making space IN Dalston by J&L Gibbons 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 muf architecture/art Appleyards 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 Collins 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
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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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
Dalston, Hackney Scope of the work Dalston is in a period of physical change, cranes interrupt the skyline at Dalston Square and new vistas have been opened up by 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 to 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
INTRODUCTION
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 Mayor’s office, by central Government and internationally. Dalston has the characteristics of a ‘natural cultural district’.
London
MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
national
INTRODUCTION
international
Some statistics
Dalston ranks high when it comes to deprivation, as does the Borough of Hackney as a whole, 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’. 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 an above average proportion of the population has a higher degree and yet 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 Dalston with Highbury & Islington, 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 superseded 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 enterprises. This process by which creative activity becomes economically sustainable is central to understanding Dalston’s 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
15
The principles of the study D HIGH STREET
KINGSLAN
1 Value what is there LANE
DALSTON
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 self-organising 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 various 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. 22
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
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59
The Simpson’s Factory / Olympia House Somerfield Grove Mural Derelict industrial building Chapel The Electricity Sub Station St. Matthias Church Travis Perkins The Arundel Arms Camelot Property Historic Cinema Historic Signage Hundred Flowers Cultural Centre Millers Terrace / Millers Avenue Arcola Theatre Hindle House Shacklewell Bath House St. Barnabus Church Foskett Terrace Shacklewell Studios Shacklewell Synagogue Historic Signage Dudley’s Department Store Rio Cinema Historic Signage Historic Signage Birkbeck Mews Winchester Place Mural Historic Signage Rachael & Gregory House Historic Signage Alevi Centre St. Marks Sandringham Road Ridley Road Factory Building German Hospital The Faith Tabernacle Church of God Red Cross Donaldson Clock & Signage Vicarage House Historic Signage Tyssen Passage CLR James Peace Mural Holy Trinity Church Holly Street Community Centre Dalston Methodist Centre Passing Clouds Venue The Prince of Wales Pub William Gee Ribbon Shop Historic Signage The Kingsgate Estate Nimrod Passage Historic Signage Historic Signage Historic Signage Historic Signage Stanborough Passage Shiloh Pentecostal Church Bootstrap Company
1 VALUE WHAT IS THERE
03 Derelict Industrial Building 04 & 05 The Chapel and the Electricity Sub Station
21 Historic Signage
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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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
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 deliberately 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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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
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 Collins 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 Rupert 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 Musketeer 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 TfLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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. 40
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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;business as usual â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; 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 artefacts collection has commenced to salvage and store signage that might otherwise be discarded.
Dalston Lane Terraces 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 Rhodes and Somerford Grove are concerned with the health and food production agenda and 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Local listing â&#x20AC;&#x153;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 Gillett 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 whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 guerilla gardens
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Green Routes 8.2 Rhodes Estate Routes enhanced with greening, play and event . Physical change and engaged maintenance.
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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.
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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
43
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
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
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
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
44
Kingsland High Street & Dalston Lane
Project Description / Project Status / Next Steps
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
45
PROJECT LISTINGS
46
47
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
48
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
49
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
50
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 TfLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Streetscene and TCF
PROJECT THEME 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; HIGH STREETS
51
1.01
High Street de-cluttering High Street
gue
Kingsland High Street
ongestion
estion
Catalogue of street furniture from the sample section of Kingsland High Street
Ridley Road Dalston Kingsland Station
Ridley Road
Winchester Place
Bradbury Road
Gillett Street
Camp
Reduce number of elements, by combining and judicious removal. Catalogue 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.
52
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
Campb
ell Roa
d
bell R
ssw Cro
ay
oad
Kingsland High Street
Dalston Kingsland Station Gillett
Street
Kingsland High Street
Winchester Place
Sandringham Road
ssw Cro
ay
lewel Shack
l Lane
Sandringham Road
e ll Lan klewe Shac
gue
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.
gue
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
+
=
+
=
)(
x
REMOVE
x
)( )( ) RELOCATE
REDESIGN
x
Catalogue coupling to free up more space
PROJECT THEME 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; HIGH STREETS
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.
ST. WincheLAUREL ster Place
WOODLAND ST.
Sandringham Road
e ll Lan klewe Shac
BEECHWOOD RD.
DALSTON LANE
53
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
54
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RELEASE SPACES
55
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
56
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RELEASE SPACES
57
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
58
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
59
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
60
MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
Here & Now Container with equipment
Long term Introduce permanent play landscape
PROJECT THEME 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; HOST SPACES
61
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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.
62
MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
Bootstrap Car Park as Host Space isometric view
PROJECT THEME 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; HOST SPACES
63
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. 64
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 peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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.
65
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
66
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RIDLEY ROAD MARKET
67
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
68
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
69
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 70
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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;business as usualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; during this period of change. MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
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’.
PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING
71
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.
72
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WAYFINDING
73
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.
74
MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
PROJECT THEME 5 — WAYFINDING
75
5.07 Directional Signage
Kingsland High Street / Gillett Square Day view
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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;heritage walkâ&#x20AC;?.
