Award-winning council homes in comparison with a ‘multi-storey automotive park’
Locals have flocked to the defense of a prize-winning block of council houses after they’ve been slammed as ‘utterly hideous’ and compared to a ‘multistorey car park’ online.
Despite receiving a prestigious award for its unique architecture – Chowdhury Walk in Hackney wasn’t spared a barrage of criticism on social media – with one person going as far as to say it the property ‘hurt their eyes’.
The building’s unique ‘staggered design’ is a striking sight and a far cry from a stereotypical council built home – but it has dramatically split opinions since its construction finished in 2022.
The estate’s 11 terraced houses – seven of which are available for social rent – sit sandwiched between two existing terraces with each home rotated slightly to create a varied and jagged streetscape.
Chowdhury Walk, in Hackney, (pictured), recently won the Neave Brown award for affordable housing but has been slammed on Twitter. The building’s unique ‘staggered design’ has split opinions online
The estate’s 11 terraced houses sit sandwiched between two existing terraces with each home rotated slightly to create a varied and jagged streetscape
The Neave Brown award is given in honor of Neave Brown a modernist architect and pioneer in social housing who died in 2018
Chowdhury Walk is the brainchild of Al-Jawad Pike who built the estate with practicality at the forefront of his mind. The 11 terraced houses sit on granite plinths and are designed to create more privacy for residents and support passive solar gain
The Royal Institute of British Architects named the development as winner of the Neave Brown Affordable housing award on October 17.
But, not everyone is happy about its success, and have questioned whether the building is worthy of the highly-sought-after trophy.
Commenting on fan X post about Chowdhury Walk risk advisor, Firas Modad didn’t hold back and ripped into its design.
‘The lines and corners are very unpleasant and hurt the eyes, the colours are dull and sickly, it doesn’t fit well with the vernacular, and it generally looks like it came from a three year old’s lego set. It’s hideous.’
Treasurer, Stephen Wigmore, agreed adding: ‘Utterly hideous. Why do you hate beauty?’
A third X user – Passive Observer – was so shocked the property received the recognition that he asked: ‘How can this not be parody?’ and Warren B quipped: ‘Is it a multi-storey car park?’
But, the experience of one of the residents of Chowdhury walk serves as a stark contrast to the scathing views of online critics.
Construction on the estate finished in 2022. Seven of the houses are available for social rent and the other four are private properties
Not everyone is happy about its success, and have questioned whether the building is worthy of the highly-sought-after trophy
One Twitter user said: ‘The lines and corners are very unpleasant and hurt the eyes the colours are dull and sickly, it doesn’t fit well with the vernacular, and it generally looks like it came from a three year old’s lego set. It’s hideous.’
Amina, 36, is a full-time carer for her disabled son and said living at the property is ‘like a dream come true’ for her family.
The mum of four described how she used to reside in a cramped two-bed flat in a high-rise building where the lift frequently broke and left her having to carry her wheelchair- bound child up the stairs.
Amina told MailOnline: ‘It’s been really nice living here. Before I felt like I was living in a cupboard.
‘And because my son has so much equipment it felt like, our living room was a waiting room. Now when we’re up and about, he can just be in his walker and just following us around. So there’s no restriction on where he can go.’
She added: ‘Everyone is great. They really have this sense of neighbourhood. Everyone knows each other. ‘I am very happy space-wise.’
‘Hearing about the award was really nice, I never imagined I would live somewhere like this it’s a dream come true.’
‘I like the design and what I like most is the privacy it offers.’
And, it isn’t just the residents who love the development, but the locals also sing its praises.
Former nurse, Patricia Egan, 73, said: ‘I think it’s absolutely beautiful. I would love to live in something like that. I like everything about it, the shape of it. Everything, really.
‘I don’t think it’s ugly I think it’s lovely. It’s an amazing building.
‘It does stick out a bit, I’ll give you that but it’s still lovely. I wouldn’t mind living in it.’
Wisdom, a 32-year-old carer agreed: ‘I love the arrangement, it’s not like the typical straight flat outline.
‘I’ve got no idea why people are saying negative things about it. The architectural design is actually very cool. What caught me was the layout, It sticks in my mind,’ he added.
A local hairdresser, who did not wished to be named, said: I really feel like it fits in and I really like the different textures of the wood.
‘it’s quite a nice modern design. I think it feels contemporary. I think it makes the area more interesting.
‘I think people are being negative because it’s different. It’s new. It takes time for people to appreciate architecture when it’s just been placed somewhere, but everywhere has got to be developed.
Locals love Chowdhury Walk. Patricia Egan, pictured, said: ‘I think it’s absolutely beautiful. I would love to live in something like that. I like everything about it, the shape of it. Everything, really’
A local hairdresser, (pictured), agreed and said: ‘I really feel like it fits in and I really like the different textures of the wood. ‘it’s quite a nice modern design. I think it feels contemporary. I think it makes the area more interesting’
‘Everyone’s got to put their own impression into things, don’t they?’
Chowdhury Walk is the brainchild of Al-Jawad Pike who built the estate with practicality at the forefront of his mind.
The homes have a staggered design to create more privacy for residents and support passive solar gain.
Four of the 11 houses are privately owned but the rest are affordable accommodation.
The Neave Brown award is given in honor of Neave Brown a modernist architect and pioneer in social housing who died in 2018.
Other contenders for the 2024 prize included Dover Court Estate in Islington, London, North Gate Social Housing in Glasgow, Scotland, and Unity Place in Brent, London.
