London StrandEast Urban design
LONDON: STRAND EAST
Paper - Final copy
2013.01.31
GROUP # 20
Karabay Gizem [Urban design & Landscape Architecture]
Redealli Luca [Planning]
Saloriani Stefano [Planning]
[pag. 1]
0. INTRODUCTION
O.1 Abstract
[pag. 2]
1. GENERAL INFO
1.1 Info about the project
1.2 Framework
1.3 Before and After
[pag. 5]
2. STORY OF THE PROJECT
2.1 Planning process
[pag. 6]
3. PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION
3.1 Transformation of the area
3.2 Visual perspective
3.3 Main structure
3.4 Block, grid, public space
3.5 The different parts
[pag. 11]
4. PART’S INTERPRETATION
4.1 Commercial part
4.2 “Urban heritage” part
4.3 Residential part
4.4 Residential & Riverside part
4.5 Riverside & The Hub part
[pag. 16]
5. CONCLUSIONS
[pag. 17]
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Index
1/
0.1
ABSTRACT
This work seeks to find and investigate the most relevant aspects about the urbanism project of
STRAND EAST in London, emphasizing on those particular elements that define it.
We will tackle this question starting from a more general standpoint of the project and delving into
the recently developed district of Stratford, in which the new Olympic park has been founded.
Firstly, we achieved to know and describe it; we can finally analyze the approach and ideas involved
in its creation. Then, we tried to understand and interrogate from different scale and different point
of view.
We decided to describe the project in two steps:
• The first step is the description of the general structure interpreting the general characteristics
of blocks, grid and public space;
• The second step is to describe more in deeply the configuration of the single elements composed the project.
In the descriptions of the the general structure we saw how various elements is differences from
other and how these differences create differences spaces, relationships and functions; so we divided the area in five quarters and interpreted the principal characteristics.
We start up our work by searching books, magazines and websites related to the matter and elaborating an index (all the references used will thoroughly appear in the Bibliography). Then, we try to
set which material needs to be elaborated or analyzed for each of the points in the index to have an
idea on what to work. Since each of us has a different field of knowledge and studies, we can enrich
ourselves by sharing the work, thus, we try to work together as much as possible.
0. Introduction
2/
1.1
INFO ABOUT THE PROJECT
London
Strand East
is the city
is our case study
Newham
2012
is the district
Buildings Start-up
14 ha
60.000 mq
Dimension of site
Built surface
Public space:
80.000 mq
1,1 mq/mq
Area ratio
residential &
recreational
commercial
1000
New homes
directional & tertiary
Img. 1: Info about the project (source: Pictures, Stratford metropolitan Masterplan Executive Summary
2011; graphics, personal elaboration)
1. General info
3/
1.2
FRAMEWORK
Where in London
Enfield
Barnet
Waltham Forest
Harrow
Redbridge
Haringey
Havering
Brent
Hackney
Islington
Camden
Newham
Hillingdon
Westminster
Ealing
Central
London
Tower
Hamlets
Canary
Wharf
K&C
H&F
Heathrow
STRAND
EAST__
City Airport
Greenwich
Southwark
Hounslow
Bexley
Lambeth
Richmond
Wandsworth
OLYMPIC
PARK
Barking & Dagenham
Lewisham
Merton
Kingston
Bromley
Sutton
Croydon
Img. 2: General framwork (source: personal elaboration)
Focus on masterplan area
Strand east is a new project for the redevelopment of Stratford. The project contain
a big area in Stratford where are localized
another four project and the most important is the Olympic park for Olympic game
2012. The area is an ex industrial districts
characterized for the presence of industrial
heritage.
The promoter of the project are Stratford
district and the most important developer
is IKEA group, would realize a new sustainable project in an area will be a new center
in the urban region of London. The quarter
is delimited at North from the High Street A
12, at East and South from Three Mills Wall
river and at West from River Lee Navigation.
The two maps under this description show
the context of Stratford Masterplan and synthetize the principal characteristic of the
new development of Stratford divided into
each quarter.
OLYMPIC
PARK
Chobham
Farm
Stratford
Old Town
Greater
Carpenters
Neighb.
STRAND
EAST__
Img. 3: Stratford Masterplan area (source: Google Earth and personal elaboration)
STRATFORD
MASTERPLAN
Img. 4: Interpretation about the Stratford Masterplan
(source: personal elaboration)
1. General info
4/
1.3
BEFORE AND AFTER
Img. 5: Images before and after the intevent (source: http://www.designboom.com; http://inhabitat.com)
1. General info
5/
2.1
PLANNING PROCESS
Olympic Legacy
Supplementary
Planning
Guidance
London Plan
London
Housing
Design
Guide
The Olympic Games is a big event
for a State in particular for the host
city; in this case London. The process starting from a project (masterplan) of the area is realizing the
Olympic Park all in accordance with
the London Plan.
The London Borough of Newham
exposes the guidelines and the
principal strategy: Housing strategy, economic development strategy, property strategy, strategy of
sustainable communities.
Housing
Strategy
London Borough
of Newham
Core Strategy
Economic
Development
Strategy
Sustainable
Communities
Strategy
After this the master plan follows
the guidelines and elaborates the
projects. In this case there are few
master plan revolve around the
Stratford Metropolitan Masterplan.
We focus on the Sugar house lane.
Property
Strategy
Landprop
Real estate
group of
IKEA
2012 Games
Legacy Plan
Stratford
Metropolitan
Masterplan
Northern
Olympic Fringe
Masterplan
Landmark
StrandEast tower
realized by
Wood Beton spa
Sugar House
Lane Land Use
and Design
Brief
Stratford
City
Masterplan
Designed
by
ARC - ML
Img. 6: Planning assumptions and actors involved (source: personal elaboration)
2. Story of the project
6/
3.1
TRANSFORMATION OF THE AREA
Status of the area today
According to our points of view, it is important to define
how the characteristic of the old structure and the new
one are related in order to understand the changes that
the project brings in the area. At this point, a question can
could be: “Does the project take some points from the old
structure?”
Img. 7: Industrial presence today (source: Google Earth and personal elaboration)
Old grid
Img.8: Industrial presence grid (source: personal elaboration)
The old grid is characterized for simplicity: two streets to connect industrial fabric and highway. This
structure can be acceptable for an industrial quarter were the connection with the context is insignificant. These are the principal elements:
•
•
•
No relationship with the context;
Regular grid;
Access only from the high-street.
