Blackfriars SE1 in the 1970s

Jack Carter Architects’ brief was help the group create a portable and adaptable, gallery exhibition, celebrating this community activism. The exhibition needed to be demountable and able to be moved between several different locations. Freestanding timber frames echo the architectural geometry found in the facades of key community buildings occupied during this period. JCA provided the graphic design for the exhibition panels, which were inspired by the cut-and-paste approach of the original SE1 community newspaper.

For SE1 residents during the 1970s and 1980s this period was a time of survival as businesses were forced to move out and land was earmarked for office development, leaving communities isolated. Many of the photos discovered in these archives were taken by those involved in the SE1 Community Newspaper and the Blackfriars Photography project. Images portray how campaigns, protests and direct action were pivotal in engaging with local authorities and developers to recognise the needs and demands of local communities.

Initially displayed at Blackfriars Settlement, the exhibition has toured several locations around London’s Southbank. The exhibition’s pragmatic and adaptable framework allows the exhibition to uniquely adapt to each location. Despite the limited budget, the project has achieved a significant public impact and has sparked renewed community interest in questioning our build environment.

Annual CO2 data was not provided