A landscape architecture portfolio by Lesley Maria Perez
Certificate in Landscape Design University of Greenwich 2014/15
What is
the Ridgeway?
A landscape architecture portfolio by Lesley Maria Perez
Certificate in Landscape Design University of Greenwich 2014/15
What is
the Ridgeway?
“The vast pipe cuts across the land, running parallel with a road so quiet the nearby flats seemed deserted on the grey afternoon. The pipe was easily taller than the warehouses it passes along its course. A footpath, edged by stray winter heliotrope and oilseed rape, ran along the structure’s top, and walking it I had a fine view of the modern high-security prison a quarter mile away. Every hundred yards or so the northern edge was marked by what looked like a viewing platform, but was actually an access point into the dark interior. Irons, their surfaces etched with impenetrable triangles like Tibetan yantras, led through to places I would never see. Towards its end the tube turned slightly and ran directly into the side of a brown blockhouse. In doing so it was presumably sheered of the soil and grass covering which had clad it through its journey above the factories and the streets.” — On the Southern Outfall by Deep Topographer Nick Papadimitriou, 2005
Introduction 1
What is the Ridgeway? London, east of Greenwich, is a landscape of continual spatial transformations, shifting infrastructures and unexpected adjacencies. It is a loosely planned patchwork of declining industries, vast distribution centres, residential neighbourhoods, resistant ecologies and individual narratives. The landscape unfolds eastwards along the Thames, from Greenwich towards the limits of Greater London. This is a marginal part of the city, where individual lives and public acts are often overshadowed by moves to serve the city; energy, water, waste infrastructures, and networks of military power, international trade and regional distribution.
Aerial view of Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, indicating the Ridgeway
The Ridgeway is set in Thamesmead, a former marshland east of Greenwich, which was at times a Neolithic site, ship building yard and, from the 1970’s onwards development area. It is essentially a raised piece of land which covers the Southern Outfall Sewer: part of a major system of Victorian engineering devised by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in response to major outbreaks of typhoid fever and cholera in London in the 19th century. The system comprised of two great intercepting sewers flanking the Thames, draining eastwards to treatment plants/reservoirs by pumping or by gravity before being discharged into the river. The Ridgeway is situated along the final segment of the southern outfall sewer, running west to east from Plumstead to Crossness.
What is the Ridgeway? 2
The Ridgeway in context Thamesmead was conceived as a modern riverside housing development that would help cope with London’s increasing housing demands. Construction started in 1967 on 1,600 acres of marshland on the south bank of the Thames. Previously the land was part of the old Woolwich Arsenal. Used for storing ordnance and ammunition from as early as 1565, it was the area where military guns were made and tested. The land was ideal as the marshy ground deadened the impact of explosions. There were few people living in the area, and as a result it was also home to London’s last wild horses. Thamesmead was to be a future city, designed on the principles of simplicity, logic and modernity as a model for social housing. The development was devised as a self-contained community divided into distinct zones to provide for all of the needs of the people that would call it home. Thamesmead South was the main housing zone, and Thamesmead East designated for industry and commerce; Thamesmead Central housed the majority of the town’s retail facilities (but these were never adequate for the size of the settlement); Thamesmead North was the last of the built zones, and Thamesmead West eventually saw private development on a major scale. Main arterial roads were to take inhabitants quickly to and from the estate, but within the main estate areas pedestrianised walkways (often raised) would transport people around. Water features were a large part of the original design. Since the high water level of the land makes it susceptible to flooding, drainage is supplied by a series of canals and five lakes, the largest of which, South Mere, was transformed into a marina.
Map of London highlighting Thamesmead (in yellow) and the Ridgeway (in magenta)
Unfortunately, problems surfaced early on for Thamesmead. A lack of amenities, poor transport links (including an intended Jubilee line extension which never materialised), the tendency of the buildings to leak, and a feeling among locals that the GLC was using the estate to dump ‘problem families’ away from central London all added up to give the area a poor image. These problems and others, including financial difficulties, limited the construction of the settlement. Before long, the plan for a full scale town was dropped. Later on new buildings were constructed in different materials, leading to a patchwork of housing styles which can still be seen. Thamesmead also happens to fall between the boundaries of two boroughs — traditionally Labour Greenwich and Tory Bexley — which has, historically, created further division in relation to policies and funding.
