The Paradox of Architectural Value

How can we challenge the practice of demolition in favor of preserving and adapting modernist housing estates, while addressing the evolving needs of residents? Can these estates, rather than being erased, be reimagined and preserved through a more thoughtful, community-oriented approach to urban change?

Modernist social housing embodies a dream of a better way to live, dating back to the 1919 Housing and Town Planning Act—the first comprehensive plan for social rent. Post-WWII, governments sought to replace slums to house returning soldiers, leading to Modernist Estates. These estates redefined living standards, offering stability through long-term tenancies at low rents. Ironically, many are now demolished due to poor maintenance rather than adapted for modern needs. This thesis questions the necessity of such demolition in today’s shifting urban landscape. Superstudio and Situationist International critiqued architecture’s role in reinforcing social and economic divisions, advocating for reusing urban fabric over consumer-driven design. For architects to reclaim agency, design must respond to daily life rather than erase communities. Superstudio argued that rigid modernist housing blocks create lifeless environments, shaped as much by architecture as by public perception—often negative due to misleading campaigns by authorities. This research challenges these narratives, emphasizing the importance of atmosphere in shaping domestic life. The project extends ‘The Glitch’ series, mediating between Lambeth Homes and Central Hill residents. It critiques Britain’s reliance on demolition, exploring planning laws and social housing priorities. The proposed tower simulates estate processes, generating interventions—from minor street closures to full demolitions—based on stakeholder input. Each action results in a physical record within the tower, absorbing architectural fragments as a historical archive. By collecting Modernist elements across London, the tower critiques listing laws, exposing contradictions while re-imagining modernist architecture’s value.