The Lansbury Estate in Poplar, London, was designed as a model neighbourhood with housing, schools, churches and shops, and formed a 'Living Architecture' exhibition for the Festival of Britain in 1951. To mark its 50th anniversary, the AF organised a conference with Leaside Regeneration to celebrate its past, to examine critically its success and to ask how a model neighbourhood could be created today.
As a model neighbourhood including housing, schools, churches and a real living community, the Lansbury Estate demonstrated the possibilities in 'good town planning, architecture and building' to reconstruct a bomb–damaged Britain. It was one of London County Council's first post–war neighbourhoods, as they embarked on a series of ambitious social housing projects, which aimed to transform the physical and social fabric of the city. The estate was designed by a team which brought together a wealth of contemporary talent, including Sir Frederick Gibberd, architects YRM and Geoffrey Jellicoe. 50 years on new forms of planning and urban design are once again being tested out in London. 'Neighbourhoods' have again become the focus for renewal and regeneration.
To mark the anniversary, The Lansbury Festival closed with the 'Living Architecture' conference, a day of talks and discussion about the Lansbury Estate and 50 years of change to city planning, communities and social housing. Speakers included people living and working on the Lansbury Estate as well as many others from the media, architecture, politics, housing and regeneration including – Richard Rogers, Architect and Mayor's Chief Advisor on Architecture and Urbanism; Piers Gough, CZWG architects and presenter of 'Shock of the Old' for Channel 4; Andrew Mawson, Founder and Chair of the Bromley–by–Bow Centre and Chief Executive of the Community Action Network; Dickon Robinson, Director of Development, Peabody Trust; Sophie Taylor, Professor of Urban Cultures, University of East London; Martin O’Rourke, English Heritage, London Region, Regional Regeneration Advisor and Michael Ward, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency. The event was chaired by Charles Landry of Comedia.
The day included tours of the estate, film footage capturing the spirit of London in 1951, a spectacular lighting display by world–renowned designers Studio Park, Urban Design Group workshop on 'Urban Design and Lighting Strategies' and an evening street party in Chrisp Street market.