The First World War, Britain, and modern design: The social use of architecture in inter-war Birmingham (England)

This dissertation explores the impact of World War I on British society through politics, design, and construction of state-funded housing in Birmingham, England during the inter-war period. By examining these dwellings it is possible to understand how designers and planners utilized a mixture of contemporary and traditional forms in an attempt to create a more civilized and Modern environment for the city's working class. In 1854, Birmingham lagged far behind other British industrial centers in slum clearance, the safe disposal of sewage, and creating a public health program. Sixty years later, however, Britons touted the city as a leader in town planning. This transformation was largely due to wealthy activists who challenged the traditional politics in Birmingham. Better housing for the working class might have remained the field of philanthropy if it had not been for fearing a Russian-styled revolution in Britain at the end of World War I. Leaders in Government sought to find an area in which to introduce social legislation that would not challenge the established class system of Britain. When fears of an uprising faded so did the funding for the program.; In 1918, Birmingham was still a nineteenth-century city, but by 1939 it clearly belonged to the twentieth. This transformation was due in part to new housing and the transportation issues it created. This boom made both the city and its foremost Member of Parliament, Neville Chamberlain, leaders in planning and housing reform.; These homes were part of a system designed to make the working class good citizens of the British Empire. Reformers sought to not only improve the health of workers through better housing, but also to define what was acceptable worker behavior. In these efforts they were supported by many of Britain's political parties.; Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, architects in Europe and Britain attempted to create a modern architecture that met the needs of an increasingly democratic culture. Despite the fact that Britain developed a program which met the social, structural, and educational agenda of many avant-garde architects, they dismissed this public housing based largely on its form.