Quick facts: Postal districts and postcode area: SE28, SE2, DA18 Population: 31,824 (2011 census) Amount committed by Peabody to the regeneration of the area: £225m
Above: Cows grazing the former Erith Marshes. Left: Construction of the Southern Outfall sewer. Right: Thamesmead Masterplan, 1967 with the Ridgeway highlighted in yellow
Projected completion date for the Crossrail station at Abbey Wood: December 2018
Introduction
“Thamesmead lies facing a 3 1/2-mile river frontage between Woolwich and Erith, some ten miles from the centre of London. It was mainly marshland lying below the Thames high-water level, crossed by drainage ditches and covered with scrub. Reclamation work had gone on in Roman times, and later the monks of Lesnes Abbey drained part of the land. The Royal Arsenal arrived in the 17th century, and convicts carried out their “hard labour” filling in further areas. After the Second World War armament production ceased and the site was purchased by the Greater London Council in the 1960s. The initial project, on some 300 acres, started in 1967. This was the era of tower blocks and industrialised building systems, and of unlimited energy and belief in perpetual growth. It was natural enough that these ideas should influence the GLC architects, and to criticise the monumental scale of the buildings, now that highrise is unfashionable is, perhaps unfair. Nevertheless, the first impact that the new riverside city makes, with its massive grey concrete terraces and towers, is a somewhat daunting one. An exciting distant vista becomes overwhelming at close quarters, despite the liberal interspacing of grass, trees and artificial lakes… Whatever one feels about Thamesmead, there can be no question that a great deal of imagination and thought has gone into it, and that compared with the usual large-scale local authority development, it is an outstanding piece of planning.” — Country Life Magazine, June 19th, 1975
Construction of Thamesmead Phase 1. All photos on pages 2–3 sourced from Flickr, copyright John A. King
3
With the shortcomings of the original development in mind, more recent years have seen several initiatives aimed at improving Thamesmead as a community. Significant amongst these is the strategic framework: A vision for Thamesmead: Towards 2016, which was published in 2007 on behalf of Gallions Housing Association, Trust Thamesmead and Tilfen Land. Recognising the downward spiral the community was on the precipice of, it builds on six ‘big fixes’ for the area: — Making better use of the Waterfronts — Developing the Town Centre — Expanding a balanced Transport system — Getting the most out of the Green Space — Changing the composition of Housing — Creating an improved Employment mix Where appropriate, the explorations herein have kept these six themes in mind, particularly those directly related to the landscape of the area. A full pdf of the framework can be downloaded from www.trust-thamesmead.co.uk.
Contents Throughout the following pages, this document explores various answers to the question, ‘What is the Ridgeway?’
4 14 22 36
A waste
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A barrier
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A link
A backbone
A waste At its most basic level, the Ridgeway seems to be a feature in the landscape at a loss for its purpose. Originally landscaped as a sort of public promenade, along most of its elevated length the route offers good views of the surrounding area including its well-known tower blocks. However those same views often create feelings of discord and isolation as they take in scenes such as neglected social clubs, heavy industrial areas and tall stands of invading Japanese knotweed. Regular placement of conspicuous CCTV masts and radio boxes labelled ‘HELP’ can further disconcert the traveller.
Prunus spinosa (Sloe) berries growing along the Ridgeway. The length of the route is populated by forageable plants.
According to the prestigious Japanese dictionary Kojien, the word mottainai (pronounced moat-tie-nigh) is most commonly used to express a feeling of regret when something is put to waste without deriving its value. Throughout our explorations of the Ridgeway, we constantly asked the question, ‘What is most at waste here?’.
What is the Ridgeway? 6
Defining waste
After experiencing The Ridgeway for the first time, the most immediate feeling was one of incongruity: the route seemed markedly different in character at various points along the way. While some sections felt confusing, others began to make more sense, particularly as a social and recreational space.
Top to bottom: Photos taken at different points along the Ridgeway route eastward
As first-time visitors one section in particular stuck out in our group’s minds more than others: the piece just over 2.5km along beginning under the overpass of the Harrow Manorway through to taking in views of South Mere lake (section four, right). This section more than any other seemed to be on the cusp of ‘working’ as a destination. It seemed to possess the most potential for active use as a social space.
A waste 7
It seemed to us that the deepest sense of mottainai related to the other sections of the Ridgeway not possessing the same sense of potential for social use in their present state. In other words, it was s a waste that the potential held by one section was not equally present in all.
Then the question became, what would be the best way to take these measures? A number of options were explored, including a type of ‘connectometer’ machine we could construct and assemble, but eventually it was decided that the most effective (and least wasteful) ‘machine’ for measuring connectivity would in fact be a living Human Being. We could equip that human and instruct him/her on what to look for and measure. The rest would be left to their own interpretation and experience of the site.
Preliminary sketch for a ‘connectometer’
In the footsteps of Christophe Girot’s Four Trace Concepts in Landscape Architecture method (Girot ), the next step was to ground our initial reaction to the landscape through deeper analysis. What exactly made this preferred section stand out? What characteristics did it possess? Our answers to these questions largely revolved around issues of ‘connectivity’ and became the foundation of an intervention devised to quantify the mottainai, and indicated the measures we would attempt to take at specific points along the route.
What is the Ridgeway? 8
Construction and process Drawing 2 FLOW DIAGRAM: STRUCTURING OUR INTERVENTION
MOTION
ATTIRE
TOOLS
RECORDING
Use judgement and understanding of brief Use vision to aid counting
High-visibility clothing
Engage in speech if spoken to or addressed visually Intervention to record measurements itself
Comfortable walking shoes
Attire to be appropriate to conditions of The Ridgeway
1 step = 1/2 stride
Intervention to walk the length of The Ridgeway in normal strides, pausing at predetermined 700m intervals to take measurements
After measurement is determined, record results on table provided
Intervention to utilise built-in tools to perceive and judge measurements
Mottainai Project Basic Landscape Design Lesley Perez 000802881 - 8 CLD September 2014
Drawing 2 Basic instructions for the human intervention
Drawings 3 & 4 Instructions for the human intervention, indicating how to accurately measure pace length and analysing the location on the Ridgeway which originally stood out as having the least mottainai.
1
Pace out limits of measuring area and explore access points and paths.
2
Observe and assess quantity and quality of access points and paths.
3
Write down findings using criteria indicated on record sheets.
Field of vision within normal range of +50° and -70°
+50°
L + R foot = 1 Roman pace 60 Roman paces = 100m Relaxed, steady strides.
body
Head tilted naturally when walking
-10°
-70° 3
2
1
Roman paces
360°
Fill in record sheets Measuring Access Visible/ Slope from Ground Path Obstacles? station # Point Hidden Ridge to quality quality access 1
String tied around drinking straw at centre point of protractor.