Img.11: Old grid interpretation (source: personal elaboration)
Status of the area tomorrow
The new grid presents some different elements; from the old structure resumes only
the two streets, modifying and create new
access:
•
•
•
•
Irregular grid;
Relationship with the context (three new
bridge)
Realized on the human dimension
The space is characterized for more space to pedestrian
Img.9: StrandEast Masterplan (source: http://www.arc-ml.com)
New grid
Img.12: New grid interpretation (source: personal elaboration)
Img.10: StrandEast grid (source: personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
7/
3.2
VISUAL PERSPECTIVE
The urban space can be also experienced by our perception and
cognition. As indicated in the “Public Places Urban Spaces”, we can explain
the urban environment with the help of different level of difficulty in mentally
grouping variety of elements from the visual interpretation into a general
outlook. (170) Therefore, some components can be used in the reading of
visual dimension of an urban space such as sense of patterns, appreciation
of rhythm, recognition of balance and harmony. As a result, when analyzed
the Strand East in terms of visual observation, we can examine some crucial a sequence of prevailing panoramic views to the project area at the first
glance. The reason for this is to covered by the water element from three
sides. Also, when considering the height of floors, the sense of rhythm can
be observed, especially on the High Road.
Img.13: Panoramic Views of the site from its environment
(source: personal elaboration)
nt
a
to G
rfro
s
View
te
Wa
As indicated above, on the account of the surrounding three sides by natural elements creates main
vistas without any visual barrier. The axe in the middle
of project enables the orientation with the help of using grouped elements/buildings through parallelism.
In addition to this, some important buildings outside
of the area, for example, The Gasholders can be on
the High Street across the Bow Back River and are a
further reminder of London’s growth in the nineteenth
century. (Sugar House Lane Masterplanning Assessment, 23)
a
s
lder
ram
sho
o
pan
Img.14: Main Vista - Views of Natural Qualities (source: personal
elaboration)
Images: Sugar House Lane Masterplan Heritage Assessment, (pg. 20-34)
Views to the Abbey
Mill Station
There is another approach to create controlled
panoramas into the project area in order to provide the
detection of surrounding buildings. When considering
the existing industrial plan of the site, there were three
chimneys which have a role as landmarks. The project
commonly preserved their spaces by opening these
spaces as squares and this leads to a clear vision.
Moreover, the Three Mills complex can be observed from southwards along Sugar House Lane.
Views to Three Mills
Img. 15: Views from inside (source: personal elaboration)
Views to the Landmark
The most perceivable element is the landmark
of the project. It is immediately obvious and become apparent from every aspect of the site.
Also, façade rhythms can be readily conceived
when walking though the environment of the river path.
Therefore, it reflects the variety of sensations contained
within it because the balance of them change according
the feature of the space.
Img.16: Views into the area (source: personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
8/
3.3
MAIN STRUCTURE
General point of view
Element composed the project
Blocks
Strand East is composed by three
types of blocks: court, tower and
linear. These are characterized
for the relationship with the open
space and for their functions. Residential buildings are composed
by two courts on up to four floors
and one up to three floors. The
tower has up to six from sixteen
floors and the linear blocks have
up to five-six floors.
Courtyard
The space included by court is
characterized from different connection and open space. Residential blocks create open space (three floors) and a continuous visual
perspective; where there are four
floors create a semi-private space
for the inhabitants; the last space
is private space characterized the
commercial area where there are
all work and service for the commercial space.
Img. 17: StrandEast project area (source: Amended Plan 2012 and personal elaboration)
River
Building
Streets
Build reconvertited
Green area building
Building Background
Streets
They are not much developed
because the principal scope of
project is to realize a quarter without car so the street is only for
the public transport. The unique
entrance (for the transport) is localized at north where there is the
High Street A 12 and for the rest is
all composed of sustainable transport systems like pedestrian and
bicycle.
Public space
Green area
Project perimetre
Strand east shows how a sustainable project
can be done because it is developed by a great organization of transport, open space.
The area is totally viable by foot.
The quarter is composed by three different
type of building; the differences between
them concern about their position and the
function taking in place. The project reinterpreted the present layout (industrial district).
Public space
Almost 80.000 mq are for the public space. In the quarter it assumes different characteristic about
the relations create with building,
we can divided it in: square, interaction space and transit space.
The most part of Strand East is occupied by
residential area. Here we can find the most
vital part of “interaction” space because the
structure is composed by open court in which
the street are open and the buildings floor are
lowest.
Green
In the project there isn’t a lot of
green area. The most important is
localized on the river West where
the linear blocks are setback to
create a front on the river. The green on the East side is private for
the residential.
Img. 18: Layers in the project (source: Amended
Plan 2012 and personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
9/
3.4
BLOCK, GRID, PUBLIC SPACES
Strand East is characterized by few elements related to each other:
block, grid, and public space. These elements are distinguished to each
other for the function of the space (residential, commercial, and tertiary).
Grid
Block
The space is characterized by different types of buildings (court, linear
blocks). This type has a relation with
the sourrounding space in different
way on the account of the fact that it
depends on its form.
Elements of the project
+
Img. 19: Block pattern (source: personal elaboration)
The area presents a tower block in
each quarters as a “landmark”
Img. 21: Grid structure (source: personal elaboration)
Court, linear blocks
Project perimeter
Towers
Project perimeter
Public space
It is explained before the project
and is identified by different relationship among public space,
buildings and their form.
The project is characterized for the present of only two streets and the other
space is composed by pedestrian ways.
The sketch of grid presents the characteristic of European grid, irregular not welldefined by regular blocks.
On the side, we can see how the
buildings are arranged to create
public space.
(source: personal elaboration)
Buildings
Public space
Project perimeter
FUNCTIONALLY
BLOCKS
The residential court create a
semi-private space: “under the
control of residence.
The tower create a visual point
of orientation.
In the south the three public
tower create a big square in
connection with the two new
pedestrian an cycle connection.
Simple structure, caraterized
by court, tower, liner block.
The high building is localized at
the edge co create a front with
the context.
Sustainable project but with
an high area ratio 1,1 mq/mq
The most part of the project is
open/public space.
