SPECIAL E DITION / APRIL 2016 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10
LOnDOn P r ac t ical ‘SOL U T IONS’
A U G M E N T I N G
E X P E C T A T I O N S
stallsworth richmond T H I S P U B L I C AT I O N E X A M I N E S T H E
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES
T H AT T R O U B L E T H E C I T Y O F L O N D O N T H R O U G H C A R E F U L E X A M I N A T I O N A N D A N A LY S I S .
THIS JOURNAL OFFERS SOLUTIONS FOR A CONTEMPOR ARY ER A OF DESIGN BY OFFERING A
F O C U S E D A N D C U R AT E D
P E R S P E C T I V E T O R E E X A M I N E A N D C H A L L E N G E T H E W AY WE
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P E R C E I V E S O C I E TA L C O N F L I C T S A N D N O R M S .
authors a bo ut
Sir A l a s ta ir S ta l l s w or t h
sir rich a rd richmond
Sir Alastair Stallsworth is a proud, humble, award
Praised for his seductive writing style, Sir Richard
winning architect, columnist, psychologist, self-
Richmond started his career at the young age of 6
proclaimed taste maker, hydroponic coffee bean
when he hand wrote a letter that ultimately lead to
grower, wine-tasting 2015 winner, web designer,
the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Since then, he has
community leader, and pre-Columbus map expert
written and published thousands of award-winning
and collector.
articles, journals, books, and postcards.
Sir Stallsworth began his academic education
Before becoming the first double Pritzker Prize
with architecture at Harvard and later attended
winner and three-time Nobel Peace Prize winner
the more rigorous Massachusetts Institute
he worked for a short time as a janitor at MIT and
of Technology (MIT). Once completing an
eventually met his future colleague, Sir Alastair
architecture PhD, he pursued supplementary and
Stallsworth. Throughout his life there was a
more cultured subjects such as writing, green
reoccurring theme of never feeling satisfied or
agriculture, and social and mental medicine.
challenged, not by his work and certainly not by those around him.
He now lives in London, England in Charles Dickens’ home. Over the course of his career he
Often times described as “more than just a
has participated in and won international design
man”, Richmond is gifted with an ability to craft
competitions that change the way we think about
narratives that transcend both physical and
clean energy, food for growing populations, and
spiritual boundaries. His talents, which he
living in a contemporary time.
accredits to his pure royal bloodline, are evident in his most recent work –Practical ‘Solutions’.
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LO nDO n CON T EN T S
nuis a nce s....................5 Contributers: Large number of feral, urban foxes and flocks of pigeons.
wa s t e.........................11 Contributers: Office buildings, vehicles, public transporation, bikers, pedestrians, and lack or rubbish bins.
inf or m at ion...............23 Contributers: Complex urban fabric, large and extensive use of signs, and outdated methods of delivery.
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31....P ubl ic/Green spa ce Contributers: Inefficient postwar planning and the lack of space due to the area of the City.
41.................C onge s t ion Contributers: Buses, Taxis, Cars, Commerical Vehicles, Bicyclist, Cars, and Pedestians.
4 9......................Hou sing Contributers: Lack of housing, unaffordable housing prices, lack of space to develop and a growing city population.
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LO nDO n IN T RODUC T ION
T
he
City
of
London
is
the
leading
boroughs all around the London metropolis.
international
finance
sector
in
the
The City is a unique sector within London in
historic center of London, England. The City
that it has large, highrise commercial building
is the smallest of all the boroughs in size at
types as well as the traditional building scale
only one square mile, with a small residential
found elsewhere in the metropolis.
population spread out in pockets and large estates around the City. Not only is the City
The City of London Corporation comments
a major factor in the London Metropolis, but
“the City is also a popular place to live with
it is also the powerhouse for the national
thriving residential communities, high levels
economy.
of demand for housing and acute pressure on the limited supply of land.”
The Financial District has thousands of businesses with workers commuting from
Dudley, Martin. “Housing Strategy 2014-2019.” Housing Strategy 2014-2019 (2014): 2. The City of London. The City of London Corporation, Mar. 2014. Web. Feb. 2016.