2 10
100m or 60 paces
20
20 paces
70 60 50 40 80 30
10 paces
90
appliance
Make clinometer 400m + 20 paces
Angle of slope 90° - 60° = 30°
3
Count distance to edge of measuring area using pacing beads
action
Visible access
R 100m
Drawing 5 Instructions for measuring distance to usable access points, including usage of provided appliances for accuracy of measurement. All distances were recorded in paces as a human-sized measure. Quality of access was also to be noted, including whether it was obscured or very steep.
Person of similar height
Dead end
Ground quality scale: 6 = Hard landscape, flat 5 = Short grass, flat 4 = Hard landscape, stepped or sloped 3 = Short grass, sloped 2 = Long rough grass or mud, flat 1 = Long rough grass or mud, sloped Path quality scale: 4 = Direct 3 = Winding 2 = Zig-zagging 1 = Hard to follow
Hidden access Use clinometer to measure slope angle
Make subjective judgements about your surroundings. Work alone.
Drawings 2 and 8 by Lesley Perez, all others by other group members
Blue-tac weight moulded around string
A waste 9
Drawings 7 & 8 Personal space is the region surrounding a person which they regard as psychologically theirs. An intimate zone is reserved for close friends, lovers, children and close family members. Another zone is used for conversations with friends, to chat with associates, and in group discussions. A further zone is reserved for strangers, newly formed groups, and new acquaintances. A fourth zone is used for speeches, lectures, and theatre; essentially, public distance is that range reserved for larger audiences. Entering somebody’s personal space is normally an indication of familiarity, however if a stranger enters one’s personal space, it can often lead to feelings of discomfort. We wanted to measure the capacity of various points along the Ridgeway to carry small groups (such as of friends or family) comfortably.
Drawing 8 Drawing 8 SECTION VIEW: OTHER NOTICEABLE SOCIAL SPACES IN AREA
Because the Ridgeway is a relatively narrow passage, our immediate reaction was that it had a heightened sense of place when it felt connected to other areas of recreation/social activity. Hence we were interested in measuring the number of other social spaces visible from each location around the route.
Fig 1: Using a normal range of motion, look to both sides for evidence of social space
Fig 2: If social space is visible, proceed to nearest point of entry using normal strides. Count steps from Ridgeway to start of social space. 2 steps = 1 stride.
100 strides or less 0
1
2
5m
Park area: example of social space
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL SPACES INCLUDE: - Parks - Green spaces - Community centres - Sports facilities - Cafes/restaurants - Religious venues - Streams and lakes
SPACES SHOULD BE: - In use (not abandoned/derelict) - Visible or audible - Within 100 strides of Ridgeway
Scale 1:50 @ A3
Qualitative data- recording social interactions on The Ridgeway (ref. drawing 10)
Communicating It is important that the human does not initiate conversation as this would affect the value that is being measured. Approaching people should be avoided to produce a more consistent measurement.
Body Language To appear approachable the human must use relaxed and open body language, smile if spoken to, and converse in a friendly manner.
Clothing A high visibility jacket should be worn to encourage any social interactions to take place solely with the human tool; so that they can be recorded and used as qualitative data. Eye contact The human tool must present himself as approachable. An important aspect of this is to make eye contact with passersby and be ready to converse if this is initiated.
Recording data The human must be equipped with a means of recording social interactions that take place. A brief description of the encounter and any opinions that are expressed regarding The Ridgeway should be written down.
Further data As a further qualitative measure the human tool’s objective impression of The Ridgeway will be recorded.
Drawings 9 & 10 It was noted that because the Ridgeway affords elevated, long fields of vision not seeing other people for stretches of time can lead to uneasiness. Therefore we were interested in documenting the number of people visible on and outside of the Ridgeway at various points. Social interactions were also documented.
What is the Ridgeway? 10
Left to right, top to bottom 1) Instructing the human intervention 2) Measuring the length of standard strides 3) Intervention recording data 4) Intervention counting distances in paces using provided appliance 5) Intervention investigating usability of access point
A waste 11
Left to right, top to bottom 6) Passing another person on the way to a clear access point 7) Measuring steepness of access point using provided appliance 8) Testing group configuration according to rules of personal space 9) Searching for another social space in the proximity 10) Social interaction and conversation with a local resident also using the Ridgeway
What is the Ridgeway? 12
Results
Since our concept of mottainai was relative to the section deemed to have the greatest potential for social use, we reported our results as relative measures. In that, for each measure the location with the highest result created the maximum result level (100%). The results from the other locations were then reported as a percentage of that maximum.
Number of people visible in the area
Measured points along route (including a 100m radius) spaced at 700m intervals
Results showed that there were more people visible when there were access points nearby. The majority of people visible (especially at location 3) were crossing The Ridgeway rather than walking along it, meaning that seeing these people did not necessarily mean that the space was being used by them as anything more than a junction.
Ref. drawing 1
Ref. drawing 6
N 5
8%
4
69%
3
46%
2
100%
1
0%
100%
53% 75%
100% 50%
53% 50%
76% 25%
0%
Distance to usable access points
Capacity to hold multiple groups comfortably
The human collected data about the physical terrain leading to access points using instruments and visual observation, assessing quality subjectively against a predetermined scale. A maximum rating for access was determined and data combined to give a percentage result.
