Living It Up: The Tower Block StoryMuseum of Liverpool Life12 February – 14 June 2005Visitors could gain a new perspective on high-rise living during the exhibition, Living It Up at the Museum of Liverpool Life from 12 February until 14 June 2005. Tower blocks are one of the most controversial housing schemes of the last century. While many blocks have been demolished, others have fostered a powerful community of tenants, who have fought to have them retained and refurbished. Since 1993 the Liverpool Housing Action Trust (HAT) have worked with the residents of 5337 properties in 67 tower blocks on an ambitious twelve-year project to improve the environmental, housing and social conditions of their areas. This is their story.
‘Living It Up’ was illustrated with a series of striking photographs, including views of the city centre from tower blocks that have since been demolished. Visitors to the exhibition were invited to ‘experience’ high-rise living for themselves in a reconstruction of a living room from a flat. The room contains many original objects from Sheil Park, including a sofa, the intercom,a fireplace and signs from the lift. Visitors could also find out more about tenants’ activism and involvement with the HAT by exploring a typical tenant representative’s office. Tenantspin is a community-led internet TC channel co-managed by high-rise tenants, HAT and Foundation for Arts and Creative Technologies (FACT). As part of their fourth birthday celebrations, they will be presenting a series of webcast discussions about Liverpool’s tower blocks to compliment the Living It Up exhibition. You can find out more at www.tenantspin.org [opens new window] In this Section |
