. Turning Points: The Parameters At The Turn Of The Century. Alison Ravetz. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [242]-255)and Index. Council Housing and Culture makes clear the importance of council housing to twentieth-century life and culture. A major thread through the work is the interaction of council housing with evolving working-class patterns and aspirations. If its lengthy antecedents are included, council housing just bridged three centuries as it passed the year 2000.