The size of a group (of five people) was derived from a study of human space by E. Hall in “Human Dimension”, determined by comfort zones. Each site scored a low (25%), medium (50%), high (75%) or maximum (100%) value depending on it’s ability to hold capacity defined by this model.
Ref. drawing 4 & 5
Ref. drawing 7 & 8
A waste 13
Other noticeable social spaces in the area After a briefing, it was left to the intervention to determine what qualified as a social space. Examples included parks, community centres and cafés. Spaces not accessible from the path in its present state were given a half point, while social spaces visible and within 100 strides were given a full point. Social spaces further than 100 strides were not counted. Ref. drawing 9
38% 100% 50% 25% 63%
(45%) 55% waste (100%)
0%
(20%) 80% waste
(57%) 43% waste
(67%) 33% waste
100% 100% 0% 0%
Number of social interactions
All measures combined
Social interactions occurred at several places, ranging from brief exchanges of eye contact to conversations with passersby. Comments were mainly regarding the ease and speed of The Ridgeway as a means of travel and warnings about safety and security:
The percentages for each measure at each location were combined, with location four reporting the highest overall results (444 out of a possible 500, determined by adding together the maximum result for each location). In keeping with our reporting method we then set 444 as our maximum (100%) and have plotted the results above as corresponding percentages. Mottainai (waste) per location is also reported.
“ It is a shortcut to Plumstead - quicker to walk down it than get the bus.” “People walk their dogs here.” “ Careful with your cameras, don’t put anything down around here.” “Mind the needles.” Ref. drawing 10
When the four underperforming locations were summed together, they represented an average 49% waste of potential for social use when compared to location four.
A barrier Wide roads, bridges and pathways contribute to the break-up of Thamesmead into discrete neighbourhoods. The area’s spatial layout and architecture also limits the accessibility for those with young children, those with disabilities and older residents.
View from the Ridgeway south towards housing on Sewell Road
At present, the Ridgeway is a major contributor to this landscape of barriers. Slicing across the wider town from west to east, its elevated walkway is swathed in thorny branches and rusting steel fences. Sparsely distributed gates along its length are some of the only points of access between north and south Thamesmead.
What is the Ridgeway? 16
Keep out
What does one feel while walking along the Ridgeway? Curious? Unnerved? Peaceful? At one with nature? One very immediate feeling is a much more tactile one. The Ridgeway can seem full of abrasive, potentially harmful objects and barriers. Brambles tear at your clothes and long chains of fencing encourages any passerby to keep a careful distance. Entrances and exits are framed by rusting metal gates. Storms or haphazard pruning has left the stems of shrubs torn and threatening, and the sharp edges of cans, tins and needles clutter the ground. These textures can have a permeating influence on the psychology of the space, making it seem more harsh than welcoming, more dangerous than serene. The Ridgeway is a route slicing through the heart of Thamesmead, designating north from south. In a town broken up by megalomaniac roads and substantial physical barriers it is one of the longest and most evident non-vehicular pathways connecting the scattered sites of recreation, transport and leisure across the community. How then do these textures affect the utilisation of this route? In surveys, Thamesmead residents have said that greenspace resources are under-used because of fears of personal safety (Dr. Scase, R. and Dr. Scales, J.). Would shifting the predominance of these textures be one step towards altering those fears?
“South Mere is very impressive, large enough for sailing and there is an attractive boat club (1977) at the far end. The lake provides a fine context for the point blocks of the original new town, and with the three storey terraces and the extensive park in this part of Thamesmead it looks as though the planners’ vision was actually realised. There is cinematic evidence too: the 1996 film Beautiful Thing depicts not a dystopian Thamesmead but a lush, exotic setting for a love story, helped by an overwhelming soundtrack of Mama Cass. However the Southern Outfall Sewer is the effective boundary of such dreams. Together with Eastern Way this cuts Thamesmead in two and you have to be determined to cross it.” — www.jonestheplanner.co.uk, 9 March 2014
A barrier 17
On-site detail sketch of the upper part of the slope, capturing the layers of intersecting barriers (fences, gates, concrete, etc)
On-site initial sketch identifying a vista of ‘mottainai koto’ (a collection of mottainai things) defined by the numerous physical barriers at what is meant to be a junction
What is the Ridgeway? 18
Survey of the Ridgeway at the Eastern Way overpass by detailed precise hand drawing
A barrier 19
What is the Ridgeway? 20
Counterpoint: Survey of the JFK memorial at Runnymede by detailed precise hand drawing
The JFK memorial is an ascending pathway in the woodland at Runnymede designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. Set in a symbolic acre of land donated to the United States of America by Queen Elizabeth II, the memorial commemorates the life of Kennedy following his assassination in 1963. The memorial uses John Bunyan’s poem The Pilgrim’s Progress as inspiration, echoing its allegory of life as a journey. Visitors to the memorial are invited to partake in a journey which is echoed by the surrounding landscape. A landscape whose features in turn evoke an unseen realm of life, death and spirit. From verse 53: “From the place where he now stood, even to the end of the Valley, the way was all along set so full of Snares, Traps, Gins, and Nets here, and so full of Pits, Pitfalls, deep Holes, and Shelvings down there, that had it now been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away; but as I said, just now the Sun was rising. Then said he, His candle shineth on my head, and by his light I go through darkness.”
