week 1: exploration of 3 experiments using different methods of investigating

• method 1

Doors
Investigation Through Observation of the Doors

• method 2

Crowd Activities
Field Observation of Crowd Activities at Different Time Points

architectural plan card and record sheet:

• method 3

Around the Block
Transcript: Describing Penshurst

Transcript : Around the Block at Penshurst

Now I’m here at the front gate of the council house I live in. The house is called Penshurst, but we usually call it PenisHurts, because it’s funnier and honestly just fits the personality of our flat better. Just the nickname.

At the front door there are two signs. One, I think, comes with the council house, it’s a metal letter sign that spells out P-E-N-S-H-U-R-S-T. Then there’s another one in green. I think that’s the one the local council sent over and required to be put up, though I’m not completely sure.

The house faces a side street, Queens Crescent, not the main road, Prince of Wales Road. Out here there’s a line of parking spaces, and those are for permanent owners only, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 in the morning until 6:30 in the evening. Across from the house, there are these beautiful independent houses in different colors, almost like Notting Hill, but not quite. Honestly, I think it’s prettier. A really nice blend of paint and bricks.

Turning back to the house, I’m looking at the windows. The frames are white, and I’d say most of them are covered with curtains, with just a few that use blinds. The brickwork has a bit of a pattern, the arrangement creates these geometric shapes. The base color is gray, some with a slight red tint, and then around the windows they’ve used red bricks as accents. I can see some flats comes with a balcony, in total maybe 12 of them.

There are five benches in front of the main gate, and three little oases with these beautiful big old trees. And then, on the right-hand side of one of the oases, there’s what might be the most hilarious sculpture, or installation… I’m not sure. Looking at it, it seems like there’s a turtle, and then… some kind of cute, unknown creatures. Yes, that’s what I’m going to call them: Unknown Creatures.

Now I start walking along the outside of the council house, heading into Marsden Street, where my flat is. This street is stunning, with lots of trees, and it’s kind of reminiscent of the main road in Regent’s Park. At this time of year, autumn, the street is covered with orange fallen leaves, and it’s just romantic. Here we have another gate, again with the metal letter sign that says Penshurst. On this end of the house, there are no balconies.

Getting to this alleyway between Penshurst and another council house called Burmarsh. My kitchen faces this side, since we’re in the corner flat. This alleyway has a circular car way to the Burmarch basement, and a church that is now occupied by Camden art projects. Halfway down the alleyway, on the right, you see the car gates for Penshurst, and then the alley opens up into a fire access route.

Turning right, I’m on the big road, Prince of Wales Road. And… there’s a lot of dog shit. It’s weird that British people don’t pick up their shit most of the time. Even though this side faces the main road, it seems like it’s the least maintained side of the house. The bushes here are tall enough to cover the ground-floor flats. And in the middle, there’s another side gate, also with the metal letter sign of Penshurst.

---

week 2: Iteration of the three explored experiments and one further developed investigation

• method 1

Doors
Investigation Through Observation of the Doors

• method 2

Crowd Activities
Field Observation of Crowd Activities at Different Time Points

• method 3

Around the Block
Transcript: Describing Penshurst

Transcript : Around the Block at Penshurst

Now I’m here at the front gate of the council house I live in. The house is called Penshurst, but in our flat we call it PenisHurts. It is funnier, and honestly it just fits the personality of us better. Just the nickname, and somehow it stuck.

At the front door there are two signs. One, I think, comes with the council house, it’s a metal letter sign that spells out P-E-N-S-H-U-R-S-T. Then there’s another one in green. I think that’s the one the local council sent over and required to be put up, though I’m not completely sure.

