The Living City, 1970, part 17 - London's Golden Lane housing estate blocks and facilities

The Golden Lane housing area, located north of the Barbican, was the first large-scale residential project built after World War II. It houses 1,400 people in flats and maisonettes. The first phase, completed in 1957, included a tower block and surrounding maisonettes. Five years later, the second phase introduced shops, a community center, and tennis courts. The area prioritizes safety with traffic-free courts and playgrounds for children, marking one of the city's first pedestrian traffic segregation efforts. It was also the first housing area to feature a swimming pool.

What was the primary purpose of the Golden Lane housing area?

• To be a tourist attraction

• To act as a military base

• To provide post-war residential accommodation

• To serve as a commercial hub

When was the first phase of the Golden Lane project completed?

• 1957

• 1962

• 1945

• 1950

What facilities were added during the second phase of the Golden Lane project?

• A cinema and a theater

• Shops, a community center, and tennis courts

• A hospital and a school

• A library and a museum

What feature made the Golden Lane area particularly safe for children?

• Presence of security guards

• High fences around the area

• CCTV surveillance

• Traffic-free courts and dedicated playgrounds

What was a pioneering aspect of the Golden Lane housing area?

• It was the first to provide a swimming pool

• It was the first to have a gym

• It was the first to have a cinema

• It was the first to have a shopping mall