DALSTON EASTERN CURVE GARDEN
Photo: OpenSquares
ADDRESS: 13 Dalston Lane, London E8 3DF NEIGHBORHOOD: Hackney MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Opened in May 2010, funded by Design for London Open to anyone/free Scheduled events throughout the year Workshops, performances, gardening
DESCRIPTION: The community garden/cultural center opened in Spring 2010 on an old rail line that hasn't been used in over 30 years. The neighborhood appears to have little green space, and this garden has increased that space for public enjoyment. Neighborhoods groups and local residents manage the garden and coordinate events and activities. The structure is a simple barn with raised beds for plants. From reading blogs and comments, it seems to be highly regarded by the community and used often as a location for social gatherings. It was a very creative project, nicely designed, and much needed. It would be interesting to know how the garden was established, what challenges did they face, who were the partners in the development, and why they chose a garden for this space (as opposed to a park). Also, what are the long‐term plans for the garden? Who will decide its fate? RESOURCES: http://dalstongarden.site11.com/ http://www.opensquares.org/detail.php?square=DalstonEast http://opendalston.blogspot.com/2010/08/eastern‐curve‐garden‐can‐you‐dig‐it.html
ARCOLA THEATRE
Photo: Arcola Theatre
ADDRESS: 24 Aswhin St, London E8 3DL NEIGHBORHOOD: Dalston MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • •
•
Opened in 2000 in a repurposed textile factory, now located ½ mile from original site in a larger old factory Professional studio theatres, workshop/ rehearsal space, café/bar and green technology incubator Focused performances/activities for multicultural residents
DESCRIPTION: What a fascinating project! Since it opened in 2000, the Arcola has always focused on serving its neighbors with a multicultural emphasis. Not only is this a theater, but it also hosts a music school, music and dance workshops, professional recording spaces, café and bar, and it runs itself by producing its own energy. The theater hires local youth to run the shows and coordinate events, gaining skills in technical and event planning. An enlightening example of what a cultural institution can be/become in a short time; it’s considered one of the greatest success stories of theater history. RESOURCES: http://www.futurearcola.com/ http://www.arcolaenergy.com/contribute/ http://www.arcolatheatre.com/
BRICK LANE & COLUMBIA FLOWER MARKET
Photo: mododiva.blogspot.com
ADDRESS: Brick Lane/3 Ezra Street, London NEIGHBORHOOD: Shoreditch MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Best day to visit: Sunday Reuse, repurposing Boosting a local economy with local vendors/artists Regeneration of a deteriorating neighborhood
Photo: ksewells.wordpress.com
DESCRIPTION: The area of Brick Lane and the Colombia Flower Market, once known for its crime rate, now is known for its edgy and artistic population. Brick Lane, while famous for its curry restaurants, boasts one the best bric‐a‐ brac markets in London on Sundays. The Old Truman Brewery is also a exceptional example of reuse and repurposing in this neighborhood. It is one of the oldest breweries in the UK and the huge space (45,000 m2) is now a showcase of local artist vendors, cafes, restaurants, and generally a lively, chaotic public gathering space. Colombia Flower Market, a conglomeration of 60 independent shops, is a beautiful example of safe‐ keeping history, culture, and a local economy. It would be interesting to hear a local’s perspectives on the challenges that come with gentrification of this neighborhood—as the area becomes more popular, rents may increase and may displace current residents, eventually possibly changing the unique feeling and atmosphere of the neighborhood. RESOURCES: http://www.visitbricklane.org/ http://columbiaroad.info/ http://www.trumanbrewery.com/ http://www.columbia‐flower‐market.freewebspace.com/
THE SCHOOL OF LIFE
Photo: vidafine.com
ADDRESS: 70 Marchmont Street, London WC1N 1AB NEIGHBORHOOD: Central MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Opened in Sept 2008 by Alain de Botton A “shop” for better living A “social enterprise” Offer courses that teach about love, politics, work, play, and family
DESCRIPTION: “The School of Life’s philosophy is to provide a variety of programs and services concerned with how to live wisely and well for the locals of Central London.” Looks like a bookshop, but it’s more than that. For all the Alain de Botton fans, it’s a definite must‐see. RESOURCES: http://widget.demotix.com/news/silvia‐boarini http://www.theschooloflife.com/
A SENSE OF EAST LONDON
Photo: urban75.org
Photo: londonmarkets.co.uk
ADDRESS: tbc NEIGHBORHOOD: East London DESCRIPTION: After visiting and exploring parts of this changing urban district, we will sit down with stakeholder(s) involved in the urban transformation of East London. This group may include council members, community leaders, investors, artists, opinion‐makers, among others. Discussion might include immigrant struggles to assimilate and difficulties preserving their own culture, questions of cultural versus national identity for immigrants, and the potential future of East London.
