Keeling House

Keeling House is a sixteen-storey residential structure consisting of four blocks of maisonettes arranged around a central service tower on Claredale Street. Each wing of the building extends from this core, creating a geometric cluster rather than a simple linear tower.

Architect Denys Lasdun designed this structure in 1955 following modernist principles to address housing shortages in post-war London. It was built as a response to the urgent need for residential solutions that could accommodate more people on limited urban land.

The four blocks face inward with shared spaces and drying areas positioned to encourage residents to meet and interact daily. This design reflects how post-war architects believed community could be built into housing itself.

The building underwent major renovation between 1999 and 2001, transforming former council housing into contemporary apartments and additional penthouse units. Access to the interior is restricted since it is now privately owned residential space, but the exterior architecture can be viewed from the street.

The building departs from typical linear tower designs of its era with a clustered arrangement of four blocks radiating from a central core. This unusual configuration was a bold experiment in residential design that stood apart from the straight-line towers being built elsewhere in London at that time.

Location: Poplar

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Inception: 1955

Architects: Denys Lasdun

Floors above the ground: 16

GPS coordinates: 51.53090,-0.06108

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41