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Arms of the City of London: This crest is the official
is representative of the martydom of St. Paul.
coat of arms for the City of London and found in various
Beneath is the Latin inscription, Domine dirige nos
locations around the Square Mile. The cross and shield
which translates to ‘Lord, direct (guide) us’.
in the image is symbolic to St. George while the sword
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LO nDO n T HE CI T Y
This figure ground diagram represents the entire boundary of the City of London. The population of the city is upwards of 7,400 people with most of the population ranging from midtwenties to mid-thirties adults. 01.......................St Paul’s Cathedral
01
02....................The Bank of England 03.............................30 St Mary Axe
N
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Buildings
Parks
03 02
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LO nDO n was t e
Rubbish bins have been removed over the past decades in London due to a long series IRA bombings in the 1990s that favored rubbish bins as prime targets for bomb drops.
R
ubbish has invaded the City of London
involves selecting the corresponding waste
and its removal has become a serious
bin, unlocking it, inserting the rubbish,
concern. The lack of rubbish bins for
and simply activating the integrated
collection combined with the careless
burn feature, all with a Wi-Fi-enabled
attitude of some of the residents has led to
Smartphone. Once the waste bins are
unacceptable levels of waste accumulating
full, a disposal company is notified and the
on the streets. The waste bins that do
bins are quickly and efficiently emptied.
Jacobs, Peter. “Here’s
exist are few and far between and are
Why There Are so Few
typically full.
Trash Cans in London.” Tech Insider. April 4, 2014.
In this contemporary world the connection to social media has become a luxury that
The solution put forward seeks to mitigate
has not yet reached its full potential in
the waste problem by introducing a new
London. The City has the opportunity to
why-few-trash-cans-in-
waste collection service that incorporates
facilitate this social integration into the
london-2016-4.
modern technology. The new method
urban fabric and pioneer the future of
of collection and disposal will include
technological efficiency.
Accessed March 30, 2016. http://www.techinsider.io/
the addition of new rubbish bins that go beyond what was previous possible. Funding for the new collection devices will be supported by users through a Smartphone app (Trasher). Adapting to the technology of the current generation, this app will allow users to track how much waste they are producing. The app will allow subscribers to share and compare their stats with all of their friends. The service is easy to use and
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waste track trasher
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Trasher Leaderboard weekly weight
Jeter Royshavski Alfredo Jerry Bobert Tramp Pan Mophole Pat Fesiks
all time weight
bins used
trophies earned friends
1.6kg 25.6 kg 8 25 417 1.6kg 21.1 kg 21 22 510 0.7kg 11.6 kg 17 6 245 0.5kg 8.1 kg 5 14 197 0.2kg 7.9 kg 9 13 89
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LO nDO n wa s t e [ t r a sher ]
Wood Canopy
Practical solution Rain Protection and Way Finding The unit is protected from the elements by an elegant, wooden roof structure. It also functions as an easy-to-see locating device. Each unit is fitted with a unique serial number and will appear on digital maps.
Waste Scale The first stage in the new disposal method is collection and scaling. Each unit comes with two different disposal options; one for rubbish, and the other recyclables.
Disposal Slot
After inserting the waste, it is weighed and displayed on the screen above. All information gathered from the rubbish bin is immediately synced to your Smartphone where you are able to upload and share your disposal achievements with your friends. Concrete Support
Waste Collector and Incinerator
Rubbish Scale
The base of the waste bin is bomb-proof designed and constructed of thick steel. The waste is incinerated, compacted and stored here after passing through the scale. Once the bin is full, a disposal company is alerted for quick and efficient waste removal.
Rubbish Bin Axonometric page | 9
Wood Canopy
Interactive Screen
Concrete Support
Rubbish Scale
Rubish
Rubbish Bin Section page | 10
LO nDO n Nuisa nces
The Urban Fox
The Pigeon Infestation
It has been well known and documented
Europe has been plagued with this urban
that the urban fox has been pillaging the
burden that seems to be in every view.
variety of foods.
streets of London since the 1940’s.
