Making Space in Dalston

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

by J&L Gibbons LLP

muf architecture/art for London Borough of Hackney

Design for London / LDA

July 2009

Clients London Borough of Hackney Design for London / LDA Design team J&L Gibbons LLP muf architecture/art Simon Cash Appleyard DWB Stakeholders Roger Blake LB Hackney Karin Johnsson LB Hackney Devin Horne LB Hackney Georgina Taylor LB Hackney Becky Taylor LB Hackney David Braine TfL Richard Carr TfL Thomas Frith TfL Bob Dugard TfL Rob Edwards TfL Richard Golding TfL Claire Beedle TfL Sarah Haines LDA Sonya Dyer HVAC Emmanuel Amevor Centerprise Ben Todd Arcola Theatre Debbie Christopher Arcola Theatre Sylvia Stevens Faction Films Yashar Ismailoglu Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi Anna Harding Space Studio Charles Colins Youth Worker Jill Low Open Dalston Marie Murray Open Dalston Emma Jones Gillett Squared, HCD Adam Hart Gillett Squared, HCD Phase 1 – Cultural Map Completed and exhibited in June / July 2008 at the Arcola Theatre as part of the RIBA/Arts Council England Art Space for Future Exhibition Phase 2 – Project Scoping and Report ‘Making Space in Dalston’ Commissioned September 2008 Completed March 2009 Extended until July 2009

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Dalston, Hackney

Scope of the work

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INTRODUCTION Celebration of Dalston’s assets Some statistics An area of dramatic change An area of dramatic opportunities The principles of the study

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1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE Existing activities Existing arts and cultural venues Existing open space Green and open spaces Heritage walk and resultant map Youth Forum photographic workshop Ridley Road Market Stakeholder meetings

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2 NURTURE THE POSSIBLE & 3 DEFINE WHAT IS MISSING 10 project themes Examples of projects The rolling list

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PROJECT LISTINGS Overview 1 High Streets 2 Release Spaces 3 Host Spaces 4 Ridley Road Market 5 Wayfinding 6 Heritage 7 Temporary Enhancements 8 Green Routes 9 Semi Public Spaces 10 Cultural Programming

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PROJECT OUTCOMES Outcomes of this study Projects under way

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Dalston, Hackney Scope of the work Dalston is in a period of physical change, cranes interupt the skyline at Dalston Square and new vistas have been opened up with the TFL works associated with the East London line. Sometimes the wider regeneration benefits of development may not be immediately apparent, particularly to the community.

This study has been driven by observation, conversation and testing on the ground. It begins with the identification and celebration of existing assets: social, cultural and physical.

It then generates strategies, design moves and a programme of cultural activity to inform and enhance the public realm as shared spaces for both residents and visitors.

The study places equal importance in the promotion of a process of engagement as in the delivery of an enhanced urban setting in seeking to nurture Dalston’s inherent creativity and diversity.

SCOPE OF THE WORK

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INTRODUCTION

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Celebration of Dalston’s assets

A celebration of Dalston’s assets coincides with a wider commitment to creativity.

The value of culture and the creative industries has been recognised by the Mayors office, by the central Govern­ment and inter­nationally.

Dalston has the characteristics of a ‘natural cultural district’.

London

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national

INTRODUCTION

international

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Some statistics

Dalston like Hackney ranks high when it comes to deprivation. Much of Hackney ranks high when it comes to super output areas (SOA’s) classified as the 20% most deprived areas in the country.

Furthermore Dalston has been deemed the 21st most deprived ward in London. Approximately 20% of the population are on benefits.

It has a disproportionate number of lone parents, single person and multi occupancy households when compared to other London boroughs. Just under half of housing is social housing. Although there has been a fall of 5% in crime rates in the last year of recorded statistic Dalston like Hackney Central is a crime ‘hot spot’. Whereas on average in London 38% of land is given over to green space in Dalston it is less than 12%.

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The statistics tell other stories. For example Dalston follows the prof-pov relationship, one of the definitions of a ‘natural cultural district’ where a higher than average proportion of the population has a higher degree and likewise there is a higher than average proportion of people with no qualifications at all.

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Indices of deprivation in Hackney 2007.

Source: London Borough of Hackney

INTRODUCTION

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Dalston An area of dramatic change

Introduction Dalston in Hackney is identified in the London Plan as a Major Centre within East London, one of the GLA’s priority areas for development. It is located in the strategic Cambridge Corridor of the A10 connecting to the City of London. The new extension to the East London Line Overground will connect Highbury & Islington and New Cross and Croydon. At street level Dalston Kingsland Station will be a matter of a few minutes walk from Dalston Junction, connecting the neighbourhood to Stratford and the Olympic Park to the east and Kew and Richmond to the west.

Although Hackney is the greenest borough in London, it is deficient in open space within the Dalston Ward. Like Hackney itself, Dalston ranks high on any table of deprivation and yet it has a growing reputation for cultural activity. This study looks at how more public space can be created without losing the assets that exist.

Dalston Lane view towards the new development, Dalston Square

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Initial mapping and the brief The brief highlighted the opportunity for a linked approach to the public realm and cultural initiatives to be consolidated as a deliverable programme and action plan, with support from the London Borough of Hackney, LDA, Design for London, TfL and associated stakeholders.

The 6-month study commencing in September 2008 picked up on the momentum of the mapping study of both external and internal public realm (community space) realised by muf architecture/art and J & L Gibbons.

The origin of the study was the Dalston Lane South project, where complementary strategies were explored for space and programme opportunities in the proposed library, the new square, and associated public art strategy. The intention of the mapping was to explore the wider cultural context of Dalston Lane South through research and to evidence and value the existing creative activity and suggest the role that the public realm can play to support it.

Since the idea of the mapping emerged from the process of research, it is not surprising that it was generally well received, and captured imagination through an exhibition and discussions at the Arcola Theatre during August 2008. It demonstrated the potential for developing the mapping further, capturing responses, debating and challenging the preconception that regeneration inevitably displaces existing value.

Although the September brief did not call for ‘full public consultation’ (in order to prevent any confusion with the Master Plan for Dalston by Matrix Partnership), extensive discussions have been the foundation of the project through frequent Steering Group Meetings; Stakeholder Meetings; High level presentations and feedback sessions within LDA, TfL, Design for London, London Borough of Hackney; Councillors; artists; local creative clusters; local interest groups and voluntary sector individuals and groups. In fact, all potential projects have emerged from grass roots and officer engagement, subsequently endorsed at high level, ensuring an afterlife of project deliverability, support and sustainability.

Project objectives included engendering open dialogue with the community representatives; demonstrating how regeneration could benefit existing communities; improving the quality and access of the public realm; identifying existing assets and how to secure them; ensuring a coherence of design approach; demonstrating how projects could be linked, programmed and funded, particularly in relation to the emerging Dalston Master Plan and LBH Streetscene’s implementation plan.

INTRODUCTION

The brief called for 10 costed projects and an action plan for amenity space, cultural programming and management.

In fact 76 projects have been identified, there have been discussions with 74 individuals or groups, 8 Steering Group Meetings, 3 Stakeholder Meetings and number of high-level presentations to the LDA, TfL, DfL, GLA, GOL, Hackney Councillors, and LBH Assistant Director level officers in Culture, Public Realm, and Highways.

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Dalston An area of dramatic opportunities

Dalston is an area rich in cultural diversity, the particular character of many distinct and often-migrant social groups are evident in public life.

With a long history of social activism, grass routes activity has played a central role in the cultural life of the area, generated both through the entrepreneurial drive of subsequent immigrant communities and a political commitment to community, and its role in shaping social space.

A large number of independent businesses have established themselves, and unlike in many areas of London have not been superseeded by the economic weight of larger business. The Rio Cinema, converted to its current use by Hackney based architects Adams & Coles in 1913, still operates independently with an outreach to local schools and other cultural organizations. Centerprise Bookshop, founded in 1977, is one of London’s oldest and most famous community bookshops, celebrating the contribution made by people of African descent to the western literature tradition.

The Hackney Cooperative development’s HCD and Bootstrap, community economic development organisations, have worked to help establish other less known small and creative business as viable enterprise.

This process by which creative activity becomes economically sustainable is central to understanding Dalstons now much celebrated cultural identity, and its potential to keep developing as a culturally significant district of London.

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Dalston Lane view towards Barratt’s building site

Dalston Lane view towards Ashwin Street

INTRODUCTION

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The principles of the study D KINGSLAN EET HIGH STR

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2 Nurture the possible 3 Define what is missing

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Summary of methodology Work on the first stage mapping was far more than just a graphic exercise; there was a conscious ambition to evidence the extent of diversity and creativity in the neighbourhood and to work from grass roots in project identification. The study sought to address previous grievances over the loss of the Dalston Theatre to development, by demonstrating it was possible through action research, analysis and engagement to promote incremental and responsive change via a close understanding and collaboration with the formal and informal creative sector. A key concern and driver was consideration of how to embrace change whilst nurturing the selforganising distinctiveness of Dalston, inherent in both its social capital and its physical character, thereby avoiding a process of what might be perceived by some as gradual neighbourhood sanitisation.

To this end, three strands emerged from the engagement process and form the framework for the study: 1 Valuing what is there Dalston is a rich mix of ethnically diverse population; heritage; informal active networks and social settings.

