'Sectra’ was a French prefabricated steel formwork design for flats which John Laing and Son Ltd acquired the British rights to in 1962. It was a method of using precision made steel formwork for the placing of structural concrete in 'tunnel' sections in room unit widths and ceiling heights. The buildings on this construction site were to consist of four 13-storey point blocks, each 125ft in height. This photograph also shows windows installed in the show flat at first floor level. An article on the show flat was published in August 1963 in Laing's monthly newsletter 'Team Spirit', describing it as the first 'Sectra' flat to be opened. The exact location of the site shown has not been recorded in the negative register but it is believed to be the Darnhill Estate.
This image was catalogued as part of the Breaking New Ground Project in partnership with the John Laing Charitable Trust in 2019-20.
This is part of the Series: JLP01/08 John Laing Photographic Collection Black and White Negatives; within the Collection: JLP01 John Laing Photographic Collection
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
Mid 20th Century Flats, Road Transport, Construction
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