On-site detail sketch capturing the layers of living and fallen vegetation on a decomposing log
The drawing at right attempts to convey an aspect of the above passage through its depiction of the symbiotic relationships between decay and new life, as well as by emphasising the perceived barriers that lay between the visitor/viewer and the end of their journey in the distance. In the chosen view the summit of the memorial is not directly visible, even though the viewer is looking out directly towards it. A section line was imagined bisecting the log, and its interior depicted from imagination, showing a further ‘unseen’ realm in the form of fungi and invertebrates making their home within the dark heart of the log.
“It’s all about movement through space, followed by stillness. The memorial stone itself is only one element of this designed landscape. It’s essentially a walk uphill through woodland, the path emerging at the monumental stone with views back down across the river. But it’s considerably more profound than it sounds. The whole experience is all-enveloping, unfolding over some 20 minutes or so, with the visitor encouraged to linger and contemplate the historic scene, the man, what he stood for and his place in history.” — Tim Richardson for the Telegraph;18 Nov 2013
A barrier 21
A link Many critics of Thamesmead bemoan its disjointedness, from being built in phased blocks that all have a different look and feel as well from as the poor internal transport infrastructure of the area. The report, A vision for Thamesmead 2016 places ‘declining neighbourhood cohesiveness’ prominently on its downward spiral scenario that must not happen, and lists ‘Connecting Thamesmead’ in its top five themes it believes can prevent that downward spiral.
Woman coming off of the Ridgeway towards a residential area along its southern side
Since the Ridgeway is a long, straight route bisecting the area it is an ideal place to start addressing these pressing issues. What qualities does it already possess which can be exploited to help it become better integrated into the community it is meant to serve? And how might alterations to its landscape further enable it to become a valuable community link?
What is the Ridgeway? 24
Join up
In Thamesmead 37% of households do not own a car. Yet the town has been planned around a network of wide and busy roads which break-up the community into discrete neighbourhoods. Added to this, there is only a light scattering of shops, cafés and public facilities for a population of about 50,000. As a result, it can at times seem more like a residential suburb than a thriving community. What the area does have, is plenty of public green spaces and waterways, and a large waterfront along the Thames. These are assets the community could come together to enjoy, if they were better and more safely connected to residential areas.
Left: Recently repainted footbridge crossing the Eastern Way, viewed from its junction with the Ridgeway
When viewed at plan, the Ridgeway along the Southern Outfall Sewer is a pedestrian path which connects many of Thamesmead’s public spaces and neighbourhoods. However, in reality “together with Eastern Way [it] cuts Thamesmead in two and you have to be determined to cross it.” (Jones, A). The pedestrian route, three and a half miles in length, is fenced in full along its perimeter and all access points include gates which prevent bicycles from passing through. Many of the access points are litter-strewn and overgrown, making utilisation even more difficult. The Ridgeway junctions mapped at right are the only pedestrian routes linking north and south Thamesmead. Their accessibility, or lack of, has a significant role to play in the unification of Thamesmead as a whole.
A link 25
What is the Ridgeway? 26
An anti-mottainai proposal for the Ridgeway What form would the Ridgeway take if it were redesigned piece by piece in an attempt to totally eradicate mottainai from the landscape? At random, a small section of the Ridgeway was designated into my care to explore and to re-imagine. This method of engagement enabled closer inspection of the unique characteristics and potential distinguishing a defined section of the lengthy landscape, rather than engaging with it as a whole.
The section I was given to explore is shaped by its location at the eastern terminus of the route (shown below). For the most part it is a narrow passageway wedged between the Crossness Sewage Treatment works on one side, and a disused driving range on the other, opening out onto the Thames. Its current conditions make the section impassable without a great deal of determination, overgrown as it is with a thicket of brambles and old man’s beard. My immediate impression was that the most mottainai aspect of the site was that it was not eve visible, let alone accessible.
Ridgeway sectioning The Ridgeway was divided into 21 sections and each given to a member of the class at random. The section addressed herein is highlighted in yellow.
Photos of existing site conditions
What would this section reveal to me and how could I recover something exceptional from its current state of neglect? I began to try and answer these questions.
Sketchbook exploration of immediate proposals for the site working with its existing conditions/features (southern section)
Sketchbook exploration of immediate proposals for the site working with its existing conditions/features (northern section)
A link 27
What is the Ridgeway? 28
Site analysis and re-imagining
The site is particularly significant due to its junction with the Thames. This location makes it an important pedestrian intersection (though currently one not in use), linking the Ridgeway to community assets such as the Thames Path, the historic Crossness Pumping station and the Crossness Nature Reserve. In terms of existing features, the site also contained a small pond on its western side bordered by two mature Salix babylonica trees. The remainder of the landscape was mostly covered by overgrown shrubs and brambles. It was decided that any proposal should exploit the aforementioned assets in addition to eliminating mottainai. It also seemed clear that in the context of the surrounding community and landscape (including the rest of the Ridgeway), section 21 needed to perform a handful of very specific functions. As potentially both the end and the start of the Ridgeway route, it needed to provide for each of these stages of the journey. Also, to encourage people to utilise the Ridgeway, it also needed to attract people to the location. With these functions in mind, the next steps were to imagine each of their characteristics: Ending place: rest, reward, reflection, options for next steps Starting place: adventure, enticement, direction, momentum Attracting place: noteworthiness, capacity, multi-functionality
Thames Path
Site location Crossness Pumping Station Crossness Nature Reserve
Above: Bird’s eye view of the site in its immediate surroundings. Right: Site in the context of its surroundings. Significant community assets are highlighted in yellow
Thamesmead FC Crossway Park
South Mere Boating Lake South Mere Park
Based on the analysis above, a design concept developed around the idea of recognising the landscape as a place to gather, a place to rest and a place to begin.
