SEVEN FACTS ABOUT KENSAL HOUSE a grade II* listed · PDF fileSEVEN FACTS ABOUT KENSAL HOUSE a...
Transcript of SEVEN FACTS ABOUT KENSAL HOUSE a grade II* listed · PDF fileSEVEN FACTS ABOUT KENSAL HOUSE a...
SEVEN FACTS ABOUT KENSAL HOUSE a grade II* listed building By the participants of Kensal Voices a project run by SPID Theatre Company
Modernism
Kensal House resembles an ocean liner with its sweep and
curve of white wall and it s upper-deck tubular ironwork.
Modernist architects wanted to break with architectural tradition and design simple unornamented
buildings. The !oor plans were functional and logical.
The characteristics of modernist architecture are a visual emphasis on horizontal and vertical lines. The design is typically free of clutter and unnecessary elements and the natural appearance of a material ought to be seen rather than concealed or altered to represent something else.
By
Athavan
Manikavasagar
In the 1930's,most of the Kensal House tenants were people rehoused by the Kensington Borough Council in accordance with the terms of the 1930 Slum-Clearance and Rehousing Act. This later progressed to working class immigrants moving to Kensal House,which was unusual at the time because the middle class usually lived in modernist buildingslike Kensal House.To those "rst tenants Kensal House was a paradise, with luxuries like balconies, heating, lighting, also the rent was very cheap.
Kensal House is in Ladbroke Grove in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.The neighbourhood is famous for its proximity to Portobello road market and is part of the Notting Hill Carnival route.
PEOPLE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD
Kensal House is close to Kensal Green Cemetery where many famous people were buried including Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex and son of King George III of the United Kingdom.
By
Mohammed Blaaza
& Alkabir Amer
Kensal House is a Grade II* listed building designed by architect
Maxwell Fry.
Maxwell Fry was credited with the design of Kensal House but in fact 3 other
architects helped:James Robert Atkinson OBE,
Charles Holloway James R.A., F.R.I.B.A., George Grey Wornum
Cotherstone.
Fry wanted to change the Traditionalist view of architecture and make it more modernist.
These four architects along with housing consultant Elizabeth Denby were appointed as a small commitee to select the equipment that would be installed in Kensal House.
By
Ahmed Ejaz,
Athavan Manikavasagar
& Shann Stewart
Aswad and The Clash, are only two of the many bands who
wrote a lot of their music based near Kensal House. Just down the road from Kensal House is the Westway which is
mentioned in The Clash song “London’s Burning” and the Blur song “For Tomorrow”.
The legendary Bob Marley, in 1977 recorded Exodus at Island Records in Notting Hill not far from
Kensal House.
Local venue, the 606 club, pulled together the best of the blues, R&B and jazz.
MUSIC
Notting Hill Carnival, started in 1966 it was an event where you could experience all manner of African and Caribbean music.
As part of the Kensal Voices project, we created a compilation that features a track from each decade through the years that Kensal House has existed. We then created, with the help of DJ Theo Krish a track to encompass our feelings and opinions about Kensal House. By
Anuli Changa
The characteristics of modernist architecture are a visual emphasis on horizontal and vertical lines. The design is typically free of clutter and unnecessary elements and the natural appearance of a material ought to be seen rather than concealed or altered to represent something else.
Residents and the local community are having a positive effect on Kensal House.
The Residents Association is reforming. It aims to unite the residents and to provide support.
Anita (Chair) says, “We need more residents to come down and get involved. We discuss problems like decorating the building, and suggestions of tea mornings, especially for the elderly.”
The meetings are once/ twice monthly, and the association started last year.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT AT KENSAL HOUSE
GET INVOLVED!
To find out more contact
Anita Williams on
By
Athavan
Manikavasagar
Contact
Tel. 0208 968 2961
www.spidtheatre.com
S.P.I.D. the award-winning
film and theatre company is currently
based on site in the Kensal House community
rooms! The theatre company won a First Light award in
2013 for the ‘High Above the Sky’ production.
S.P.I.D. (2013-14): Projects
all take place during the week
KENSINGTON CENTRAL LIBRARY CONNECTS WITH KENSAL
S.P.I.D.
Check out local history on your doorstep.
their archive of fascinating original maps, photos, newspaper clippings, as well as
architectural reviews.