The study aims to evidence and acknowledge the cultural asset (participants, organisations, commercial cultural firms, independent artists). It is also a place of paradoxes, an area with no parks and yet full of green space within social housing and private gardens.

We argued that there is a commitment to creativity and the creative industries by the Central Government (DCMS ‘Creative Britain’) and the Mayor of London (‘Cultural Metropolis’ – The Mayor’s priorities for Culture 2009–2012). This approach is also endorsed by international research particularly in the USA. Dalston is naturally a cultural district, and doesn’t need to brand itself as such. It is also a district of strategic importance in the promotion of London as a world-class cultural capital. This study is concerned with cultivating excellence rather than stifling creative value through highlighting how inward investment is not reliant on eradication of perceived scruffiness.

Mark Stern and Susan Seifert postulate in their research on the subject of natural cultural districts: ‘Culture is the right tool for urban revival because it flourishes in the new urban reality of the 21st century.

The arts are no longer just about going to the symphony, the ballet or a Broadway musical. They are more active, more accessible, and more polyglot. Artists have

INTRODUCTION

become social entrepreneurs, selling their wares as well as their vision. They draw on the variety of the world’s traditions as well as the distinctive and diverse rhythms of the contemporary city.

While the arts are commerce, they revitalize cities not through their bottom-line but through their social role. The arts build that bind – neighbour-to-neighbour and community-to-community. It is these social networks that translate cultural vitality into economic dynamism.’

2 Nurturing the possible Rather than identifying new initiatives and projects dependent on large-scale developments, the study establishes existing potential and builds upon it, showing ways in which existing organisations could work together to influence public spaces. Examples include: the promotion of effective engagement to build trust and confidence; action research projects including youth photographic and hoarding project; preparation of bids for funding including Play Pathfinder and RSA Youth Innovation award; brokering collaborations with nationally recognised cultural organisations interested in extending their field of influence (Barbican / EXYZT); Promoting fledgling partnerships nurtured through the estates projects; cultivating the idea that the whole of Dalston should be considered as a venue for the CREATE festival associated with the Cultural Olympics 2012, and to review the notion of the Olympic ‘gateway’, not as retrofit but as enhancements under the slogan ‘homemade, world class’.

3 Defining what’s missing 10 categories of projects have emerged through consultation, and these have been prioritised and scheduled as a rolling possible project list; the cultural community has been invited to submit ideas for community based arts activity; adding value to the Matrix Master plan and identifying finer grained deliverable opportunities that support the strategic objectives and the promotion of incremental regeneration not reliant on an economic upturn, but on individual and complementary processes that can be realised now.

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1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Existing activities

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Flyers demonstrate the diversity of activities.

A blog gathered the multifarious activities that could be loosely described as cultural over the first 8 weeks of the study. www.amonthindalston.blogspot.com

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Existing Arts and Cultural venues* * Around 200 identified so far ‌

700 HAC A map gathered cultural activities, voluntary organisations and venues and organised them according to the Dewey Decimal System for Humanities, Arts and Culture.

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The variety of public and semi-public spaces managed by the cultural sector provide a rich resource for community and commercial activity in the area.

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

The potential and range of activities were demonstrated and adjacencies were made visible.

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Existing open space

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Hackney is rich in parks and open spaces but not in Dalston.

Dalston is peppered with green spaces which are not parks but found within social housing. In addition there are semi public spaces such as church yards.

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Green and open spaces the possibility of a discontinous park There is no room in Dalston to create a new park. However – if all the existing green spaces and public realm were to be pieced together they might create a space as big as Haggerston Park.

So the potential is there to make better use of existing space and create a discontinous park where the fragments are actually well located close to where people live.

Haggerston Park, Hackney

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Discontinous Park, Dalston

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Heritage Walk and resultant map

A heritage walk was organised with – amongst others – the Hackney Society to identify what was of value from building as artefact to building as repository of social history.

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Heritage Walk and resultant map

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Heritage Walk 02/03/2009 With Conservation LBH; Historic Society; DfL; muf; J&L Gibbons.

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

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The Simpson’s Factory / Olympia House 02 Somerfield Grove Mural 03 Derelict industrial building 04 Chapel 05 The Electricity Sub Station 06 St. Matthias Church 07 Travis Perkins 08 The Arundel Arms 09 Camelot Property 10 Historic Cinema 11 Historic Signage 12 Hundred Flowers Cultural Centre 13 Millers Terrace / Millers Avenue 14 Arcola Theatre 15 Hindle House 16 Shacklewell Bath House 17 St. Barnabus Church 18 Foskett Terrace 19 Shacklewell Studios 20 Shacklewell Synagogue 21 Historic Signage 22 Dudley’s Department Store 23 Rio Cinema 24 Historic Signage 25 Historic Signage 26 Birkbeck Mews 27 Winchester Place Mural 28 Historic Signage 29 Rachael & Gregory House 30 Historic Signage 31 Alevi Centre 32 St. Marks 33 Sandringham Road 34 Ridley Road Factory Building 35 German Hospital 36 The Faith Tabernacle Church of God 37 Red Cross 38 Donaldson Clock & Signage 39 Vicarage House 40 Historic Signage 41 Tyssen Passage 42 CLR James 43 Peace Mural 44 Holy Trinity Church 45 Holly Street Community Centre 46 Dalston Methodist Centre 47 Passing Clouds Venue 48 The Prince of Wales Pub 49 William Gee Ribbon Shop 50 Historic Signage 51 The Kingsgate Estate 52 Nimrod Passage 53 Historic Signage 54 Historic Signage 55 Historic Signage 56 Historic Signage 57 Stanborough Passage 58 Shiloh Pentecostal Church 59 Bootstrap Company

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

03 Derelict Industrial Building 04 & 05 The Chapel and the Electricity Sub Station

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58 Shiloh Pentecostal Church

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Youth Forum photographic workshop

Three photographers from the Youth Forum have contributed to the photographs in this report.

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Members of the workshop photographed examples of empty shops to demonstrate how the land lies on Stoke Newington High Street and Kingsland Road.

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

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Ridley Road Market*

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

* ‘One of London’s top markets’ says Time Out Magazine ‘Everything from domestic or exotic fruit and veg, fish and meat to cheap clothes, household goods, toys, bric-a-brac and fabrics from Africa and India.’

LBH are upgrading the infrastructure. The importance of the market as a cultural asset cannot be ignored – not only because of 3000 people an hour visiting on a Saturday afternoon, with shoppers coming from outside the borough – or the interest of the traders to promote the market.

1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

It is also the range of different organisations and shops that can be found along Ridley Road, from the Alevi Centre to the Form/Content gallery to the School of Cake Decorating – all interested in getting involved in the animation of the street.

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Stakeholder meetings local knowledge Regular stakeholder meetings were held, the guest list as wide ranging as possible (see list opposite). These meetings were deliberatly held in Dalston in venues identified in the first map.

04. 12. 2008 The Alevi Centre, Ridley Road, Dalston 29. 01. 2009 Centreprise, Kingsland Road, Dalston 10. 03. 2009 Arcola Theatre, Arcola Street, Dalston

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This piece of work has had no singular public exposure, but rather the content itself has been prompted, generated and refined through the many meetings and discussions with those listed here.

Stakeholder meeting at the Alevi Centre

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Steering Group

Stakeholders

Bruce McRobie LB Hackney Lucy McMenemy LB Hackney Alan Hesketh LB Hackney Anne Malcolm LB Hackney Karin Johnsson LB Hackney Devin Horne LB Hackney Nick Jacobs LB Hackney Archika Kumar LB Hackney Kassandra Polyzoides LB Hackney Corrina Pyke LB Hackney Susan Price LB Hackney Tobias Goevert Design for London Eva Herr Design for London Fiona Scott Design for London, AJ Scholar Liza Fior muf Caitlin Elster muf Aranza Fernandez muf Jo Gibbons J+L Gibbons Simon Cash Dobson White Boulcott Ltd

Roger Blake LB Hackney Karin Johnsson LB Hackney Devin Horne LB Hackney Georgina Taylor LB Hackney Becky Taylor LB Hackney David Braine TfL Richard Carr TfL Thomas Frith TfL Bob Dugard TfL Rob Edwards TfL Richard Golding TfL Claire Beedle TfL Sarah Haines LDA Sonya Dyer HVAC Emmanuel Amevor Centerprise Ben Todd Arcola Theatre Debbie Christopher Arcola Theatre Sylvia Stevens Faction Films Yashar Ismailoglu Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi Anna Harding Space Studio Charles Colins Youth Worker Jill Low Open Dalston Marie Murray Open Dalston Emma Jones Gillett Squared, HCD Adam Hart Gillett Squared, HCD

