{{Short description|Housing estate in Bayswater, London}} {{For|the council estate in Wetherby, West Yorkshire|Hallfield}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{coord|51|30|56.55|N|0|11|7.5|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}} thumb|Hallfield Estate in 1956 thumb|Hallfield in 2003 The '''Hallfield Estate''' is one of several modernist housing projects in Bayswater, City of Westminster, and was designed in the immediate postwar period by the Tecton architecture practice, led by Berthold Lubetkin. Following the dissolution of Tecton, the project was realised by Denys Lasdun and Lindsay Drake in the 1950s. Construction took place in two phases during 1951–55 and 1955–58.

The estate is at {{gbmapping|TQ260812}}, south of Bishops Bridge Road in Bayswater located in Westminster. It comprises 15 blocks spread over roughly {{convert|17|acre|m2}}, a laundry (now used as the local Estate Office), and the Hallfield Primary School, also by Lasdun. Architecturally, the design shares much with similar Tecton projects of the period, thumb|Hallfield Estate in 2011 including the Priory Green and Spa Green Estates, and the Finsbury Health Centre.

Hallfield was designated a conservation area by Westminster City Council in 1990, and the majority of Estate buildings were listed Grade II in June 2011.

John Penrose, the Minister responsible for the 2011 listing, commented: "These blocks show real flair and beauty, and all the more so considering the post-war era in which they were conceived. Sixty years on, they have become a distinctive part of the London landscape, still looking good and remaining popular with residents and visitors alike."

Hannah Parham, the English Heritage Designation Advisor, responded to the 2011 listing decision by adding: “The estate presents a convincing riposte to criticism that postwar council housing is grey, drab and utilitarian. At Hallfield, the exteriors of each block are treated like works of abstract art – some are patterned with a chequerboard of blue and red brickwork; others have a zigzagging screen of white concrete panels. The estate now exists amongst an elite group of 16 listed post-war housing estates in London – estates that are successful as places to live and are cared for by their residents.”

==CityWest Homes controversy==

In 2010, a £10 million pound project<ref name="Mockery">{{cite news |url=http://www.westendextra.com/news/2014/jan/city-hall%E2%80%99s-scrapping-%C2%A310m-estate-refurbishment-%E2%80%98-mockery%E2%80%99 |title=City Hall's scrapping of £10m estate refurbishment 'a mockery' |first1=William |last1=McLennan |first2=Patrick |last2=Edwards |date=9 January 2014 |newspaper=West End Extra |accessdate=24 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032553/http://www.westendextra.com/news/2014/jan/city-hall%E2%80%99s-scrapping-%C2%A310m-estate-refurbishment-%E2%80%98-mockery%E2%80%99 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> managed by CityWest Homes<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwh.org.uk/tenant-services/better-homes/major-works/west-area-major-works/ |title=West area major works |website=CityWest Homes |accessdate=24 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726144107/http://www.cwh.org.uk/tenant-services/better-homes/major-works/west-area-major-works/ |archive-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> – Westminster Councils Arms-length management organisation – commenced to refurbish the estate.

The refurbishment included replacement of 50-year-old windows, as they did not meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard (requiring windows in blocks over six storeys to be replaced after 30 years).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7812/138355.pdf |title=A Decent Home: Definition and guidance for implementation |date=June 2006 |website=Department for Communities & Local Government |accessdate=24 July 2014}}</ref> However, during 2012 and early in 2013 problems arose in the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://labourwestminster.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/hallfield-estate-repairs-fiasco/ |title=Hallfield Estate repairs fiasco |first=Paul |last=Dimoldenberg |date=3 January 2014 |website=Westminster Labour Party |accessdate=24 July 2014}}</ref> Hallfield resident Edward Newnham, said it's "blind leading the blind. It's just a mockery."<ref name="Mockery"/> Resident James Killeen, said: "The problem is with CityWest Homes. They were the managers of the thing and they should have been clearer."<ref name="Mockery"/>

On 30 December 2013, after reading a confidential report written by CityWest Homes chief executive officer Nick Barton,<ref name="Mockery"/> Westminster City Council and contractor Essex-based Mulalley<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/sectors/westminster-terminates-mulalley-hallfield-refurb-deal-07-01-2014/ |title=Westminster terminates Mulalley Hallfield refurb deal |first=Robyn |last=Wilson |date=7 January 2014 |magazine=Construction News |accessdate=24 July 2014}}</ref> reached a compromise agreement to end the contract.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/hallfield-estate-refurbishment-contract-terminated/7001496.article |title=Hallfield estate refurbishment contract terminated |first=Carl |last=Brown |date=7 January 2014 |magazine=Inside Housing |access-date=24 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812101900/http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/hallfield-estate-refurbishment-contract-terminated/7001496.article |archive-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> Following the controversy, Hallfield estate leaseholders considered taking legal action against CityWest Homes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.westendextra.com/news/2012/feb/hallfield-leaseholders-may-take-legal-action-against-citywest-homes |title=Hallfield leaseholders may take legal action against CityWest Homes |first=Josh |last=Loeb |date=3 February 2012 |newspaper=West End Extra |accessdate=24 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728084045/http://www.westendextra.com/news/2012/feb/hallfield-leaseholders-may-take-legal-action-against-citywest-homes |archive-date=28 July 2014}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} * John Allan & Morley von Sternberg, ''Berthold Lubetkin'' (Merrell, 2002) * John Allan, ''Lubetkin: Architecture and the Tradition of Progress'' (RIBA 1992)

==External links== *{{cite web |url=http://www.designmuseum.org/design/berthold-lubetkin |title=Berthold Lubetkin |website=Design Museum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404201848/http://www.designmuseum.org/design/berthold-lubetkin |archive-date=4 April 2014}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/planning/conservationlistedbuildings/areaprofiles/hallfieldestate.cfm |title=Conservation and listed buildings: Hallfield Estate |date=2009 |website=Westminster City Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323020051/http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/planning/conservationlistedbuildings/areaprofiles/hallfieldestate.cfm |archive-date=23 March 2009}} Also see: [http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/Hallfieldmap.pdf Plan of Hallfield Conservation Area] *{{cite web |url=http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/Hallfield.pdf |title=Conservation Area Audit Hallfield Estate Consultation Draft |date=March 2008 |website=Westminster City Council}} *{{NHLE|num=1402283 |desc=Hallfield Estate (14 residential blocks and laundry) |accessdate=}}

Category:Residential buildings completed in 1958 Category:Modernist architecture in London Category:Housing estates in the City of Westminster Category:Denys Lasdun buildings Category:Berthold Lubetkin buildings Category:Grade II listed buildings in the City of Westminster