Robin Hood Gardens
Housing Project
Alison & Peter
Smithson
1969
In this construction there are two fundamental concepts:
the tall building in the green and the building and street-link
neighborhood social relations, movement of vehicles is com-
pletely excluded from the area of design. It was defended
as a reinvention of social housing, an attempt to realize the
concept of “streets in the sky” with the long corridors in
height made within concrete blocks. The residential complex
that occupies about two hectares, consists of two long blocks
containers facing each other, at whose head sits the busiest
Opposite: Site Plan
Right: Perspective of ‘Street’
Below Right: Sectional Per-
spective of Public Access
route, thereby exerting an effect buildings barrier that protects the large interior space the
land where they were built is exposed to traffic on three sides. The external facades overlook
the streets of the city and are preceded by a garden. One of the blocks has ten plants and
another seven, bringing a total of 213 apartments surrounding a central garden area, some
of a plant, other duplex. Departments in the bedrooms and kitchens and dining are into the
green, away from the noise, leaving the access gateways and living rooms on the side closest
to the street noise. Every three floors are wide open balconies were designed with the idea
of serving to children’s play and neighborhood meetings, as traditional streets. A large green,
protected from the bustle outside, where children can play and can be performed outdoors.