Wider Stakeholders Alex Bax GLA Mark Griffin Waste Strategy LB Hackney Scott Nelson Waste Strategy LB Hackney Andrew Kneebone HEAT LB Hackney John Wade HEAT LB Hackney Pat Tuohy Licencing LB Hackney James Dolan Streets for People LBH Robert Bentley Walls Streetscene LBH Karin Johnsson Streetscene LBH Mark Griffin Streetscene LBH Max Mosley Market Manager LBH Neil Best Market Manager LBH Aanu Ariyo Market Manager LBH Anna Doyle CREATE Festival Rev. Nail Weir St. Barnabus Church Rev. Julia Poter St. Peters Church Rev. Joyce Daley Black Minority Churches Patric Moring Metropolitan Police Dalston4London Carolyn Paul Invest in Hackney Joost Bergers Shoreditch Trust Mariarosa Frasca Hackney Homes Rhodes Estate Richard Guidott Hackney Homes Tree Officer Emmanuel Malm Hackney Homes Somerford Grove Yolanda Smith Chair TRA Somerford Grove Michael Calderbank Chair TRA Rhodes Estate Robin Grey Gardening Workshops Sara Davies Get Growing Julie Brown Growing Communities Jessica Dolan Eco-Active Jose Reis Petchey Academy Matthew Carrington Grownworks East London Trevor Parsons London Cycle Campaign Amarjit Over 50’s Walking Group Juliet Formby Age Concern Russell Miller Tree Musketter Guerrilla Gardeners Mike Martin Hackney ParK Forum 1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE

Alexandre Bettler Graphic Designer Lucinda Jarrett Rosetta Life Theo Rosetta Life Sam Aldenton Bootstrap Hamish Dunbar Café Oto Tara Cranswick V22 Julie Cockburn Artist Vera Beining Action for Children Lisa Harris Action for Children Tuba K Abbott Street Studios Antoine Sandoz Helvetic Centre Steve Claydon Bauhaus Studios Nicholas Henninger EXYZT Francesco Manacorda Barbican Petronella Tyson Wedge Card Francesco Pedraglio FORMCONTENT Pieternel Vermoortel FORMCONTENT Caterina Riva FORMCONTENT Mauricio Venegas-Astorga World Music Academy Rachel Pantin World Music Academy Lalie World Music Academy Yadish Patel Party Party Market Traders Ridley Road Traders Association Paul Douglas Moving East Belinda Dowling Studio Upstairs Jakie Holt Lux Ben Cook Lux Heather Acme Fiona McDonald Standpoint Gallery Alan Rossiter Freeform Arts Ingrid Swenson Peer Arts Mary Doyle Drawing Rooms Vicki Lewis Princess TV Jemma Buckley Rio Cinema Slagnic Gallery Slagnic Gallery Stoke Newington International Airport Guest Room Trenton Oldfield TINAG Festival Deepa Naik TINAG Festival Uriel Orlow Bettsy’s Salon Todd Hart Dalston Oxfam Shop Mangal Restaurant A.B.A.K.E Graphic Designers Matt Lane Opera Cooperative Claire Crawford Youth Services LB Hackney Andrea Enisuoh Hackney Literature Cluster Lloyd French Trinity Center Florence Amarh Gahu Stock Newington Forum Howard Row resource centre Southern Housing Hindle House community centre Hackney Archives Rose Lipman community hall Winstan Whitter Legacy in the Dust – Four Aces Story Edmund Bird Heritage Advisor LDA Dr Ann Robey Hackney Society Lisa Rigg Hackney Society Mary Sewell Hackney Society Claire Toogood Building Exploritory Jane Sarre Hackney Museum Mandy Richards Youth Services LB Hackney Matt Payne Dalston Conservation Advisory Committee Kit Caless Dalston Conservation Advisory Committee Liz Gibney Dalston Conservation Advisory Committee Mark James Kingsland Conservation Advisory Comm.

Carol Lee Kingsland Conservation Advisory Comm.

Kisandka Stoke Newington Youth Forum Simrian Stoke Newington Youth Forum Rachael Stoke Newington Youth Forum Daniel Fitzpatrick Learning Trust

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2&3 NURTURE THE POSSIBLE & DEFINE WHAT IS MISSING

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10 project themes

The 10 categories identified are 1 The High Street Priority project: High Street de-cluttering: This is a place of social and economic interaction. Thresholds are busy with trade and social interaction. De-cluttering the pavements addresses TfL’s DDA agenda and supports this initiative allowing space to be created to ease congestion. LBH are concerned that this does not prejudice the broader aspiration to widen pavements, increase pedestrian capacity and decrease crossing distance, particularly between Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction stations. This would be in line with recommendations of a recent TfL commissioned walking study of Kingsland High Street (Kingsland High Street Walking Study; Stage 1 Scoping study June 2007 by Project Centre) 2 Release spaces At every street junction with Kingsland High Street there is the opportunity to create or enhance space to provide relief from pedestrian congestion. Some of these spaces have already been identified by LBH Street Scene in their Streets for People initiative, and this study sought to identify where there was a potential for added value.

These spaces provide important links into the neighbourhoods, cultural venues and businesses beyond the high street, and constitute key cultural nodes and wayfinding opportunities.

3 Host spaces Supporting creativity is not about public art commissions but rather about facilitating for the visual arts, film and performance to be part of the public realm. Both official and unexpected spaces, external and internal have been identified for cultural and community activity within Dalston. This includes internal community space including empty shops, community centres and the new archive and library and external spaces such as Gillett Square, Bootstrap car park and proposed Dalston Square. The study highlights the opportunity to facilitate the temporary use of empty space for use by the creative community, for which there is an existing demand, and to upgrade community space to better meet needs and aspirations. Retrofit as opposed to rebuild, provides an economic way to keep space alive, retain the grain of the place and can facilitate start-ups and outreach to better evidence the creative capital in the neighbourhood.

4 Ridley Road A significant amount of detailed research was undertaken at the analysis stage of the project which has informed the Ridley Road brief put out to consultants for the upgrading of the market.

5 Wayfinding Dalston has a significant number of cultural venues and businesses, which are not easy to find. The wayfinding strategy is aimed at both the local and the visitor economy, and responds to consultations with the Town Centre Forum and their interest in greater legibility. Part of the intrigue of Dalston is its hidden life, which is constantly changing, and the signage is intended only to highlight major cultural venues. The strategy does not further congest the high street but instead highlights and enhances existing assets. Lighting the peace mural and introducing the street frontage planting to Princess May Road as a gateway marker; corner building signage to aid orientation and encourage movement off the high street, illuminated at night.

We have also introduced temporary signage to support the initiative ‘business as usual ‘ during this period of change.

6 Heritage In addition to listed buildings there is also a significant amount of character and grain provided by cultural buildings, artefacts and hand painted typography in Dalston. A heritage walk was conducted by muf and J & L Gibbons with LBH Conservation Officer, English Heritage, The Hackney Society and Arcola Theatre to consider and map unique cultural assets that make Dalston a better place to live and work. Signage and architectural artifacts collection has commenced to salvage and store signage that might otherwise be discarded.

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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

7 Temporary enhancements The study reviews the opportunity for realising projects in the here and now, while the neighbourhood is in a state of flux. In fact, these projects may well be the precursor for developments identified in the Master Plan, but which do not require the same level of investment, and can therefore be achieved more swiftly. The projects may also help to inform approach and design to those larger scaled projects, offering delight and interest in the short term. Another means to demonstrate the existing assets and potential of the area. The projects illustrated include the Eastern Curve, identified in the Master Plan as a park, but which in the meantime could be enhanced into an eco-park of nature conservation interest fostering precious urban ecology. Associated with this is the temporary installation a collaboration with the Barbican which emerged from this study which will animate the area alongside the Peace Mural Square, as the ‘Dalston Mill’ and inform permanent works. The temporary stopping up of Ashwin Street also provides an opportunity for pedestrian orientated street culture to develop and already a hoarding project with young people has turned the inevitable disruption of construction to a creative opportunity of mapping and music making.

8 Green Routes There is a deficiency in the Dalston Neighbourhood of open space. Put together the open space encapsulated in the estates constitutes a significant green asset that the study has sought to highlight for events, planting, growing and play. The estate landscapes of Somerford Grove, Rhodes and Shellgrove Estates also offer clear potential for enhancing permeability for cycling and pedestrians to connect the place where people live better with the high street, schools and transport infrastructure. Community workshops planned for the Rhodes and Somerford Grove are concerned with the health and food production agenda and the better provision of community facilities for music and performance. The project identifies a kit of parts for improvements, evolved from consultations with the TRA’s of the estates and Hackney Homes. These can be packaged and implemented incrementally as green playable routes.

2 & 3 NURTURE THE POSSIBLE & DEFINE WHAT IS MISSING

9 Semi Public Space Through the research the semi public space of churchyards, school grounds and rooftops were identified as places that were secure, accessible and in many cases underutilised.

The beauty of these types of space is that they come with their own structure for guardianship even with a requirement for revenue funding.

Church Grounds The Area Dean for Hackney was supportive of the idea of landscaping parts of church grounds for natural play and community events.

School Grounds Initial discussions with the Community Cohesion officer of the Petchey Academy demonstrated an interest in seeing the school grounds themselves as having their place in the idea of extended schools as host to community activities.

Semi-public spaces and edible landscapes The roof of Bootstrap alongside school playgrounds was identified during consultation as sites for an edible garden, with a programme of gardening skills activities in line with the Mayor of London’s Capital Growth initiative intended to boost locally grown food in London.

10 Cultural programming Culture is embedded in all the project themes. There has been significant interest and response by the cultural clusters in Hackney in the call for ideas. The aim is to raise awareness of the urban environment and add meaning to places within the public realm through art projects. Programming and providing the ability for cultural activity to happen formally or informally also informs the process of physical change, its design, scope and legacy realised. This may range from the provision of in ground power, to permanent fixtures of staging, typography, screens and planting.

