Highpoint N6: Everyday Modernism and the Art of Community Living

Nestled atop Highgate Hill, Highpoint N6 is not just an icon of modernist architecture - it’s a living, breathing testament to the enduring power of thoughtful design to shape community life. More than 85 years after Berthold Lubetkin drew his first plans, residents here still enjoy a lifestyle that feels ahead of its time, where architecture and community spirit are intimately intertwined.

Modernist Highpoint image - VOXDUST

A Vertical Garden City

When Highpoint was built in the 1930s, it was revolutionary: airy apartments with wide windows, open-plan layouts, and a focus on green space in the form of communal gardens and tennis courts. This “vertical garden city” was meant to elevate city living - literally and figuratively - by marrying convenience with health and well-being. Lubetkin designed Highpoint to encourage interaction, from the wide hallways to the landscaped gardens.

Design for Daily Well-being

What’s most remarkable about Highpoint is how its modernist ideals have translated into daily well-being across generations. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill homes with light, while thoughtful ventilation and orientation capture city views and fresh air. The communal facilities - a rarity today - invite neighbours to connect casually over tennis or among the trees and flowers of the shared gardens. Residents credit these features for enriching not just their living environment but also their social lives.

Community, Then and Now

Many stories from current residents highlight how Highpoint’s design continues to foster a sense of belonging. Children meet on the lawns after school, neighbours tend the gardens together, and people of all ages gather in the tea room for social events and building meetings. The sense of security and shared pride in the building creates natural opportunities for friendships to blossom.

Lessons for the Future

As London grows denser, Highpoint offers valuable lessons for architects and urban planners. Features like communal gardens, shared amenities, and generous living spaces remain as desirable today as they were nearly a century ago. In many ways, Highpoint proves that the “vertical village” is not just a romantic ideal but a practical blueprint for fulfilling city life.

In celebrating everyday modernism at Highpoint N6, we not only honour its history but shine a light on what truly makes great housing: the creation of spaces where people can thrive - together.