LONDON MUST CLIMB.

Western Star, 27 April 1920, Page 4

LONDON MUST CLIMB.

I 40-STOREY BLOCKS SUGGESTED, i FOR TEN MILLION POPULATION. London has sprawled quite far enough. It must climb now—climb above the London climate into pure air, sunshine, and magnificent broaclswept prospects. You see, we have not yet learnt how to live in big towns. This is the suggestion of Sir Martin Conway, Director-General of the Imperial War Museum. He believes this iis the real way to solve the twin j problems of housing and transport — I the people to live within walking dis- ■ tanco of their work, surrounded by ! wide, open spaces, gardens or playing fields. ; “London will have to house 10 mill lions of people within the next few ! years,” said Sir Martin to a Daily Chronicle representative. “We must, therefore. choose between spoiling: the ‘ countryside of the outer belt with more of these "wretched garden citu-s or take our‘courage in both hands and , boldly make better use of the area i already built upon, j “ For a start, wipe away the slums; Nobody loves them and they are most wasteful in eating up splendid site areas. Knock the miserable hovel's down and on the cleared spaces build huge 40-storied blocks, the equivalent, say, of 10,000 little houses now cumbering the ground. “ The sort of block I have in mind is the site of the Houses of Parliament squared—roughly, 300 yards by 300 ! yards. By building such an immense' | block high enough you can provide a roof for thousands of families and allow the one big town house to be set amidst a wide open, space big enough for playing fields and beautifully-kept gardens. “ The idea is not a dream —it might easily be a fact. Modern housing, is so big a problem that it will only ho solved by the execution of really big ideas. “No, it is not a job for the Government. It is purely a. business proposition for a. syndicate of men demanding a splendid return on their investment. “ Socially, the new type of town house that I am suggesting would help to break down class prejudices. For in the same town house I would have flats suitable .for : all classes of the community-—rich, poor, and all the in-betweens. I believe the effect would be wholly good, and the dirty, squalid tenant would be barred, whatever his class. “ Having mixed the classes, the provision of such communal advantages as central heating, express lift services, club rooms, creches, kinemas, and shops would be a matter of simple common sense. “ What is wanted is tan Act of Parliament to clear the slum areas drastically, and a body of business men with brains and capital to build a sample town-house. The rest will follow.”