The Abstract

The idea of gentrification and demolition has been a subject that I’ve always found fascinating over the course of my architectural studies. From basing my final second year project on issues concerning housing demolition in Canterbury, to undertaking research on Robin Hood Gardens for my stage two piece of writing, led me to further delve into the consequences of such issues and the repercussions of architectural, social, and spatial injustices. Thus, this thesis aims to shed light on the on-going struggles of everyday people and their homes that are being threatened to be demolished, and more importantly, the consequences of manipulative and poor decision making and the many reasons for them.

Today, the right to the city is an intellectual idea, a campaign slogan, a political ideal and a legislative mechanism which can help to answer the questions of “who is the city for? Is it for teachers, doctors, taxi drivers and families or is it just for wealthy finance professionals and young people prepared to live in micro flats or substandard accommodation?

(Minton, 2017)

In the case of Cressingham Gardens Estate, a social and spatial battle that has been on-going since 2012, locals and residents have actively been fighting to save the estate from Lambeth Council’s proposed decision for regeneration to this day. This piece of writing will attempt to understand and analyse how collective activism in a community have such a crucial role in outcomes of decision-making on the fate of Cressingham Gardens Estate.