Pigeons have rapidly spread to almost
Opportunistic beasts
London is currently home to approximately
looking for quick and easy
10,000 urban foxes. Many of these
meals without much work or
creatures lurk in alleyways and journey
The practical solution put forward in this
streets in search of scraps of food or a
journal is an important one because it
place to sleep. Most Londoners try to
allows working Londoners to enjoy a
Latin: Columba
either completely avoid or pay no attention
moment of life without having to look at the
to these beasts; either because of lack of
unfavorable flares of city life.
Pigeons primarily eat seeds
empathy or fear of harm.
Red Fox Latin: Vulpes vulpes Omnivorous mammals capable of eating a large
effort. Pigeon
every corner of the City and they degrade
The enormous mesh netting system allows
and fruits. Pigeons build relatively loose nests made from sticks and debris found from trees, on ledges, or on the ground.
any area they occupy.
The animals have become a nuisance and
for complete and total protection. It will
have no consideration for the residents of
cover all potential sites of pigeon intrusion
the City. Eliminating these street dwellers
in order to guarantee there is no possibility
is not a practical solution to this problem
for pests to sleep, rest, or eat.
and rather more humane matters must be considered. Fortunately there is a solution that will not only remove these pests from the street, but will also put their exotic nature on display. Knapton, Sarah. “Londoners Call in Snipers to Shoot Dangerous Urban Foxes.” The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 8 Dec. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
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urban beast Fox sake page | 13
Strategy One: Relocate the urban fox outside City limits to a new location more suited for the beast.
p es t mesh
Strategy Two: Install a number of anti-pest nets to cleanse public areas of unwanted guests.
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Nuis a nce [f ox s a k e ]
LO nDO n
Fox Entry
Viewing Platform
Rainwater Collection
Location The Fox reserve is located outside the boundaries of the City of London and within the limits of Hyde
Fox Entry
Park in Westminster. Purpose The intention is to remove the undesired urban foxes from the City in a humane manner in order to allow them to exist in an area more suited for them.
Fox Den page | 15
Feeding Station
Underground Tunnels
Feeding Station
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Nuis a nce [f ox s a k e ]
LO nDO n
One-Way Entry Door
Viewing Platform
Current Issue
Relocation
The City of London is not a favorable habitat scavenging creatures that can only feed themselves on food scraps and sifting through trashcans.
Instead of exterminating these creatures, it is simply suggested to relocate this species to a more appropriate environment location where they will not disturb anyone.
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Feeding Station
The Fox Enclosure Hyde Park has the acreage for the beasts to exist without interfering in society and also allow the public to observe them with proper precaution. Those willing to look at the varmint can observe them from above through a glass floor that provides visibility to the den. The scavenging beasts have the right to live in London but it is in everyone’s best interest to allow them to live in an environment that keeps everyone safe. page | 18
Nuis a nce [p es t me sh]
LO nDO n Location
These benches are located in George Yard. Material Protective steel cable netting prevents pests from resting or sleeping on public benches.
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Nuis a nce [p es t me sh]
LO nDO n Location
Cowper’s Court EC3V 3NB United Kingdom Purpose The Pest Mesh hinders the ability of varmint to pick at and eat the trash around the Square Mile.
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LOnDOn inf orm at ion The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. We
R
ecently the journal was approached
faces and devices who walk through it or
by The City of London Corporation to
within its proximity. Beacon provides this
offer suggestions for solutions to clarify
service in order to provide user specific
and streamline the methods of information
information and allow the Corporation to
delivery throughout the Square Mile.
prepare for the future of the City.
The dense network of infrastructure
The hubs will be situated in some of the
paired with the culturally rich and historic
most highly trafficked areas of the Square
architecture and monuments make
Mile in order to help the greatest amount
navigating and education of the city of
of Londoners and visitors. Placement of
London rather difficult. Signage and
the hubs beneath Temple Bar or within
centre.
information has been reported to be too
the bank intersection provides optimal
small and hard to identify among the vast
convenience for the pedestrian and large
Role 2 is to work in
array of visual clutter. As a result, people
groups of people to obtain information.
partnership with local
wander lost through the streets in pursuit
The Beacon’s soft but noticeable glow and
communities to increase
of their destination. The Corporation
considerable size will ensure that the hub
wishes to gather information on and
will not be overlooked.
have a special role and wide remit that goes beyond that of an ordinary local authority with three main roles. Role 1 is to support and promote London as the world’s leading international financial and business
skills, employment and opportunities for all Londoners.
understand the needs and desires those who enter the City.
