Unit A

PLACE OF EXCHANGE

CARSTEN JUNGFER, FERNANDA PALMIERI

Henri Lefebvre understands the formation of space as the outcome of collective action and therefore as “social product” itself. Unit A is interested in processes that relate to the production of space by investigating found conditions and urban morphology. Our agenda engages across the domains of architecture and urbanism and embraces a design approach that is critically responding to pre-existing contexts by interrogating spatial, historic and social fabric of the city.

Following last years focus on Dalston’s cultural quarter surrounding Ashwin Street, we initiated a collaborative partnership with the Local Borough of Hackney and carried out a funded research project together with five unit A alumni over the summer. ‘Relational States of Dalston’ investigates socio-spatial conditions between local stakeholders within its urban context. Findings from the research lead to this years subject of interest: Ridley Road Market

While Dalston town centre has transformed considerably over recent years, the study area Ridley Road Market has retained original patterns of use and respective character. The market itself is a community asset, both in cultural and social terms that provides civic and inclusive space within the town centre. As street-market it has always been a place of conflicting needs and desires, though new kinds of pressure seem to emerge as a result of ongoing change that contribute to an increasing vulnerability.

During the first term students analysed chosen everyday moments of exchange across the streetmarket, which helped them to build an understanding of relationships between space and activities. Students interacted with a wide range of stakeholders and from here developed individual responses in form of critical briefs and building programmes.

The proposed strategies agree to support the existing market by introducing complementary programmes, such as educational and cultural uses. As a collective, students speculate that extended territories for formal and informal encounters, new civic infrastructure, shared and adaptable spaces, are required to help Ridley Road Market to maintain its critical role as a place of exchange. At the same time those will provide opportunity for the market to evolve from within to ensure a sustainable future serving East London heterogenous demographic.

Students:

Y3: Amin Esrafili, Chardae D’acres-Hylton, Halima Ali, Ioana Talpos, Maxim-Dan Ivanescu, Nylda Hamchaoui, Xander Tholl Inciong Y2: Ahmed Bahsoon, Cassius Cracknell, Daniel Kwaku PokuDavies, Daryl Ignacio, Dominika Kupczyk, Eugene Yu Jin Soh, Hannah Cornelius, Jared Kaleta, Matthew Mayjes, Natalia Labuzinska, Spencer Dela Cruz, Tashan Auguste, Teodora Manolescu, Valerie Morgan

Visiting Crits:

Alan Chandler, Angelle Dimech, Bethany Mindham (London Borough of Hackney), Blanka Hay (LBH), Cory Defoe (LBH), Dhara Bhatt (East), Huda Tayob (UCL), Keith Winter, Kiesse Andre, Kristina Hertel, Marianne Gallagher, Nelton Barbosa, Mo Wong (MOCT Studio), Tak Hoshino, Tamara Stoll, Reem Charif, Rosa Rogina, Rozkar Ali

Special thanks to:

Andrew Woodyatt (Rio Cinema), Carmen Nasr (Hackney Priates), Daniel O’Sullivan (London Borough of Hackney), Douglas Racionzer (Hackney Co-operative Developments), Jan Baes (AE-Architecten), Kuo-Chieh Liang (Bootstrap Company), Marva Antoine (Tropical Isles Carnival Group), Oliver Windling (Vortex Jazz Club), Sam deVocht & Marie-José Van Hee, Suzanne O’Connell (The Decorators)

a.1 Urban strategy drawing by Eugene Yu Jin Soh, introducing a new public realm and green space to Ridley Road Market in combination with a cultural and educational programme a.2 ‘We-House’ is a building proposal that provides spaces for Hackney’s Youth to expand opportunities for collaborative learning between a wide range of stakeholders including Hackney Pirates, Tropical Isles Carnival Group and Vortex Jazz Club, Eugene Yu Jin Soh a.3 ‘Re-imagine’ is an alternative proposal to re-use and re-design the existing ‘Ridley Road Shopping Village’, currently controversially debated between its off-shore investment owner, evicted traders and activists from the ‘Safe Ridley Road Shopping Village’ anti-gentrification campaign. The sustainable proposal for a mixed-use hub for community groups and traders promotes synergies derived from sharing of space, proximity and opportunity for knowledge transfer, Daryl Ignacio.

a.4 ‘Weaving Action’ is a strategy for the corner site at the Eastern end of Ridley Road Market that understands context as multi-layered fabric of social, cultural and urban activities. The building consists of a waffle-slab deck that provides sheltered areas for flexible programmes below and spaces for dancing, meeting and working above, Tashan Auguste a.5 ‘Ridley’s Culture Hub’ is an infrastructural proposal that provides a new gateway and accessible facilities to the market and wider community. Dwelling space, public facility and gallery during daytime; Performance space at night, Dominika Kupczyk a.6 ’Hub.East’ is an adaptable concept for working and living delivered as self-build. It reflects on the rich history of Ridley Road Market as a place of continuos renewal, by Daniel Kwaku Poku-Davies.

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a.7 ’Dalston Eco-Hub’ builds on the understanding of Ridley Road Market as metabolising organism. The building acts as infrastructure to the market and floats above its service area, comprising a good waste recycling facility, an international food-market, a cooking school, areas for food production and a bio-digester generating sustainable energy, Xander Tholl Inciong a.8 ’Pirates Cooking School’ supports children to learn about food and well-being, Ioana Talpos a.9 ’Ridley’s Highline’ is a linear piece of infrastructure floating above the narrow row of shops along the railway line. It connects both market and wider community by providing spaces for growing food, learning and opportunities for volunteering, Spencer Dela Cruz a.10 Following an in-depth study of spaces of ‘sociablity’ along the market, ’Ridley’s Social Hub’ is a proposal that acknowledges the importance of opportunity for social encounter and exchange. The building comprises a range of community spaces that are arranged along a playful journey that invites users to interact and socialise, Halima Ali.

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