Alton Estate, Roehampton - Open House London

The Alton Estate was one of the first post-war Housing estates designed by a new wave of British modernist architects like Rosemary Stjernstedt and Oliver Cox. This pioneering development started in 1950 is renowned for its mix of low-rise and high-rise modernist architecture: Alton East, with its Stjernstedt-led, Scandinavian inspired vernacular completed in 1958 and its later counterpart the more 'Corbusian' Alton West completed in 1959, both landscaped into its open, green and airy surroundings.

Residents were fighting Wandsworth Council and their regeneration plans to demolish 330 households, the adjacent commercial heart of the estate on Danebury Avenue, the Library and Allbrook House even though they are all strong contenders for listed building status. The Alton Activity Centre and shops have already been all but closed down as they conveniently were close to this allocated demolition zone. The planning process has not taken the views of the residents into account who have fought to expose the flaws in the Council's regeneration plans. Then earlier this month, Redrow - the chosen developer, finally pulled out of the project.

The residents invite visitors to join them on socially-distanced walking tours around both parts of the estate at 11am and then again at 2pm on Sunday starting at Cafe Joy located on Danebury Avenue walking through Alton West, the 'demolition' site, Alton Activity Centre, (break) Alton East and Pocklington Court.

Host or Publisher Estates of Memory