A link 29
Exploring materials and dynamics
Aggregate from existing concrete wall to be reused in landforms
Soil from expanded pond dredging to be used in landforms
Thuja plicata to be grown on site for timber harvesting
Path bounded by high hedges for a sense of adventure
Marginal planting around water to invite contemplation/reflection
Large rope hammocks overlooking the Thames a noteworthy feature
In the interests of avoiding further mottainai, the brief included a design limitation that every material used in the proposal must be available or growable on site. Concrete. Site 21 featured a long, dominant solid concrete wall along its border with the Thames. This wall varied in height from about 1.25m to 2.5m, effectively blocking out sightlines when standing at ground level. However, a short way down the river the wall disappeared, revealing impressive views of the river and its industrial north shore. It was decided that similar views would greatly benefit the proposal site, and thus the concrete wall should be lowered. Aggregate from this process could be retained on site by using it for other structures, such as landforms, benches, and steps. Soil. The pond to the western end of the site was picturesque but not particularly noteworthy due to its small size. In order to make this asset more of a focal point it was decided to enlarge its surface area. This would also result in dredged soil which could be used elsewhere in the proposal, for landforms or land contouring. Timber. In order to increase the capacity of the relatively narrow area and maximise the junction with the Thames, some additional material was needed. Site conditions allow Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) to be grown, which can be harvested for timber. Thuja has a relatively fast growth rate of between 60 and 75cm a year and the wood is commonly used in decking, making it an ideal material.
In order to achieve the effects that would enable Site 21 to adequately provide for each of the three stages of the journey mentioned, features were explored that would communicate the following characteristics: Adventure. The section of the Ridgeway immediately west of Site 21 opens out onto a wide landscape full of ponds and willows. Immediately east you have the open vista of the Thames. It was decided to heighten the effects of these spacious areas by linking them through a gently curving path lined with very tall hedges. Echoing the feeling of driving down narrow country lanes, this will contribute a sense of momentum and discovery. Reflection. To invite end-of journey reflection, each of the on-side water features (southern pond and Thames to the north) is paired with a sloping landform that allows visitors a broader view. Marginal planting will further soften these views and invite calm. The planting will increase the ecological benefits of the landscape, further eliminating mottainai. Noteworthiness. To encourage people to take the Thames Path to this junction, the landscape needs to offer more than just the start of another long path. In stark contrast to the current closed-off feel created by the high concrete wall, this proposal spills out onto the Thames, inviting visitors to walk above the water on a raised deck and brush up against the plants that will colonise its bank. Built-in hammocks made of rope put visitors even closer to the sensations of lapping waves and rustling foliage.
What is the Ridgeway? 30
Proposal view 1
A place to gather, a place to rest and a place to begin Thames Path towards residential areas, Thamesmead city centre and Woolwich
Paths will be levelled and mulched with scrap timber for cyclists
Private property (disused driving range)
Ridgeway route towards Thamesmead FC, South Mere Lake, and Park, Crossmere Park, and Plumstead
A link 31
Thames Path towards Crossness Pumping station entrance and Crossness Nature Reserve
Private property (Crossness Sewage Treatment works)
The design proposal seeks to maximise the recreational use of the site while also enriching it ecologically. A belt of fastigate hornbeam planted along the perimeter of the disused driving range screens the view while also offering a sense of security at the back of those using the new tiered landforms to look out towards the river. Thuja timber has been used to create a dock which acts as an extension of the Ridgeway path. The dock’s design allows it to be enveloped by rich riverside planting. This planting will also improve the water quality near the sewage treatment works and buffer the site from tidal fluctuations.
Thuja timber can be sawn on site and used to create a tactile dock that shows off the wood’s qualities
What is the Ridgeway? 32
How it will work
Involving the local community As an initial intervention to attract interest within the community and begin to make the site a place to gather at, the ground will be cleared and a field of flax (Linum usitatissimum var. Marilyn) planted for a year, utilising the disused driving range. The blue flowers will make an eye-catching visual. Blooming about two months after harvest, the spectacle could be celebrated with an event that could coincide with an opening of Crossness Pumping station next door. The flax should be harvested about three months from planting so the stalks can be dried to begin the process of transforming them into rope. This could also be celebrated with a harvest festival, inviting the community to take part.
Stage one
Demolish top half of concrete wall to reduce height
Plant a large field of flax in the disused driving range to harvest the fibres for rope hammocks. A grove of Thuja plicata will also be planted along the southwest side of the pond to grow for up to five years until being harvested for timber.
Plant arc of fastigate hornbeam
Brambles can be cleared and young hedge specimens planted along the main pathway. Enlarge pond
Fell existing trees for timber other than 2x Weeping willows
Stage two Site preparation will take place, including lowering the height of concrete wall along Thames Path (and using rubble as a base for proposed landforms), enlarging pond and using resulting earth in landforms, and clearing and widening the Thames Path.
Establish riverside planting ahead of dock construction
Plant hedges after clearing location of brambles, etc
A link
Sketchbook extract showing dock in plan view, including explorations for an elevated viewing level.
33
Site development and material preparation While the grove of timber matures, the transformation of the site can be progressed by undertaking construction and preparation activities. Young planting can also be established. This is especially important along the bank of the Thames, where a thicket of marginals is desired ahead of dock constructions. The dried flax fibres will be retted, crushed and combed ahead of being woven into rope. A local group could potentially take responsibility for this with the help of some basic tools as a learning activity.
