integrate the development with its surroundings, as the photographs show.

The relationship of the slab blocks to Richmond Park was a matter of special attention. Because the Ministry of Works was concerned that these would form an oppressive wall when viewed from the park, they were turned to slant across the site. But this was achieved at the cost of depriving 400 families of a superb view of London.

Housing projects on the urban fringe have rarely included high buildings, and yet it is precisely in that area that the high-density apartment building can be given enough surrounding space to make it a pleasant type of dwelling. Roehampton Lane also illustrates, with its preservation of historic buildings and developed landscape, a laudable respect for the products of age. The scheme is also notable for its effort to satisfy the needs and tastes of families in different stages of the life cycle, some composed of couples with small children, others just of elderly persons.

Site plan of Roehampton Lane.

The western end of the project: in the foreground a golf course, in the background Richmond Park.

A-district

Residential building structure with single- and multi-family units

<table><tr><td>Building site (ha)</td><td>52</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dwellings approx.</td><td>2600</td><td>250</td><td>50</td><td>0.25</td></tr><tr><td>Residents approx.</td><td>13000</td><td>R/ha</td><td>D/ha</td><td>C/D</td></tr></table>

## Roehampton Estate, London/England

Architect London County Council

Year built 1952-1955, 1st phase, 1955-1959, 2nd phase

16 km to the south west of the city centre. Groups of contrasting high-rise and low-level buildings, point blocks (apartment buildings), sections of high-rise buildings (maisonettes) and 1- to 3-storeyed terraced houses are organised in a park-type layout. Realised in two phases. Site plan and photograph show Alton West (1955-1959).

Publications: Lit. Bruckmann/Lewis, 1960; Lit. Hoffmann, 1967