Connection East/West between
the block; Noth/South into the
block (are open and create
interaction space)
Green space doesn’t enter in the
block but stops when arrive at the
blocks base.
The visual space doesn’t stops but
create a continuom.
The principal square is localized
at north and south in the center
there is only “transit space”
OPEN SPACE
Img. 22: Characteristic of general structure (source: personal
elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
COMMENT/CRITIQUE
Img. 20: Relationship between buildings and public space
In the northern part (commercial
area) the high building are overlooking the street and create a
corridor inside the project; the
riverside quarter on West create
a green area between its and the
river and a barrier in direction of
the street. The riverside quarter
on East create a waterfront on
Three Mills River and an interaction space between the linear
block and the court. The center
quarter create a semi-public
space between the building with
three floors and a continuum
from the north and the south.
The southern building creates a
square among the tower.
To interpret the general pattern
10 /
3.5
THE DIFFERENT PARTS
Five spaces
Seeing more in detail the general plan we can see how the project is divided in five
quarters.
What are the differences between in these quarters?
1.
The North East Quarter of the site is subject to a detailed planning application
which will create first phase of this development already has planning permission,
with Dane’s Yard to be bought forward as the location for a new 40m high illuminated
sculpture set within a landscaped public square and a new destination restaurant to be
operated by Graysons;
2.
A Commercial Quarter would sit along the northern part of the site, adjoining
the high street, northern and western boundaries of the site.
3.
A Residential Quarter sits at the heart of Strand East which will be characterized
by low level mews housing, with shared internal garden courtyards and semi-private
spaces;
Img. 23: Different parts (source: Amended Plan 2012
personal elaboration)
Commercial space
Urban Heritage
4.
A Riverside Quarter east and west, will sit at the water side edges of Strand
East with housing arranged in a linear fashion along the waterfront. In some instances
buildings may be placed immediately on the water’s edge, in other locations it would be
set back to create public space adjacent to the water.
5.
The Hub is the quarter at the south end of the site, with a community building
at its heart, surrounded by cafes, bars and small shops that will look out onto a public
square and the water.
Residential space
Riverside space
The Hub
The spaces are composed by a few typologies of buildings: courtyard (open/closed).
The form of buildings are characterized for different function (residential, commercial
and directionally). Also, we can see a different type of space where the buildings are
related to the space.
Different function
Different typology
sh/pull
pu
stretch
slice
Residential
+
sh/pull
pu
hole
Commercial
STRAND
EAST____
+
stretch
Tertiary / directionaly
Different spaces
Block base
Tower
+
+
+
Imgs. 24-25:Elements compose the project StrandEast (source: personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
11 /
4.1
COMMERCIAL PART
Which part?
The part along the highway
Highway A12
This part is the only one in which
the building type is a series of
“closed court” that define internal and private spaces.
Public spaces
Private Courtyard
Zone
Here we can see that the street, unlike the rest of the “neighborhood”, gives form at the
part composing the blocks and
transforming it in a sort of “linear building”.
Here we try to show, as also in
the other pages, how the block
works.
The blocks are break by
street and by public spaces
Imgs. 26-27: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Which building?
Many “factors” that can break the block
Imgs. 28:Building’s typology (source: personal elaboration)
One of the most important fact is the difference of
the public space from one side to the other of this
part of the project. This is visible in the section and
also we can understand that, probably, is due to the
presence of the street which “bound” the public space, then in the other part, it is “protected” between
the block.
Imgs. 29: What breaks? (source: personal elaboration)
Imgs. 30: The section (source: personal elaboration)
The street
P.S.
Block
Private court
Block
Public space
4. Part’s interpretation
Block
12 /
4.2
“URBAN HERITAGE” PART
Which part?
A sort of internal satellite based on pre-existin buildings
The second part is that we have
defined “urban heritage” because here the aim of the project
is try to maintain some existing
building and to add some others
that resemble the old structure.
Now is possibly to understand
why this part is so different from
the others.
For us, also, here the design has
tried to make more recognizable this part with the idea to put
here the two highest landmarks.
(Ones is the wood’s tower)
Imgs. 31: Which part (source: personal elaboration)
Which building?
High buildings
Main internal axis
Public spaces
Imgs. 32: The part inside (source: personal elaboration)
Factors that can break the block
These parts, as we can see, are
similar at two island; both for
the building and for the general structure (as already said).
Imgs. 33: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
In this case however the part isn’t
crossed by the road but only by
the public spaces that, with the
ex-industrial framework, modify
the block.
Imgs. 34: What breaks (source: personal elaboration)
A reflection “among the parts”
Now, we know that in this part (but is true
also for the residential part) that the public
space is very important in the definition of
the block.
With these images we have tried to
show that the public space transform also the grid and the blocks
that could be (on the left)
something different from
what they will be in the realty.
Imgs. 35-36: Interpretation of the public space (source: personal elaboration)
4. Part’s Interpretation
13 /
4.3
RESIDENTIAL PART
Which part?
The core of the project: besdential block
Public spaces
The center of the project is
this residential part around
which will’ do a lot of reasoning.
For example we analyzed that
also in this part the street is important beacause breaks in the
middle the block.
There is also the visual perspective that divide the block in a longitudinally way and open it for
internal square (and so for the
public space).
Semi-Private
Courtyard
Semi-Public
Courtyard
Imgs. 37-38: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Which building
Many “factors” that can break the block
Imgs. 39: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
The quarter is composed by courtyard buildings.
This buildings create a different space in each
part: Semi-public and semi-private. The block is
composed by different levels: a perimetral building (six floors) and an internal building (three
floors).
Imgs. 40:What breaks (source: personal elaboration)
This section is useful for
us to understand the importance of the internal
corridor that create a public space, breaking an
area that would have been
deprived.
Imgs. 41: The section (source: personal elaboration)
Block
Semi-priv. garden Block Semi-public Block Semi-priv garspace
den
Block
4. Part’s Interpretation
14 /
4.4
RESIDENTIAL & RIVERSIDE PART
How does public space “work”?