LSE CITIES PROGRAM
ADDRESS: 10 Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HD NEIGHBORHOOD: Center MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Education, research facility Outreach and events Hosts annual ‘Urban Age Conference’ Publishes academic research
DESCRIPTION: “The Cities Programme is an international centre dedicated to the understanding of contemporary urban society. Its central objective is to relate physical structure to the social structure of cities. The programme is the graduate education branch of LSE Cities, which is hosted by the Department of Sociology, and offers degree courses at MSc and PhD level. Its mission is to study how people and cities interact in a rapidly urbanising world, focussing on how the design of cities impacts on society, culture and the environment. Through research, conferences, teaching and projects, the centre aims to shape new thinking and practice on how to make cities fairer and more sustainable for the next generation of urban dwellers, who will make up some 70 per cent of the global population by 2050.” RESOURCES: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/LSECities/citiesProgramme/home.aspx
MEANWHILE SPACES ADDRESS: none given NEIGHBORHOOD: n/a MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
A Community Interest Company (CIC) Began in 2009 Experts on meanwhile uses for empty spaces
DESCRIPTION: Meanwhile Space is “generating a zeitgeist to re‐imagine commercial use of property and the untapped opportunities that vacant spaces present.” This project is a creative and innovative way to deal with a pressing (and increasingly so) urban issue: vacant commercial space. Empty buildings can have numerous effects on a local neighborhood including social, economic, and aesthetic challenges. This project aims to create solutions to this problem by linking empty spaces with those who need them. Even though this is a wonderful short‐term solution, what about long‐ term security for these neighborhoods? Also, are empty spaces or buildings concentrated in certain areas? RESOURCES: http://www.meanwhilespace.com/
BRIXTON VILLAGE
Photo: urban75.org
ADDRESS: Jebb Avenue, Lambeth, London SW2 5XF NEIGHBORHOOD: Brixton (Lambeth Borough) MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Originally Granville Arcade, opened in 1937 Over 100 shops Holds great cultural significance to the surrounding population Best day to visit: Saturday
DESCRIPTION: Brixton Village is part of a larger market area in this neighborhood, which includes Brixton Market and the covered arcades of Reliance Arcade and Market Row. The markets sell a variety of produce and goods that reflect the diversity of the surrounding area’s residents—including Caribbean and African cultures. The entire property was sold in 2007. Redevelopment plans included demolition of the markets. ‘Friends of Brixton Market’ and community groups fought the proposal and were successful in overturning it. RESOURCES: www.brixtongreenorg www.brixtonpound.org http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/event/179607/brixton‐village http://www.friendsofbrixtonmarket.org/ http://www.urban75.org/brixton/photos/brixton‐village‐indoor‐market‐march‐2010.html
THE BROMLEY by BOW CENTRE
ADDRESS: St. Leonards Street, London E3 3BT NEIGHBORHOOD: Greater London MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Founded in 1984 An ‘everything center’ Give advice on everything Art studios, employment advice, social enterprise support, health center, children’s center
DESCRIPTION: “It was founded in 1984 with the aim of transforming the local community. Over the years, the Centre has grown to encompass health care, church, nursery, children's centre, community facilities and a cafe. It is the site of the UK's first Healthy Living Centre, and around 2,000 people use the Centre each week.” The surrounding area is characterized as one of the poorest areas in the country with many social problems. The range of services this center offers makes it a pretty incredible asset to this community. Is this type of center replicable for other neighborhoods? How is it continually funded, especially in this type of economy? RESOURCES: http://www.bbbc.org.uk/
THE HUB ISLINGTON
Photo: khailee.com
ADDRESS: 5 Torrens St, London EC1V 1NQ NEIGHBORHOOD: Islington MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Membership‐based flexible work space, est. in 2004 Community mentality Social events and “light business support services” Global business model
DESCRIPTION: Described as a social entrepreneur enterprise, this converted warehouse is a flexible time‐based gathering place for people and Photo: etfl.lu businesses to work and meet. The warehouse has facilities for conferences, small meetings, individual use, plus kitchen equipment, wifi, printers, scanners, and anything else members need. The Hub seems like a great project and a brilliant use of empty space. It seems like they would be competing with other organizations with similar goals (Meanwhile Spaces). Is there competition? How is the Hub different from Meanwhile Spaces? How can the Hub ensure long‐term success? Is sustainability a concern? The Hub is now going global in their business plan. How do they choose the building spaces? RESOURCES: http://islington.the‐hub.net/public/ http://khailee.com/218/coworking‐at‐the‐original‐the‐hub‐islington‐london/
LIVITY
ADDRESS: 9 Brighton Terrace, London SW9 8DJ NEIGHBORHOOD: Brixton MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Youth engagement agency, est. in 2001 Youth receiving training, support, and opportunities to work with corporate giants (Google, Coke, BBC) Publish/distribute youth‐led LIVE magazine, with 140k readers per quarter Most recently launched ‘somewhereto_’ project with links up open/empty spaces with youth groups