Users can simply walk up to the hub and ask a question from virtually any topic
Role 3 is to enhance the capital as a hub of culture,
In this contemporary world, the
such as dining, transportation, major
history and green spaces
Corporation strives to deliver a tailored
attractions, ATM locations, directions
for Londoners and visitors.
and sophisticated approach of information
and history of the city. The questions
to those who travel the City streets. The
and information gathered from or on the
information hub called Beacon is an
person will be processed and stored within
interactive, geometric, glowing hologram
the Corporation database.
“About Us.” City of London. March 19, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2016. http://www. cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-
screen that scans and analyzes users
the-city
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the hub beacon
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Strategy: Introduce a new interface that serves the public and caters to the desires of the Londoner through gathered information.
beacon information Jeter Royshavski Pat Fesiks Alfredo Jerry Bobert Tramp
income
contact information
suggested shop
suggested restaurant
£365,000
jroy@gmail.com
Fortnum & Mason
The Savoy
£202,000
pfesiks@aol.com
Harvey Nichols
Galvin at Windows
£158,000
pata1@yahoo.com Harrods
Hakkasan
£65,000
tramp@hotmail.com Selfridges
Pied à Terre
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inf orm at ion [be acon]
LO nDO n Location
The interactive screen lies in the Bank intersection and is surrounded by the Bank of England, Mansion House and the Royal Exchange. Purpose The large and colorfully transparent information hubs allow for easy visibility and are shaped based on location.
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inf orm at ion [be acon]
LO nDO n Location
Temple Bar lies between the Southwest corner of Paternoster Square and the Northwest corner of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Purpose The interactive screen provides a wi-fi hotspot and information node for visitors in some of the most popular places in the Square Mile.
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LO nDO n P UBL IC/green SPACE The City has a variety of parks within its boundary. Some are as follows:
T
he City of London has reached a
Instead of trying to remedy these
point of concern in regard to its public
unfortunate circumstances it may be
spaces that must be addressed and
practical to construct a new type of public
rectified to ensure that it does not chase
space made for to be inclusive to the
Garden, London Wall
away the desirable the hard-working and
faithful patrons of the city.
Cleary Garden, Queen
beacon of London in the first place.
Barber-Surgeon’s Hall
driven classes that have made the City the This new network of public space would utilize the unused or forgotten spaces
Victoria Street
Public spaces in the Square Mile are
around the city that we will refer to as the
under-performing assets, because the
pocket spaces. The pocket spaces are
Corporation allows for the masses to take
the inner alleyways and open air cores of
advantage of these spaces. This issue
the City that are generally uneventful and
Jubilee Garden,
is unique to the City in that it does not
through spaces for many travelers. These
Houndsditch
have space to accommodate large parks
urban cavities are rich with rooftops, tall
that allow for healthy distances between
vertical faces, and unique niche spaces.
Finsbury Circus, Blomfield Street/London Wall/ Moorgate
groups and peoples. These spaces would be fit with a variety One can no longer enjoy The City’s
of plantings such as trees, grasses,
intimate public spaces without some form
bushes, flowers and a variety of public
of disruption from those of more modest
amenities and seating spanning from the
means. The snores of the dispossessed
alley floor to other vertical and horizontal
gentleman resting on a bench may
planes above. Anyone can enjoy these
go unnoticed to the exhausted nanny
open public spaces with a simple weekly
watching after her ill-behaved clients,
association payment that goes towards the
but both of these individuals disturb the
upkeep and preservation of the quality of
healthy and productive silence of those
the space.
trying to enjoy a moment of meditation.
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green ‘16 p l at f orm public space
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Strategy One: Integrate new designed public spaces into the dense urban fabric in order to better the quality of living in the City of London.