A first call for ideas from the cultural clusters of Hackney generated a number of site-specfic proposals around the theme of Valuing the existing, nurturing the possible and defining what’s missing.

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Green Routes 8.2 Somerford Grove Routes enhanced with greening, play and event . Physical change and engaged maintenance.

Heritage 6.1 Historic Walk Listing “Local listing “as an informal exercise that begins with a walk

High Street 1.1 Kingsland Road Decluttering fooways.

Highlighting architec tural detail, wayfind ing and heritage. see 2,5 and 6

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Green routes 8.2 Shelgrove Estate Routes enhanced with greening, play and event . Physical change and engaged maintenance.

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Wayfinding 5. Wayfinding strategy Highlighting the existing as gateways and markers, all organised around a map.

Host Spaces 3.9 Gillett Square Intensify gillet Square footfall and amenity with a playstrip and support programming

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Examples of projects

Shared Spaces 9.34 St. Marks Semi public spaces enhanced with play and greening

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Ridley Road 4.0 Market Value what’s there.

An amenity that brings people to Dalston from out of the borough.

Release Spaces 2.22 Winchester Pl. Enhance pockets of public realm off the street. Exploit the topography and adjacency to the market.

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Release Spaces 2.15 Dalston Lane Pockets of green are supported as semi gorilla gardens

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Green Routes 8.2 Rhodes Estate Routes enhanced with greening, play and event . Physical change and engaged maintenance.

E

E

N

S

B R ID G E

Host Spaces 3.8 Bootstrap Car Park Use of unexpected locations to host cultural activity enabling a deeper Dalston.

Green link 8.1 Eco Park The unused Eastern curves feral propeties are intensified to create an amenity for education and escape.

U

R

O

DA

LS TO N

LA

N

E

A

Temp. Enhancements 7.2 Aswin St. Closure Temporary pedes- n trianization gives opportunity to have a active and enhanced public space.

AM

Q

F

E OR

ST

RO

AD

2 & 3 NURTURE THE POSSIBLE & DEFINE WHAT IS MISSING

D ON M CH

Host Spaces 3.2 Empty Shops By bringing cultural activity to the main street it gets revitalized while cultural players benefit from the location.

RO

A

AD

RI

RO

G

RAH

45

The Rolling List 24. 02. 2009 / draft

Dalston Cultural Programming - rolling list 24.02.2009/ DRAFT muf architecture/ art llp + J+L Gibbons llp

No

Project Project Name category and location

Project Description / Project Status / Next Steps

Links and Can this act Associated programmes/ Overlaps as a Host potential project partners Space for cultural events? OR Act as wayfinding to host space

Analysis of street furniture and possible rationalisation to create a more generous streetscape. Catalogue of historic features.

Projects in correspondence to LBH's existing projects and LBH's Public Realm Design Guide.

5, 6

1.0

HIGH STREET

1.1

High Street

2.0

RELEASE SPACES

2.1

Kingsland Road

Forest Road Entrance

Entrance to bus terminus & connections to Rhodes 5 Estate.

2.2

Kingsland Road

Tottenham Road/ Stamford Road

Potential zone of pedestrian public realm. A small area that could be enhanced with street trees, lighting and possibly seating at a later date.

2.3

Kingsland Road

Dalston Square/ Kingsland Road Entrance

West entrance to Dalston Square. Special art commission on flank wall.

2.4

Kingsland High Street & Dalston Lane

Y Empty shops (xmas festive lights company)

Project Project Size m2 / Owner/ linear m Potential Project Partners

TfL Strategy fits with strategic themes: DDA, walking etc. TfL comms adjacent project Old Street - Dalston Lane.

Business as Usual, Streets for People.

TfL / LBH Streetscene / shop keepers / property owners

N

Bus terminus

TfL

5

N

LBH Streetscene Streets for People. Business as Usual.

LBH / TfL

5

N

Legible London, Business as Usual

TfL and property owner

Balls Pond Road

Kingsland Passage (Pedestrian Alternative pedestriansed route to Kingsland route. 1 link to Boleyn Rd) Link to Kingsland Green Y Boleyn Road

Y

Streets for People

LBH

2.5

Balls Pond Road

Kingsbury Road Square

Small area of public realm on Balls Pond Rd. Degraded and requires rationalising and bringing to life to create spill out from corner pub

Y

In Islington

LBI

2.6

Boleyn Road

Boleyn Road

Alternative pedestrianised route to Kingsland High 7 Street and link to LBI.

Y

LBI, Streets for People & Business as Usual.

LBH Streetscene

2.7

Dalston Lane OMIT

Dalston Square OMIT

High level signage omit

2.8

Dalston Lane

Ashwin Street

Temporary closure allows for pedestrianisation.

Possible host space. Detailed analysis to inform design brief.

5, 6

Y

Business as Usual, Cafe Otto / Bootstrap / V.22 Gallery / TfL

Tfl / LBH / TfL

2.9

Dalston Lane

Peace Mural Square

Creation of the Peace Mural release space.

Viewpoint to Eastern Curve EcoPark. Highlighting of Peace Mural.

5, 6, 8

Y

Dalston Town Centre Partnership. Wayfinding etc.

All themes Dalston Square Public Realm

LBH/ Hackney Environmental Education Network Access to Nature Grant.

2.10

Dalston Lane

Hartwell Street

Gateway access to Eastern Curve EcoPark.

5

Y

Streetscene

LBH

46

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Additional Identified apparatus Delivery required? capacity Delivery Agency

TfL

Project Costs Funding in Funding fees + capital place required costs where known, otherwise use cost range e.g. S,M,L

Long Term Consultation carried out. management

L

N

Y

Tfl

M

Y

N

TfL / LBH

M

Y

LBH Culture / TfL

M

N

Y

LBH

LBH

M

Y

N

LBH

LBI tbc

LBI tbc

LBI tbc

LBH

M

Y

N

LBH / LBI

muf / JLG / LBH / Otto

S

Y

Y

N/A

LBH

M

SOME

Y

LBH

LBH

M

N

Y

LBH

LBI tbc

TfL

DFL, HC Conservation Officer, Hackney Society, DCAC.

This indicates the format of the rolling list. Projects were considered against categories of - potential partners - possible delivery agencies - property owners - requirement of additional equipment - size - possibility to act as host space - costs - funding - long term management - consultation

TfL

For add LBH elements only

HC Town Centre Manager.

Hackney Cycle Campaign

Hackney Environmental Education Network

2 NURTURE THE POSSIBLE & DEFINE WHAT IS MISSING

47

PROJECT LISTINGS

48

49

6.01 9.1.2

9.5.1

8.03

9.6.9 9.1.1

9.6.3 9.3.3 9.6.1

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

9.6.2

9.3.1

9.5.2

6.04 5.06 2.27

6.02 PELLE

RIN RO

9.5.3

3.06 6.05

6.06 ARCOLA STREET

6.03

AD

2.26 6.08 9.3.2

8.04

KLE

W

9.5.5

NE

6.07 CECILIA ROA

9.5.4

C SHA

9.6.4 LA ELL

D

3.036.09

CR

ALVINGTON

O

W SS

CRESCE

NT

AY

2.25 9.3.8 KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

6.11

3.05

SANDRINGHAM ROAD ST MARKS RISE

6.10

6.15

9.3.8

5.07 3.04 2.24

E CRE COLVESTON

2.23 2.22 6.12

9.3.4

SCENT

6.14 6.13

2.202.21 4.03 5.05

4.02 RIDLEY ROA

9.3.11

4.01

D

6.16

3.02

7.04

DALSTON KINGSLAND

2.06

6.20 2.19

9.3.6 6.232.05

2.04 6.22

BALLS PO

6.17

2.18 2.17 3.01 7.01 5.08 9.0.4 2.08 7.03 7.02

1.01

6.21

6.18

2.12

2.07 5.01 8.01

2.16

2.14

2.11

GRAHAM ROA

9.0.2

9.6.7 6.24

9.5.6

2.03

2.02 8.02

9.6.6

E ROAD

9.3.9

9.2.2 9.5.10 9.2.1

2.01

FOREST ROAD

3.02 9.5.7

RICHMOND ROA

D

1.01

50

3.07

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

9.6.8

2.15

2.13

2.10

DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

9.3.5

D

The project themes overview

1.01 2.01 3.01 4.01 5.01 6.01 7.01 8.01 9.1.1 10

High Streets Release Spaces Host Spaces Ridley Road Wayfinding Heritage Here and Now Green Routes Semi Public Spaces Cultural Programming

HACKNEY DOWNS

51

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

Project Theme 1 High Streets

PELLE

RIN RO

ARCOLA STREET

AD

CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

CR

ALVINGTON

S OS

W

CRESCE

NT

AY

SANDRINGHAM ROAD

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

ST MARKS RISE

E CRE COLVESTON

RIDLEY ROA

SCENT

D

DALSTON KINGSLAND

1.01 DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

GRAHAM ROA

D

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

BALLS PO

E ROAD

FOREST ROAD

RICHMOND ROA

D

1.01

52

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Priority project: High Street de-cluttering This busy and crowded footway has many merits as a site of social and economic interaction. Thresholds are busy with trade and meetings. De-cluttering the pavements addresses TfL’s DDA agenda and supports this initiative allowing space to be created to ease congestion. LBH are concerned that this does not prejudice the broader aspiration to widen pavements, increase pedestrian capacity and decrease crossing distance, particularly between Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction stations. This would be in line with recommendations of a recent TfL commissioned walking study of Kingsland High Street.

