My entry for the recent RIBA Forgotten Spaces competition, complete with accompanying text.
"A place does not have to be hidden to be forgotten.
The most forgotten spaces, and often those with the most potential, are those whose mundanity makes them invisible. This ‘Concrete Island’, a 40m long traffic island between two lanes of traffic on Old Street, could be in any number of locations in London. It is one of a common typology of spaces all of which are formed from ‘leftovers’ of automobile infrastructural consumption. Due to the nature of traffic flows and turning circles, parcels of land are left barren between lanes of traffic. The frequency of this situation means that our proposal for this island should not just be considered in isolation, but as one that illuminates further forgotten spaces across the infrastructural arteries of the capital.
The position of this island gives it a potentially strong urban presence: the junction between Great Eastern Street and Old Street sees a lot of traffic, both human and motorised. London has a rich tradition of congregating at junctions; whether it be for the sacred or for the profane. This site's strong tradition of the junction deserves to be marked with a building that revels in the automobile complexities of the context. That recycles and revitalises our aging roads for a more sustainable future.
We feel that this is not only a junction between lanes of traffic, but between communities, and so is an opportunity to invite the families that spread themselves around the area into its heart. We see a need for Old Street to not only cater for young people, but for its increasing population of young families.
Our proposal is that this Concrete Island becomes a haven for families. That it invites them across new pedestrian crossings, into its protection to eat, learn and play.
To make this family cafe we propose placing on this thin site: a cafe, an urban garden, playspace and space for learning. The programme is proposed in such a way that it is democratic, engaging and accessable to all.
We understand the need to retain the island’s roadside apparatus: to reassure drivers with the familiar, to protect and to inform. To this end the most vital objects will be integrated within our proposal. It is our intention to leave the existing objects to perform their roles (or to enhance them) and to add on top of them a strata of complexity that allows the island to reach beyond its borders.
The most forgotten spaces, and often those with the most potential, are those whose mundanity makes them invisible. This ‘Concrete Island’, a 40m long traffic island between two lanes of traffic on Old Street, could be in any number of locations in London. It is one of a common typology of spaces all of which are formed from ‘leftovers’ of automobile infrastructural consumption. Due to the nature of traffic flows and turning circles, parcels of land are left barren between lanes of traffic. The frequency of this situation means that our proposal for this island should not just be considered in isolation, but as one that illuminates further forgotten spaces across the infrastructural arteries of the capital.
The position of this island gives it a potentially strong urban presence: the junction between Great Eastern Street and Old Street sees a lot of traffic, both human and motorised. London has a rich tradition of congregating at junctions; whether it be for the sacred or for the profane. This site's strong tradition of the junction deserves to be marked with a building that revels in the automobile complexities of the context. That recycles and revitalises our aging roads for a more sustainable future.
We feel that this is not only a junction between lanes of traffic, but between communities, and so is an opportunity to invite the families that spread themselves around the area into its heart. We see a need for Old Street to not only cater for young people, but for its increasing population of young families.
Our proposal is that this Concrete Island becomes a haven for families. That it invites them across new pedestrian crossings, into its protection to eat, learn and play.
To make this family cafe we propose placing on this thin site: a cafe, an urban garden, playspace and space for learning. The programme is proposed in such a way that it is democratic, engaging and accessable to all.
We understand the need to retain the island’s roadside apparatus: to reassure drivers with the familiar, to protect and to inform. To this end the most vital objects will be integrated within our proposal. It is our intention to leave the existing objects to perform their roles (or to enhance them) and to add on top of them a strata of complexity that allows the island to reach beyond its borders.
View of the island down Old Street. London. March. 10.
Map of the island in context. London. March. 10.
Map showing how the island is positioned as a junction between areas of family activity. London. March. 10.
Proposed plan for the island [click for full image]. London. March. 10.
Proposed long section [click for full image]. London. March. 10.
Proposed Elevation [click for full image]. London. March. 10.
View toward the lookout. London. March. 10.
We propose for this Concrete Island a family cafe.
In simple terms this cafe is required to, architecturally, perform two principal functions. To protect the families using it, and to give them a comfortable environment within which they can socialise, relax, learn and play. We have symbolised these two functions as the castle and the barn. Our proposal is a synthesis of the two.
Thick, rough concrete walls made from recycled crash barriers encircle the long thin site. These protective elements are the castle in which families seek refuge. Between the walls are two comfortable, domestic and sustainable timber constructions, these are our barns.
Each timber barn is toplit to create a calm and light atmosphere, as well as to passively ventilate each room (the lanterns double up as ventilation stacks). So the units all feel both spacious and domestic, thanks to the relatively short walls and high roof.
The cafe sits beyond a small amount of open, decorated ground, inviting passers-by to venture off their route. The cafe is the largest volume, sitting beneath a LVL-panelled roof reflecting light down to the bar and seating. The cafe spills out into the courtyard, blending with the urban garden, which provides shade in the summer and is planted by after-school classes. The far side of this outdoor space are two smaller barns for learning and playing. These lead, as the site narrows, up a shallow slope toward a lookout. This affords views West down Old Street and allows for safe exploration or, simply, meditation."
In simple terms this cafe is required to, architecturally, perform two principal functions. To protect the families using it, and to give them a comfortable environment within which they can socialise, relax, learn and play. We have symbolised these two functions as the castle and the barn. Our proposal is a synthesis of the two.
Thick, rough concrete walls made from recycled crash barriers encircle the long thin site. These protective elements are the castle in which families seek refuge. Between the walls are two comfortable, domestic and sustainable timber constructions, these are our barns.
Each timber barn is toplit to create a calm and light atmosphere, as well as to passively ventilate each room (the lanterns double up as ventilation stacks). So the units all feel both spacious and domestic, thanks to the relatively short walls and high roof.
The cafe sits beyond a small amount of open, decorated ground, inviting passers-by to venture off their route. The cafe is the largest volume, sitting beneath a LVL-panelled roof reflecting light down to the bar and seating. The cafe spills out into the courtyard, blending with the urban garden, which provides shade in the summer and is planted by after-school classes. The far side of this outdoor space are two smaller barns for learning and playing. These lead, as the site narrows, up a shallow slope toward a lookout. This affords views West down Old Street and allows for safe exploration or, simply, meditation."
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