This year, the Bartlett School of Planning brings you a thematic expo showcasing our interpretations of the role and potential of Urban Planning and Design in the context of Post-pandemic Recovery.
This collection showcases Undergraduate and Postgraduate student works on topics including Urban Renewal, Regeneration & Rebirth.
Brought to you by the Bartlett School of Planning, Bartlett Urban Planning Society, sponsored by UCL ChangeMakers. With the help of Homes England and RTPI London Young Planners
Introduction
Expo Catalogue Themes
Urban Design and Renewal
Nature Based Solutions to Regeneration
Evidence-based and Data driven Planning
Cultural Regeneration and Rebuilding
Sustainability and Governance
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The Bartlett School of Planning (BSP) has an international reputation as a centre of academic excellence in research, teaching, and policy and practice interaction. Located within the heart of London, the school’s research and teaching opportunities provide a unique laboratory for knowledge creation rich in acadmic, cultural, and social diversity.
This exhibition catalogue is a selection of work by our students in response to the theme of this year’s BPS Expo.
A word from the BSP Expo Organising Team
The 2024 Expo marks a reanimation of BSP’s showcasing students work. With support from UCL’s ChangeMaker, it is a new initiative that provides a thematic approach to content and an interactive approach to exhibition. The initial idea was conceived by students who believe that a live event showcasing students’ work and research will greatly enhance learning experiences and encourage idea exchange, strengthening the sense of community within BSP that was lost during the pandemic.
Hence, teaming up with BSP staff members, our student-staff team submitted a UCL ChangeMaker application and received funding to organise a simple expo. The 2024 Expo is composed around a highly relevant theme. This coherent platform for ideas to be shared through a broad topic allowed common ground for urbanists to reflect on their work. The theme was ‘post-pandemic recovery’, which embraces a range of urban renewal, regrowth, and rebuilding ideas.
On the day there was additional security due to concerns about ongoing protests on campus but the expo event was a great success in quantitative and qualitative terms and the overall objective. The invitations were well received with over 200 visitors, students, staff, Bartlett faculty alumni, and other guests attending the expo. The team worked very well together and they created an exciting event, primarily due to their high quality curation and encouragement of participation. There was a real buzz and diverse engagement with the expo including in-depth interactions with students. It was a great success seeing how students across educational levels were engaging in meaningful conversations on urban renewal, stimulated by the exhibit materials. The professional body for planning was in attendance and reaffirmed this in their speech.
This expo catalogue is a presentation for the longer-term, of all students work which individual and groups of students that responded to the theme. We hope that everyone would enjoy looking through the diverse projects and ideas as much as the Expo team has.
URBAN DESIGN & RENEWAL
Students: Hanifah Malik, Neel Le Meur, Bosco Choi, Rebecca Koh, Ben Chan, Lauryn Chan, Isis Curleo, Martin Chan, Theo de Lassus, Maya Herman, Sunkyong Cho, Ziru Huang
Urban Renewal : Cultivating the renewal of a Community
Site Introduction
Torrington Square, a secluded rectangular space, is encircled by renowned universities, serving as a focal point for students seeking respite from the urban and academic environment. However, the pandemic exacerbated the decline in activity within the square, further diminishing its appeal and liveability. Post-pandemic, the repercussions persist, evident in the lack of enthusiasm for utilising the space.
While the square is highly connected to the wider area, thereby diversifying its demographics, the notable presence of universities in the vicinity may result in the square being predominantly focused on students.
Users
Strengths of
Design Vision:
The vision for the re-design of Torrington square will transform the space into a dynamic and inclusive urban hub that will embrace its future as a vibrant centre of community life, culture, and innovation, moving forward towards a clean, green future.
Weaknesses of the Square
Design Inspiration
Design Principles
Design Process
The configuration of the square lacks
Revitalisation of RMIT University’s public realm Melbourne, Austrailia. (2021)
Plaça de la Font” Square by Estudi Nao, Serra de Collserola. (2019)
iGuzzini LED lighting
The final
the redesign of Torrington Square.
Mega Foodwalk at MegaBanga , Retail space, Thailand. (2017)
iGuzzini-inspired lampposts line the perimeter of the square, enhancing both its safety and livability. With a design reminiscent of trees, they introduce visual diversity, breaking away from the recurring shapes found within the square.
At the exit (SOAS) of Torrington Square, stairs equipped with integrated lighting are installed to enhance safety. Additionally, this area is transformed into a mixed-use space, potentially accommodating seating arrangements.
