This display of 20 previously unseen photographs focusses on Dawson’s Heights in south

London, designed by architect Kate Macintosh, featuring images originally commissioned

from former journalist and photographer Sam Elwall for the Architects Journal. The
photographs allow for an experience of Dawson’s Heights from the perspective of both
resident and citizen. Dawson’s Heights was a courageous and enduring large-scale
experiment in British social housing design completed by Kate Macintosh at the age of 28 on
behalf of London Borough of Southwark’s Architect’s Department. Described as one of the
most remarkable housing developments in post-war Britain and much loved by its residents,
it was nevertheless turned down for listing in 2012.

These photographs are taken from the RIBA Architectural Press Archive, a collection of over
600,000 images taken for publication in the Architects’ Journal and Architectural Review
between 1930 and 1980. As it is catalogued and digitised, images such as these are being
rediscovered by a new audience. You can view more images from the Architectural Press
Archive online at www.ribapix.co
 
 Dawson’s Heights: Hilltop Community complements A
Home For All: Six Experiments in Social Housing, a RIBA + V&A display in the architecture
gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Drawn from the RIBA Collection of drawings,
photographs and models as well as the archives of the V&A the display focuses on
innovation in British social housing projects from the early 20th century to the present day
and is on view from 24 November 2018 to 30 June 2019.