Urban Studies Component Three Project by James Clark
Royal V ictori a
i - D o ck & P ier
A new public realm on the water for current and future residents of the Royal Docks and for the City of London for visitors to the Docks! A proposal which seeks to activate and breathe new life into the docks’ waterfront after the good hotel leaves the site in three years time, in softening the harsh conditions of the docks edge, opening up the site and extending the promenade onto the water, in providing visitors, current and future residents the social reward of a new vibrant public realm on the docks edge at Western Gateway. A new lido for current and future residents of public use with a new swimming club employing the long-term unemployed in the area, for personal swimming but also for group leisure sport activity. Providing a real base of urban wild controlled swimming on the docks. Placing importance on the public realm and the element of spectacle on the site and the surrounding water and environment. The lido and pier place the area with a clearer identity of a place of water side activity of congregation, relaxation and contemplation and a distinct sense of place, a public space where people gather and use the docks. Where people can see and be seen, a chance to enjoy nature and the natural resource of water.
M a c ro s c ale - N e wh am - R o yal D o ck s
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Regeneration: Designated Opportunity Areas
projects delivered in Newham pre-Olympics by programme
scale 1:40000
1km
current services in newham 1km
regenerative
C B A
A
D
D C
key
services
education nurseries primary schools secondary schools higher education public services libraries museums
E
key
civic buildings emergency services
regenerative
job centres
Micro business opportunity areas (MBOA’s)
institution mixed use/retail
food banks recycling centres
Local mixed use areas (LMUA’s)
industry/office
B
green spaces
key
regenerative
residential
healthcare hospitals
Enterpise Zone
leisure/hotel
dental practices
sdz
pharmacies
A Stratford
A stratford
B Forest Gate
B canary wharf
C Manor Park
C canning town
D East Ham
D royal albert dock
E Canning Town
gp surgeries opticians care homes private services laundrettes
source:
GLA planning permission
post offices
Sources:
Newham’s Local Plan - 2017 Employment Sites Audit - 2017
Map of regeneration projects in the Newham area
Underground & Overground Rail Network Data collected from tfl
South Woodford
Map showing the GLA Enterprise zone boundary
retail
Map showing the lack of services, especially community based, around Newham and the Royal Docks Walking Routes Data collected from tfl & google maps
Future Transport Investment Projects Data collected from the GLA Project
Up to £0.5m £0.5m-£2m
£2m-£10m
£10m-£100m
£100m-£1b
Over £1b
Snaresbrook
Wanstead
Leytonstone
Ilford Leyton
Leyton
Manor Park
Stratford
Hackney Wick
Stratford
Barking
Hackney Wick
Stratford
Barking
East Ham
Upton Park
Pudding Mill Lane
Plaistow West Ham West Ham
Bow Church
Bow Road
Bow Church
Bromley-by-Bow
Mile End
Bromley-by-Bow
Devons Road
Langdon Park
Beckton
Canning Town
Custom House All Saints
Westferry
Prince Regent
Royal Victoria
East India
Royal Albert
Poplar
Canning Town
Cyprus
Custom House
Gallions Reach
Gallions Reach
Beckton Park
Blackwall London City Airport
West India Quay Canary Wharf
London City Airport
West Silvertown
Heron Quays
King George V Pontoon Dock
Canary Wharf
Silvertown
South Quay North Woolwich
North Greenwich
North Greenwich
Crosshabour
Woolwich Arsenal Mudchute Island Gardens
Cutty Sark
Greenwich
key
key Central
Walking
District Hammersmith & City Jubilee DLR London Overground
Map of rail network links, showing especially the DLR services to the Royal Docks
Map showing transport investment projects
Map showing walking routes in Newham and the Royal Docks
Map showing future residential and business quarter developments around the docks. Key residential districts in Silvertown Quays, Royal Wharf, Thames West proposed on the docks, the area will see a huge influx of new residents Urban
Studies
Component
Three
James
Clark
O pe n D o c k N e w ham / C h o s en s it e
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Open Dock Newham Following from the group project, where we proposed four key design solutions which will bring an interest back into the docks, effectively opening up the docks into vibrant use. Those interventions being in; wayfinding, dock edge structures, dock edge condition and water interventions. I chose to focus on the water anddock edge condition as a study and a sensitive intervention along the dock edge as a typology for my individual proposal. The docks edge conditions are harsh, a 2.4m drop to water level with safety barriers around the perimeter. An aim was to soften the edges in accessibility by proposing a sensitive solution in extending the realm of accessibility along the pathway. By studying a series of dock edge locations, each without different urban qualities around the Royal Victoria dock, a particular location next to the Western Gateway became a focal point as a site.
