History
The Lawn was the first high rise residential block constructed in Post-War Britain, a significant piece of architectural history. Sir Frederick Gibberd and partners were the architects and construction started in 1950. A model of the building was used at the Festival of Britain to show the innovative design, this can be seen in the following image. The designs were impressive and ultimately won an award at The Festival of Britain.
Design
The building was in the shape of a Butterfly meaning that the living rooms looked south over the landscape. Gibberd remarked that the building could have been higher with some additional floors, but was concerned this would cause too many objections. The Lawn was renowned by international professionals and was regularly visited by architects. Although the inside may have changed, much of the exterior remains the same and can still be seen today.
What to see at Harlow Museum?
Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens features the New Town gallery which highlights the journey from designation to construction of Harlow New Town. Learn about Sir Frederick Gibberd and the master plan for the town, which included innovative designs, green spaces and a variety of housing. Artefacts, images and newspapers from that era are available to view.
Find out more about the New Town Gallery here