inner–london schools 1918–44 a thematic study - English Heritage

considered no less important. London Fields, L B Hackney (LCC AD, 1921-23), and CredonRoad, L B Southwark (LCC AD, 1936) were planned for erection in sections for thesereasons, whilst the L-plan of the Jessop Road school, L B Lambeth (LCC AD, 1937) waschosen partly to allow the retention of the old school during construction. 25Standardisation and specialisationAn understanding of the organisation of large architectural practices during this periodgives useful insights into the design of state schools. Many large offices during thisperiod, including those of local educational authorities such as the LCC, were hierarchicalbureaucracies divided into divisions for schools, housing, special projects, and so on.The task of completing large, highly-regulated building programmes within tight budgetand time constraints gave rise to two related efficiencies in design, specialisation andstandardisation.Specialisation in this context might mean anything from the adoption of collaborativeworking methods to a Fordist model. The production-line approach had one individualdesigning elevations to a school whose plans may have been designed by his colleague oranother department. Percy Johnson–Marshall dubbed the Middlesex County CouncilArchitect’s Department, at which he briefly worked, the ‘plan factory’:Fig. 21: Lady Bankes School, Dawlish Drive, Ruislip, Middlesex (W.T. Curtis & H.W. Burchett, 1936).(© Steve Cadman).© ENGLISH H ER I TAG E 43 - 20 0930