Prefab bungalows
|
| Prefabs, Elisabeth Blanchet and Sonia Zhuravlyova, Historic England, 2018, 115 pages, 54 colour and 38 black and white illustrations. |
For a relatively short time in the post-war decades prefab bungalows were a familiar building type in towns and cities up and down the country. The foreword to this book by the former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock shows that prefabs were often also a step up in living standards for the people who moved into them and that they offered a chance for residents to progress in life. We later find that Admiral Lord Alan West spent his childhood years in a prefab. Other prefab residents emerge as engaging personalities fiercely attached to their homes.
The authors trace the origins of prefabs in plotland developments and in early experiments in the later 19th and early 20th centuries such as ‘homes fit for heroes’ after the first world war. The book cites examples from the USA as well as the UK. Prefabs came into their own, however, as an answer to an acute housing shortage after the second world war. The book charts the various types of prefab systems, some of which, such as the AIROH house, developed to exploit surplus manufacturing capacity in aircraft factories. Other prefabricated systems developed by companies such as Wates, or, in the case of housing in the Scottish islands, imported from Sweden, provided longer-life houses.
The book diverges into consideration of prefabricated systems in high-rise housing, and their role in future housing provision and in emergency housing. Significant as those subjects are, these chapters loosen the overall coherence of the theme of the book. Finally, the authors describe campaigns by residents to save prefab bungalows, and the preservation, listing and improvement of prefabs. An appendix lists the various prefab systems used in the post-war decades.
Prefab bungalows are now a rare building type, so the value of the book for conservation is limited. They are, however, significant in the history of housing and planning in the UK. Perhaps the key contemporary message of the book is that decent housing is a vital component of individual advance and social progress.
This article originally appeared as ‘A step up’ in IHBC's Context 158 (Page 61), published in March 2019. It was written by Michael Taylor, editorial coordinator for Context.
--Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Architectural styles.
- British post-war mass housing.
- Conservation.
- Historic building.
- Housing Defects Act 1984.
- IHBC articles.
- Kit house.
- Modern methods of construction.
- Modular buildings.
- Off-site construction.
- Offsite manufacturing.
- Plug and play skyscrapers.
- Prefabrication.
- Ronan Point.
- Types of building.
- Y:Cube development in Mitcham.
IHBC NewsBlog
BRE/BEIS project to modernise home energy rating scheme
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has announced a new project with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to improve and modernise the home energy rating scheme used to measure the energy and environmental performance of UK homes.
Interdisciplinary IHBC accreditation recognised by CSCS for PQP Cards
Sector lead the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has recognised the IHBC’s professional accreditation and support (CPD etc.) in awarding its PQP (Professionally Qualified Person) cards.
IHBC Heritage Marketplace provides learning-led virtual engagement
The IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School Heritage MarketPlace (4.30-7.30PM, 15 June) is designed to extend the scope of a traditional IHBC School exhibition floor.
Unearthing the history of Gloucester’s 'the Fleece' Hotel starts
Work to repair a fire-hit medieval hotel in Gloucester is underway as crews have started work to strip back some of the modern trappings and reveal the historic framework.
Booking Open for IHBC Annual School: Aberdeen, 16-18 June 2022
Options for in-person and virtual delegates to explore ‘heritage on the edge’ across up to 4 days of IHBC engagement & learning.
European Heritage Heads Forum statement on Ukraine
The Secretariat to the European Heritage Heads Forum has has coordinated its declaration of solidarity and support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage institutions.
Welcome to #IHBC25 – 25 years since we turned professional
2022 will see the IHBC mark a quarter of a century since our incorporation as a professional body supporting and accrediting built and historic environment conservation specialists. We’re kick-starting it by inviting your ideas on how to mark this special year!
IHBC launches new Guidance Note on ‘Design sources for historic building conservation'
The IHBC’s latest Guidance Note adds to the institute’s open-access, online practitioner’s Toolbox.
England’s communities empowered to shape design of neighbourhoods
Twenty-five areas in England from Bournemouth to Carlisle have been awarded a share of £3 million to help them set their own standards for design locally. "move from a vicious circle of generic development to a virtuous circle of regenerative development".
IHBC at COP26 - Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet - Podcast
The IHBC seeks to raise awareness and understanding of how building conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.