Title
Mansions for the Many - How to create popular homes and neighbourhoods
Year published
2024
Author
Andrew Beharrell
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Andrew Beharrell joined architects Pollard Thomas Edwards as a student in 1984. Everything was hand drawn on tracing paper or linen; communication was by post or courier; the practice had around 50 people and worked mostly on existing buildings; few projects exceeded four storeys in height; few people worried much about the planet; London’s population and economy had been declining for four decades; property was cheap, and Notting Hill was a slum. All that was about to change.
In 2020 Andrew retired as Senior Partner of PTE, to focus on writing, design review and travel. By that time PTE employed around 150 people, working on large residential and mixed-use projects, many for 500 homes or more; London’s skyline was populated by hundreds of tall towers; communication was instantaneous and deadlines demanding; all projects were digitally modelled down to the last tiny detail; everyone was focused on climate change and building safety; planning and technical regulation had become fiendishly complex; London was beset by the ‘housing crisis’ – actually several crises of supply, affordability, tenure and homelessness.
In this book Andrew tells the story of his personal involvement in 40 years of housing design and development within and beyond London. He does so through projects, writing and transcripts of talks – writing, research and ‘thought leadership’ has long been an important part of Andrew’s work. Projects range from street house conversions to masterplans for new settlements and include everything that goes into a mixed residential neighbourhood: from affordable houses for disadvantaged families to luxury penthouses; schools and community centres; shops and workspace; parks and gardens.
Andrew’s career covers a prolonged period of economic opportunity and confidence, barring a couple of short sharp recessions, in which London and southern England have been transformed. Just now our industry is facing many challenges, following the pandemic and Brexit, and in response to technological change and global economic uncertainties. At the same time, many of the key issues from the 1980s remain unresolved: where to build and what to build, including the form, density, and character of housing; procurement and means of construction; standardised versus bespoke design; planning by rules and planning by negotiation; consumer choice and affordability.
At this tipping point, architects working in housing need to reinvent themselves to thrive in today’s climate. This is a suitable time to reflect on how we got here, what has changed and what we can learn from the past. Hopefully this book will contribute in some small way to the debate.