P ock e t Gr een Space
Strategy Two: Take advantage of the underutilized spaces in order to bring green space to the high density urban environment.
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p ubl ic space [p l at f orm]
LO nDO n Location
Temple Church Courtyard, Temple, London EC4Y 7BB. Dimensions 10x10 ft. Materials Glass cube box, elevated marble backlit steps and platform with velvet matting. Strategy Passive lighting, heating and cooling strategy.
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p ubl ic space [p l at f orm]
LO nDO n Location
Temple Church Courtyard, Temple, London EC4Y 7BB. Dimensions 10x10 ft. Materials Glass cube box, elevated marble backlit steps and platform with velvet matting. Strategy Passive lighting, heating and cooling strategy.
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green space [p ock e t ]
LO nDO n Location
Cowper’s Court EC3V 3NB United Kingdom Vegetation Vertical garden, vines, bushes and shrubs, flowers, and trees.
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LO nDO n conges t ion The City of London Corporation uses the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and other road traffic laws to make Traffic Management Orders (TMOs) which
I
n
recent
history,
navigation
through
charge in the City has been useful at
the City of London been found to be
reducing the number of automobiles by the
cumbersome and rather time consuming by
underrescourced, but it cannot solve issues
those who desire to move with purpose.
that come with a medieval urban fabric. Simply put, London has become so large
regulate the movement of
The great kings and nobility of England
and crowded that new ways of thinking
traffic and parking within the
once moved by horse and carriage while
about congestion must be created.
City of London.
the common man navigated the region by
A TMO can be permanent, temporary or experimental.
foot. The revolutionary invention known as
The
introduction
of
the
Midground
the automobile operated at an esteemed
transportation system may hold the key to
level above the horse and carriage; but
solving the congestion and transportation
as its popularity increased, it descended
issue that has plagued London.
to the level of common technology. As it
Midground is a new form of transportation
would be, the trends of preferred movement
that adheres to the pedestrian lifestyle
have changed from the automobile back to
and reduces the dependency on the
the common man’s way of maneuvering the
automobile. By simple use of the premium,
streetscape.
paid, contactless Pearl Card, Londoners
The
and visitors will have access to a pedestrian Since the passing of the last millennium,
mover. This conveyor belt operates at the
London saw a growth in population from
ground level and bends beneath street
around 7 million in 2000 to over 8.5 million
intersections to allow for uninterrupted and
in 2016.
The once open space of the
timely movement. It will cater to those who
sidewalk has been taken over by the ever-
desire to move with speed and comfort in
growing number of daily commuters and
order to bypass the congestion problems
laborers.
caused by the underresourced citizen
The streets of the City are no
better as they are overpopulated with an
above.
increased number of cars, buses, taxis, and bikes. The addition of the congestion
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mid ground You cannot get a Pearl card with a discounted child-rate Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass from Pearl online. There will be a ÂŁ25.00 refundable deposit on new Pearl cards.
Pearl Pearl is the first tier payment card that allows for general access through the Midground. Allows for access to the Midground transportation system from 07:00-17:00.
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Oyster Underground Daily Anytime
Zone 1 only Zones 1-2 Zones 1-3 Zones 1-4 Zones 1-5 Zones 1-6 Zones 1-7 Zones 1-8 Zones 1-9
Daily Off-peak
7 Day
Monthly
Annual
£12.10 £12.10 £32.40 £124.50 £1,296 £12.10 £12.10 £32.40 £124.50 £1,296 £12.10 £12.10 £38.00 £146.00 £1,520 £12.10 £12.10 £46.50 £178.60 £1,860 £17.20 £12.10 £55.20 £212.00 £2,208 £17.20 £12.10 £59.10 £227.00 £2,364 £21.70 £12.90 £64.20 £246.60 £2,568 £21.70 £12.90 £75.90 £291.50 £3,036 £21.70 £12.90 £84.20 £323.40 £3,368
Pearl Midground Pearl+ 10% Extra
Zone 1 only Zones 1-2 Zones 1-3 Zones 1-4 Zones 1-5 Zones 1-6 Zones 1-7 Zones 1-8 Zones 1-9
Daily Anytime
Daily Off-peak
7 Day
Monthly
Annual
£20.50 £20.50 £45.20 £145.50 £1,400 £20.50 £20.50 £45.20 £145.50 £1,422 £20.50 £20.50 £50.00 £170.00 £1,650 £20.50 £20.50 £56.50 £200.00 £1,975 £28.00 £20.50 £65.20 £235.00 £2,315 £28.00 £20.50 £69.10 £250.00 £2,470 £30.50 £22.90 £74.10 £270.60 £2,675 £30.50 £22.90 £85.40 £315.50 £3,145 £30.50 £22.90 £94.20 £350.40 £3,475
Pearl+ Pearl+ is the second tier premium payment card that allows for prioritized access through the Midground. Allows for 24-hour access to the Midground transportation system of London.
