Dawson's Heights

Dawson's Heights (also known as Dawson Heights) is a large social housing estate in East Dulwich, London Borough of Southwark, London.

Dawson's Heights
General information
LocationEast Dulwich, London Borough of Southwark, UK
Coordinates51°26′50″N 0°04′02″W
StatusCompleted
No. of flats298[1]
Construction
Constructed1964–1972
ArchitectKate Macintosh

It was designed by Kate Macintosh and built in between 1964 and 1972.[2][1] The estate is built on top of a spoil tip from the creation of a nearby railway line.[3]

Composed of 298 flats distributed over 12 floors, it compromises 112 one-bed flats, 75 two-bed, 81 three-bed and 28 four-bed, all split-level dual aspect maisonettes.[1] Dawson's Heights consists of two blocks of flats; Bredinghurst to the south and Ladlands to the north. There is also a small nature reserve to the north of the buildings, managed by the Dawson's Hill Trust.[4]

It has a modernist style, reminiscent of a ziggurat. The purpose of this design was to ensure that two thirds of the flats had views in both directions, including towards central London.[5] English Heritage described the estate as having "a striking and original massing that possesses evocative associations with ancient cities and Italian hill towns".[2]

Despite its unique and imposing architectural style within the East Dulwich area, and strong recommendation from English Heritage, it was turned down for listing by the Secretary of State in 2012.

  • Dawson's Heights from Overhill Road
  • An urban fox in the nature reserve on Dawson's Hill, May 2018
  • View of Central London from the Ladlands building, June 2018

References
  1. Tarn Rodgers Johns. "The Dawson's Heights Project". Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. Billings, Henrietta (22 May 2012). "Dawson's Heights: the 'Italian' hill town in Dulwich – The Twentieth Century Society". c20society.org.uk. Twentieth Century Society. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  3. Waters, Suzanne. "Dawson's Heights". RIBApix. RIBA. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  4. "Dawsons Hill Trust". www.dawsonshill.org.uk. Dawsons Hill Trust. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  5. Boughton, John (25 November 2014). "Dawson's Heights, East Dulwich: 'an example of the almost-lost art of romantic townscape'". Municipal Dreams. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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