Review II: Alexandra Road Estate
Last weekend, my exploration of London’s architectural heritage led me to two iconic brutalist landmarks in West London: Trellick Tower and Alexandra Road Estate. Despite their shared brutalist design principles, each site exhibited distinct characteristics that set them apart. These visits enriched my understanding of brutalism’s physical manifestation and its complex relationship with societal dynamics.
Neave Brown
After exploring Trellick Tower, I ventured to Alexandra Road Estate, a journey that took me approximately 20 minutes by bus 31 from Portobello Market. Despite my prior research on this landmark, my expectations were tempered by its lesser renown compared to Trellick Tower.
Constructed in the 1970s, Alexandra Road Estate was the brainchild of British American architect Neave Brown. From its inception, the project was mired in controversy, not for issues of crime or gang activity as with Trellick, but due to its exorbitant construction costs and the complexity of its design. An inquiry by the then Labour-controlled council into the project’s budget overshoot tarnished both the estate’s and Brown’s reputations. Such controversies seem almost a rite of passage for brutalist projects, reflecting the style’s challenging nature and its often initial public rejection, suggesting that only time can unveil the true value of brutalist architecture.
Outer facade of the estate
Main path of the estate
Upon arrival, the estate’s structured outer wall, visible from a bridge at its entrance and reminiscent of an old-fashioned stadium facade, immediately altered my perception. The juxtaposition of the railway and its tangled wires highlighted its industrial aesthetics. Walking within the estate, flanked by rows of step-structured houses along a red brick path that converged into the distance, evoked a powerful visual and emotional response, akin to a modern Moses parting the Red Sea of brutalist waves.
This visit allowed for a closer examination of each unit, offering a more immersive experience than my time at Trellick Tower. Perhaps it was the estate’s weathered concrete walls or the desolation of the plants lining the path, but a palpable sense of melancholy enveloped me. This observation might seem unusual, but the atmosphere momentarily conjured images of a traditional Chinese cemetery, underscoring the profound emotional resonance brutalist architecture can evoke. This experience affirmed Professor Richard J. Williams’s assertion in his video ‘What is: Brutalism’ about the style being deeply emotive, a testament to the unique capacity of brutalism to stir intense feelings and reflections.
Inner view of the estate
Stairs to units
