Perched high on a hill in East Dulwich, commanding one of the best views of the London skyline, stands a "castle" built for the people.

Dawson's Heights is widely considered one of the greatest achievements of British social housing. Designed by the visionary Kate Macintosh when she was just 26 years old and working for the London Borough of Southwark, this estate broke the mould of the standard tower block.  

Completed in 1972, its two interlocking blocks—Ladlands and Bredinghurst—rise and fall in a stepped "ziggurat" pattern. Macintosh designed it this way to ensure that two-thirds of the flats had dual-aspect views, mimicking the organic feel of an Italian hill town rather than a concrete monolith.  

With its warm brickwork, private balconies for every home, and a profile that shifts like a hilltop village against the sky, it is a masterclass in "Humane Modernism." It remains a beloved landmark, proving that high-density housing can be beautiful, generous, and full of character.  

This collection celebrates the genius of Kate Macintosh and the "Queen of the Hill."

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