‘Nothing was too good for ordinary people’ – that was the mantra of Georgian-born architect Berthold Lubetkin. Through his practice, Tecton, Lubetkin pioneered the Modernist movement in Britain, using the Borough of Islington as a testbed for his socially-minded designs, while racking up a collection of unique projects that would eventually range from health centres to penguin pools.
Here are five projects that show him at his most forward-thinking on what would have been his 104th birthday.
The Round House and Penguin Pool at London Zoo
London Zoo commissioned Lubetkin to design the Round House for its gorillas in 1933 – making it one of the earliest Modernist buildings to be constructed in Britain. But it’s perhaps the Penguin Pool, opened in 1934, which is the most famous, with its dual concrete spiral ramps. Though the penguins have since moved out, the buildings are both Grade I-listed, and the Round House is currently home to fruit bats and lemurs.
Above: The Penguin Pool. Photography: Edward X
The Round House and Penguin Pool at London Zoo
London Zoo commissioned Lubetkin to design the Round House for its gorillas in 1933 – making it one of the earliest Modernist buildings to be constructed in Britain. But it’s perhaps the Penguin Pool, opened in 1934, which is the most famous, with its dual concrete spiral ramps. Though the penguins have since moved out, the buildings are both Grade I-listed, and the Round House is currently home to fruit bats and lemurs.
Above: The Penguin Pool in the 1930s. Photography courtesy of The Modernist
The Round House and Penguin Pool at London Zoo
London Zoo commissioned Lubetkin to design the Round House for its gorillas in 1933 – making it one of the earliest Modernist buildings to be constructed in Britain. But it’s perhaps the Penguin Pool, opened in 1934, which is the most famous, with its dual concrete spiral ramps. Though the penguins have since moved out, the buildings are both Grade I-listed, and the Round House is currently home to fruit bats and lemurs.
Above: The Gorilla or Round House. Photography courtesy of The Modernist
The Round House and Penguin Pool at London Zoo
London Zoo commissioned Lubetkin to design the Round House for its gorillas in 1933 – making it one of the earliest Modernist buildings to be constructed in Britain. But it’s perhaps the Penguin Pool, opened in 1934, which is the most famous, with its dual concrete spiral ramps. Though the penguins have since moved out, the buildings are both Grade I-listed, and the Round House is currently home to fruit bats and lemurs.
Above: The Gorilla or Round House shortly after completion. Photography courtesy of The Modernist
The Highpoint Housing Complex, London
Built in 1935 and 1938, Highpoint One and Two are arguably the most celebrated and rigorous of Lubetkin’s 1930s Tecton designs. The apartment complex in Highgate, north London, was commissioned by local entrepreneur Sigmund Gestetner and redefined the traditional idea of luxury for a young, wealthy breed of homeowners. Lubetkin’s brief extended to designing and specifying every element of the building down to its washbasins and door hinges. Both apartment blocks are now Grade I-listed.
Photography: Julian Osley
The Highpoint Housing Complex, London
Built in 1935 and 1938, Highpoint One and Two are arguably the most celebrated and rigorous of Lubetkin’s 1930s Tecton designs. The apartment complex in Highgate, north London, was commissioned by local entrepreneur Sigmund Gestetner and redefined the traditional idea of luxury for a young, wealthy breed of homeowners. Lubetkin’s brief extended to designing and specifying every element of the building down to its washbasins and door hinges. Both apartment blocks are now Grade I-listed.
Above: Inside on of Highpoint One’s apartments circa 1936. Photography: Morley von Sternberg
Finsbury Health Centre, London
Tecton was appointed to design a new health centre next to Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Clerkenwell (then, the Borough of Finsbury) while working on the Highpoint estate. It was the first time a progressive architecture group had been awarded a municipal commission in the UK, and it was Lubetkin’s first chance to publicly enshrine – in concrete – his social ideology. Completed in 1938 it was designed to encourage the public to be healthier. Externally symmetrical, the building’s wings tapered, with convex glass block wall that allowed sunlight into the building – a contrast to the usual dank waiting rooms of doctors surgeries – and radically, it sited treatments for varying conditions all within the same building. The building was partly restored in the 1990s and is Grade I-listed.
Photography: John Allan / Morley von Sternberg
Finsbury Health Centre, London
Tecton was appointed to design a new health centre next to Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Clerkenwell (then, the Borough of Finsbury) while working on the Highpoint estate. It was the first time a progressive architecture group had been awarded a municipal commission in the UK, and it was Lubetkin’s first chance to publicly enshrine – in concrete – his social ideology. Completed in 1938 it was designed to encourage the public to be healthier. Externally symmetrical, the building’s wings tapered, with convex glass block wall that allowed sunlight into the building – a contrast to the usual dank waiting rooms of doctors surgeries – and radically, it sited treatments for varying conditions all within the same building. The building was partly restored in the 1990s and is Grade I-listed.