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LO nDO n hou sing [mid ground ]
existing problem The existing system is troubled by an overwhelming amount of pedestrians constantly traveling in and out of the city. The sidewalk congestion is only going to get worse as the population continues to grow. The current method of pedestrian circulation is inconvenient and unsafe.
Practical solution The new design reduces congestion by introducing a new form of transportation that is quicker and requires less effort. By riding the Midground, Pearl Card members can enjoy traveling throughout the city without the hassle of walking through turbulent crowds. The new addition allows for pedestrians to travel comfortably and securely with speed and no danger from vehicle traffic.
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Intersection Traffic Currently, intersections are a nightmare. There are too many people, bikes, cars, and buses always trying to go out of line because they think they have the right of way.
Intersection Traffic Congestion is drastically reduced at intersections by removing two lanes and moving pedestrian traffic below ground.
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LO nDO n hou sing [mid ground ]
Practical solution Mid-Ground Function The system extends throughout the city and connects areas that were once separated by busy streets. The goal of the Midground is to reduce the amount of congestion by providing an alternate way to travel with efficiency, safety and speed. Technical details The conveyer belt method is designed to move at a constant speed and is wide enough to accommodate two lanes of pedestrian traffic. The elegant structure helps traffic transition from above to below and back to above ground with minimal disruption to the existing view of the streetscape.
Midground Entrance Detail
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Entry and Exit To use the Midground, simply scan the Pearl or Pearl+ Card at any contactless entry gate, proceed down the escalator and begin the simple and leisurely move to your destination. Exiting the Midground is simply done by scanning the Pearl or Pearl+ Card on the contactless exit gate. Escalators There are escalators at each end of intersections to move people down below the street and then back up to the street level.
Escalator Detail
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LO nDO n HOUSING The lack of supply has pushed prices up for both sale and rent, in fact research by Savills predicts that house prices will increase 19.3% over the next 5 years.
T
he topic of housing within the City of
incorporate pleasurable and affordable
London has continually resurfaced
living beneath the urban fabric.
This
into the public conversation. The Barbican
proposition allows for those with constrained
Estate and Golden Lane Estate currently
living means to live within proximity to the
make up a large portion of the living
metropolis core and place of employment.
opportunities with the rest being dotted
Those in “culturally deprived environments”
around the urban center, but at a population
are afforded prime locations just beneath
The focus of the current
just over 7,000, there are not a enough
the street but for only a fraction of what it
government is on helping
places for everyone to live.
This select
would cost to live on the upper level of a
quantity of residential living paired with the
highrise. This solution is positive because
modest pricing of each property has been
it brings both cultural and economic groups
a gripe for those who do not enjoy stylish
together in ways that are currently not
exclusivity.
possible. This solution embraces the value
Londoners to own their own homes. But with an average income in London of £33,000 a year many people cannot afford to save
of culture and ensuring a shared sense of
for a deposit. We recently discovered prices for shared
The rise in housing cost has begun to expel
ownership properties go as
the lower classes from the city. As a result,
high as £750,000, so it’s easy to see why there are a lot of people who can’t afford to buy.
place in a growing European metropolis.
the City of London is facing immense
For those who can afford a more lavish
political pressure to create more affordable
living experience the Barbican solution
housing options.
will provide more than double the amount of units that are currently available at
Fortunately, there is a quite simple and
the estate.