Hierarchical type & series of spaces
A “step by step” spaces
Imgs. 42-43-44-45: Understanding public spaces (source: personal elaboration)
As we said the public space is very important; here to underline this fact we have tried to show the
strictly connections with the block. For example in the first scheme is possible to see that the public space pass into the block from “north to south”, but not from “west to east” (and that is visible
also in the blocks. Then in the second and in the third scheme we can see the “sequence” of the
spaces and which are more important than others.
Which part?
A sort of part that protect the internal public space
Public
green
Public
spaces
Private
green
Private
Courtyard
Zone
Imgs. 46-47: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Canal
Which building?
These two parts are very similar, on
the other hand, we will understand
that are also so different between
each other.
They are both faced on the river but
will create a very different space, one
has open-green and the other one is
public, but closed with the buildings.
Imgs. 48: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
4. Part’s interpretation
15 /
4.5
RIVERSIDE AND THE HUB PART
These parts of the river, as we
said, are similar. One of these similarities is that both have a “C
shape” due to the public space
that retreat the plot and create a
square (green or built).
As we can see in the sections the
width of these two spaces is different and so also the practices
that will be possible.
Another important fact is that
the buildings seems to protect
the public space against the street and the (for the east part)
river.
Imgs. 49: Public space & block (source: personal elab.)
Which part?
Imgs.50: The sections (source: personal elaboration)
A sort of enclave around public space
Then for the last part is useful to
say that this commercial “enclave” is a sort of another island but
is different from the “heritage”
one.
Public
space
Public
green
Firstly, this part is completely
new; secondly the spaces are
more big and green.
Imgs. 51-52: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Which building?
Also, in this part the buildings
are a quite high tower that create
a huge square.
Canal
Many “factors” that can break the block
In conclusion, we can say
that also the public space
modifies the block and retreats the plots.
Being totally devoted to
the commercial function
can be risky to be a “ghost
place” in the evening.
Imgs. 53: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
Imgs. 54: What breaks (source: personal elaboration)
4. Part’s Interpretation
Both ar
and the can
back and ha
r
itself
16 /
5.
CONCLUSIONS
This is one of the most complex part of our work because is quite easy to be banal saying what is
beautiful or ugly. We tried to avoid this point of view in order to find a general “backbones”.
For us the first step is to underline that one of the “bones” is for sure the
public space.
We listed many times its importance inside each part of the project and
also among them.
In this scheme we already said that the public space generates both the
form of the grid and the form of the blocks; however, as we know it is not
the only factor that can to do this.
Here we can see the street and how it is able to modify deeply the form of
the blocks and the spaces.
We can see clearly that all buildings along the street are linear and they
are not open (excluding the basic way to circulate by foot and by bicycle).
This scheme is useful, one more time, to understand better
the importance of public space. We can see on the
right how it is the first fact of the form of the block.
We can observe that when two or three main public axis
join it to create a sort of square or a place with
a different building’s characteristics (more or less
higher than the rest).
As a conclusion, it can be underlined that this project is quite interesting
mainly for the fact that is small but very full of conceptual topic. It may be
thought well by the designers but it is more significant. To sum up, when
considering the importance of the project, it can be pointed out that the
project try to combine a lot of topics in terms of urban design sphere.
5. Conclusions
17 /
6.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Health, T., Oc, T. (2010/2nd. Ed.). Public Places Urban Spaces The
Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Elsevier Publications. (pp. 40-74).
Chevin, Denise. (2012, March). New Urban Living: The making of East Village. (pp. 1-25).
The Smith Institute. London.
Cliff Moughtin. (1992). Urban desing. Street and square. (pp. 1-190).
Butterworth Architecture. Oxford (UK).
Crozier S. (2011, Winter). East, bright future. The schemes lighting up east London. London’s
Hotspot: East London Issue II (2/12/39/47). Retrieved from http://www.sinclairclark.co.uk/downloads/east.pdf
Frey, H. (1999). Designing the City Towards a more sustainable urban form. New York: Spon Press.
(pp. 39-51).
Hanafi, N., & Groom, J. (2012). Landprop submit plans for Strand East: creating a new
waterside neighbourhood for East London. London: London communications agency on behalf of
LandProp, part of the Inter IKEA Group.
Retried on http://strandeast.com/#press
John R. Gold, Margaret M. Gold. (2010). Olympic cities: City agendas, Planning and World’s Games.
(986-2016). Routledge: New York.
Kasprisin R. (2011). Urban design: the composition of complexity. Routledge. New York
London Thames Gateway. (2008). Sugar House Lane Master planning Exercise Assessment of proposed conservation area. London: Urban Practitioners. (1-34).
Retrieved from http://www.newham.gov.uk/nr/rdonlyres/ecd62139-cc4f-4e9d-bd23- 2ba14ff52e7a/0/sugarhouselaneheritageassessment290408_lowres.pdf
Malcolm M., & Rowland J.. (2006). Urban design futures. Routledge. New York
Newham London (2011). Stratford Metropolitan Master Plan. Supporting document: Sustainability Appraisal. London: Urban Initiatives. (1-210). Retrieved from http://www.newham.gov.uk/NR/
rdonlyres/57D2D0F6-16A6-4646-8859- E44658C874A8/0/SMMSustainabilityAppraisalLowRes.
pdf
Newham London (2010, December). Stratford Metropolitan Master Plan. Supporting document:
Transport Report. London: Urban Initiatives. (1-244). Halcrow Group Limited.
Retrieved from www.newham.gov.uk/stratfordmetropolitan
6. Bibliography
18 /
Panerai P., Castex J., Depaule J.-C., & Samuels I. S. (2004). Urban forms: death and life of the urban
block
Porta, S. (2002). Dancing streets. Scena pubblica urbana e vita sociale. Milano: Edizioni Unicopli.
Roberts, M., Greed, C. (2001), pp. 23-24-29-32 . Approaching urban design: The design process.
Harlow:Longman
Vescovi F. (2011). Il rinascimento urbano in Inghilerra. Lezioni di strategia progettuale tra la
sostenibilità e lo sviluppo economico. Maggioli. Santarcangelo di Romangna (RN)
Wall, E., & Waterman, T. (2010), pp.112-135. Urban design. Lausanne, Ava publishing.