(Kingsland High Street Walking Study; Stage 1 Scoping study June 2007 by Project Centre) Research: Transport for London Road Network Management Strategic Streetscape Guidance LBH Street scene and TCF

PROJECT THEME 1 — HIGH STREETS

53

1.01 High Street de-cluttering High Street Kingsland High Street

gue

Catalogue of street furniture from the sample section of Kingsland High Street

(

)(

Reduce number of elements, byCatalogue combining and judicious removal. of street furniture from the sample section of Kingsland High Street Lighting posts can hold signage, + = + = rails can be removed and some elements can be relocated, like telephone boxes.

(

54

+

=

)(

+

)(

x

x

=

)( )( )

x

)(

x

x

Ridley Road

Winchester Place

Dalston Kingsland Station

Ridley Road

t congestion

ngestion

)( )( )

x

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Dalston Cultural Programming /muf architecture/ art llp + J&L Gibbons llp / Interim Presentation :January 2009

Spatial analysis of existing street furniture between Crossway and Ridley Road Spatial analysis of existing street furniture between Crossway and Ridley Road

Bradbury Road

Bradbury Road

Gillett Street

Campb

ell Roa

d

Camp

s Cro

bell R

sw

ay

oad

Kingsland High Street

Dalston Kingsland Station

Gillett Street

Kingsland High Street

Winchester Place

ay ssw Cro

Sandringham Road

l Lane lewel Shack

Sandringham Road

e ll Lan klewe Shac

ogue

Dalston Cultural Programming /muf architecture/ art llp + J&L Gibbons llp / Interim Presentation :January 2009

d High Street

1.01 High Street de-cluttering Dalston Lane

RAMSGATE ST.

TYSSEN ST.

ogue

HARTWELL ST.

ASHWIN ST.

d High Street

Ridley Road Dalston Kingsland Station

Bradbury Road

Camp

bell R

oad

Cro

Gillett Street

ssw

ay

Kingsland High Street

Potential rationalisation of street furniture to create a more generous streetscape

Catalogue of street furniture from the sample section of Dalston Lane

(

)( ADD

+

=

Catalogue coupling to free up more space

PROJECT THEME 1 — HIGH STREETS

+

=

)(

x

REMOVE

x

Dalston Cultural Programming /muf architecture/ art llp + J&L Gibbons llp / Interim Presentation :January 2009

Spatial analysis of existing street furniture between Aswhin St. and Ramsgate St.

LAUREL ST. Winchester Place

WOODLAND ST.

Sandringham Road

e ll Lan klewe Shac

BEECHWOOD RD.

DALSTON LANE

)( )( ) RELOCATE

x

REDESIGN

55

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

Project Theme 2 Release Spaces

2.27

PELLE

RIN RO

ARCOLA STREET

AD

2.26

CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

CR

ALVINGTON

S OS

W

CRESCE

NT

AY

2.25 SANDRINGHAM ROAD

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

ST MARKS RISE

2.24

E CRE COLVESTON

SCENT

2.23 2.22 2.202.21 RIDLEY ROA

D

DALSTON KINGSLAND

2.19 2.18 2.17 2.06

2.07 LANE

DALSTON

ND ROAD

2.15

2.13

2.10

2.04

2.05 BALLS PO

2.08

2.12 2.11

2.16

2.14

GRAHAM ROA

D

2.02

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

2.03

E ROAD

2.01 FOREST ROAD

RICHMOND ROA

56

D

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

At every street junction with Kingsland High Street & Dalston Lane there is the opportunity to create or enhance space to provide relief from pedestrian congestion. Some of these spaces have already been identified by LBH Streetscene in their Streets for People initiative, and this study sought to identify where there was a potential for added value.

These spaces provide important links into the neighbourhoods, cultural venues and businesses beyond the high street, and constitute key cultural nodes and way finding opportunities.

For the purposes of the study we took Winchester Place as an exemplary site.

John Campbell Road

Gillett Street Winchester Place Ridley Road Ashwin Street Peace Mural Place

Entrance Dalston Square Tottenham Road / Stamford Road

PROJECT THEME 2 — RELEASE SPACES

57

2.22 Winchester Place

View of Kingsland High Street from Ridley Road

Winchester Place is a cul de sac which links Kingsland Road to Coverstone Crescent and Ridley Road Market. The topography creates a change in level of 1.5m as Winchester place meets Ridley Road.

Feedback: TfL LBH Streetscene

58

View from Ridley Road

There is the opportunity to create a more welcoming approach to Winchester Place with a style set of steps that can be used as informal seating for ad hoc performance.

These should be considered in tandem to the treatment of the area of footway and carriageway as public realm with a shared surface.

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

View from Kingsland High Street

Winchester Place isometric view

PROJECT THEME 2 — RELEASE SPACES

59

Project Theme 3 Host Spaces

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

3.06

PELLE

RIN RO

ARCOLA STREET

AD

CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

3.03

CR

ALVINGTON

O

W SS

CRESCE

NT

AY

3.05

SANDRINGHAM ROAD

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

ST MARKS RISE

3.04

E CRE COLVESTON

RIDLEY ROA

SCENT

D

3.02

DALSTON KINGSLAND

3.01

DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

GRAHAM ROA

D

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

BALLS PO

E ROAD

FOREST ROAD

3.02

RICHMOND ROA

D

3.07

60

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Official and Unexpected – Making it Easy Hackney has an established reputation as a place where art practise is supported – a current example is the proactive way that LBH has made it easy for the temporary transformation of the Eastern Curve or the activities planned as the 2009 Create Festival.

We propose this tendency could be promoted and expanded though the way that public space is designed and managed.

Supporting creativity is not about single public art commissions, but rather making it easy for all the arts, including music, visual arts, film and performance to be part of the public realm. Both official and unexpected spaces, external and internal, have been identified for cultural and community activity within Dalston.

This includes internal community space such as empty shops, community centres and the new archive and library and external spaces such as Gillett Square, Bootstrap’s car park and the proposed Dalston Square.

It is important to understand the very different characters and potential of the different spaces around Dalston, as this area has a portfolio of unique spaces and opportunities and parameters within them. Gillett Square is more appropriate for some types of activity than Dalston Square and vice versa.

The study highlights the opportunity to facilitate the temporary use of empty space for use by the creative community, for which there is an existing demand, and to upgrade community space to better meet needs and aspirations. Retrofit as opposed to rebuild, provides an economic way to keep space alive, retain the grain of the place and can facilitate start-ups and outreach to better evidence the creative capital in the neighbourhood.

Gillett Square Opportunities: Purpose built, Vortex on site, with the Gillett Square partnership proven programming expertise and management.

Future play opportunities.

Dalston Square Opportunities: Purpose built, footfall due to transport, programme being developed, presence of library.

PROJECT THEME 3 — HOST SPACES

61

3.04 Gillett Square official Host Space

Public spaces require very different additional infrastructure to thrive sometimes, an in ground unit for power, sometimes concerted thinking around licensing activities and often revenue funding to support both and/or the management of the space.

In the case of Gillett Square there is a clear need for support for programming but in addition the introduction of play elements can be a means to increase people’s awareness of the Square and the things that happen there as part of their everyday routines in particular the thousands of people using Ridley Road Market regularly.

Gillett Square’s Vortex Outside

Gillett Square’s Big Dance 08

Gillett Square’s Game Days 08

62

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Here & Now Container with equipment

Long term Introduce permanent play landscape

PROJECT THEME 3 — HOST SPACES

63

3.01 Bootstrap Car Park example of possible unofficial Host Space Bootstrap Car Park Opportunities: Power and services commitment of management close to transport, as found space.

Bootstrap – a scenario of what it would take for an event to take place Potential to hold Temporary Events Notice (TENs).

12 Events (up to 15 days each) per calandar year.

Audience Capacity maximum of 499 persons.

The notification must be lodged by the premises (or site) user.

64

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Bootstrap Car Park as Host Space isometric view

PROJECT THEME 3 — HOST SPACES

65

3.02 / 3.03 / 3.05 Internal Host Spaces exhibition spaces, empty shops & community centres

St. Marks hall Shared Exhibit Spaces

Rose Lipman community hall Empty Shops

Although Ridley Road Market continues to be exceptionally busy on a Saturday more and more shops are falling empty on Kingsland Road.

It is difficult to separate the current economic climate from the disruption to Dalston as a result of the recent development of Dalston Junction. There is an appetite on the part of the creative industries to use empty shop units as host spaces for culture.

What it would take: LBH could support organisations such as hidden art to have a public presence or enable some for off-art and design events. For this to be sustainable grants to fund business rates that are liable as soon as a building is occupied are needed.

66

Centreprise

The mapping of venues demonstrated the range of existing community spaces, which with small grants could be upgraded and between them offer a complementary range of facilities from photographic studio to performance.

