Overview
This drawing is from a set of 9 prints of architectural drawings, made contemporary with the original hand drawings, come from the collection of the architect George Finch RIBA who designed this block of flats when working for the London County Council (LCC). This set shows the 10-storey block of council flats and, at its base, the two-storey blocks for the elderly, the earliest such terraces built by the LCC. [ref: E. Harwood, G. Finch obituary, Guardian, 2 Sept 2013]

The Architect
George Finch (1930-2013) graduated from the Architectural Association in 1955 and was amongst a group of notable architects of his year, including Patrick Hodgkinson and Neave Brown, who went on to design what many consider the most important works of social housing in London of the post-war period. One of Finch’s first projects upon joining the London County Councils Architects Department was Spring Walk, Stepney, represented by this set of drawings.

Finch was invited in 1964 to join the London Borough of Lambeth’s architecture department under its chief architect and planner Ted Hollamby producing, with Finch’s buildings, some of London’s finest works of social housing, exemplars of the Brutalist Movement. The outstanding groups, all point blocks, designed by Finch between 1964 and 1971, are considered to be the trio of towers which dominate the Stockwell and surrounding area on Binfield Road; Hurley Road (now Cotton Gardens); Clapham Road; and Lambeth Towers. Just before leaving Lambeth, Finch designed the massive red brick hulk of the Brixton Recreation Centre (1971-85).

Addition material
The National Art Library holds four brochures printed by the Lambeth County Council Architects’ Department of schemes by George Finch (drawings and illustrations by Finch).