Neave Brown was the architect behind some of the most iconic post-war social housing in London. He designed the Dunboyne, Alexandra and Ainsworth estates, all three of which are located in Camden. He also designed a row of five terraced houses in the area on Winscombe Street. All of these projects have since been listed, the earliest of which was granted in 1993.

Brown is regarded as a pioneer in the field because he completely redefined what social housing could be. The estates are a great example of low-rise yet high-density building. Impressively each of the homes on the estates has private outdoor space.

The Alexandra estate is probably the most renowned of his projects. The eight storey stepped design is iconic. Incredibly this design was created to act as a noise barrier as well as an attractive place to live. The site is close to railway tracks but the structure effectively prevents this noise from reaching the interior. There are 520 homes on the site as well as a school, community centre and other facilities.

Incredibly Brown won the 2018 RIBA Royal Gold Medal at a time when attitudes towards social housing were quite negative. The ceremony to award the prize was even moved forward at the time in response to his ill health. This alone showed how highly regarded he was.

Although best known as an architect London will always appreciate for creating wonderful social housing, Neave Brown also had wonderful projects overseas. Smalle Haven in Eindhoven is a beautiful example of urban development, combining living and workspaces effectively. The Zwolestraat Development in The Hauge is also well regarded.

Neave Brown’s projects showcase just how good social housing can be. All it takes is conscientious design and a focus on promoting the wellbeing of residents. The quality speaks for itself and the fact that Brown chose to live on one of the estates he designed says a lot about how much the work meant to him.

If you want to see some iconic residential architecture next time you visit London, take a look at one of the estates Brown designed. You’ll get a much bigger appreciation for the man who thought of them and pushed what could be achieved with social housing.