# / . 4 % 8 4 . / 6 % - " % 2 OUTDOOR SPACES AND AS A RESULT OF 4OWNSEND S AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO ORGANISE MAINTENANCE OF THESE SPACES A BUILT IN MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN THE FORM OF A LEGALLY CONSTITUTED RESIDENT S ASSOCIATION )N MANY WAYS 3PAN HOUSES AND FLATS ARE PRETTY ORDINARY LOOKING NOT PARTICULARLY STRIKING AT ALL n BUT THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY INSPIRED MANY OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSE BUILDERS IN THE S AND S PROVIDING @THE LOOK FOR NEW HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY )N THE S THEY WERE STRIKING OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN AN OTHERWISE BLAND POST WAR ENVIRONMENT 4HEY DEMONSTRATED THAT CONSIDERED MODERN @CONTEMPORARY HOMES COULD BE SYNONYMOUS WITH COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE 4HE BUILDINGS TEND TO BE OF @CROSS WALL CONSTRUCTION WITH TIMBER FLOORS AND 4HERMALITE INSULATION BLOCKS 5SUALLY CLAD WITH EITHER VERTICAL TILE HANGING OR TIMBER WEATHERBOARDING ROOFS ARE TYPICALLY FLAT OR HAVE A SHALLOW PITCH COVERED WITH PROFILED ALUMINIUM SHEETING USED FOR ITS INSULATING PROPERTIES ! NUMBER OF THE HOUSE DESIGNS HAD THE CENTRE OF THE BUILDING LIT BY A CLERESTORY WINDOW RUNNING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ROOF ENABLING THE BATHROOM TO BE PLACED IN THE CENTRE OF THE HOUSE 4HIS FREED THE FULL WIDTH OF THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE HOUSE FOR BEDROOMS 4HE MATERIALS WERE ALWAYS CAREFULLY PICKED TO WEATHER AND MELLOW WITH THEIR SETTING !T 4EMPLEMERE 7EYBRIDGE FOR EXAMPLE A DARK COLOURED BRICK WAS 3PAN WAS COMMITTED TO THE IDEA OF COMMUNAL MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY PIONEERING THE USE OF RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS TO PROVIDE LONG TERM MANAGEMENT 2ESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS MAINTAIN THE ESTATES AND COMMUNAL GARDENS AND MONITOR THE STRICT COVENANTS COVERING EVERYTHING FROM EXTENSIONS TO PAINT COLOURS "Y REGULATING COLOURS WINDOWS MATERIALS AND CHANGE THROUGH THESE LEGAL COVENANTS THE ESTATES HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO FALL VICTIM TO THE INDIVIDUAL TASTE THAT CAN SO OFTEN RUIN SIMPLE UNIFYING DETAILS 4HE ASSOCIATIONS PROVIDE THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR RESIDENTS CHOSEN PARTICULARLY TO FORM A VISUAL LINK WITH THE SURROUNDING CEDAR TREES )N %RIC ,YONS SAID OF 0ARKLEYS @MY PARTICULAR INTEREST WAS THE FORMATION OF THE COURTYARD WHICH ) THOUGHT WAS A NEGLECTED FORM OF LIVING ENVIRONMENT 4HE COURTYARD IS NOT A DEAD SPACE )T IS ACTUALLY CIRCULATION !LL ACCESS FOR TRADES AND SERVICES IS ON THE PERIMETER AND THE COURTYARDS ARE USED FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ONLY )T WAS THIS PHILOSOPHY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND THEIR SETTINGS THAT MADE THE SUCCESS OF THE LANDSCAPING EVEN MORE CRUCIAL ,YONS PROVIDED THE DESIGNS AND 4OWNSEND THE LAND )N )VOR #UNNINGHAM JOINED THE TEAM WORKING WITH %RIC ,YONS WITH PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN )N "LACKHEATH PARTICULARLY THE SMALL 3PAN DEVELOPMENTS WERE OFTEN GENTLY INTEGRATED WITHIN ESTABLISHED LANDSCAPES THAT WERE THEN ENHANCED BY #UNNINGHAM S SYMPATHETIC PLANTING SCHEMES TO HARNESS LOCAL PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY IN KEEPING THEIR SURROUNDINGS ATTRACTIVE AND MAINTAINED ! WALK AROUND THE ESTATES NOW SHOWS HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS HAS BEEN )N (OUSE AND 'ARDEN MAGAZINE WROTE THAT 3PAN HAD @STARTED OR RATHER RE STARTED WHAT MAY WELL BECOME A MOVEMENT THAT COULD SAVE "RITAIN FROM A GREAT DEAL OF FURTHER SUBURBAN HORROR 4HE CONCEPT OF .EW !SH 'REEN WAS THE LOGICAL CULMINATION OF ALL OF 3PAN S IDEALS AND PHILOSOPHIES ! 3PAN PUBLICITY BROCHURE IN CLAIMED @THIS VILLAGE IS PLANNED AS A WHOLE PLACE FOR TH CENTURY LIVING AND PROVIDING FOR TH CENTURY PEOPLE S NEEDS )T WAS TO INCLUDE HOUSING SHOPS LIGHT INDUSTRY A SCHOOL AND MOST IMPORTANT OPEN SPACE !N @INTEGRATED SOCIETY WOULD MEAN THAT A PROPORTION OF THE HOUSING WAS TO BE TAKEN BY THE 'REATER ,ONDON #OUNCIL )N A COMBINATION OF AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN A CHANGE OF HEART AT THE ',# AND THE RELUCTANCE OF MORTGAGE LENDING LED ULTIMATELY TO THE FINANCIAL COLLAPSE OF 3PAN AND LEFT .EW !SH 'REEN UNCOMPLETED 4HREE VIEWS OF THE 3PAN ESTATE AT 7EYBRIDGE
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