The Urban Design strategy focuses on a site in the north of Canning Town, in between the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham. Industrial and storage uses currently make up most of the site, with some community and commercial facilities interspersed. The defined natural and man-made borders on the periphery of the site have led us to frame this area as an island. This characterisation summarises some of the existing weaknesses (e.g isolation) as well as some of the opportunities (e.g unique identity) the site has. Recognition of these factors, paired with needs for both London and the local area has led us to craft a vision based on adaptability, local self-sufficiency and connectivity. Through amalgamating these concepts in the form of various initiatives on the site, we have aimed to guide development in order to create an urban environment that has a long-term contribution to the well-being of those that live, work, and visit the area.

Having previously been a site for heavy industry, the UK economy’s turn towards the tertiary sector has given rise to new challenges for both local places and people. Our focus area follows the trends of continued relocation and repurposing of industry in London (1), as several previously occupied warehouses and storage units have been vacated or are in the process of demolition. These changes present an opportunity to address some of the issues the local area faces, such as its disproportionate level of employment in the primary sector and its low levels of health and wellness.

We will also draw on the strengths this area has to offer. Its dynamic natural features, its rich history, nearby public transport facilities, and the fact that Newham is the youngest borough in London. Consideration of new developments and recently vacated land have also informed our strategy. Accommodating these changes, we seek to maximise all the potential benefits these can bring.

Contribution: Creating the masterplan, sections, area distribution drawings, and river visualisation. One of the strengths of this project was conceptual thinking and proposing different scenarios in the tutorials. The analysis part was equally divided among the four group members.