Points, lines and territories are used as a spatial and analytical methodology with which to investigate the valley and its fragmented terrain. We experimented with the potential of institutions, infrastructure and industry as spaces, structures, types and systems capable of transforming the Lower Lea Valley and structuring an industrial urbanity.
At the city and regional scale, the existing road, rail and service infrastructures that bisect and divide the valley are transformed into productive systems that support economic and social productivity. The Greenway is enhanced through a landscape and public realm strategy to open up new connections across the site, and act as a buffer to the large-scale development of the Olympics. New neighbourhoods along the Greenway are proposed, consisting of mixed-use industrial and institutional typologies, university, higher education and training facilities, making an active and productive local spine.
Residual spaces along the railway are activated for use by local scale economic ventures, such as small-scale start-up units for the creative industries, training and skills-sharing workshops, linking residential territories to the north with industrial territories to the south. Large-scale building developments are proposed for the territory surrounding West Ham station, transforming it from an isolated transport node into a more active and productive urban hub. At Bromley By Bow station, a new public realm strategy addresses the divided topography around the station, opening up new pedestrian routes from the station to the high street and local community resources, and across the motorway to the canal and the river.
New mixed-use multi-scale building typologies along the main road arteries attempt to address the scale of the motorway. The existing industrial park is re-qualified and enhanced through the development of new mixed-use industrial typologies that facilitate new productive relationships between the industrial units, neighbouring residential developments, local schools, businesses and places of work. A series of new shared institutions increase the local social and economic productivity of existing deprived communities surrounding the site, better integrating them with the industrial territories, along with a series of new streets and transport routes.
Lower Lea Valley - Creating an Industrial Urbanity
