Dorchester Court

Dorchester Court is a development of 96 flats arranged in eight blocks around a landscaped courtyard, built between 1933 and 1934 by Leslie H Kemp and Frederick E Tasker for a local builder and developer, Mr Morrell. The design is in the Moderne style. The building is constructed of red brick with concrete roof and floor slabs that extend as balconies to the principal rooms, and features flat roofs. It is four storeys high. The four corner blocks are ‘L’ shaped, containing sixteen flats each, arranged around a central staircase set in the angle. The central blocks are simpler, with eight flats, two per floor, situated either side of a central stair. Bands of brickwork project at sill level, and exposed concrete floor slabs and horizontal glazing bars to the casement windows create a strong horizontal rhythm, enhanced by projecting balconies in the blocks, those on the top floor featuring projecting flat concrete roofs. This horizontality is contrasted by full-height staircase windows that extend through the floors, and which are set back in the corner blocks. Soldier courses of brickwork are above the windows. Balconies are long, extending to Herne Hill and Dorchester Drive, and are divided by set-back columns. Glazed screens with horizontal glazing bars provide privacy to the courtyard balconies. Some windows have been replaced with UPVC. Integral planting boxes at ground floor level are positioned either side of set-back doors to the corner blocks and all have projecting flat concrete hoods. Glazed timber double doors lead to small-paned glazed timber screens, with single doors providing entrance to the stairwells. Inside, glazed lifts feature glazed double doors set within the stairwells. Moderne cast iron balustrades are in front of the windows. Other staircases are solid and have brass handrails. Cast iron radiator covers feature art deco swirls. Woodblock floors are in the public areas, and timber doors lead to the flats. The development is notable for being largely unaltered and exceptionally well detailed both externally and internally, despite some window replacement. Kemp and Tasker were known primarily as cinema architects, but also designed the adjacent listed Dorchester House, also for Mr Morrell.