Whetstone M. (2012). Welcome to IKEA - Land: Furniture giant begins urban planning project. The
Globe and Mail (1-3). Retrieved from http://strandeast.com/#press
6. Bibliography
Paper - Final copy
2013.01.31
GROUP # 20
Karabay Gizem [Urban design & Landscape Architecture]
Redealli Luca [Planning]
Saloriani Stefano [Planning]
[pag. 1]
0. INTRODUCTION
O.1 Abstract
[pag. 2]
1. GENERAL INFO
1.1 Info about the project
1.2 Framework
1.3 Before and After
[pag. 5]
2. STORY OF THE PROJECT
2.1 Planning process
[pag. 6]
3. PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION
3.1 Transformation of the area
3.2 Visual perspective
3.3 Main structure
3.4 Block, grid, public space
3.5 The different parts
[pag. 11]
4. PART’S INTERPRETATION
4.1 Commercial part
4.2 “Urban heritage” part
4.3 Residential part
4.4 Residential & Riverside part
4.5 Riverside & The Hub part
[pag. 16]
5. CONCLUSIONS
[pag. 17]
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Index
1/
0.1
ABSTRACT
This work seeks to find and investigate the most relevant aspects about the urbanism project of
STRAND EAST in London, emphasizing on those particular elements that define it.
We will tackle this question starting from a more general standpoint of the project and delving into
the recently developed district of Stratford, in which the new Olympic park has been founded.
Firstly, we achieved to know and describe it; we can finally analyze the approach and ideas involved
in its creation. Then, we tried to understand and interrogate from different scale and different point
of view.
We decided to describe the project in two steps:
• The first step is the description of the general structure interpreting the general characteristics
of blocks, grid and public space;
• The second step is to describe more in deeply the configuration of the single elements composed the project.
In the descriptions of the the general structure we saw how various elements is differences from
other and how these differences create differences spaces, relationships and functions; so we divided the area in five quarters and interpreted the principal characteristics.
We start up our work by searching books, magazines and websites related to the matter and elaborating an index (all the references used will thoroughly appear in the Bibliography). Then, we try to
set which material needs to be elaborated or analyzed for each of the points in the index to have an
idea on what to work. Since each of us has a different field of knowledge and studies, we can enrich
ourselves by sharing the work, thus, we try to work together as much as possible.
0. Introduction
2/
1.1
INFO ABOUT THE PROJECT
London
Strand East
is the city
is our case study
Newham
2012
is the district
Buildings Start-up
14 ha
60.000 mq
Dimension of site
Built surface
Public space:
80.000 mq
1,1 mq/mq
Area ratio
residential &
recreational
commercial
1000
New homes
directional & tertiary
Img. 1: Info about the project (source: Pictures, Stratford metropolitan Masterplan Executive Summary
2011; graphics, personal elaboration)
1. General info
3/
1.2
FRAMEWORK
Where in London
Enfield
Barnet
Waltham Forest
Harrow
Redbridge
Haringey
Havering
Brent
Hackney
Islington
Camden
Newham
Hillingdon
Westminster
Ealing
Central
London
Tower
Hamlets
Canary
Wharf
K&C
H&F
Heathrow
STRAND
EAST__
City Airport
Greenwich
Southwark
Hounslow
Bexley
Lambeth
Richmond
Wandsworth
OLYMPIC
PARK
Barking & Dagenham
Lewisham
Merton
Kingston
Bromley
Sutton
Croydon
Img. 2: General framwork (source: personal elaboration)
Focus on masterplan area
Strand east is a new project for the redevelopment of Stratford. The project contain
a big area in Stratford where are localized
another four project and the most important is the Olympic park for Olympic game
2012. The area is an ex industrial districts
characterized for the presence of industrial
heritage.
The promoter of the project are Stratford
district and the most important developer
is IKEA group, would realize a new sustainable project in an area will be a new center
in the urban region of London. The quarter
is delimited at North from the High Street A
12, at East and South from Three Mills Wall
river and at West from River Lee Navigation.
The two maps under this description show
the context of Stratford Masterplan and synthetize the principal characteristic of the
new development of Stratford divided into
each quarter.
OLYMPIC
PARK
Chobham
Farm
Stratford
Old Town
Greater
Carpenters
Neighb.
STRAND
EAST__
Img. 3: Stratford Masterplan area (source: Google Earth and personal elaboration)
STRATFORD
MASTERPLAN
Img. 4: Interpretation about the Stratford Masterplan
(source: personal elaboration)
1. General info
4/
1.3
BEFORE AND AFTER
Img. 5: Images before and after the intevent (source: http://www.designboom.com; http://inhabitat.com)
1. General info
5/
2.1
PLANNING PROCESS
Olympic Legacy
Supplementary
Planning
Guidance
London Plan
London
Housing
Design
Guide
The Olympic Games is a big event
for a State in particular for the host
city; in this case London. The process starting from a project (masterplan) of the area is realizing the
Olympic Park all in accordance with
the London Plan.
The London Borough of Newham
exposes the guidelines and the
principal strategy: Housing strategy, economic development strategy, property strategy, strategy of
sustainable communities.
Housing
Strategy
London Borough
of Newham
Core Strategy
Economic
Development
Strategy
Sustainable
Communities
Strategy
After this the master plan follows
the guidelines and elaborates the
projects. In this case there are few
master plan revolve around the
Stratford Metropolitan Masterplan.
We focus on the Sugar house lane.
Property
Strategy
Landprop
Real estate
group of
IKEA
2012 Games
Legacy Plan
Stratford
Metropolitan
Masterplan
Northern
Olympic Fringe
Masterplan
Landmark
StrandEast tower
realized by
Wood Beton spa
Sugar House
Lane Land Use
and Design
Brief
Stratford
City
Masterplan
Designed
by
ARC - ML
Img. 6: Planning assumptions and actors involved (source: personal elaboration)
2. Story of the project
6/
3.1
TRANSFORMATION OF THE AREA
Status of the area today
According to our points of view, it is important to define
how the characteristic of the old structure and the new
one are related in order to understand the changes that
the project brings in the area. At this point, a question can
could be: “Does the project take some points from the old
structure?”
Img. 7: Industrial presence today (source: Google Earth and personal elaboration)
Old grid
Img.8: Industrial presence grid (source: personal elaboration)
The old grid is characterized for simplicity: two streets to connect industrial fabric and highway. This
structure can be acceptable for an industrial quarter were the connection with the context is insignificant. These are the principal elements:
•
•
•
No relationship with the context;
Regular grid;
Access only from the high-street.