76
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WAYFINDING
77
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
78
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; HERITAGE
79
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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
80
MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
Heritage is not only listed buildings – there is a richness in the variety of signage.
PROJECT THEME 6 — HERITAGE
81
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
82
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 the 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
83
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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 reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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 education
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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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MAKING SPACE IN DALSTON
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.
PROJECT THEME 7 — TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS
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Project Theme 8 Green Routes
STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD
8.03
PELLE
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KINGSLAND HIGH STREET
ST MARKS RISE
E CRE COLVESTON
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SCENT
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DALSTON LANE
ND ROAD
GRAHAM ROA
8.01
8.02
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QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD
BALLS PO
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FOREST ROAD
RICHMOND ROA
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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 amenity. 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 strategically 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
games
power supplies
cycle friendly
Poten paved to env Trinity Youth
New h neighb meeti
lighting
fixed seating
tactile play and social space
temporary seating
Existin space
Propo orcha green space
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
2000
1900
slide 1m hig h
gra ss m oun ds
Stepping Stones
1000
informal seating
edible planting
Sliding Route
Planting Platform
6000 Slide 2.4m high
Stepping Stones
landing surface
Drinking fountain
Water rills
River soft stones
Water Fountain
Timber deck
Mature Tree
200
0
190
0
Informal seating
Tree Platform
Wooble Disk
3000
Boulders
Informal seating Area of soft surface
Climbing Tree 6000
Mature Tree
Climbing Tree
Key
Edible Maze
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
PROJECT THEME 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; GREEN ROUTES
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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 psychological 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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 than 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.
Q U E E N S B R ID G E R O A
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Rhodes Estate isometric 102
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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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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 TRAs in maintaining communal green space within housing estates could be further supported and amplified. Despite the strong existing desire to improve the estate, the 106s 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 talking to the architects of the proposed PCT centre to enhance the semi public green spaces within that development.
S O T K E N E W IN O T
G N R O A D
Somerford Grove Estate isometric 104
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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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; GREEN ROUTES
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Project Theme 9 Semi Public Spaces
9.1.2
9.5.1
9.6.9 9.1.1
9.6.3 9.3.3 9.6.1
9.6.2
9.3.1
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9.5.2
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9.3.5
9.3.6
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GRAHAM ROA
9.5.6 9.6.6
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9.3.9
PARKHOLM
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9.5.7
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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 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 a site for an edible garden, with a programme of gardening skills activities in line with the Mayor of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capital Growth initiative intended to boost locally grown food in London.
St Marks PROJECT THEME 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; SEMI PUBLIC SPACES
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9.00 Community shared space as a site for investments
St Marks as shared playground
Community gardening on Bootstrapâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roof
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9.00 Enriching school premises as outdoor classrooms & edible playgrounds
PROJECT THEME 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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
Map
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Draw attention to changes in the urban realm KINGSLAND HIGH STREET
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RIDLEY ROAD
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FOREST ROAD
QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD
Proposal group
RICHMOND ROAD
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
AN
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Map
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Raise awareness of urban environment and add meaning to places within the public realm through art projects.
2
KINGSLAND HIGH STREE
Aim
Meaningful Places
KLE
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SANDRINGHAM ROAD
RIDLEY ROAD
DALSTON LANE
FOREST ROAD
1
QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD
Proposal group
RICHMOND ROAD
1 Marvelo Dalston
2 Invisible Dust
Artist’s exploration of dust, imagination and air pollution
3 Red Carpet Treatment Outdoor interventions
STOKE NEWINGTON ROA
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A Sound Map of Dalston
PELLERIN
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ROAD
CKL
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OS
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SANDRINGHAM ROAD
KINGSLAND HIGH STREE
T
ST MARKS RISE
COLVESTONE
CRESCENT
RIDLEY ROAD
DALSTON KINGSLAND
DALSTON LANE
GRAHAM ROAD
ROAD
PARKHOLME
Q U E E N S B R I D G E R OA D
BALLS POND
ROAD
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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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 Dalstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public realm.
The significant contribution that the voluntary sector makes to the breadth of activity taking place in Dalston needs to be recognized as intrinsic to the success of any forthcoming enhancements to Dalstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 and 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 taken place with residents of the Rhodes estate. Gardening workshops are happening in August as a prompt to discussion on 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. Improvements to the approaches into the estate to connect the estate with the new landscaping of Dalston Square.
The LDA is currently exploring funding for some of these projects.
Somerford Grove As part of the research and discussion as to what might 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 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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All Wayfinding Projects Funding secured
K IN G S L A N
Gillett Square Programming Cultural ement Engag Funding allocated
D H IG H T
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September 2008
July 2009
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St. Marks Semi Public Space Support from area dean
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Rhodes Estate gardening workshops programmed
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Ashwin Street / Youth workshops aces Host Sp designed hoarding
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Eastern Curve Host Space Green Route Dalston Mill
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Projects under way as result of this study
PROJECT OUTCOMES
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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 Collins / Jill Low / Marie Murray / Emma Jones / Adam Hart and to everyone who took time to contribute.
Design by Axel Feldmann, objectif 118