under one roof, but it is amasterpiece of early twentieth century design, retaining amyriad of artdecofeaturesdatingfrom 1936.This architecturallysignificantbuilding is home to morethan1000 residentswho live in 676 flats,linkedbymorethanamileofcorridors. To give an idea of the sheer size of the estate, addresses at theblock usemorethan20 different postcodesand if allthe residents decidedtocomeout andvotefor aparticular candidateinalocalelection, thereisagood chancetheycould have adecisiveimpacton theresults. Alarge,impressivefoyer provides agrand entrance to thebuilding,recently refurbished and retaining all its 1930s glamour. Thearchitect,GeorgeKay Green, obviously knew howtodesignimposingflatsashewas also responsible forsuchnotable London blocks as NellGwynnHouse -now housingserviced apartments -and Sloane AvenueMansions in Chelsea.


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Original features The construction of Du Cane Court is typical ofmany blocks of theera.Itisabrick clad, steelframedbuilding with reinforced concrete floorsand is sevenstoreys high.Themetal Crittalwindows have beenretained andmany flats stillboast crystalpanes.Originallyevery living roomandbedroomhadanelectric heater,castiron radiatorsand aheatedtowel rail –the height of luxury at thetime. Flatsin the front part of the building also had Bakelite door handles–atthe cuttingedgeofdesignin 1936.Eachflat wasprovidedwithacombined electric clockand radiowhich gave residents thechoiceoftwo programmes andallowed the main office to broadcastannouncements such as thefactthatdinnerwas beingservedinthe restaurant that was located on the top floor. Therewas also alicensedprivatemembersclub in the blockwhich, sadly for those living there now, wasconverted into flats during the1950s.


DuCaneCourtis somethingofa revelation. Not only is it Europe’s biggest privately owned block whereall residentsare housed


Flat Living Issue 16


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