Img.11: Old grid interpretation (source: personal elaboration)
Status of the area tomorrow
The new grid presents some different elements; from the old structure resumes only
the two streets, modifying and create new
access:
•
•
•
•
Irregular grid;
Relationship with the context (three new
bridge)
Realized on the human dimension
The space is characterized for more space to pedestrian
Img.9: StrandEast Masterplan (source: http://www.arc-ml.com)
New grid
Img.12: New grid interpretation (source: personal elaboration)
Img.10: StrandEast grid (source: personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
7/
3.2
VISUAL PERSPECTIVE
The urban space can be also experienced by our perception and
cognition. As indicated in the “Public Places Urban Spaces”, we can explain
the urban environment with the help of different level of difficulty in mentally
grouping variety of elements from the visual interpretation into a general
outlook. (170) Therefore, some components can be used in the reading of
visual dimension of an urban space such as sense of patterns, appreciation
of rhythm, recognition of balance and harmony. As a result, when analyzed
the Strand East in terms of visual observation, we can examine some crucial a sequence of prevailing panoramic views to the project area at the first
glance. The reason for this is to covered by the water element from three
sides. Also, when considering the height of floors, the sense of rhythm can
be observed, especially on the High Road.
Img.13: Panoramic Views of the site from its environment
(source: personal elaboration)
nt
a
to G
rfro
s
View
te
Wa
As indicated above, on the account of the surrounding three sides by natural elements creates main
vistas without any visual barrier. The axe in the middle
of project enables the orientation with the help of using grouped elements/buildings through parallelism.
In addition to this, some important buildings outside
of the area, for example, The Gasholders can be on
the High Street across the Bow Back River and are a
further reminder of London’s growth in the nineteenth
century. (Sugar House Lane Masterplanning Assessment, 23)
a
s
lder
ram
sho
o
pan
Img.14: Main Vista - Views of Natural Qualities (source: personal
elaboration)
Images: Sugar House Lane Masterplan Heritage Assessment, (pg. 20-34)
Views to the Abbey
Mill Station
There is another approach to create controlled
panoramas into the project area in order to provide the
detection of surrounding buildings. When considering
the existing industrial plan of the site, there were three
chimneys which have a role as landmarks. The project
commonly preserved their spaces by opening these
spaces as squares and this leads to a clear vision.
Moreover, the Three Mills complex can be observed from southwards along Sugar House Lane.
Views to Three Mills
Img. 15: Views from inside (source: personal elaboration)
Views to the Landmark
The most perceivable element is the landmark
of the project. It is immediately obvious and become apparent from every aspect of the site.
Also, façade rhythms can be readily conceived
when walking though the environment of the river path.
Therefore, it reflects the variety of sensations contained
within it because the balance of them change according
the feature of the space.
Img.16: Views into the area (source: personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
8/
3.3
MAIN STRUCTURE
General point of view
Element composed the project
Blocks
Strand East is composed by three
types of blocks: court, tower and
linear. These are characterized
for the relationship with the open
space and for their functions. Residential buildings are composed
by two courts on up to four floors
and one up to three floors. The
tower has up to six from sixteen
floors and the linear blocks have
up to five-six floors.
Courtyard
The space included by court is
characterized from different connection and open space. Residential blocks create open space (three floors) and a continuous visual
perspective; where there are four
floors create a semi-private space
for the inhabitants; the last space
is private space characterized the
commercial area where there are
all work and service for the commercial space.
Img. 17: StrandEast project area (source: Amended Plan 2012 and personal elaboration)
River
Building
Streets
Build reconvertited
Green area building
Building Background
Streets
They are not much developed
because the principal scope of
project is to realize a quarter without car so the street is only for
the public transport. The unique
entrance (for the transport) is localized at north where there is the
High Street A 12 and for the rest is
all composed of sustainable transport systems like pedestrian and
bicycle.
Public space
Green area
Project perimetre
Strand east shows how a sustainable project
can be done because it is developed by a great organization of transport, open space.
The area is totally viable by foot.
The quarter is composed by three different
type of building; the differences between
them concern about their position and the
function taking in place. The project reinterpreted the present layout (industrial district).
Public space
Almost 80.000 mq are for the public space. In the quarter it assumes different characteristic about
the relations create with building,
we can divided it in: square, interaction space and transit space.
The most part of Strand East is occupied by
residential area. Here we can find the most
vital part of “interaction” space because the
structure is composed by open court in which
the street are open and the buildings floor are
lowest.
Green
In the project there isn’t a lot of
green area. The most important is
localized on the river West where
the linear blocks are setback to
create a front on the river. The green on the East side is private for
the residential.
Img. 18: Layers in the project (source: Amended
Plan 2012 and personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
9/
3.4
BLOCK, GRID, PUBLIC SPACES
Strand East is characterized by few elements related to each other:
block, grid, and public space. These elements are distinguished to each
other for the function of the space (residential, commercial, and tertiary).
Grid
Block
The space is characterized by different types of buildings (court, linear
blocks). This type has a relation with
the sourrounding space in different
way on the account of the fact that it
depends on its form.
Elements of the project
+
Img. 19: Block pattern (source: personal elaboration)
The area presents a tower block in
each quarters as a “landmark”
Img. 21: Grid structure (source: personal elaboration)
Court, linear blocks
Project perimeter
Towers
Project perimeter
Public space
It is explained before the project
and is identified by different relationship among public space,
buildings and their form.
The project is characterized for the present of only two streets and the other
space is composed by pedestrian ways.
The sketch of grid presents the characteristic of European grid, irregular not welldefined by regular blocks.
On the side, we can see how the
buildings are arranged to create
public space.
(source: personal elaboration)
Buildings
Public space
Project perimeter
FUNCTIONALLY
BLOCKS
The residential court create a
semi-private space: “under the
control of residence.
The tower create a visual point
of orientation.
In the south the three public
tower create a big square in
connection with the two new
pedestrian an cycle connection.
Simple structure, caraterized
by court, tower, liner block.
The high building is localized at
the edge co create a front with
the context.
Sustainable project but with
an high area ratio 1,1 mq/mq
The most part of the project is
open/public space.