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

3.02 / 3.03 Internal Host Spaces library

International Institute for the conserving, archiving & distribution of the people’s memories.

Form Content, Ridley Road

National Get it loud in Libraries tour.

Harry and the Potters playing live at Lancaster Library.

A Host Space for art and performance The new library and archive due for completion in 2010 on Dalston Square has many different spaces suitable as site and setting for art and performance.

There are also established precedents for the content of libraries and archives to form the basis of new pieces of work. There is merit in exploring programmes for young curators and for the Arts and Culture team to work with librarians to explore ways to exploit the role of the library both as a building and its role to influence the activity of Dalston Square.

During research for this report galleries such as Form Content stated their interest in working with the library and archive. Other conversations identified the potential for the PROJECT THEME 3 — HOST SPACES

library as host to specialist collections that would reflect both the activities of local businesses and also the interests of local young people such as fashion and design.

67

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

Project Theme 4 Ridley Road Market

PELLE

RIN RO

ARCOLA STREET

AD

CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

CR

ALVINGTON

S OS

W

CRESCE

NT

AY

SANDRINGHAM ROAD

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

ST MARKS RISE

E CRE COLVESTON

4.01

4.02

4.03

RIDLEY ROA

SCENT

D

DALSTON KINGSLAND

DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

GRAHAM ROA

D

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

BALLS PO

E ROAD

FOREST ROAD

RICHMOND ROA

68

D

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Value what is there We made the case for Ridley Road Market as an important asset. A brief has since been issued, informed by this study.

PROJECT THEME 4 — RIDLEY ROAD MARKET

69

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

Project Theme 5 Wayfinding

PELLE

RIN RO

5.06 ARCOLA STREET

AD

CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

CR

ALVINGTON

S OS

W

CRESCE

NT

AY

SANDRINGHAM ROAD

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

ST MARKS RISE

5.07

E CRE COLVESTON

5.05

RIDLEY ROA

SCENT

D

DALSTON KINGSLAND

5.08

DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

5.01

GRAHAM ROA

D

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

BALLS PO

E ROAD

FOREST ROAD

RICHMOND ROA

70

D

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Wayfinding in Dalston is not about installing banners and totems.

“Proudest of all, however, is the ‘Hackney Town Guide’, which offers to orientate the enquirer with an apparently unambiguous message: ‘You are here’. Displayed inside a glass-fronted ‘Town Guide Cabinet’, the map is perforated with little holes harbouring tiny light-bulbs: the visitor is instructed to identify his intended destination by the ‘appropriate title’ and then press the button below it to ‘illuminate place/s selected’.”

Patrick Wright – A Journey through Ruins

PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING

71

5.00 Dalston Town Guide

Dalston has a significant number of cultural venues and businesses, which are not easy to find. The wayfinding strategy is aimed at both the local and the visitor economy, and responds to consultations with the Town Centre Forum and their interest in greater legibility.

Part of the intrigue of Dalston is its hidden life, which is constantly changing, and the signage is intended only to highlight major cultural venues. The strategy does not further 72

congest the high street but instead highlights and enhances existing assets. Lighting the peace mural and introducing the street frontage planting to Princess May Road as a gateway marker; corner building signage to aid orientation and encourage movement off the high street, illuminated at night.

We have also introduced temporary signage to support the initiative ‘business as usual’ during this period of change.

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

public rooms

Whether opposite the exit from the new station or on another site in Dalston an illuminated map could be a positive addition to the streetscape which in turn could evoke the ‘Hackney Town Guide’.

public space

Dalston boundary

buildings / private space

PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING

73

5.00 Gateway Peace Mural

The Dalston peace mural was described as a marker for Dalston. To make this role more emphatic we propose feature lighting and an ongoing conservation regime.

74

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

5.00 Gateway Princess May School

If the peace mural is one gateway the perimeter of Princess May Road is another.

A planting scheme could mark entry into Dalston and at the same time benefit the school environment.

PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING

75

5.00 Gateway The potential of the terraces

Some ‘gateway’ treatments identified in this report are more ambitious than others – like the refurbishment to conservation standards – for example the restoration of the historic terraces of Dalston Lane with its shops and accommodation above.

76

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING

77

5.07 Directional Signage THE VORTEX GILLETT SQUARE

THE VORTEX GILLETT SQUARE

50 m

Kingsland High Street / Gillett Square Day view

50 m

Night view

It is problematic to signpost individual venues since they can change. However key locations such as Gillett Square can be achieved as simple painted signage with a dramatically different day and night time character.

The painted signage evokes the historic signage which was identified as valuable on the “heritage walk”.

78

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

5.05 Site Specific Signage

Kingsland High Street / Ridley Road Day view

Night view

There are limited locations which merit site specific wall signage. One of these is Ridley Road Market.

PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING

79

Project Theme 6 Heritage

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

6.01

6.02 PELLE

RIN RO

6.04

6.05 6.06 ARCOLA STREET

6.03

AD

6.08 CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

6.07 CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

6.09

CR

ALVINGTON

O

W SS

CRESCE

NT

AY

SANDRINGHAM ROAD ST MARKS RISE

6.10

6.15

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

6.11

E CRE COLVESTON

6.14

6.12

6.13

RIDLEY ROA

DALSTON KINGSLAND

SCENT

D

6.16 6.20 6.17

6.18

6.23 6.22 BALLS PO

6.21

DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

GRAHAM ROA

D

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

6.24

E ROAD

FOREST ROAD

80

RICHMOND ROA

D

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

In addition to listed buildings there is also a significant amount of character and grain provided by cultural buildings, artefacts and hand painted typography in Dalston.

PROJECT THEME 6 — HERITAGE

81

6.00 Signage & Structure Collection

A signage and architectural artefacts collection has commenced to salvage and store signage that might otherwise be discarded.

This exercise demonstrated the rich combination of architecture and artefact and social history that makes up Dalston. We recommend that this process remains live.

Interior of Pub

Dalston is a dynamic place of change – there is the opportunity to collect and display unwanted signs, unused signage structures and hand painted typography. Library services have expressed an interest in the back wall of the proposed cafe as a site of exhibition.

This would take its place alongside the salvaged artefacts of the Dalston Theatre.

Signage in situ

Signage after collection

82

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Heritage is not only listed buildings – there is a richness in the variety of signage.

PROJECT THEME 6 — HERITAGE

83

STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD

Project Theme 7 Temporary Enhancements

PELLE

RIN RO

ARCOLA STREET

AD

CKL

EW

ELL

LA

NE

CECILIA ROA

SHA

D

CR

ALVINGTON

S OS

W

CRESCE

NT

AY

SANDRINGHAM ROAD

KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

ST MARKS RISE

E CRE COLVESTON

RIDLEY ROA

7.04

SCENT

D

DALSTON KINGSLAND

7.01 7.02

DALSTON LANE

ND ROAD

GRAHAM ROA

D

PARKHOLM

QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD

BALLS PO

7.03

E ROAD

FOREST ROAD

RICHMOND ROA

84

D

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

The study reviews the opportunity for realising projects in the here and now, while the neighbourhood is in a state of flux. In fact, these projects may well be the precursor for developments identified in the Master Plan, but which do not require the same level of investment, and can therefore be achieved more swiftly.

The projects may also help to inform approach and design to those larger scaled projects, offering delight and interest in the short term.

Another means to demonstrate the existing assets and potential of the area.

The projects illustrated include the Eastern Curve, identified in the Master Plan as a park, but which in the meantime could be enhanced into an eco-park of nature conservation interest fostering precious ruderal urban ecology.

Associated with this is the temporary installation – a collaboration with the Barbican, which emerged from this study, which will animate area alongside the Peace Mural Square, as the ‘Dalston Resort and Garden’ and inform permanent works.

The temporary stopping up of Ashwin Street also provides an opportunity for pedestrian orientated street culture to develop. Already a hoarding project with young people has turned the inevitable disruption of construction into a creative opportunity of mapping and music making.

There will not be a new square for Dalston until 2014 at the earliest. But there are spaces that can be easily unlocked as ‘temporary’ public realm.

PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

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7.03 Peace Mural Place & Eastern Curve

Peace Mural Place, as we are calling it for the purpose of this report, is an important space close to Dalston Junction adjacent to the activity of Ashwin Street and the hidden asset of the eastern curve and a release space for the busy bus stop on Dalston Lane. It has the potential to unlock routes North South and North East and South West.

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Step 01 View into the Eastern Curve

PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

Dalston Cultural Programming /muf architecture/ art llp + J&L Gibbons llp / Interim Presentation :January 2009

TO THE EASTERN CURVE ECOPARK

TO THE EASTERN CURVE ECOPARK

CLOSED

Step 02 The Peace Mural Square is extended. A direct visual connection to the Eastern Curve is created

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7.03 Peace Mural Place EXYZT July 2009

Sometimes an aspiration developed in a report is realised in advance of that report’s conclusion.

We introduced the Barbican Art Gallery team and the French group EXYZT to the Peace Mural Place as a site for the Dalston Mill – a 5 storey windmill and pizza oven along with a piece, Wheatfield by the artist Agnes Denes.

It opened on July 16, and between 400 and 1500 people spent time there each day. It has been an opportunity for both residents and LBH officers to experience both the potential of the Eastern Curve as a green host garden for the planned and unplanned.

