A social housing worker is touring and reviewing London's most rundown housing estates - posting TikTok reviews about their hidden histories.
Noris Obijaku, 24, studied Architecture at Coventry University and is interested in building designs.
Noris has started a series where he reviews estates in the London area - many which are now rundown, but were once dubbed "utopias".
Noris' main purpose of these videos is to understand why there is such a stigma around social housing, he says.
Noris Obijaku, 24, studied Architecture at Coventry University and is interested in building designs.
Noris has started a series where he reviews estates in the London area - many which are now rundown, but were once dubbed "utopias".
Noris' main purpose of these videos is to understand why there is such a stigma around social housing, he says.
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NewsTranscript
00:00How did this run-down estate turn into a bustling neighbourhood?
00:03We're going to London to uncover the finest Buckingham's and today we're in Brunswick Centre.
00:08Designed by architect Peter Hodgkinsons in the 1960s,
00:11Brunswick Square needed a new replacement from the run-down Georgian era housing.
00:15The original brief was to design an accommodation with the same density as two tower blocks
00:20without exceeding the 80ft height limit.
00:22So that day was to basically design a holistic community
00:25integrating housing, shopping, a medical centre,
00:27cinema and an office space all in a single development.
00:30I don't know about you but that's a very ambitious project.
00:33However by the 90s Brunswick had become completely run down.
00:36With the concrete unwashed and the shops left empty
00:39this place started to become very unpopular and very underappreciated.
00:42The concrete was left unpainted due to cost cutting measures,
00:45housing leak and the original vision for this estate never came to fruition.
00:48Despite this being unpopular with people that hated brutalist architecture,
00:52Brunswick Estate was awarded Grade 2 Listed Estates in 2000.
00:56And 6 years later the estate was given a coat of paint,
00:58given that facelift that Hodgkins always wanted.
01:01Separately I couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance
01:03this estate has to Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate.
01:06They literally share the same design language with this elevated step-down design
01:09which ensures that every apartment would receive at least 2 hours of sunlight every day.
01:14£20 million was invested to repair and restore this modern icon.
01:17Shopping streets were upgraded and canopies were added to create a more friendly environment.
01:22This is an example of an estate that was run down and got rejuvenated.
01:25So do you think this should be the same treatment for other social housing estates in London?
01:29This might be the last time you're seeing this building.
01:32We're going around London to uncover the finest blocking ends
01:35and today we're in Robin Hood Gardens.
01:37Located in Poplar in East London,
01:39it was designed by married architects Alison and Peter Smithson.
01:42It was also featured in the new Netflix show The Kitchen.
01:44When we got here,
01:45Jawash and I scoured the whole block looking for any signs of life
01:49but it was soon clear that the building was fully abandoned.
01:51You can't actually get in bro.
01:53Until this happened.
01:54Oh my days.
01:56Nah that's actually cool.
02:00We legged it but anyway let me give you some architectural facts.
02:04So the architects designed the walkways wide enough for children to play
02:08and to inspire community cohesion.
02:11They also implemented twin front doors
02:14which forced you to bump into your neighbour whenever you had a chance.
02:16I don't know how unknown that could get but let's go.
02:19Located next to the Blackpool Tunnel,
02:20the architects designed the walls which act like sound barriers
02:23against the heavy noise pollution nearby.
02:25The architects also faced the bedrooms inwards towards the lush garden.
02:28You can imagine this greenery in the middle
02:30encased by two buildings on either side
02:32but in 2017 the western block was completely demolished.
02:35However, part of it was reserved by the V&A Museum.
02:38There was an attempt supported by many noble architects
02:41to secure lesser status for this estate
02:43but it was rejected by the government in 2009.
02:45It's really sad to see buildings like this go.
02:47People do prefer the modern buildings.
02:49However, how do we know that these modern buildings that we see
02:51wouldn't age the same way?
02:52Stay tuned for the next block though.