Connection East/West between
the block; Noth/South into the
block (are open and create
interaction space)
Green space doesn’t enter in the
block but stops when arrive at the
blocks base.
The visual space doesn’t stops but
create a continuom.
The principal square is localized
at north and south in the center
there is only “transit space”
OPEN SPACE
Img. 22: Characteristic of general structure (source: personal
elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
COMMENT/CRITIQUE
Img. 20: Relationship between buildings and public space
In the northern part (commercial
area) the high building are overlooking the street and create a
corridor inside the project; the
riverside quarter on West create
a green area between its and the
river and a barrier in direction of
the street. The riverside quarter
on East create a waterfront on
Three Mills River and an interaction space between the linear
block and the court. The center
quarter create a semi-public
space between the building with
three floors and a continuum
from the north and the south.
The southern building creates a
square among the tower.
To interpret the general pattern
10 /
3.5
THE DIFFERENT PARTS
Five spaces
Seeing more in detail the general plan we can see how the project is divided in five
quarters.
What are the differences between in these quarters?
1.
The North East Quarter of the site is subject to a detailed planning application
which will create first phase of this development already has planning permission,
with Dane’s Yard to be bought forward as the location for a new 40m high illuminated
sculpture set within a landscaped public square and a new destination restaurant to be
operated by Graysons;
2.
A Commercial Quarter would sit along the northern part of the site, adjoining
the high street, northern and western boundaries of the site.
3.
A Residential Quarter sits at the heart of Strand East which will be characterized
by low level mews housing, with shared internal garden courtyards and semi-private
spaces;
Img. 23: Different parts (source: Amended Plan 2012
personal elaboration)
Commercial space
Urban Heritage
4.
A Riverside Quarter east and west, will sit at the water side edges of Strand
East with housing arranged in a linear fashion along the waterfront. In some instances
buildings may be placed immediately on the water’s edge, in other locations it would be
set back to create public space adjacent to the water.
5.
The Hub is the quarter at the south end of the site, with a community building
at its heart, surrounded by cafes, bars and small shops that will look out onto a public
square and the water.
Residential space
Riverside space
The Hub
The spaces are composed by a few typologies of buildings: courtyard (open/closed).
The form of buildings are characterized for different function (residential, commercial
and directionally). Also, we can see a different type of space where the buildings are
related to the space.
Different function
Different typology
sh/pull
pu
stretch
slice
Residential
+
sh/pull
pu
hole
Commercial
STRAND
EAST____
+
stretch
Tertiary / directionaly
Different spaces
Block base
Tower
+
+
+
Imgs. 24-25:Elements compose the project StrandEast (source: personal elaboration)
3. Physical configuration
11 /
4.1
COMMERCIAL PART
Which part?
The part along the highway
Highway A12
This part is the only one in which
the building type is a series of
“closed court” that define internal and private spaces.
Public spaces
Private Courtyard
Zone
Here we can see that the street, unlike the rest of the “neighborhood”, gives form at the
part composing the blocks and
transforming it in a sort of “linear building”.
Here we try to show, as also in
the other pages, how the block
works.
The blocks are break by
street and by public spaces
Imgs. 26-27: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Which building?
Many “factors” that can break the block
Imgs. 28:Building’s typology (source: personal elaboration)
One of the most important fact is the difference of
the public space from one side to the other of this
part of the project. This is visible in the section and
also we can understand that, probably, is due to the
presence of the street which “bound” the public space, then in the other part, it is “protected” between
the block.
Imgs. 29: What breaks? (source: personal elaboration)
Imgs. 30: The section (source: personal elaboration)
The street
P.S.
Block
Private court
Block
Public space
4. Part’s interpretation
Block
12 /
4.2
“URBAN HERITAGE” PART
Which part?
A sort of internal satellite based on pre-existin buildings
The second part is that we have
defined “urban heritage” because here the aim of the project
is try to maintain some existing
building and to add some others
that resemble the old structure.
Now is possibly to understand
why this part is so different from
the others.
For us, also, here the design has
tried to make more recognizable this part with the idea to put
here the two highest landmarks.
(Ones is the wood’s tower)
Imgs. 31: Which part (source: personal elaboration)
Which building?
High buildings
Main internal axis
Public spaces
Imgs. 32: The part inside (source: personal elaboration)
Factors that can break the block
These parts, as we can see, are
similar at two island; both for
the building and for the general structure (as already said).
Imgs. 33: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
In this case however the part isn’t
crossed by the road but only by
the public spaces that, with the
ex-industrial framework, modify
the block.
Imgs. 34: What breaks (source: personal elaboration)
A reflection “among the parts”
Now, we know that in this part (but is true
also for the residential part) that the public
space is very important in the definition of
the block.
With these images we have tried to
show that the public space transform also the grid and the blocks
that could be (on the left)
something different from
what they will be in the realty.
Imgs. 35-36: Interpretation of the public space (source: personal elaboration)
4. Part’s Interpretation
13 /
4.3
RESIDENTIAL PART
Which part?
The core of the project: besdential block
Public spaces
The center of the project is
this residential part around
which will’ do a lot of reasoning.
For example we analyzed that
also in this part the street is important beacause breaks in the
middle the block.
There is also the visual perspective that divide the block in a longitudinally way and open it for
internal square (and so for the
public space).
Semi-Private
Courtyard
Semi-Public
Courtyard
Imgs. 37-38: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Which building
Many “factors” that can break the block
Imgs. 39: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
The quarter is composed by courtyard buildings.
This buildings create a different space in each
part: Semi-public and semi-private. The block is
composed by different levels: a perimetral building (six floors) and an internal building (three
floors).
Imgs. 40:What breaks (source: personal elaboration)
This section is useful for
us to understand the importance of the internal
corridor that create a public space, breaking an
area that would have been
deprived.
Imgs. 41: The section (source: personal elaboration)
Block
Semi-priv. garden Block Semi-public Block Semi-priv garspace
den
Block
4. Part’s Interpretation
14 /
4.4
RESIDENTIAL & RIVERSIDE PART
How does public space “work”?
Hierarchical type & series of spaces
A “step by step” spaces
Imgs. 42-43-44-45: Understanding public spaces (source: personal elaboration)
As we said the public space is very important; here to underline this fact we have tried to show the
strictly connections with the block. For example in the first scheme is possible to see that the public space pass into the block from “north to south”, but not from “west to east” (and that is visible
also in the blocks. Then in the second and in the third scheme we can see the “sequence” of the
spaces and which are more important than others.
