Municipal Dreams: The Rise and Fall of Council Housing

Municipal Dreams is a book that explores the social history of housing in Britain, featuring extraordinary planners and architects, politicians, competing ideologies, economics, and the crisis wrought by Right to Buy. It warns that the loss of the dream of good housing for all is a danger for society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 16 April 2019
Publisher: Verso Books

Municipal Dreams, a captivating journey across the nation, presents an architectural exploration of some of the finest and most remarkable housing estates in Britain. In addition to this, it provides an enthralling social history of housing in the country. John Broughton implores us to delve deeper into their intricate tale and challenge our preconceptions. His narratives encompass remarkable planners and architects who aimed to uplift working men and women through innovative designs, as well as politicians, from high and low positions, who shaped their work. He also sheds light on the competing ideologies that have advocated for and criticized state housing, the economic constraints that have shaped our housing ideals, the crisis brought about by Right to Buy, and the ongoing debates surrounding regeneration. Through his insightful analysis, Broughton demonstrates how the loss of the dream of accessible and decent housing for all poses a threat to society as a whole, as evidenced by the tragic fire in Grenfell Tower.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 196 x 129 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784787400