Dalston Mill EXYZT

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PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

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7.03 Eastern Curve Ecopark

In November, in advance of the approach by EXYZT and the Barbican, we made a proposal for the small, swift moves to frame the Eastern Curve.

The Print House Bauhaus Studios

Ashwin Street

V22 Studio and galleries

Peace Mural Square

Dalston Lane Platform viewing area

Demolish existing shed reconfigured to create Field station Rangers office

Wildlife hides

Habitat areas

Option 2: New Field station Rangers office

Habitat creation

Outdoor classroom

Picture window

Primary/ Secondary access

Views of the Eastern Curve

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n Lane

The Print House

Bauhaus Studios

V22 Studio and galleries

V22 Studio and galleries

Hartwell Street

Ashwin Street

Ashwin Street

Bauhaus Studios

Peace Mural Square

Hartwell Street

The Print House

Peace Mural Square

Dalston Lane

iewing area

Platform viewing area Demolish existing shed reconfigured to create Field station Rangers office

DemolishWildlife existinghides shed reconfigured to create Field station Rangers office

WildlifeMown hides paths

Mown paths

eas

Habitat Option areas 2: New Field station Rangers office

Option 2:Habitat New Field station creation Rangers office

HabitatPotential creation adjacent art/ event space

Potential adjacent art/ event space

assroom

Outdoor Picture classroom window

Picture window Primary/ Secondary access

Primary/ Secondary access

The Eastern Curve is an Eco Park in waiting, a feral landscape which with minimal additions could be realised.

PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

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08 7.03 Green Routes Eastern Curve Ecopark

Eastern Curve Ecopark

View of the Eastern Curve Ecopark

View of the Eastern Curve Ecopark

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PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

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7.03 Eastern Curve Ecopark

wildlife observation

local labour

green skills

green energy

tree canopy habitats

pavilions

outdoor classroom

wildlife observation

bee hives

mown pathways

universal access

Assembly of a kit of parts to create the Eastern Curve Ecopark, preserving and enhancing the existing landscape and using local skills

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cultivation

wildlife hides

fauna homes

shrub habitats

field habitats

wildlife eductaion

Opposite: Exploded axonometric of Eastern Curve Ecopark components

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

Pavilions, hides, wind turbines

Tree canopy habitat layer

Shrub and field habitat layer

Informal pathways, platforms

PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

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7.01 / 7.02 Hoardings Ashwin Street & Kingsland Road

The project makes the inevitable disruption of building works an opportunity to make visible the hidden creativity of both local young people and the creative industries of the immediate vicinity.

The project begins with a series of creative workshops and ends with the design of the TfL hoardings for Ashwin and Kingsland High Streets.

Each will reflect the character of the two sites: to Kingsland High Street a huge map to find the local attractions; to Ashwin Street a poetic exposition of the discovered hidden treasures of the area.

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PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS

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7.01 / 7.02 Lyric workshop for Hackney Young Carers

A series of workshops were held with Hackney Young Carers, Rosetta Life, Alexandre Bettler and Abbot Street Studios during the development of this report, to test ways in which young people can collaborate with creative players to shape the public realm.

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Design for hoarding showing a poem – an outcome of the workshops.

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Project Theme 8 Green Routes

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There is a deficiency in the Dalston neighbourhood of open space As soon as the definition of what constitutes public open space diverges from the legal definition to the open spaces of a neighbourhood, with their different ownerships and bylaws, maintenance schedules and aspirations, a different picture emerges.

Put together the open space encapsulated in the estates constitutes a significant green asset that the study has sought to highlight for events, planting, growing and play.

The estate landscapes of Somerford Grove, Rhodes and Shellgrove Estates also offer clear potential for enhancing permeability for cycling and pedestrians to connect the place where people live better with the high street, schools and transport infrastructure. There is the potential to extend and frame the playable landscapes of the Hackney Play Pathfinder so that the route is a playable landscaped ammenity.

The project identifies a kit of parts for improvements, evolved from consultations with the TRA’s of the estates and Hackney Homes.

These can be packaged and implemented incrementally as green playable routes.

In addition we include in this section the unused and startegically located feral landscape of the Eastern Curve.

Consultation Hackney Homes TRA’s Somerford Grove and Rhodes Estate

PROJECT THEME 8 — GREEN ROUTES

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8.02 / 8.03 / 8.04 Opportunities for planting, play and events

The London Plan, the remit of the Government Every Child Matters, and the DCMS Getting Serious about Play all recognise the role of play and the special role of the public realm for children.

Play Pathfinder initiative Dalston is well positioned to demonstrate the role of a constellation of play integrated into a walking route.

Kit of parts to reinvigorate the open spaces of the estates

Rhodes Esta play spaces a

Opposite: Example of a playable route

Paved pedes

Pedes and ad green

Existin to hav functi

events

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power supplies

cycle friendly

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lighting

fixed seating

tactile play and social space

temporary seating

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garden flowers

new trees

orchard gardens

allotment gardens

Propo planti entran spine

Existin maint

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boulder play

way finding

fixed play

Propo to incl emph

6000 4500

grass mounds

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informal seating

edible planting

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Stepping Stones

landing surface

Drinking fountain

Water rills

River soft stones

Water Fountain

Timber deck

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Mature Tree

Climbing Tree

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Soft Surface area

Edible Maze

1.36a -SK.4revA William St Quarter Linear Play Route scale: 1:200 at A2 06.02.2009 DRAFT

Mature Tree

muf architecture/art LLP 49-51 Central Street London EC1V 8AB T 020 7251 4004 F 020 7250 1967 E studio@muf.co.uk

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8.02 Rhodes Estate

Rhodes Estate is situated in close proximity to the new Dalston Square development; there is a strong sense of physical and psychologically overshadowing amongst the residents.

Unlike Somerford Grove and Kingsgate Estate, designed by Fredrick Gibberd, Rhodes Estate lacks good design. The shared spaces sit awkwardly enclosed between courtyards of housing with high front fencing enclosing private gardens. Through dialogue with residents, it is clear that in contrast to these neglected public spaces, the private gardens on the estate are a well loved resource, and people have strong ideas about how the design of communal spaces could evolve from the aesthetic of the private garden.

Residents are concerned that any enhancements to the communal areas are sensitive to the proximity of housing, and don’t attract anti-social behaviour, this is a particular concern for the forthcoming Play Pathfinder scheme as the recent introduction of new play equipment in one public space has caused disruption to neighbouring houses.

The TRA are also concerned that the inevitable increase in foot fall through the estate to access new transport links at Dalston Square, should positively benefit the estate securing safer pedestrian and cycling routes, rather that bring further disruption to the residents.

We have scheduled a series of gardening workshops involving local young people from the Trinity centre on Beechwood Road, Rhodes Estate residents and local gardening enthusiasts canvassed at EXYZT. The theme of the workshops will be a cross fertilization between public and private green space, with residents sharing their knowledge of gardening outside their own fenced gardens, and vice versa the greening of gateways into Rhodes Estate bringing new benefits of enhanced green routes through the estate.

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Woodland Street

Paved entrance areas pedestrian priority Pedestrian priority along and adjacent to the green spine Existing green spaces to have a more diverse function

Existing formal play space Proposed ornamental/ orchard planting to mark green spine and green spaces

STATION & BUSES

New hard standing for neighbourhood events meeting spaces

DALSTON SQUARE

Potential expansion of paved entrance area to envelope the Holy Trinity Church and Youth Centre

Crosby Walk

Kirkland Walk Myrtleberry Close

Proposed large tree planting to mark estate entrances and the green spine

Proposed play spaces to include areas with an emphasis on the natural and informal

Solway Close Carlise Walk

Existing trees to maintained

Kirkland Walk

Kirkland Walk

Beechwood Road

Bowness Close

Play objects Estate entrances to be reconfigured to be more pedestrian friendly

Skelton Close

External power supply for temporary neighbourhood events Temporary seating areas for picnics and meeting Fixed furniture Holy Trinity Church

Facade design upgrade

Hayton Close

Cumberland

ens

DALSTON LANE Rhodes Estate Green Links, play spaces and gardens

Garden planting

Forest Road Youth Centre

FOREST ROAD Rhodes Estate plan PROJECT THEME 8 — GREEN ROUTES

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8.04 Somerford Grove Estate: an example of making a green route

The value of community activity and the work of TRA’s in maintaining communal green space within housing estates could be further supported and amplified.

Despite the strong existing desire to improve the estate, the 106’s have been slow to arrive.

Commendably, a group of young men have gained start up funding elsewhere for tools, though still lacking the skills to use them.

There are a number of existing successful initiatives in Hackney. These include the Growing Kitchen on the Wenlock Estate, Get Growing which supports Hackney residents growing vegetables on their balconies and within their gardens and Growing Communities.

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We have identified this estate to the Learning Trust as a site for a Play Pathfinder project.

We are also taking to the architects of the proposed PCT centre to enhance the semi public green spaces within that development.

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Allotments visual

View from Health Centre window visual

Community greening workshop, held at Somerford Grove Estate, June 2009 PROJECT THEME 8 — GREEN ROUTES

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Project Theme 9 Semi Public Spaces

9.1.2

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Through the engagement process the semi public space of churchyards, school grounds and rooftops were identified as places that were secure, accessible and in many cases underutilised. The beauty of these types of space is that they come with their own structure for guardianship even with a requirement for revenue funding.