Which part?
A sort of part that protect the internal public space
Public
green
Public
spaces
Private
green
Private
Courtyard
Zone
Imgs. 46-47: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Canal
Which building?
These two parts are very similar, on
the other hand, we will understand
that are also so different between
each other.
They are both faced on the river but
will create a very different space, one
has open-green and the other one is
public, but closed with the buildings.
Imgs. 48: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
4. Part’s interpretation
15 /
4.5
RIVERSIDE AND THE HUB PART
These parts of the river, as we
said, are similar. One of these similarities is that both have a “C
shape” due to the public space
that retreat the plot and create a
square (green or built).
As we can see in the sections the
width of these two spaces is different and so also the practices
that will be possible.
Another important fact is that
the buildings seems to protect
the public space against the street and the (for the east part)
river.
Imgs. 49: Public space & block (source: personal elab.)
Which part?
Imgs.50: The sections (source: personal elaboration)
A sort of enclave around public space
Then for the last part is useful to
say that this commercial “enclave” is a sort of another island but
is different from the “heritage”
one.
Public
space
Public
green
Firstly, this part is completely
new; secondly the spaces are
more big and green.
Imgs. 51-52: Which & How (source: personal elaboration)
Which building?
Also, in this part the buildings
are a quite high tower that create
a huge square.
Canal
Many “factors” that can break the block
In conclusion, we can say
that also the public space
modifies the block and retreats the plots.
Being totally devoted to
the commercial function
can be risky to be a “ghost
place” in the evening.
Imgs. 53: Which building (source: personal elaboration)
Imgs. 54: What breaks (source: personal elaboration)
4. Part’s Interpretation
Both ar
and the can
back and ha
r
itself
16 /
5.
CONCLUSIONS
This is one of the most complex part of our work because is quite easy to be banal saying what is
beautiful or ugly. We tried to avoid this point of view in order to find a general “backbones”.
For us the first step is to underline that one of the “bones” is for sure the
public space.
We listed many times its importance inside each part of the project and
also among them.
In this scheme we already said that the public space generates both the
form of the grid and the form of the blocks; however, as we know it is not
the only factor that can to do this.
Here we can see the street and how it is able to modify deeply the form of
the blocks and the spaces.
We can see clearly that all buildings along the street are linear and they
are not open (excluding the basic way to circulate by foot and by bicycle).
This scheme is useful, one more time, to understand better
the importance of public space. We can see on the
right how it is the first fact of the form of the block.
We can observe that when two or three main public axis
join it to create a sort of square or a place with
a different building’s characteristics (more or less
higher than the rest).
As a conclusion, it can be underlined that this project is quite interesting
mainly for the fact that is small but very full of conceptual topic. It may be
thought well by the designers but it is more significant. To sum up, when
considering the importance of the project, it can be pointed out that the
project try to combine a lot of topics in terms of urban design sphere.
5. Conclusions
17 /
6.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Health, T., Oc, T. (2010/2nd. Ed.). Public Places Urban Spaces The
Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Elsevier Publications. (pp. 40-74).
Chevin, Denise. (2012, March). New Urban Living: The making of East Village. (pp. 1-25).
The Smith Institute. London.
Cliff Moughtin. (1992). Urban desing. Street and square. (pp. 1-190).
Butterworth Architecture. Oxford (UK).
Crozier S. (2011, Winter). East, bright future. The schemes lighting up east London. London’s
Hotspot: East London Issue II (2/12/39/47). Retrieved from http://www.sinclairclark.co.uk/downloads/east.pdf
Frey, H. (1999). Designing the City Towards a more sustainable urban form. New York: Spon Press.
(pp. 39-51).
Hanafi, N., & Groom, J. (2012). Landprop submit plans for Strand East: creating a new
waterside neighbourhood for East London. London: London communications agency on behalf of
LandProp, part of the Inter IKEA Group.
Retried on http://strandeast.com/#press
John R. Gold, Margaret M. Gold. (2010). Olympic cities: City agendas, Planning and World’s Games.
(986-2016). Routledge: New York.
Kasprisin R. (2011). Urban design: the composition of complexity. Routledge. New York
London Thames Gateway. (2008). Sugar House Lane Master planning Exercise Assessment of proposed conservation area. London: Urban Practitioners. (1-34).
Retrieved from http://www.newham.gov.uk/nr/rdonlyres/ecd62139-cc4f-4e9d-bd23- 2ba14ff52e7a/0/sugarhouselaneheritageassessment290408_lowres.pdf
Malcolm M., & Rowland J.. (2006). Urban design futures. Routledge. New York
Newham London (2011). Stratford Metropolitan Master Plan. Supporting document: Sustainability Appraisal. London: Urban Initiatives. (1-210). Retrieved from http://www.newham.gov.uk/NR/
rdonlyres/57D2D0F6-16A6-4646-8859- E44658C874A8/0/SMMSustainabilityAppraisalLowRes.
Newham London (2010, December). Stratford Metropolitan Master Plan. Supporting document:
Transport Report. London: Urban Initiatives. (1-244). Halcrow Group Limited.
Retrieved from www.newham.gov.uk/stratfordmetropolitan
6. Bibliography
18 /
Panerai P., Castex J., Depaule J.-C., & Samuels I. S. (2004). Urban forms: death and life of the urban
block
Porta, S. (2002). Dancing streets. Scena pubblica urbana e vita sociale. Milano: Edizioni Unicopli.
Roberts, M., Greed, C. (2001), pp. 23-24-29-32 . Approaching urban design: The design process.
Harlow:Longman
Vescovi F. (2011). Il rinascimento urbano in Inghilerra. Lezioni di strategia progettuale tra la
sostenibilità e lo sviluppo economico. Maggioli. Santarcangelo di Romangna (RN)
Wall, E., & Waterman, T. (2010), pp.112-135. Urban design. Lausanne, Ava publishing.
Whetstone M. (2012). Welcome to IKEA - Land: Furniture giant begins urban planning project. The
Globe and Mail (1-3). Retrieved from http://strandeast.com/#press
6. Bibliography