Ossulston Estate
Encyclopedia
The Ossulston Estate is a multi-storey council estate
built by the London County Council
in Somers Town
between 1927 and 1931. It was unusual at the time both in its inner-city location and in its modernist
design, and all the original parts of the estate are now listed buildings.
The estate was built to rehouse those poor who were not being served by the LCC's new suburban estates, and was significantly denser to suit the urban site. It was located on the site of the Somers Town slum, between Euston
and St Pancras stations. The original proposal made in 1925 was for 9-storey blocks on the American model, which would have required lift
s, and with more expensive flats for private tenants on the highest floors. This was rejected and the height reduced to a maximum of 7 storeys, with fewer lifts and no private flats. The provision of central heating
was also eliminated, but the buildings were unusual in providing electricity from the start, and Levita House had the first central heating system installed by the LCC.
The design, by G. Topham Forrest
, chief architect of the LCC, and his assistants R. Minton Taylor and E.H. Parkes, was influenced by Viennese modernist public housing
such as Karl Marx-Hof, which Forrest had visited. The estate consists of blocks grouped around three courtyards, and small green
s, reached by archways from Ossulston and Charlton Streets; some of the original plantings survive. The buildings have some neo-Georgian features in the treatment of roofs and windows, but are modernist in being of steel-frame construction with unornamented roughcast walls, the facades instead enlivened by spatial features such as the archways in front of the balconies which lead to the individual flats. Chamberlain House, three blocks of flats, was built in 1927–29; Levita House, south of it and named for Cecil Levita
, who was chairman of the LCC's Housing Committee in the 1920s, was built in 1930–31 and consists of the 7-storey section and wings enclosing a grand courtyard which was originally intended to lead to the premium flats. Walker House was begun in 1929–30, but the other side of the courtyard was completed in 1936–37 with more traditional brick 6-storey buildings. The total number of flats was 310. Chamberlain House, Levita House, the southern part of Walker House and the associated shops and The Cock Tavern public house
are all Grade II listed buildings.
In 2004–07, Levita House was extensively refurbished, including creating larger flats.
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
built by the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
in Somers Town
Somers Town, London
Somers Town, was named for Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers. The area in St Pancras, London, was originally granted by William III to John Somers, Lord Chancellor and Baron Somers of Evesham. It was to be strongly influenced by the three mainline north London railway termini: Euston , St...
between 1927 and 1931. It was unusual at the time both in its inner-city location and in its modernist
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
design, and all the original parts of the estate are now listed buildings.
The estate was built to rehouse those poor who were not being served by the LCC's new suburban estates, and was significantly denser to suit the urban site. It was located on the site of the Somers Town slum, between Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
and St Pancras stations. The original proposal made in 1925 was for 9-storey blocks on the American model, which would have required lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s, and with more expensive flats for private tenants on the highest floors. This was rejected and the height reduced to a maximum of 7 storeys, with fewer lifts and no private flats. The provision of central heating
Central heating
A central heating system provides warmth to the whole interior of a building from one point to multiple rooms. When combined with other systems in order to control the building climate, the whole system may be a HVAC system.Central heating differs from local heating in that the heat generation...
was also eliminated, but the buildings were unusual in providing electricity from the start, and Levita House had the first central heating system installed by the LCC.
The design, by G. Topham Forrest
G. Topham Forrest
George Topham Forrest, F.R.I.B.A., was a Scottish architect who became chief architect for the London County Council and was responsible for the design of many public housing estates, and also co-designed two bridges over the River Thames.-Early life and training:Forrest attended Aberdeen Grammar...
, chief architect of the LCC, and his assistants R. Minton Taylor and E.H. Parkes, was influenced by Viennese modernist public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
such as Karl Marx-Hof, which Forrest had visited. The estate consists of blocks grouped around three courtyards, and small green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
s, reached by archways from Ossulston and Charlton Streets; some of the original plantings survive. The buildings have some neo-Georgian features in the treatment of roofs and windows, but are modernist in being of steel-frame construction with unornamented roughcast walls, the facades instead enlivened by spatial features such as the archways in front of the balconies which lead to the individual flats. Chamberlain House, three blocks of flats, was built in 1927–29; Levita House, south of it and named for Cecil Levita
Cecil Levita
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Cecil Bingham Levita, KCVO, CBE was a British soldier and public service worker who eventually rose to be chairman of the London County Council in 1928.-British Army:...
, who was chairman of the LCC's Housing Committee in the 1920s, was built in 1930–31 and consists of the 7-storey section and wings enclosing a grand courtyard which was originally intended to lead to the premium flats. Walker House was begun in 1929–30, but the other side of the courtyard was completed in 1936–37 with more traditional brick 6-storey buildings. The total number of flats was 310. Chamberlain House, Levita House, the southern part of Walker House and the associated shops and The Cock Tavern public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
are all Grade II listed buildings.
In 2004–07, Levita House was extensively refurbished, including creating larger flats.