Photography: Maltby / John Allan
Dudley Zoo animal enclosures
Dudley Zoo contains the biggest collection of surviving Tecton buildings in the world. Lubetkin designed 13 structures, including the Elephant House, Polar Bear Pit, Bear Ravine and Aviary, on the steep, sloping landscape surrounding Dudley Castle back in 1937, after the success of his 1934 London Zoo Penguin Pool commission.
All of the Dudley Zoo structures – with the exception of the Penguin Pool, which was demolished in 1979 – are Grade II and II* listed, and are undergoing major renovation work by Bryant Priest Newman Architects, after being placed on the World Monuments Fund Watchlist in 2010.
Photography courtesy of BPN Architects
Dudley Zoo animal enclosures
Dudley Zoo contains the biggest collection of surviving Tecton buildings in the world. Lubetkin designed 13 structures, including the Elephant House, Polar Bear Pit, Bear Ravine and Aviary, on the steep, sloping landscape surrounding Dudley Castle back in 1937, after the success of his 1934 London Zoo Penguin Pool commission.
All of the Dudley Zoo structures – with the exception of the Penguin Pool, which was demolished in 1979 – are Grade II and II* listed, and are undergoing major renovation work by Bryant Priest Newman Architects, after being placed on the World Monuments Fund Watchlist in 2010.
Photography courtesy of BPN Architects
Dudley Zoo animal enclosures
Dudley Zoo contains the biggest collection of surviving Tecton buildings in the world. Lubetkin designed 13 structures, including the Elephant House, Polar Bear Pit, Bear Ravine and Aviary, on the steep, sloping landscape surrounding Dudley Castle back in 1937, after the success of his 1934 London Zoo Penguin Pool commission.
All of the Dudley Zoo structures – with the exception of the Penguin Pool, which was demolished in 1979 – are Grade II and II* listed, and are undergoing major renovation work by Bryant Priest Newman Architects, after being placed on the World Monuments Fund Watchlist in 2010.
Photography courtesy of BPN Architects
Spa Green Estate, London
After the success of the nearby Finsbury Health Centre (1938), Tecton was commissioned by the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury to design the Spa Green Estate in Clerkenwell in 1938. Conceived as public housing, it took over land designated for slum clearance that was partly bombed during WWII. It was eventually completed in 1949.
Working with Ove Arup, Lubetkin designed concrete ‘egg-crate’ structures for the housing blocks that allowed each flat to enjoy ‘democratic’ views from its own street-facing balcony. Lubetkin also employed details from his earlier Highpoint apartments, including mod-cons like central heating, lifts and fitted kitchens.
The building was Grade II*-listed in 1998, and its original colour scheme – drawing on Russian constructivism – was restored in 2008 as part of extensive restoration work.
Above: Spa Green Lodge Meeting Room. Photography: Grantham 9
Spa Green Estate, London
After the success of the nearby Finsbury Health Centre (1938), Tecton was commissioned by the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury to design the Spa Green Estate in Clerkenwell in 1938. Conceived as public housing, it took over land designated for slum clearance that was partly bombed during WWII. It was eventually completed in 1949.
Working with Ove Arup, Lubetkin designed concrete ‘egg-crate’ structures for the housing blocks that allowed each flat to enjoy ‘democratic’ views from its own street-facing balcony. Lubetkin also employed details from his earlier Highpoint apartments, including mod-cons like central heating, lifts and fitted kitchens.
The building was Grade II*-listed in 1998, and its original colour scheme – drawing on Russian constructivism – was restored in 2008 as part of extensive restoration work.
Above: Turnbridge House balconies. Photography: Julian Osley
Spa Green Estate, London
After the success of the nearby Finsbury Health Centre (1938), Tecton was commissioned by the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury to design the Spa Green Estate in Clerkenwell in 1938. Conceived as public housing, it took over land designated for slum clearance that was partly bombed during WWII. It was eventually completed in 1949.
Working with Ove Arup, Lubetkin designed concrete ‘egg-crate’ structures for the housing blocks that allowed each flat to enjoy ‘democratic’ views from its own street-facing balcony. Lubetkin also employed details from his earlier Highpoint apartments, including mod-cons like central heating, lifts and fitted kitchens.
The building was Grade II*-listed in 1998, and its original colour scheme – drawing on Russian constructivism – was restored in 2008 as part of extensive restoration work.
Above: Sadler House. Photography:
