9. Balfron Tower

Balfron Tower, Erno Goldfinger’s 27 storey counterpoint to his West London Trellick tower stands in the shadow of Canary Wharf. When constructed in 1968 it was a monument of a socialist ideal for fair housing for all, decades before the shimmering crystalline towers of the docklands were formed. Now its walkways are empty and its concrete decaying as this old battleaxe awaits a makeover, to make her ready for the burning hot east london luxury property market. During this intermission, the building is brought back to life with a range of temporary re-uses by artists and theatre groups. We were ‘immersed’ into a five hour performance of ‘Macbeth’, where Balfron tower is the main character, its brutal and dystopic features used to heighten dramatic effect. We are taken on a journey through the fictional state of ‘Bourduria’ from the abandoned car park where witches cast spells around a cauldron to specially created bars and a banqueting hall where we feast late at night. Some action takes place in the intimate flats, which have been brought back to life with persian rugs and old televisions. We fall asleep in bunk beds in sparse flats, exhausted and uncomfortable, haunted by the memory of the jarring performance we have seen. In the morning, we appreciate the true luxury of Goldfinger’s architecture, the ‘scissor section’ design ensuring each flat had dual aspect, affording breathtaking views of London. Canary wharf appears so close, but feels worlds away from the carpet of red brick, low rise close knit housing that surrounds it.