Perronet House
| Perronet House | |
|---|---|
 Perronet House | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| Location | London |
| Country | UK |
| Coordinates | 51°29′45″N 0°06′07″W / 51.4958°N 0.1019°W |
| Completed | May 1970 (initial) & 1987 (extension) |
| Client | Greater London Council |
| Landlord | Southwark Council |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | in-situ concrete |
| Floor count | 11 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Sir Roger Walters |
| Main contractor | Hawkins Contractors (Southern) Ltd |
| Website | |
| www | |
Design and layout
In 1969 Sir Roger Walters was commissioned by the Greater London Council to design a high density block of social housing to complement the already completed high rise buildings of commercial, educational and governmental establishments in the Elephant and Castle Comprehensive Development Area on what was then known as Site 4. The building was completed in May 1970 and won a commendation in the 1971 Good Design In Housing awards.
It is a building of fascinating quirks, both structurally and socially. Flats are situated on a raised "P" (for PODIUM) level, and on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th floor. The P level flats are a later 1980s addition but all the flats above it are split level scissor section flats, arranged over three primary floors and wrapped around a central communal corridor. This provides each flat with a dual aspect unobstructed by external corridors more usually found on high rise social housing in the area.
In 2020, the area of the building hold garages was remodelled by the Council to create Elephant Arcade, a series of small business units destined to rehome 11 traders dislodged by the demolition of the nearby shopping centre.
Tenant management
Perronet House set itself up as a Tenant Managed Organisation (TMO) under the UK's 'Right to Manage' legislation for council houses. However it was Southwark's first TMO to fail and management of the block returned to the council in 2004. In April 2012 a new Tenants and Residents Association was formed.
Media coverage
- Time Out London used images of the garden of the tenth floor communal sundeck in an article about Food Up Front, part of a feature on slow food.
See a scan of the article here
- The Guardian filmed guerrilla gardeners temporarily retreating to a Perronet House flat after an encounter with police while gardening on the Elephant and Castle north roundabout.
- The book On Guerrilla Gardening by Richard Reynolds (Bloomsbury 2008) includes numerous photos and references to Perronet House and the building also appears illustrated on the back cover.
- In December 2007 Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah made a surprise visit to Perronet House. Her arrival made the front page of the South London Press.
See a scan of the article here
External links
51°29′45″N 0°06′07″W / 51.4958°N 0.1019°W
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Perronet House viewed from the Elephant and Castle. -
A view with showing the distinctive 'half floor' arrangement between the internal walkways (shown by the end windows) and the accommodation floors (shown by the side windows) -
An estate agent's sold sign at the rear of Perronet House
References
- ^ "Elephant & Castle Comprehensive Development Area, Site 4". University of Edinburgh Tower Block Project. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Good Design in Housing 1971 Awards Brochure". Ministry of Housing and Local Government and Royal Institute of British Architects. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021.
- ^ "New 'Elephant Arcade" opens for business on former garage site". Southwark News. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Southwark Council Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee Minutes paras 1.1-1.2" (PDF). 14 September 2004. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
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