Outcomes
Gather Rest
Rest
Stage three The final phase will involve harvesting and processing the timber to construct the dock and mulch the paths with any remaining material.
Begin
Once fully implemented, the design will give the site a multi-purpose yet unified sense of utility. It becomes both the possible end (‘rest’) and start (‘begin’) of the Ridgeway journey, as well as a location that can help the community better appreciate the many rich shared assets nearby (‘gather’). Transforming this neglected piece of the riverside should also have a knock-on effect for neighbouring areas, leading to increased footfall and thus increased scope for further activities and transformations.
What is the Ridgeway? 34
Proposal view 2
A link 35
Though Thamesmead was conceived as a ‘town of the 21st century’, its building saw much dilution of these plans with delayed development and reduction in quality and scale of amenities. Largely as a result, the Thamesmead of today suffers from a poor physical environment and deficit of local facilities. The town centre is a whimper without distinction and the whole area seems oddly cut off from the river Thames running along so much of its boundary. At the crux of it, the area lacks a heart and needs one desperately. The explorations herein attempt to see if the Ridgeway can help to address this as part of a larger landscape strategy.
The Ridgeway route south of Birchmere Park
A backbone
What is the Ridgeway? 38
Imagining a future Thamesmead What does a future Thamesmead need most? And how can the Ridgeway help fulfil that need? In the current landscape residents are becoming increasingly disconnected from each other, coming into contact mostly at bus stops and in the aisles of the large superstores on the area’s periphery. Thamesmead has become a remote outpost that lacks a heart to attract people out of their homes for anything other than necessity. However as inner London housing becomes increasingly less affordable, more people are being pushed to the outer neighbourhoods. This, combined with the arrival of Crossrail in 2018 opens up the opportunity for Thamesmead to become more than just a temporary stopover until a better location can be had. With the right strategy, it has the potential to become a location that attracts in its own right people looking for a distinctive place to call home. To create a better foundation for the development of a strategic vision for the area, the wider territory was first explored by bike, bus and on foot as an attempt to access Thamesmead as a local resident might. Observations from those journeys are below:
Extracts from A vision for Thamesmead: Towards 2016 also offer some guidance regarding the area’s transformation: “Attractive waterfront facilities and green spaces should attract people to the community and help rebalance neighbourhoods, by getting people to live in the area on more of a long-term basis (and even for successive generations).” “There ought to be an improvement in the health condition of local residents, encouraged by easy access to green spaces and environmental and dietary improvements. The opening up of pathways and cycle routes will contribute to this.” “Enjoyment of the waterfront will be improved by further developing pedestrian and cycle route that will extend onwards towards London. Thamesmead’s abundant green spaces should be linked by well-lit, secure footpaths and cycle routes that offer personal safety through community support officers and electronic security.” “Thamesmead will have an expanded network of pedestrian and cycle-paths that link its neighbourhoods to green spaces, public areas, the River Front and the Town Centre.”
Video territory analysis by Lesley Perez, Daisy Haywood and Laurence Pengelly
Isolation
Dominance
Travelling around Thamesmead, only infrequently do you see other people on the streets. Many areas, even supposed recreational ones such as the Green Chain walk which the overpass above is part of, are often completely deserted.
Despite the large amount of greenspace in the area, Industrial and built infrastructure can feel dominant. Although one might not see a lot of people, there is plenty of concrete, asphalt, steel, and brick.
A backbone 39
Ordnance Map of Thamesmead
National Trail/Long-distance route
Traffic-free cycle route
Footpath
(Bing.com)
Endurance
Promise
Despite being poorly provided for within their own community, the population of Thamesmead does go about their day-to-day activities. However mostly that means shuffling between bus stops and car parks.
Travelling around the area, it can feel like Thamesmead has its back turned to its namesake to the north. Its lakes and canals are often tucked away and underused. Yet these are resources full of potential. Access the video at vimeo.com/115802578 or scan the code at right
Watch online
What is the Ridgeway? 40
Thamesmead present The area is characterised by disjointedness, incongruity and a transport system catering to cars through larger arterial roads. As a result, streets feel hostile and people are rarely spotted out and about. Lesley Perez, Daisy Haywood and Laurence Pengelly. Group collage, A0
A backbone 41
Thamesmead future The town could be connected through the opening up and expansion of its waterways. These waterways could improve the area’s climate resilience as well as its pedestrian transport infrastructure. Lesley Perez, Daisy Haywood and Laurence Pengelly. Group collage, A0
What is the Ridgeway? 42
A strategy for the Ridgeway in the context of its city territory Low-density leafy roads, plentiful waterfronts and generous open spaces. Despite these being irrefutable characteristics of Thamesmead, they are not the ones that echo in memory after a walk along the town’s streets. It is the more unsettling characteristics: of incongruity, division, distance, and a bullish transport infrastructure that shout out and immediately define the area. However, this is a balance that can be tipped. A new network of urban integrity, which highlights the natural assets of the area while weakening the imposition of physical infrastructure, is key. This system should recognise the implications of the vast marshland terrain the town is built on, and work with these to great effect. Previous plans for Thamesmead combated the flooding risk presented by its terrain by containing water into sharply defined spaces of retention and movement. The future strategy of the area will transform this relationship with water from one which diverts downpours and runoff into a system of tunnels, canals and interchange sewers to one which instinctively accumulates and releases water as needed through coefficient creeks, swales and catchment basins. Furthermore, these redefined and newly created waterways can be integrated into a large-scale inclusive green infrastructure network that works with the existing road network. This new infrastructure will serve currently neglected pedestrians and cyclists, linking up the currently disjointed and difficult to access parts of Thamesmead and in turn opening the area up in full to the local population, many of which do not have access to cars. The backbone of this new infrastructure will be the Ridgeway. Running from Plumstead in the west, to intersect with new large green overpasses linking north and south and then joining up with the Thames Path and the river, it will become a valuable and celebrated pedestrian thoroughfare. With increased traffic to the site should come increased facilities, particularly path-side shops and cafés. Among other places, these can be located in the eaves of the new green overpasses, facing out onto Sewell Road.