The implementation of lighting fixtures within the market stall area aims to enhance the livability and safety of the square, while also highlighting its mixeduse nature.
Outcome of the re-design of Torrington Square
As you walk through the square a recurring ambiance emerges from the juxtaposition of warm and cool materials, complemented by intriguing shapes integrated into the landscape. These elements serve to alleviate the rigid rectangular structure of the space and create a warm, inviting environment.
The redesign of Torrington Square has effectively tackled its primary challenges. The overall livability and increased inclusivity of the space have been greatly improved, due to the expansion of amenities and the intentional integration of a mixed-use concept that caters to a wide range of people.
Porcelain Concrete Wood Tempered Glass
Urban Furniture
Neel Le Meur
RECLAIMING LOWER MARCHMONT ST.
IMPROVING SAFETY & ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER—EVERYBODY.
current situation areas of improvement proposed solutions
・ Lower Marchmont st. has notably lower pedestrian traffic compared to its upper half, despite enabling direct access to Russel Square tube station.
・ Caused by perceived poor safety & accessibility of the street; pedestrians pass through despite the street’s contents, not because of them.
MAP OF INACTIVE FRONTAGES
・ Inactive frontage and poor accessibility discourage walking, therefore enabling little casual surveillance, leading to poor safety
Hence, increasing accessibility will increase safety
In personal observations, the only users were 20-39 More vulnerable demographics, such as children, the elderly, and women, could all be better included by increasing safety & accessibility
・ Lighting harsh and infrequent, creates unsafe shadows.
・ Parking lane, when empty, gives illusion of wider road, encouraging dangerous speeding
・ Low pedestrian traffic leads to little casual surveillance and poor safety
・ No litter disposal ensuing littering may cause perception of an unsafe environment
ACCESSIBILITY
・ Parking Glut; discourages walking and thereby decreases accessibility
・ Inactive street front
discourages walking, and thereby accessibility for everyone
・ Lack of seating spaces means vulnerable demographics like the elderly or pregnant are discouraged from walking here
・ Activating Lower Marchmont st. would expand the network of streets people feel safe in near Brunswick
・ Improving design of Lower Marchmont st. enables new routes through Brunsiwck area for vulnerable who currently avoid it, benefiting accessibility
All urban furniture designed to ‘rhyme’ with the morphology beside Russel Square Station, creating cohesion & familiarity
・ Warm frequent low-tothe-ground, creates comfort and safety
LIGHTING STALLS
・ Replacing parking with an attraction encourages walking and accessibility by activating street
・ Stalls chosen since their staffing increases casual surveillance, thus safety
BENCHES BINS
・ Chosen to provide point of
rest; increases accessibility for elderly and pregnant
・ Enables accessibility of litter disposal, removing need to leave to find a bin
・ Traffic increase for litter disposal
By Rebecca Koh
DESIGNING TEMPORARY POST-CRISIS HOUSING WITH LIVEABILITY IN MIND
Onagawa, Japan (2011) Luding, China (2022) Constitución, Chile (2010)
Lauryn Chan
THE BEEHIVE - London’s Outdoor Co working Space
PRINCIPLES & INSPIRATION CONCEPT
DESIGN PROCESS
Needs to be able to accommodate different group sizes & serve different functions.
This ensures that the urban environment is flexible and able to respond to changing needs.
Aerial View of Redesigned Site 28
ROOF CAFES
NATURE BASED REGENERATION
Students: Jin Wen Kee, Tia Richards, Neenu Priya Arangodan, Angela Han
TRANSITION TO tranquil | THERAPEUTIC
and published in 1827/28
Located within central London, the urban structure of the UCL campus is unlike other institutions in the UK. As seen from the land use map, locations of various faculties are scattered across Bloomsbury along multiple streets. This present unique challenges in developing a sense of identity and providing sufficient community facilities due to a lack of land, while reducing impacts of climate change.
TRANSITION SPACES
To reach lecture halls or study areas, students often have to pass through “transition” spaces between two spatial points - the start point and destination. These spaces have various functions; it can be a simple path leading to where students go, or an area with benches where students relax. However, these spaces are mostly underutilised by students, staff members or even the public. Transition spaces are forgotten and ignored because people do not linger in the space. This provides opportunities for transition spaces to be reimagined into areas that links different static building forms, providing an anchor to the chaotic period of adjustment for students.