This suggestion resolves the
straightforward solution that will aid the
unnecessary spaces within the Barbican
“underresourced” populations that exist
floor plans in a way that brings more people
throughout the city.
into the City.
Rather than building or extending structures into the sky it may be more pragmatic to
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Mile living Strategy One: Re-Examine the organization of existing housing complexes in order to maximize efficiency.
ba rbica n
The Barbican Estate was constructed between 1965 and 1976 by Architects Bon and Powell Chamberlin. It is adjacent to the Barbican Art Center, the Museum of London, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Barbican Public Library. Today it is one of the major nodes for residential living within the City of London.
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Strategy Two: Construct additional living structures around
refl ec t ion
the city core to bring people downtown. H o us i n g o pt i o ns w i t hi n t h e Ci t y of Lo n d o n a r e f a r a n d few b et we e n f o r m o st t h at c r ave ‘ t h e Ci t y Li fe’.
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LO nDO n hou sing [b a r bic a n ]
Practical solution
Storage Fold Out Bed
Rest and Work Space The lofted space above organizes a private and isolated space for residents.
Glass
Frosted Glass
Privacy Wall Work Desk
The lofted space is outfitted with a bed and folding desk/table for residents to work.
Pocket Door
Hygiene and Kitchen This public area provides a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, range, oven, and sink.
Sink Range/Oven
Located within proximity to the kitchen is the bathroom which includes a toilet and standing shower.
Shower
Refrigerator
Dimensions This compact unit maximizes efficiencies within the home environment. At 225 cubic feet this unit spans 4 feet wide by 7 feet long for a total of 28 square feet. The 8 foot high ceiling allows for comfortable living.
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Toilet
Toilet
2’
4’ Kitchen 2’
Shower Ladder
Unit Plan The unit layout pushes the private spaces to the back and the efficient and compact floor plan allows for easy maintenance.
Section of the Hygiene Area
Section of the Kitchen and Work Area
The water tanks and water lines are all built into the wall to maximize the use of the space.
By locating the living and work areas above, the unit takes advantage of commonly wasted vertical space. page | 54
LO nDO n hou sing [b a r bic a n ]
Practical solution
<5 people - ÂŁ3,000 per month per person
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>50 people - ÂŁ300 per month per person
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LO nDO n hou sing [b a r bic a n ]
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Bedroom Dining Room Living Room Kitchen Bathroom
Blake Tower
Lauderdale Tower
The 17 storey tower, that forms part of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brutalist Barbican Estate, was bulit in 1968 by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon.
The 41 storey tower is located at the intersection of Aldersgate Street and Beech Street. The tower sits at the northwest corner of the Barbican Estate.
The building has 74 residences and received a Grade II listing in 2001.
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Bedroom Dining Room Living Room Kitchen Bathroom
Practical solution
Blake Tower
Lauderdale Tower
As of April 2016, a 579 square foot flat on the 7th floor of the Blake Tower is can be purchased for ÂŁ875,000.
As of April 2016, an unfurnished flat on the 26th floor of the Lauderdale Tower will cost ÂŁ3,445 per month.
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LO nDO n hou sing [r ef l ec t ion ]
practical solution
Surface Entrance
Underground
Lift
Flat
Pile Cap page | 59
underground and Surface connection
Taking advantage of the underutilized space below ground, this design doubles the amount of housing in the City by creating comfortable, pleasurable, and affordable living beneath the existing urban fabric. This urban living condition exists in harmony with existing buildings by existing in just below the surface. These underground flats and condos come with the added benefit of being adjacent to the existing underground stops. The dream of Londoners to have immediate transportation right outside oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doorstep is reality with this new, innovative, underground living.
foundation and structure
This proposition allows for those with constrained living means to live in close proximity to the core of London. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reflectionâ&#x20AC;? living provides six elevator and structure cores that breach the surface for entrance/exit in easily accessible locations.