DESCRIPTION: Livity is a for‐profit company with a business model focused on obtaining insight into youth culture— especially those youth who are ‘hard to reach’ and are not connected to education, employment, or training opportunities—and rewarding those youth with mentorship programs, job‐training, and other practical skills instruction. The organization puts together a magazine, LIVE, that 1000 youth contribute to every year. How does Livity balance the goals of the bottom line (money‐making) and helping youth succeed? With commercial partners like Coke and Playstation, how does Livity ensure the best intentions are set? RESOURCES: http://livity.co.uk/ http://www.livity.co.uk/wordpress/2010/08/23/recruiting‐olympic‐opportunities‐with‐somewhereto/
THE PEOPLE’S SUPERMARKET
Photo: retailgazette.co.uk
ADDRESS: 72 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N3LP NEIGHBORHOOD: Center MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • •
Opened in May 2010, in an economically diverse neighborhood Non‐profit, co‐operative grocery store and café “Fresh affordable food for the people by the people” “Mixed‐mode” investment sources
DESCRIPTION: “The Supermarket is a sustainable food cooperative that responds to the needs of the local community and provides healthy, local food at reasonable prices.” The founder, owner, and manager Arthur Dawson wants to get the London food system back to its roots: the English countryside. Sustainability is at the core mission of the market, as is acquiring food from local farmers and offering products at reasonable prices. Members pay 25£ annually and must work 4 hours/month; in one year, they have 1000 members and are now just breaking even. Although not a new idea, this cooperative grocery store not only increases accessibility to healthy foods but it also engenders community and civic participation. RESOURCES: http://www.thepeoplessupermarket.org/ http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article‐23922648‐arthur‐potts‐dawson‐launches‐the‐peoples‐ supermarket.do http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/7779395/The‐Peoples‐Supermarket‐communal‐cheap‐and‐ democratic.html http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/14022‐average‐spend‐up‐at‐peoples‐supermarket
GREENWICH MILLENIUM VILLAGE
Photo: mibgroup.com
ADDRESS: Millennium Way, Greenwich, London SE10 0 NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenwich MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
Goal of 2,700 homes, community facilities and commercial space Inclusive, sustainable community Public/private investment partnerships
DESCRIPTION: Great intentions set out by the development firm and the public and private investment partners of a suburban community with urban amenities and a close distance to the center of London. The developers used environmentally friendly construction materials and established goals for using 80% less energy than regular buildings through energy‐saving building techniques and renewable energy technology. The ‘village’ has its own shopping center, health, and community centers for its residents. RESOURCES: http://www.urbandesigncompendium.co.uk/greenwichmillenniumvillage http://www.gmv.gb.com/community.htm *http://www.gmvsucks.com/
THE CROSSRAIL & THAMESLINK PROGRAMME
Photo: crossrail.co.uk
Photo: londonist.com
ADDRESS: n/a NEIGHBORHOOD: n/a MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
Thameslink proposal started in 1991, was finally granted in 2006 and expected to finish by 2018 Crossrail proposal was granted in 2007 and first trains are excpected to run in 2017 Major challenges in politics, planning, design, numerous delays, and financing
DESCRIPTION: The Crossrail line is based on a new set of east‐west tunnels under central London connecting the Great Western Main Line near Paddington to the Great Eastern Main Line near Stratford. An eastern branch diverges at Whitechapel, running through Docklands and emerging at Custom House on a disused part of the North London Line, and then under the River Thames to Abbey Wood. The project is particularly difficult and expensive because of London’s geology and the existing tunnels. The Thameslink Programme is a £6 billion project in south‐east England to upgrade and expand the Thameslink rail network to provide new and longer trains between a wider range of stations to the north and to the south of London without requiring passengers to change trains in London. Both projects have encountered numerous challenges in planning, design, delays, and funding. Issues and debates were raised over new stations, construction of existing stations, and the closures of many stations for construction. RESOURCES: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/ http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/cms/pages/home http://www.london‐se1.co.uk/news/view/2505
BARCLAYS CYCLE HIRE
Photo: bikeradar.com
ADDRESS: all over London NEIGHBORHOOD: stations seem concentrated in the northern parts of London MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • • • •
Launched July 2010 with 5000 bikes and 300+ ‘stations’ Throughout the City of London and 8 boroughs Intended for short journeys 30 min free, 1£ for 1 hr Regular users should opt for membership
