Sassoon House

Sassoon House is a block of flats constructed in 1934, designed by E Maxwell Fry with interior arrangements in collaboration with Elizabeth Denby. It was conceived as part of a larger housing complex linked to the Pioneer Health Centre on St Mary’s Road. The building is largely constructed of reinforced concrete with a layer of cork insulation within the outer walls. Its structure utilizes two rows of stanchions along the building’s spine, with beams projecting outwards to form cantilevered floors, supported by shallow foundations. The roof is parapeted, recently recovered. The overall style is International Modern, with a rectangular plan.

The building is five stories high, with a six-story glazed stair tower projecting to the north, providing access to the roof. Continuous balconies are located on the north side, providing access to individual flats; recessed balconies and strip windows are on the south side, and projecting balconies are on the end bays. A spur wall bears the words “R.E. SASSOON HOUSE” and encloses a parking area to the north. All windows are flat-arched.

The interior includes a stair hall featuring a horseman design in red, black, and white vitrolite, created by Hans Feibusch. The kitchens were notably fitted with standard units and combination heater/cooking stoves, and each flat featured a separate bathroom, an unusual feature for the time. The original glazing and parapet have undergone recent alterations.

The flats, partly funded by charitable donations from Lady Sassoon, were intended as self-financing working-class housing and were praised in the architectural press for their planning and spacious living rooms, each opening onto a balcony designed as a sheltered play area for children. The building represents an early example of modernist working-class housing.