Looking Back at High-Rise Flats

Reading the viewpoint’ by E. W. H. Gifford, ‘Recollection of structural changes in the last 50 years’, prompted me to start a project I have been mulling over in my mind for several years. The project is to write an account of work in the 1950s, ’60s and perhaps the ’70s before recollections fade and the historical lessons learnt are lost in speculations of what may have happened in the past. I think it is important for future generations of engineers to have the knowledge of achievements and failures available for study to save time and effort and, perhaps, mistakes in the future. I shall start with what may be the most contentious subject, high-rise flats.

T. Harley-Hadow