Dock edge strategies Open Dock Newham group project tion
ta ria S l Victo ) (DLR
30
Roya
Lumar House
Multistorey Car Park 1 to 47
1 to 89
Ross Apartments
Atlantic Apartments
1 to 49 Oceanis Apartments
Gateway Tower
ESS
28
20
1 to 182
1 to 133
1 to 70
The Oxygen
Adriatic Apartments
Alaska Apartments
1 to 224
Hotel
Westgate Apartments
14
13
11
15
1 to 42
El Sub Sta
Baltic Apartments
1 to 37
1 to 38
Hotel
Marmara Apartments
19
19
17
Em
ira
tes
Ca
21
ble
21
Ca
rT er
mi
na
l
Balearic Apartments
1 to 66
Coral Apartments
1 to 36
37 to 73
1 to 37
The Crystal
Public space at the Western Gateway - low pedestrian footprint, parking area, row of trees, tiled ground
The Good Hotel on the site, for three more years, views are blocked towards the docks due to its position
Harsh edge condition, barriers with a 2.4m drop to water level
Emirates cable car floating impact barrier
38 to 74
Capital East Apartments
Aegean Apartments
Dock edge gantry cranes
Stepped access from apartments
London Royal Docks open water swimming
ESS
Urban green landscape design
Wakeup Docklands, beach area and water leisure sport activities 1
Und
Royal Victoria Western Gateway and surroundings key urban analysis W a Bu ter si fro ne nt ss St C ud en io tre s
Western Gateway and the surrounding site Rather than seeking to change an urban area which needs a total re-addressing of the urban strategy around the Royal Docks by the removal or demolition of an existing situation, I have instead chosen to focus on the already developed area in the Western Gateway, an area which is currently not in development plans, which consists of apartment and hotel blocks at the edge and the good hotel on the water front. I have rather took the view of how current problems might exist and how improvements could be implemented in the future, whilst also recognising its existing qualities and expanding on the qualities of the site which exist; including the urban, social, economic and amenity qualities. These including of great public transport links, the legacy of the good hotel, location as a gateway into the docks, close proximity to accommodation and hotels. It is with the view that the site proposal could be utilised by current, future residents of new developments around the docks and of visitors to the docks.
The Western Gateway Existing Site Urban
Studies
Component
Three
James
Clark
Th e G o o d H o tel o n t h e Sit e
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The Good Hotel The hotel sits on the water as a private enterprise, near a block of hotels and apartments on land. The Hotel itself has real local social and economic benefits such as the proprietary Good Training program which is in partnership with the Borough of Newham, which provides new training and job opportunities to the area. Over the course of five years, (of which two years have gone) The Good Hotel will re-invest its profits to offer hundreds of long-term unemployed residents the opportunity to move out of welfare and build a better future. The floating hotel sits for five years time (which two years have gone) and will return to Amsterdam, leaving the site vacant. The Hotel currently sits in a location which blocks the views towards the water. This area is a gateway into the docks and when the hotel does move, a strategy which opens up the area as a more integrated public space could be more engaging and beneficial in the experience of the site. The future proposal is to be an enlightened response to the edge site condition, proposing to build onto the water as a means of currently wasted public land and as a natural resource, taking the opportunity it has, but in a site which allows for both and not the consumption of the water as a land.
The Good Hotel - from Amsterdam on the ij to the Royal Docks, London, an expansve city river water front to a more confined dock edge
Views from the Western Gateway currently with the Good Hotel blocking any real engagement with the docks and water from this expansive public realm
Existing public transport close proximity (Royal Victoria DLR Station, Emirates Cable Car, Western Gateway) and walkway/ stepped access links
Urban
Studies
Component
Apartments and the Good Hotel an extension of the private sector - position blocking dock water views
Three
James
Clark
Sit e S t rat eg y C o n cep t
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Senstive timber stepped landscape and walkways as extension of the public realm, using the shape of the site into a more human scale landscape, zones acting as a lido using the water as a resource
Providing the area a clearer identity as a public realm at the dockside, a pier kind of identity promoting senses of ’seaside experience’
80m 140m
40m
Large site area within the ‘alcove’ of the dock
Opening up the views towards the water and the City creating a connection with the site and the opportunity for spectacle and views to the City
Pushing the usable public realm outwards onto the water, filling the ‘alcove’ area and creating greater accessibility and usable public space along the dock edge
Creating a continious movement around the landscape using the existing walking routes and improving connectivity along the edge
Breaking the site up into two zones and uses from the existing stepped access on the land
Creating varying levels, a level access, lowered access and in the corner the opportunity for a heightened platform with the opportunity for spectacle to the surrounding environment
Urban
Studies
Component
Three
James
Clark
Roya l Victor i a
i- D o ck & P ier
Page 5
A new public realm on the water for current and future residents of the Royal Docks and for the City of London for visitors to the Docks!
A proposal which seeks to activate and breathe new life into the docks’ waterfront after the good hotel leaves the site in three years time, in softening the harsh conditions of the docks edge, opening up the site and extending the promenade onto the water, in providing visitors, current and future residents the social reward of a new vibrant public realm on the docks edge at Western Gateway. A new lido for current and future residents of public use with a new swimming club employing the long-term unemployed in the area, for personal swimming but also for group leisure sport activity. Providing a real base of urban wild controlled swimming on the docks. Placing importance on the public realm and the element of spectacle on the site and the surrounding water and environment. The lido and pier place the area with a clearer identity of a place of water side activity of congregation, relaxation and contemplation and a distinct sense of place, a public space where people gather and use the docks. Where people can see and be seen, a chance to enjoy nature and the natural resource of water. The pier gives a sense that you are at a seaside destination and a heightened sense of accessible public space. The pier would be for mixed uses in future use, one including markets for micro/ small/ medium sized businesses, making connections to local businesses and a more collective response to the site. The pier and lido is seen as a combined design and not of separate uses, but of a joint relationship between the use of land and water as a resource as an integrated site proposition. The structure of the proposal would be made from a sensitive material in cross laminated timber and would be made on site, when the site is left vacant. The proposal seeks to open up the site and provide a vibrant new public realm n the water front.