The proposal will: —— c reate an large main open catchment basin and public park in the area of South Mere and Erith Marshes, called Erith Park, which includes sloping edges and raised paths enabling pedestrians to access sections of the park even when flooded. (Notably, because of its position this large-scale water management site will be in direct conversation with Crossness Treatment Works next door. While Crossness celebrates significant engineering feats based on technological achievements Erith Park will celebrate a type of engineering rooted in nature’s phenomenal capacity to regulate itself.) —— c reate a secondary catchment basin in the north-west of Thamesmead, around the twin tumps. —— t ransform existing hard-edged canals into a system of creeks and basins collecting water and channelling it towards the catchment basins
Sketchbook exploration of green overpass structure
—— c reate new creeks in South Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, such as along the Green Chain Walk from South Mere to Lesnes Abbey Woods and from Birchmere, running west of Abbey Wood Park and south to Mottisfort Road —— c onvert South Mere and Birchmere from concrete-lined retention ponds to a more natural lakes with marginal planting to stabilise banks and reduce runoff —— d evelop two large green overpasses to bridge the Eastern Way and connect north and south Thamesmead. One will connect Sewell Road in the South with Birchmere Park in the North, and the other will connect the new catchment basin park around Erith Marshes in the south with Crossway Park in the north —— O pen up area for the development of commerce at key points along the new infrastructure network
A backbone 43
The strategic vision has been influenced by the following scenarios: —— The proximity to the River Thames creates opportunities and risks; how do these conditions inform new design responses? —— The river wall holds back high tides to protect a landscape which is partly below river level; how can new strategies imagine buildings and public spaces which accommodate or respond to these conditions?
“A characteristic of Thamesmead throughout its history has been its resourcefulness in capitalising on given situations, to turn them to its own advantage.” — Valerie Wigfall, author of Back To the Future: A Social History of Thamesmead
Risk of Flooding from Surface Water Runoff UK Environment Agency Data. Dark Blue = High, Blue = Medium Light Blue = Low
Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea. UK Environment Agency Data. Dark Blue = High, Light Blue = Very Low
—— This is a site overcome by physical barriers, from fences, gates and walls to roads and rail lines; how can public space offer an infrastructure to overcome these separations?
What is the Ridgeway? 44
Strategy modelling
Wood, paper, string and pin model depicting the new green infrastructure created around the expanded waterways. The model shows how this infrastructure will interact with the main arterial road network in the area. String has been woven around pins tracing predicted pedestrian routes. Red pins indicate junctions of significance. These junctions should contain noticeable public provision, such as a cafe, square, park, etc.
A backbone 45
What is the Ridgeway? 46
Strategy illustration
Green infrastructure
New links
Commerce opportunity
Floodplains
New structures
Residential areas
A backbone 47
By viewing the vast marshland terrain the town is built on as an asset rather than a threat, a future landscape strategy can transform Thamesmead’s relationship with water and make it more resilient for future pressures including climate change and population growth. The new pedestrian-focused infrastructure finds its connective tissue in the Ridgeway. The cafe and commerce spaces created under and around adjacent to the overpasses will provide for some of the most under-served areas of Thamesmead. Creating two small public squares here could be the first steps towards transforming Sewell Road into a new tree-lined high street of sorts, which residents from north and south Thamesmead can easily access.
What is the Ridgeway? 48
Appendix
During the term, additional complimentary exercises were completed which though not directly related to, have helped inform the work on the previous pages. Those exercises are included here for reference.
Figures 1–10: Timed reductive sketching exercise
Fig 1. How a cafetiere functions
Fig 4. Complex highway intersection
Fig 2. Somersault motion after Muybridge
Fig 5. Christo running fence installation
Fig 3. Urban grain plan view
Fig 6. Land patterns aerial view
Appendix 49
Fig 7. White road with shrubs
Fig 9. Road intersecting fields
Fig 8. Settlement pattern
Fig 10. Accident location aerial view
What is the Ridgeway? 50
Fig 11. 3D Diagram
Context
Topography
Road
Site
References
Dr. Scase, R. and Dr. Scales, J. (2007). A vision for Thamesmead: Towards 2016. Gallions Housing Association, Trust Thamesmead and Tilfen Land. Girot, Christophe. (1999). ‘Four Trace Concepts in Landscape Architecture’. In: Corner, J. ed. Recovering Landscape: Essays in Contemporary Landscape Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, pp. 59–67. Jones, A. (2014). Thamesmead Town. Jones the Planner. Retrieved from www.jonestheplanner.co.uk/2014/03/ thamesmead-town.html
A landscape architecture portfolio by Lesley Maria Perez University of Greenwich Certificate of Landscape Design Submitted January 2015
Buildings