Oikonomopoulos, Vassilios;
(2007)
Eugenics in the house: Modernism, architecture and eugenics and the production of Kensal House in the UK during the interwar period.
Masters thesis (M.Sc), University of London.
Preview |
Text
Oikonomopoulos_10146064_thesis.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Kensal House, a working-class housing development in West London became the beacon of Modernist housing schemes to be produced in Britain in the period between the First and the Second World War. Privately funded, by the Gas Company and realised mainly by the collaboration of two individuals, the architect Maxwell Fry and the housing consultant Elizabeth Denby, it was destined to become the greatest example for the use of gas in domestic environments at the same time as it will provide a functional, efficient and hygienic environment to the 68 families that will be rehoused there following slum clearance. Moreover, its programme included unique provisions for social interaction between the residents and a revolutionary for the period Nursery school. At a period where Britain faces difficult times ahead, with the quality of the population significantly dropping, and financial problems looming in the horizon, Kensal House was faithful to the nation's eugenics interests. Its creation also marked a shift in eugenic practices in the country, a shift that proclaimed the will for an evolutionary environment for all. Looking at Kensal House, through the ideas of that period's leading eugenist, Julien Huxley, this analysis points at the similar goals of Modernist housing design and eugenics ideology for a scientifically constructed Utopia and questions the scheme's creation using Foucault's notion of biopower to critically approach the relation between Kensal House and eugenics of every type.
| Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | M.Sc |
| Title: | Eugenics in the house: Modernism, architecture and eugenics and the production of Kensal House in the UK during the interwar period |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This thesis has been digitised by ProQuest. |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10146064 |
Loading...
Loading...Loading...Loading...Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