Church Grounds The Area Dean for Hackney was supportivce of the idea of landscaping parts of church grounds for natural play and community events.

School Grounds Initial discussions with the Community Cohesion officer of the Petchey Academy demonstrated an interest in seeing the school grounds themselves as having their place in the idea of extended schools as host to community activities.

Semi public spaces and edible landscapes The roof of Bootstrap alongside school playgrounds was identified during consultation as site for an edible garden, with a programme of gardening skills activities in line with the Mayor of London’s Capital Growth initiative intended to boost locally grown food in London.

St Marks PROJECT THEME 9 — SEMI PUBLIC SPACES

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9.00 Community shared space as a site for investments

St Marks as shared playground

Community gardening at Bootstrap’s roof

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9.00 Enriching school premises as outdoor classrooms & edibles playgrounds

PROJECT THEME 9 — SEMI PUBLIC SPACES

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Project Theme 10 Cultural Programming

LBH has tested the appetite amongst Hackney cultural clusters to develop projects which can take place in the public realm and animate it.

The first of these, a communal opera has commenced.

Dalston cultural programming

Draft document 26/02/2009

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Aim

Mapping Change

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Draw attention to changes in the urban realm KINGSLAND HIGH STREET

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1 Construction Artist

2 What do you feel about loss and change?

Drawing change

Exploring bereavement

Dalston Junction, 2008, by Alexandra Blum

Learning Card ‘What do you feel?’, front and reverse

by A-space

The project will continue the themes that are highlighted in the first set of emotional learning cards jointly published

by A Space and iniva. The current set of cards is being sold internationally through iniva, in the Tate gallery bookshops and in other venues across London. Each Hackney school has also bought at least one set.

An aim of the A Space/Dalston Square project could be to publish new sets of learning cards featuring artwork from the workshops as well as from the visiting artists contributing to the workshop series. The cards could be published to commemorate the opening of Dalston Square.

The project proposed for the Dalston Square strategy would develop this theme as follows: What do you feel about loss and change?

What do you feel about who you are now and who you can be in the future?

What do you feel about where you come from and where you are going?

Drawing is a catalyst for my own observations and other people’s. Whilst drawing on the streets, people often stop to find out what I am doing, and tell me their observations of changes in Dalston, as well as their memories of specific areas and buildings. Many of these observations are prompted by the changes taking place in the area and by my presence on the street making drawings. I propose to expand the drawing project and record these stories, by inviting people to an event where they could discuss the drawings and have the opportunity to record their memories and observations of the area on video.

An exhibition of the work I produce is planned towards the end of my appointment as ‘Construction Artist’, but I also propose to collate the drawings into a book which could make a more permanent visual record of the process of change, and would be very relevant to the Hackney archive.

Initiated by Alexandra Blum Location Dalston local streets Proposed dates October 2008–October 2009 Funded through ?

Current state Funding application

Initiated by A Space Location Daubeney School Proposed dates Autumn Term 2009 (initially) Funded through ?

Current state Funding application

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Raise awareness of urban environment and add meaning to places within the public realm through art projects.

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Meaningful Places

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1 Marvelo Dalston

2 Invisible Dust

STOKE NEWINGTON ROA D

A Sound Map of Dalston

PELLERIN

Artist’s exploration of dust, imagination and air pollution

3 Red Carpet Treatment Outdoor interventions

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DALSTON KINGSLAND

DALSTON LANE

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FOREST ROAD

The Marvelo Project (MP)studies, makes and plays with sound, mapping and collective composition for mobile performance, making new music for outside spaces that plays from audio bicycles as you pedal.

Locally made by the Marvelo Team, this music is sourced from home and street recordings, then mixed and processed into fragments using local maps and routes as scores, finally laying one huge sound work over the neighbourhood.

Visitors could then enjoy this music by taking out a Marvelo Bike, finding their own sequence through the score, each journey revealing a unique performance for cyclist and passer by.

The Marvelo Project ( was initially commissioned by the Folkestone Triennale 2008 and will be installing itself in Hackney to make new music with local children to make Marvelo Dalston.

Initiated by Kaffe Matthews Location Dalston local streets Proposed dates Summer 2010 Funded through ?

Current state Funding application

‘Fake Moon’ by Simon Faithful, taken from The Art Trail, 2008, curated by Alice Sharp

In Invisible Dust artists will present their interpretations of dust and literary ideas to produce comminssions in the public realm from 2009/13 to hightlight air pollution and explore its visibility. An ongoing collaboration will take place with project advisor Professor Peter Brimblecomb who measures air pollution through quantifying the components of dust through time. Particularly since the Land Art in the 60s and 70s, artists have respnonded to changes in the natural environment, Today artists engage in many different ways with Climate Change, some without physical form at all. Invisible Dust is at the research stage and locations both in the UK and internationally will be identified with the artists.

Initiated by Alice Sharp Location Gillett Square Proposed dates ?

Funded through ?

Current state Funding application

PROJECT THEME 10 — CULTURAL PROGRAMMING

Red Carpet Treatment is a temporary large-scale outdoor intervention made of carpeted pavements of LB Hackney.

In 2004, Hackney’s average ranks (based on SOAs) make it the most deprived local authority in England. Even with all the changes in the recent years, the majority of population in Hackney is still living quite a hard life. Red Carpet Treatment project aims to make local residents of Hackney feel appreciated through use of familiar idiom: roll out the red carpet - to give an important person a special welcome.

Initiated by Larisa Blazic Location to be identified through research on population statistics documentation available online Proposed dates Summer 2009 Funded by ?

Current state Funding application

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PROJECT OUTCOMES

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Outcomes of this study

Temporary Enhancement Ashwin street Hoardings: Ashwin street has become a significant cultural location in Dalston with a cluster of cultural businesses operating along the street. Temporary pedestrianisation during the development of the station, and the presence of TFL hoardings enclosing a development site inspired a temporary enhancement.

A design for the hoardings was produced by young people from the Hackney Young Carers Project in collaboration with Rosetta Life and a local graphic designer, Alexandre Bettler. The image follows a group of young people on a lyrical journey into the cultural life of Ashwin Street, during which they were hosted

by Cafe Oto and Abbot Street Studios who shared their experience and workspace with the young people.

Both of the latter are open to further collaborations.

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Cultural Dossier

Partnership Working

A separate document emerged from research into the potential for public space to host cultural activity. This listed proposed projects and the type of additional infrastructure both physical, financial and logistical needed to stage proposals emerging from the cultural clusters in Dalston’s public realm.

The significant contribution that the voluntary sector makes to the breath of activity taking place in Dalston needs to be recognized as intrinsic to the success of any forthcoming enhancements to Dalston’s public realm. A large number of contacts were made during the research into this project and potential partnerships scooped for the delivery of these projects.

Dalston cultural programming

Draft document 26/02/2009

MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON

EXYZT and the Barbican at the Eastern Curve This resulted in investment on the part of the Barbican and the construction by EXYZT of the Dalston Mill. This temporary public space attracted over 12,000 visitors and both demonstrated the potential of the Eastern Curve as a public green space but also provoked many discussions as to the activities the site might host in the future.

A Four Aces Night was held at the Dalston Mill on the Eastern Curve with original music from the Four Aces collection provided by Newton Dunbar – ex manager of the club – and with a screening of the documentary film ‘Legacy in the Dust’

by Winstan Whitter.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

Green Route

External Funding

Rhodes Estate Since the first proposals were drafted further conversations have takern place with residents of the Rhodes estate. Gardening workshops are happening in August as a prompt to discussion how Hackney Homes maintenance regimes can combine with ‘slightly more than usual’ planting that will allow fruit trees and flowers to take their place alongside an investment by the Learning Trust into play as part of the Play Pathfinder funding and improvements to the approaches into the estate to connect the estate with the new landscaping of Dalston Square.

The LDA is currently is currently exploring funding for some of these projects.

Somerford Grove As part of the research and discussion as to what migfht a green route through an estate be like workshops were held with Robin Grey, Growing Communities and the residents of Somerford Grove. This has resulted in vegetables and flowers being grown and children and adults gardening. These successful workshops with are continuing this summer. The Learning Trust selected Somerford Grove for Play Pathfinder funding.

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Somerford Grove gardening workshops underway

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Special thanks to Bruce McRobie / Lucy McMenemy / Alan Hesketh / Anne Malcolm / Karin Johnsson / Devin Horne / Nick Jacobs / Archika Kumar / Kassandra Polyzoides / Corrina Pyke / Susan Price / Tobias Goevert / Eva Herr / Fiona Scott / Roger Blake / Karin Johnsson / Devin Horne / Georgina Taylor / Becky Taylor / David Braine / Richard Carr / Thomas Frith / Bob Dugard / Rob Edwards / Richard Golding / Claire Beedle / Sarah Haines / Sonya Dyer / Emmanuel Amevor / Ben Todd / Debbie Christopher / Sylvia Stevens / Yashar Ismailoglu / Anna Harding / Charles Colins / Jill Low / Marie Murray / Emma Jones / Adam Hart and to everyone who took time to contribute.

Design by Axel Feldmann, objectif 120