Tony Molloy got in touch after we covered his article on the Peabody blog about the Lubetkin-designed blocks of Priory Green. Lubetkin was a favourite architect of the Stalin era who brought modernism to Britain. Tony sent some pictures of Lubetkin-style blocks in Moscow which we were lucky to escape here. Tony said:
I think Lubetkin did not feel overly fondly of Priory Green which could be in part why it is not listed (as I recall there was to be a doctors surgery and the estate office was to be where they built Foiliot). Was Spa Green a better example? I am unsure if its listed either but it is softer vision I felt (10 years ago).
I spent some time in Moscow a couple of years ago and there is nothing but row upon row, and mile upon mile of Lubetkin blocks like Kendal and Reddington but 22 stories high – same colour scheme that Priory Green used to be as well!. They also had 3 lifts as opposed to 2 lifts (but always had one lift turned off so if a lift broke down you knew you had a third lift waiting).
I love the engineering pragmatism of having a spare lift.
Hi Tony
Your piece reminds me of the first time I showed Lala, our Moscow born community development worker around the neighbourhood. We got to Muriel Street and she exclaimed “oh it’s lovely, it is just like bulgarian holiday apartments!”