A photographic print of Housing, Post War, Houses - Flats, Maisonettes and Estates, etc, including Mews

ARCHITECT TO LIVE IN HIS GLC FLATS AEW 13.2.1968. LEADER OF THE GLC, MR DESMOND PLUMMER, IS TO OPEN THE EAST END'S TALLEST BLOOK OF FLATS ON THURSDAY 22ND FEBRUARY, AND THEN CALL ON THE COUNCIL'S MOST UNUSUAL TENANT WHO WILL BE LIVING AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER. THE TENANT - MR. ERNO GOLDFINGER, THE ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED THE BLOCK - IS MOVING INTO ONE OF THE 26-STOREY FLATS AS A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT. HE WILL STUDY THE LIVING CONDITIONS WHICH HE HAS PRODUCED FOR GLC TENANTS, AND USE THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED WHEN DESIGNING FURTHER HOMES. SAID MR. PLUMMER: "MR, GOLDFINGER TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO HIS FUTURE DESIGNS IF HE COULD LIVE FOR A FEW WEEKS IN ONE OF THE FLATS, SO I INVITED HIM TO MOVE IN." MR. GOLDFINGER WILL PAY APPROXIMATELY £11 10s A WEEK RENT, EXCLUSIVE OF RATES, BUT INCLUDING CENTRAL HEATING. THIS IS THE COST WITHOUT ANY SUBSIDY FROM THE RATEPAYER OR TAXPAYER. THE SUBSIDISED RENT FOR THE FLAT WILL BE £4 15s 6D., INCLUDING HEATING, BUT EXCLUSIVE OF RATES. HIS FOUR-ROOMED FLAT WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE 26-STOREY BLOCK AT ROWLETT STREET, POPLAR, NAMED BALFRON TOWER. THE NAME BALFRON - A TOWN JUST NORTH OF GLASGOW - PERPETUATES SCOTTISH ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE AREA. THE 26-STOREY BLOCK, CONTAINED OF 36 FLATS AND 10 MAISONETTES, IS PART OF A DEVELOPMENT ON A 2½-ACRE SITE SITUATED AT THE NORTHERN APPROACH TO BLACKWALL FUNNEL. THERE ARE ALSO 12 OLD PEOPLE'S FLATS, AND A SHOP WITH LIVING ACCOMMODATION ABOVE ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR - AT THE FOOT OF THE TOWER BLOCK. PHOTO SHOWS: A GENERAL VIEW OF THE GIGANTIC 26-STOREY BLOCK. L2178 Housing - Flats