Tower Hamlets Homes plans to replace windows in Lubetkin’s famous Sivill House threaten to “destroy the integrity of the composition” says leading architectural authority on Lubetkin’s work John Allan, The Twentieth Century Society and residents of the block.

The landlord’s submitted proposals for the new windows include raising the ‘transom’ (the horizontal aluminium bar that divides the bottom pane and upper windows) by 30cm/12 inches. They claim, this is to improve the safety of the building. However residents claim window’s safety has never been an issue in its 53 year history and their suggestions for child-safe window locks were rejected by Tower Hamlets Homes.

On the proposed changes, Allan said “…The original window frame proportions – as with all else in Lubetkin’s designs – were very carefully considered, such that the transoms very deliberately align with the balcony rails across the façade….”

“…Raising the height of these transoms will violate this relationship and result in a disturbing discordance, throwing the whole elevation into disarray…to alter this ‘dialogue’ would be to fundamentally destroy the integrity of the composition…”

“…It should be recognised that Sivill House is unique in Lubetkin’s oeuvre…and this refurbishment project should be approached with exactly the same degree of conscientiousness as would be expected in the conservation of any other designated heritage asset…”

“If Building Control have any safety concerns…they should be addressed by other means internally…rather than by any alteration to the essential geometry of the exterior façade.”

Sivill House Residents and the CTRA are calling on local residents to object to the plans in order preserve Lubetkin’s legacy of which they are very proud. The deadline for objections is 14 November 2019.

***UPDATE*** – THE DEADLINE FOR THE PLANNING CONSULTATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 25 NOVEMBER 2019.

In 2014 Green Dreams Landscape Architects produced a master plan for Gascoigne Estate after extensive consultation with residents. Now the funding has been approved, Green Dreams have been appointed to deliver the project to make Gascoigne Estate a greener and more pedestrian friendly space.

The CTRA strongly supports this initiative and is happy to support the Gascoigne Neighbourhood Association with their project.

Please look at the proposed plans and images available and complete the survey so the Gascoigne Neighbourhood Association can make sure the plans reflect resident’s wishes.

The CTRA has taken delivery of 135 trees donated to us by the Woodland Trust. The sapling varieties have been specifically chosen to encourage wildlife and will of course grow to improve our air quality, absorb sound and improve the look of our estates.

Species include: hawthorn, rowan, blackthorn, silver birch, hazel, common oak, dog rose, hazel, crab apple and dogwood.

We now face a race against time to get them into the ground. The plan is to plant the majority of trees outside George Loveless House on the Dorset Estate and on the corner of Hackney Road and Columbia Road. Others will be placed around the estates.

We need strong volunteers to help us plant these trees that will improve our estates. Email gardening@columbiatra-org-uk to get involved. Planting will start this weekend on Saturday 17 November 2019.