The house faces a side street, Queens Crescent, not the main road, Prince of Wales Road. Out here there’s a line of parking spaces, and those are for permanent owners only, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 in the morning until 6:30 in the evening. Across from the house on the right hand side, there are these beautiful independent houses in different colors, almost like Notting Hill, but not quite. To me, it is even prettier, a mix of paint and brick that feels less polished and more real. On the left hand side, there is another council house called Silverbirch Walk. It has beautiful wooden frame windows, but the bricks feel low maintenance, almost neglected. The whole building looks like a moody gingerbread house.

Turning back to the house, I’m looking at the windows. The frames are white, and I’d say most of them are covered with curtains, with just a few that use blinds. The brickwork has a bit of a pattern, the arrangement creates these geometric shapes. The base color is gray, some with a slight red tint, and then around the windows they’ve used red bricks as accents. I can see some flats comes with a balcony, in total maybe 12 of them. Most of the balconies are dressed with plant pots, some even with little elves sitting next to them. It is as if these elves are keeping an eye on the flats, maybe even helping their owners with the laundry. Lazy but lucky.

There are five benches in front of the main gate, and three little oases with these beautiful big old trees. And then, on the right-hand side of one of the oases, there’s what might be the most hilarious sculpture, or installation… I’m not sure. Looking at it, it seems like there’s a turtle, and then… some kind of cute, unknown creatures. Yes, that’s what I’m going to call them: Unknown Creatures. Somehow these creatures give the place a magical air, as if they gather the youth here to talk about their great dreams—or maybe just to daydream.

Now I start walking along the outside of the council house, heading into Marsden Street, where my flat is. This street is stunning, with lots of trees, and it’s kind of reminiscent of the main road in Regent’s Park. At this time of year, autumn, the street is covered with orange fallen leaves, and it’s just romantic. Here we have another gate, again with the metal letter sign that says Penshurst. Unfortunately, the third bin room of the council house is tucked right next to the door. It feels like bad feng shui, the kind of detail that ruins the entrance. On this end of the house there are no balconies for the elves to sunbathe, but at the corner stands a crooked tree that adds its own touch of whimsy.

Getting to this alleyway between Penshurst and another council house called Burmarsh. My kitchen faces this side, since we’re in the corner flat. This alleyway has a circular car way to the Burmarch basement, and a church that is now occupied by Camden art projects. Halfway down on the right, there is a temporary station I still have not figured out. It looks like a builders’ office, yet there is no construction happening around here. Right after it comes the main bin room, then the car gates for Penshurst, before the alley opens into a fire access route. On this side, between the house and the fire lane, there is a wide stretch of grassland. It is completely fenced in, with no entrance from the house. A shame really, such a waste of space.

Turning right, I’m on the big road, Prince of Wales Road. And… there’s a lot of dog shit. It’s such a bad habit that people here don’t pick up their shit most of the time. Even though this side faces the main road, it seems like it’s the least maintained side of the house. The bushes here are tall enough to cover the ground-floor flats. And in the middle, there’s another side gate, also with the metal letter sign of Penshurst. Right here, a bus stop waits, one that takes you straight down to Kentish Town and all the way to King’s Cross. Walk a little further to the corner, and you find the communal bike parking area. If you are athletic enough, your bike can take you just about anywhere in the UK.

• method 4

Environment
Quiet Documentation Filming

For my first brief on methods of investigation, I have chosen to focus on Penshurst, a council housing estate, due to both personal and conceptual interests.

On a personal level, I currently live in this council house, which has provided me with first-hand experience of its architecture, atmosphere, and the everyday realities of communal living.

Beyond that, I am drawn to the original ideology behind council housing — the belief that good design and thoughtful planning could provide dignity, comfort, and a sense of belonging for all, regardless of income.

However, the introduction of the “Right to Buy” policy in 1980 under Margaret Thatcher reshaped the UK’s housing landscape, prompting questions about what becomes of these homes once their ownership and purpose begin to shift.

Through this investigation, I aim to examine whether these founding ideals are reflected in Penshurst’s design, and how policy and the passage of time have transformed the lives and experiences of its residents today.

Initial photographic documentation of Penshurst, a council housing estate: