60s 70s flats might look ugly but they are actually quite a clever design.
As an electrician I have worked on the ones in Manchester, I was also involved in the cladding program (we fitted electric storage heaters).
They are essentially concrete boxes, sides, top and bottom. Even the fiercest fire would be contained long enough for the fire to be put out without spreading from the riser.
A water main comes up from the ground floor and is accessible on all levels, because of this inherent fire proof nature of the buildings, only local smoke detectors were fitted (per flat).
The cladding totally changes the game and is a heartbreaking nightmare.
I cannot begin to fully understand the horrors of that night, but one things for sure, it was uncesssary loss of life that should have been avoided.