Figure 1: “The London University” as drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd
An Investigation into Environmental Justice in the Upper Lea Valley
1.1 Proximity to & share of open space in relation to tenure
Main findings:
Social renters live in closer proximity to open greenspace than other tenants. However, since open spaces are much smaller in size in the south than in the north, and there is a greater proportion of social housing in the south than in the north, equity issues in terms of share of open greenspace by tenure might exist, with the south as attention area.
Several significant gaps without open greenspace within 200m are also underlined as attention areas, especially the ones shown in red (with high social housing proportion).
1.2 Level of greenery immediately surrounding tenants
Rachel Ngai
Upper Lee Valley Spatial Plan |
CULTURE LED REGENERATION & REBUILDING
Students: Rachel Ngai, Baggio Liu, Gladys Fong, Adiya Karsybek, Shuxian Xie, Eva Papai, Ziru Huang, Tina Zhou, Belle Yan, Jin Wen Kee
SITE ANALYSIS
SPACES
“A culture-led regeneration to create upward social mobility through supporting local communities & sustaining affordability with place-based & co-creative strategies.
Through a coordinated approach of activation & mitigation, we aim to foster diverse economic opportunities & culturally vibrant spaces, while cultivating a sense of inclusiveness & protecting existing infrastructure simultaneously.”
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
SPATIAL CONCEPT MAP
REGIONAL PLANNING
Adiya Karsybek
Recognise
CULTIVATING A COLLABORATIVE ECONOMY MASTER PLAN
PLANNING POLICY 5 (PP5)
DIVERSE CULTURAL HUBS
MITIGATION POLICY
CO-CREATION GOVERNANCE
PLANNING POLICY
OPTIMISING PUBLIC SPACES
Barking Riverside Redesign Project
Redesign Plan for Community Garden
Redesign Plan for Swan Lake
DEPTFORD CROSSROADS: WHERE CULTURE, HERITAGE, AND LIFESTYLES MEET
Deptford
Masterplan Design Process
Convoys Wharf is a 20.46 ha brownfield site located within the borough of Lewisham. As a former shipwrights house, Convoys Wharf is a location with significant industrial heritage and a potential site for a new high quality mixed used development.
This site is well positioned to be an urban node where culture, heritage and lifestyles converge.
Strengths
Weaknesses
up Examination
Some urban blocks are broken down into smaller blocks increase connectivity
Character of street is defined by the overlapping character traits of the three distinct trails - this is shown in the type of amenity found as
Strong multicultural and migrant identity, along with well-served local businesses and heritage
Fragmented green spaces and lack of community amenities in the immediate vicinity
Opportunities
Fragmented green spaces and lack of community amenities in the immediate vicinity
Threats
Low job density and threat of gentrification, and high percentage of small businesses
Pedestrian movement will be prioritised and permeability will increase within the neighbourhood
SUSTAINABILITY & GOVERNANCE
Students: Jozef Gwizdala, Isis Ciurleo, Fernando Aero, Farhan Auliya, Leah George
Bangkok Climate Strategy |
EcoFood Production
Introduction | Bangkok
Framing the Problem
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector, 2020
City Competencies
Climate Change Threat for Farming
Decreasing emissions while achieving the UN’s Four Food Security pillars by synergising climate change mitigation & adaptation strategies
Instruments for Change | Macro & Micro Scale
Circular EcoFood Economy
Food
Transportation
Generates clean production of electricity and biogas via anaerobic respiration
Powers food manufacturing factories
Permaculture EcoFood Test-Beds
Increased knowledge of sustainable & resilient food production
Reducing UHI effect & increasing food productivty
Increased productive green spaces and carbon sinks in city
Education training programs in regenerative farming methdos
Permaculture strategies as farming testbed methods
Urban farms, vertical gardens, green roofs and tree canopies as sustainable farming experiments
Transforming the SocioTechnical System
The Bartlett School of Planning Expo Catalogue 2023/2024
Authors
Lucy Natarajan
Jin Wen Kee
Matt Xi
Rebecca Koh
Cover Page Design
Rebecca Koh
Acknowledgements
The BSP Expo team would like to thank Dr Jessica Ferm, Harry Bailey and Amy Burbidge for their invaluable time and effort looking through all submitted works, Chizoba Onyiuke and Dorcos Sebiotimo for coordinating the organisation and upload of the catalogue, and UCL ChangeMaker for their help and funding throughout the planning of the event.
