‘Our hallway’s big enough to play football in!’ The council housing that feels like a holiday resort

Boasting two-sink kitchens, London’s Tower Court is the UK’s first project tailored for the Haredi Jewish community – but its generous proportions and outside space for religious observance are a boon for all residents

The intricacies of religious doctrine might not be a typical feature of the English planning system. But, in a corner of north-east London, the specific teachings of one ultra-Orthodox community have led to more generous council housing for everyone.

Approaching the handsome brick blocks of Tower Court in Hackney, the first clue that something might be out of the ordinary can be spotted in the balconies. Rather than sticking out in a regular grid, they dance across the facade at staggered intervals, each surrounded by a skeletal metal frame. Some have been walled in with fencing panels, while others are shielded with reed matting or shrouded with fake plastic leaves. It looks like a vertical display of makeshift garden sheds.