Site plan scale 1:1000
5.
1. 2.
7.
8.
6. 10. 9.
3. 4. 11.
12. 13.
14. programme
Development sketches Urban
Studies
Component
Three
James
1. 2.
the pier multi use - local small businesses/ markets
3. 4.
stepped urban/ poolside seating leisure club offices
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
poolside terrace rescue tower diving landscape dive/ play pool lap pool plunge pool childrens pool mixed use area accessible walking platform soft landscape stepping
Clark
Page 6
Soft landscape seating
Extension of the public realm at water level
Purified and filtered pools (lap, plunge, children’s)
Swimming/ leisure club on-site facility, public cafe
Multi use pier
Urban attractor - life at the Western Gateway
Urban
Studies
Component
Three
James
Clark
Page 7
En ga g e m en t w i t h wat er an d s u rro undings
Water, water everywhere Water, water everywhere but none of it but none of it for us. for us. “Why have towhen go out of the area when “Why should kids have to should go out kids of the area got watersaid in the backyard?” said a youth you’ve got water in you’ve the backyard?” a youth playscheme playscheme organiser. (p.16) organiser. (p.16)
ideaskind envisage a new kind of marina: Our ideas envisage Our a new of marina: a sleepy, where not a sleepy, passivenot place wherepassive the richplace moor their the rich moor their yachts, but an active place, bustling with boating yachts, but an active place, bustling with boating for local people using, making and learning activity for localactivity people - using, making and- learning about the river and the docks. (p.17) about boats, the river andboats, the docks. (p.17)
Sports facilities, especially a cycle track (the nearest one is in Romford), canoeing and other inexpensive water sports. Whilst there are over 100 hectares of dock water and river, there are no boating or water sports facilities for young people in Newham. (This came up at most meetings). (p.6)
In the past, the docks and the local community were A wall docklands co-operative separate; the dock came between them. Of zone? kind of investment, course the livelihood...A of third the community dependedfor to which there are plenty of ideas lot ofwas determination a large extent on whether orand not athere work in the and energy, involves thethe setting of cooperative docks. But, as a place, docksupwere “over the enterprises in the docks. (p.28) wall” even “alien”. (p.10)
Peoples Plan for the Royal Docks, 1984
“Water, water, everywhere, but none of it for us.” “why should kids have to go out of the area when you’ve got water in your backyard?” 40
40
39
41
Li-Dock experiential Urban swimming – using the water as a resource Currently the water on the docks is being underutilised. The benefits of urban swimming are tenfold. Health benefits include physical, social and mental wellbeing. It is a common interest taken in many European Cities, especially in Scandinavia, of treating the water as a resource for leisure and the enjoyment of nature. The George Seurat painting of bathers at Asnieres on the River Siene shows a group of workmen taking their leisure by the river with the industrial City in the background, a scene resonant with the aspirations of the dock site.
Precedent and materiality montage Urban
Studies
Component
Three
James
Clark
Page 8
O pe ni n g u p th e s it e - u rb an at t ractor Public realm - urban attractor
By allowing for the docks to be opened up for the enjoyment of the public, for current, future residents and visitor to the docks; this allows for a gateway to the docks. It provides a more engaging and connected relationship with the water but also the land, in the Western Gateway. By proposing a new public realm on the water, this urban attractor creates a vibrant interest in the site and to the area.
Further opportunity for The Western Gateway public realm
Poposal as an urban attractor to the area of the Western Gateway
The tiled land at the Western Gateway is currently a large area which is underused as an expansive landscape, with parking zones and a vast ground area, with an underpopulated pedestrian footprint. The pier as a public space offers the use of weekly flea markets amongst other uses, so expanding in the placement of markets on the land would be thought against. A consideration and suggestion however, for the land at the Western Gateway could be to utilise the existing row trees and offer areas of a green landscape along the promenade. This, if the proposal is successful in bringing visitors to the area as well as future residents, would allow the area to be a more sustainable site, and could connect the neighbouring green landscape outside of the Crystal building, linking with the landscape, in providing a more utlised part of green landscape as a large perimeter park space at the dock gateway. This could add to the public sense of experience and provide a revitalised, healthier part of the royal docks (please see images at bottom).
Strategy experiential Views from the Western Gateway opened up providing engagement with the water and land from this expansive public realm
Existing public realm (Western Gateway and outside The Crystal) Urban
Studies
Western Gateway green landscape Component
Western Gateway connecting green landscape outside The Crystal Three
James
Clark