Sam Calcraft
New Builds, 2021
This project revolves around an exploration of the new build housing estates of Chelmsford, Essex, and the social landscapes generated by these developments. The work is inspired by seeing the Pennsylvanian housing estates I passed through during summers with my late father, and the sense of isolation and placelessness I experienced there. The Americanisation of English ideals brings with it a profound sense of individualism and at the same time a strict reinforcement of propriety. There is a fragmentation of social living in a time when solidarity is needed most, and as the pressures of austerity increase and living quality falls, housing developers are ready to cash in. The average price of these new homes is over £400,000, unattainable to so many Chelmsford residents.
