Fig 1 is a diagram by Walter Gropius, the influential early 20th Century Architect. The diagram purports to show the transition from from an organic urban block through an intermediary perimeter tenement block and onto rowed blocks. According to Wolfgang Sonne, Gropius’ schema was a myth based more on wish fulfilment that any actual evolution. Sonne lumps Gropius into a group of other theorists whose city models “envisaged the dissolution of urban dwelling typologies which had a direct connection to the street and thus to architecturally defined public spaces.” These included Bruno Taut. Le Corbusier, Ebenizer Howard , Frank Lloyd Wright and Hans Scharoun. It should be clear from these simple typological diagrams that the opportunities afforded residents are quite different. Typology 2: the perimeter block, offers 3 types of space: fully private, fully public and shared private. Typology 3 only offers 2: fully public and fully private. On this simple observation alone the reduced choice of spatial experience should militate against the Modernist Row Block typology.
Extremes of the Block Row and Garden Suburb are Le Corbusier’s “Voisin Plan” (Fig 2.) for central Paris and the suburban sprawl at the perimeter of our large cities. In his “Voisin Plan” Le Corbusier proposed the gutting of the historic fabric of Paris and replacing with anti-street towers set in open space. Thankfully, this criminally insane plan was not proceeded with. However, it became an influential Modernist typology.
Fig.2 Voisin Plan 1925.
Urban sprawl has spread around the perimeters of larger cities. In Australia it is identified with in the national psyche as the “‘quarter acre blocks “. It is dependent on the private motor vehicle, mall shopping and atomised consumption.
Fig.3 Urban Sprawl, Melbourne
Fig. 4, 5 & 6 are examples of various block row houses in Sydney. Here the dissolution of the street has changed the environment in two distinct ways. Firstly, having removed the architectural function and definition of the street it has removed surveillance from the street. Secondly, the transition from the street to the open public space, having become unbounded, has made unclear where civic responsibility lies. A reduction in surveillance and a reduction in defined responsibility are unlikely to produce safe zones.
Fig 4. Redfern, Public Housing
Fig 5. Namatjirra Flats, Little Bay
Fig. 6 Block Rows, East Lakes
Figs 7, 8 & 9 are multi-unit dwellings in Sydney. They have a number of attributes that are similar to the perimeter block housing as discussed by Sonne, particularly the internal courtyards. In this regard they achieve some of the same intention. Of Kay Fisker’s, Hornbaekhaus, Sonne says, “a large green court provides the inhabitants with all the the necessities of a pleasant place to live, namely light, air, silence, trees and meadows, offering a beautiful and safe place for recreation and play, despite being in the city centre.” Variations of these attributes can be seen in the images below. However, these Sydney examples depart from Sonne’s in that they fail to reinforce the the street scape with “an explicitly urban facade.” Rather, it is left to fencing to simultaneously reinforce the street and deliver a the true sense of enclosure in these developments. This is makes them somewhat of a hybrid though, with regard to the important question of safety, surveillance and the provision of three types of space: private, semi private and public, they function closer to the perimeter block that the row block. The short fall of these developments regarding their failure to reinforce the street is hardly surprising given their location amid the free standing houses of the suburbs. Even more so since they are usually infill developments on older industrial land.
Fig. 7 Cecilia Court Marrickville 1990’s
Fig. 8 Sydney Park Road, St Peters
Fig.9 Williams Parade Dulwich Hill 1990’s
References
Elsevier. Wolfgang Sonne, Dwelling in the Metropolis: Reformed Urban Blocks 1890-1940 as a model for sustainable compact city. Elsevier 2009
Fig.2 Voisin Plan, www.fondationlecorbusier.fr
Fig. 3 Urban Sprawl, http://theconversation.com/the-grass-isnt-greener-in-the-outer-burbs-12532
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 Google Earth
Peter Olive z3284381 