George Finch 1930-2013

In February I read George Finch's obituary in a newspaper (unusual, I buy a newspaper maybe once every two months) and instantly added him to my list of inspirational people; his desire to create interesting and playful designs for ordinary people to comfortably live in makes me very happy. Luckily morbidly, his recent death means it was fairly easy to read lots more about him.

George began studying at North London Polytechnic where he found the teaching uninspiring;  behaving in a "wayward and impractical" manner and running off to join the Architectual Association (AA) and then win their only London county council (LCC) scholarship in 1950. 

Architecural Association students (George is working the bow tie)

While with the LCC he developed his skills and beliefs in utopian socialism and good quality building; in the 1950s he designed the first mixed housing block of flats in Central London and in the early 1960s, refuted claims that pre-cast housing construction was quicker and cheaper than conventional methods.

Lambeth Towers (opened 1965) - designed while George was working for Lambeth council, funnily enough -  is probably his finest housing design; providing good quality at reasonable rents for people who lived and worked in London while being visually playful, stacked maisonettes provide each of the 35 dwellings with dual aspect and a balcony. 48 years later, residents still like living there! Which is a lot more than can be said for most tower blocks built in the 60s; a lot of them aren't even still standing, let alone enjoyable places to live.

Lambeth Towers on the front cover of RIBA Journal July 1965

Brixton Recreation Centre (opened 1985) - Finch's last design for Lambeth council - recently avoided demolition, despite being the only built part of a giant design called Brixton Towers, which accompanied eventually abandoned plans for an overhead ringroad through south London (thank god! Overhead ringroads are hideous! (Can you tell I lived in Birmingham for 4 years?)). The Recreation Centre design links facilities with a stepped internal atrium and includes a pool so high you can watch trains on the adjoining viaduct while swimming, unsurpisingly it became the hub of Brixton's community.


After leaving Lambeth council, George indulged his love of the theatre - designing Derby Playhouse and Wolsey theatre, Ipswich - and collbaroating with his partner Kate Macintosh (as Finch Macintosh Architects), designed the RIBA award winning Weston adventure playground.

Weston Adventure Playground

George Finch designed to bring dignity and pleasure in to people's lives, which should always be the top priority of design - definitely higher up the list than shock tactics and landmarking. His site specific buildings are still enjoyed, proving that good quality, people-centred design doesn't date; long live architecture with a heart!


Written with a little help from AJ, Utopia London, Guardian and The Independent 
AND NOT WIKIPEDIA! My ex-tutors will be so proud!