the modernist x BDP present - The BDP Talk Series. 4.1 - Holly Smith : Up in the Air - A History of High Rise Britain 26/11/25
£8
Wednesday 26th November
*Please note this event is on a Wednesday and not our normal Thursday*
6.15PM FOR A 6.30PM START BDP, 11 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JB
Up in the Air: A History of High Rise Britain captures the history of modern Britain through its most contentious symbol: the high-rise block. High-rise council housing is often held up as the tombstone of the welfare state. By looking at grassroots struggles across a range of estates, Holly Smith’s new book shows instead how these buildings have acted as a crucible for the welfare state’s reimagination. Up in the Air explores Britain’s multistorey council housing from the perspective of its residents. It unearths forgotten stories, including the grassroots activism that followed the Ronan Point scandal, the tenacity of a trailblazing tenants’ co-operative, and a Liverpudlian high-rise internet television channel steered by pensioners. The book is a rich history of political struggle within Britain’s most misunderstood buildings. It traces an unfinished battle for justice, offering essential lessons for the future of public housing.
Dr Holly Smith is a historian of architecture and protest. She is a Fellow at St John’s College, University of Cambridge, and an advisor to Tower Blocks UK, an advocacy group for high-rise safety.
Thank you to BDP for supporting this event.
**NB we do not send out tickets for these events - your name will be added to an attendee list. Refunds can only be offered for cancellations made up to seven days before the event**