DESCRIPTION: Within the first few weeks of launching, about 90,000 users registered 1,000,000 rides in the system. Some criticisms include problems with the website registration, bicycles in need of repair, the bikes are too heavy, and there are too many late fees. How are the locations of the stations chosen? Has there been an increase in collisions? What other safety concerns are raised? What policies complement the establishment of the cycle hire? Are bicycle lanes or bicycle routes mapped for members? What steps is the City taking to increase bicycle safety or at least perception of safety? What has this program learned from Paris and Barcelona and how is it different? RESOURCES: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/20/london‐bike‐hire‐scheme‐paris‐velib
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH
Photo: bikeradar.com
ADDRESS: St. Stephens Road, London E3 5JL NEIGHBORHOOD: Tower Hamlets MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
Church renovation in 2005 Religious services as well as youth programs, physical activity classes, café, and meeting room spaces Complete community center in a diverse neighborhood
DESCRIPTION: This borough has been in need of economic regeneration for some time. The residents are mostly low‐ income and problems in this borough include safety, health, social isolation, and community development. This church was saved demolition, renovated, and transformed into an important cultural and community center. It is located in a typical part of the East End, with its East End spirit: perseverance in the face of all life’s problems, humour, Cockney rhyming slang, and everyone pulling together. How did the vicar get to the church becoming a social and cultural heart? How did the team manage to build the mental ownership of the community? How were investments generated? And what about jumble sales? RESOURCES: http://www.stpauloldford.com/
THE FAT WALK
Photo: bdonline.co.uk
ADDRESS: from Three Mills Island to the Thames NEIGHBORHOOD: East End MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
13.6 km (8.5 miles) of new linear green space traverses through urban and natural environments Biodiversity Action Plan will allow new habitats for river species Path to be made for walking and cycling
DESCRIPTION: The Fat Walk is a walking and cycling riverside parkland leading from the Olympic Park to the Thames River, following the Lea River. The originating neighborhood lacks recreation space and this linear park may become an asset to the community. A large part of the project is restoring the river area with a heavy focus on improving the biodiversity and allowing species specific to the river area to flourish. RESOURCES: http://www.ecologyconsultancy.co.uk/downloads/newsletters/ECL_Briefing4_OnLine.pdf http://m.bdonline.co.uk/news/london%E2%80%99s‐journey‐into‐space/3154018.article
Silicone Roundabout
Photo: techmeetups.com
ADDRESS: Old Street @ City Road, London EC2A 4NE NEIGHBORHOOD: Shoreditch MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
First mapped out and named in 2008 Originally started with 15 start‐up web and tech companies located in the area Hub for tech activity and networking and young entrepreneurs
DESCRIPTION: This corner got its name because of the many web businesses located in the immediate area, and refers to the Silicon Valley area of California, where there is a high concentration of influential technology companies. Complimented for its proximity to the city center but also its distance from the mass amount of shopping, which means less expensive rents for budding companies. Employees in the area are generally young entrepreneurs at start‐up companies; competition is high and networking is common‐place. RESOURCES: www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2010/02/start/silicon‐roundabout blogs.ft.com/fttechhub/2008/07/silicon‐roundabout‐is‐this‐the‐heart‐of‐the‐uks‐new‐dotcom‐boom/
Dan Thompson ADDRESS: London NEIGHBORHOOD: n/a MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • •
• •
“Social artist” Has headed several innovative initiatives to improve public space, especially commercial and retail in underserved neighborhoods Leads workshops, writes toolkits on the issue Lead a community clean‐up after the riots
Photo: danthompson.co.uk
DESCRIPTION: Dan Thompson’s experience as a ‘social artist’ includes founding the Empty Shops Network, which strives to find creative solutions and uses for empty shops in London. He is an active advocate for artists, actors, writers, and those in underserved communities. Dan has worked with government leaders to develop policies that support creative uses of empty spaces. RESOURCES: http://danthompson.co.uk/?page_id=236
new economics foundation (nef)
ADDRESS: 3 Jonathan Street, London, SE11 5NH NEIGHBORHOOD: Lambeth MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • • •
Founded in 1986 Independent “think‐and‐do tank” that inspires and demonstrates economic well‐being Mission to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environmental and social issues
DESCRIPTION: nef works with communities in the UK and internationally to support practical action for a more sustainable and just future in terms of local economy, social enterprise, urban regeneration, social policy, and democratic participation. They focus heavily on sustainability‐‐market‐generated, community‐based, and environmental preservation, but all couched in improving economy. An interesting topic nef examines is the idea of ‘social return on investment’ which is an outcomes‐based measurement tool that helps organizations to understand and quantify the social, environmental and economic value they are creating. This organization’s network includes civil society, government, individuals, businesses and academia and their products include research, reports, publications, and political analysis. RESOURCES: http://www.neweconomics.org/