When Kensal House was built the main stairwell and all the
separate ones for each floor were pricey to build. Usually there’s
one per building! Architects call this a ‘transition space’, and the
architects at the time (Fry et al.) actually worked with sociologist
the community would meet.
By
Mohammed Blaaza
& Alkabir Amer
By
Natalie
Stachon
The public utility - Gas Light and Coke Company funded the Kensal House building project. The benefit to the company, apart from a public charitable gesture, was to show how more efficient, cheaper and better gas was over electricity.
Elizabeth Denby was the 'housing consultant' for Kensal House. She decided on the in-house specifications for the flats, which were fuelled by gas.
Elizabeth and the committee of four architects had a lot to juggle to keep the building works cheap yet provide new, modern fittings.
In the 1930’s new modern flats
were usually built for the richer
population who were the ones used to having
the mod-cons!
Visible on maps, Kensal House is near the gasworks. Kensal
House was built by the canal (for ease of transport of materials) and
the railway which brought commuters and people to live there.
THE GAS WORKS
By
Ahmed Ejaz,
Athavan Manikavasagar
& Shann Stewart
By
Natalie
Stachon
By
Natalie
Stachon
Kensal House was
originally designed as an
‘urban village’. The house plan
consisted of the housing blocks,
nursery, playground, club rooms,
stage for theatricals, canteen and
facilities for carpentry and boot repair.
The housing is made up of two neat
parallel blocks. From the nursery's
view, facing the housing's curved
resembles a view of a
coliseum.
Kensal House
is designed on a
Each flat catches the
morning and evening
sun and has two balconies.
This picture was taken during
the sunset from one of the
balconies. The bedrooms and
living room are placed on the outside
making sure that both will benefit from
sunlight during the day.
HOUSEPLAN
By
Anuli Changa
By
In 1984, a documentary film was produced and distributed by Concord Media featuring Kensal
House, entitled ‘Twelve Views of Kensal House’. It features contemporary footage of Kensal House
and the area around it with descriptions about the happenings in the community. Also there are
insightful anecdotes from originial residents of Kensal House.
To find out more contact
Anita Williams on
By
Anuli Changa &
Demilade Adesanya
This booklet was made by the participants of Kensal Voices, a project run by SPID Theatre Company delivered in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, Twentieth Century Society, North Kensington Library and Kensington Central Library.
Project participants Ahmed EjazAlkabir AmerAnna-Maria AmatoAnuli ChangaAthavan ManikavasagarBetty DerebeCarolina JimenezChristian VillaflorDemilade AdesanyaElena ChaquesJacobo Ocampo ValenciaJames Stewart-WilliamsKyle MorganHana MontagueMaria MinasolaMohammed BlaazaNatalie StachonSafia AbdullahShann StewartTeshome Clarke
SPID Theatre Company
Artistic DirectorHelena Thompson
Project LeadersMariana Sastre and
Nnenna Samson
Thanks to the industry professions who delivered inspirational workshops and formed a key part of this project. Gurmeet Sian (Architect, Office Sian)Eva Branscombe (Modern Architecture Expert, Twentieth Century Society)Theo Krish (DJ/ Producer/ Composer)Ekaterina Solomeina (Designer)
The Victoria and Albert Museum Filipa Alves De Sousa (Assistant Programme Manager, Young People’s Programmes)Asa de Souza-Jones (Events Assistant)
Twentieth Century Society Catherine Croft (Director)
North Kensington LibrarySilva Memic (Customer Services Manager)Gaynor Lynch (Lending Librarian)
Kensington Central LibraryDave Walker (Local Studies Librarian)
Gas Works and House Plan sunset photographs by Christian Villaflor
Cover photograph by Alexandra Kataigida
SPID Theatre CompanyInvanhoe Norona, Company ProducerAnn Lecker (Marketing and Outreach Officer)Rosa Brook (Marketing and Outreach Intern)Caryn Stanley (Awards Advisor)Alexandra Kataigida (Administration)
Local ResidentsAnita Wiliams (Residents Association, Chair)Brian Hinton (Residents Association, Secretary) Hannington Lamolony (Residents Association)Maureen Packer (3rd March 1934- 5th May 2013. Kensal House Resident)Tom VagueBob PandyElston CobhamMaggie TylerSue Snyder
By
Natalie
Stachon