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LO nDO n hou sing [r ef l ec t ion ]
Housing Adjacent to Tube Line
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pas t editions S P E C I A L E D I T I O N / J U N E 2015
S TA N DA R D E D I T I O N / A PR I L 2015
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 08
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 03
Tower of Hamlets Pr ac t ical ‘SOL U T IONS’
Zzzzzz... Sleep
This naturally occurring condition of the body and mind is reexamined through rigourous inquir y into the consciousness.
A resurgence in the study of sleep in We s t m i n s t e r h a s i n s p i r e d f u r t h e r s t u d y i n t h e b e n e f i t s o f r e s t a n d t h e w ay s p e o p l e s l e e p. T h e f i n d i n g s a r e s h a r e d through a series of literar y and scholarly
Pr a c t i c a l ‘ S o l u t i o n s ’ e x a m i n e s t h e e x t e n s i v e a n d s c h o l a r l y
publishings.
science of the banquet. The lost ar t of the formal evening dining experience is undergoing unforeseen revival in contemporar y London for a new generation of people.
_Wes t mins t er
M o n t h s o f c o m p l e x r e s e a r c h h ave c u l m i n a t e d i n a s e r i e s o f publications that analyze the ‘proper ’ order of the banquet a n d t h e s o c i a l r e a s o n s f o r w h y g r o u p s g a t h e r.
Pr ac t ical ‘SOL U T IONS’
t h e
b l a c k
e d i t i o n
t he bl a ck edi t ion
sl eep
The lost art of the formal evening dining experience is undergoing unforeseen revival in contemporary London for a new generation of people.
Sleep: this naturally occurring condition of the body and mind is reexamined through rigourous inquiry into the consciousness.
Months of complex research have culminated in a series of publications that analyze the core of the architecture profession and its direct relationship to the ‘proper’ order of the banquet.
Resurgence in the study of sleep in Westminster has inspired further study in the benefits of rest and the ways people sleep. The findings are shared through a series of literary and scholarly publishings. The scientific research has been extensively thorough as to not overlook any potential side-effects.
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S TA N DA R D E D I T I O N / AU G U S T 2015
STANDAR D E DITION / JANUARY 2016
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 10
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
M a k ing s ou t hwa rk usef ul aga in
Kensing ton - Chelsea Pr ac t ical ‘SOL U T IONS’
Southwark P r ac t ica l ‘SOL U T IONS’
Pretend your Problems Away
A lt er n at e P er sp ec t i v e
T he Unseen
Blurring the ambiguous line between what is and what isn’t, researchers in the borough have been working hard to remove themselves from the constraints that come with working in a real environment in order to study a fictional realm where architecture and interior design can work together in harmony.
Scientists have been working hard to discover areas, both large and small, of the borough that have any amount of architectural value or significance. This exploration into uncharted territory seeks to uncover a hidden beauty where there clearly is none.
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c r i tic al r ev ie w s “The ar ticles in Practical ‘Solutions’ ask big questions about democracy and capitalism that interest just about ever yone. The journal ser ves a vital role in reaching across disciplines a n d h e l p i n g to c o u n te r t h e exc es s i ve s p e c i a l iza t i o n o f t h e m o d e r n a c a d e m i c wo r l d .” Mark A. Smith, University of Washington
“Practical ‘Solutions’ has ar ticles of unusual range and richness. It is a must for ideahu n g r y p o l i t i c a l s c i e n t i s ts .” D a v i d M a y h e w , Ya l e U n i v e r s i t y
“A n exc e l l e n t p u b l i c a t i o n .” Anthony Giddens, London School of Economics
“ I n t e r e s t i n g a n d c o n t rove r si a l .” R o b e r t E . L a n e , Ya l e U n i v e r s i t y
“I read
P r a c t i c a l ‘ S o l u t i o n s ’ r e g u l a r l y. I f i n d i t o n e o f t h e m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g j o u r n a l s t h e s e d ay s b e c a u s e i t i s s c h o l a r l y,q u i r k y, a n d u n p r e d i c t a b l e .” Daniel Bell, American Academy of Ar ts and Sciences
“ Pr a c t i c a l ‘ S o l u t i o ns’ i s t h e b es t - e d i te d j o u r na l i n p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e, b a r n o n e.” M a r t i n S h e f t e r, C o r n e l l U n i v e r s i t y