Architecture for Humanity UK

Though the pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants of the Green provide a great focus and create a vibrant streetscene, the public space they help to enliven is relatively uninspiring. Whilst many initiatives for its enhancement continue to be considered, the London Festival of Architecture presented a great opportunity for local designers to set out their thoughts for its rejuvenation. Design consultancies from the area formed teams  to ensure that the emerging ideas reflected the hopes and aspirations of the wider community,

The event was a one day ‘al freso’ design competition. Each team was given their own outdoor studio space around the Green and using their best creative skills will have the afternoon to set our their thoughts for the space.
A notable panel of judges  reviewed  the work at the end of the day, and with a bit of luck, the successful work may just help to shape the future of the space.

Architecture for Humanity UK joined in the spirtit of LFA and entered a multidiciplinary team of volunteers.

Our approach to the brief prior to the workshop was to engage with local people in order to identify opportunities that might help regenerate Clerkenwell Green. Of the people who spoke to us the Green was generally perceived as a ‘non-area’ while other open spaces locally had been regenerated with varying degrees of success. Our aim was to be inclusive, referring to local residents, communities and users, who currently may not have the opportunity to enjoy Clerkenwell Green.

In all areas of the world, citizens have to negotiate for the use of land they do not own, whether for housing, livelihoods or community use. We recognise that where there are complex and opposing visions for public space, it is important to create the possibility for agreement on positive change by all parties.

We can see huge potential for Clerkenwell Green through the success of the active community around the church, cafe and pubs, as well as the location and typography of the space.

Phase 1

Transformer: Sociopetal enclosure (space for public negotiation)

The sociopetal enclosure represents the first phase of transformation for Clerkenwell Green at the beginning of the 21st Century. Whilst the City of London has seen the commodification of many public and quasi-public spaces, Clerkenwell Green retains it’s historical precedent – remaining free of regulation and surveillance. However, there is an apparent ‘deadlock’ where the need for local communities and stakeholders to embrace positive change is vital.

We propose the construction of an enclosure, partially embedded in an area of contention – the former public lavatories. The function of the building is as symbolic as it is functional. The enclosure is a meeting place, where local agencies may perform their role as enablers. The sociopetal enclosure is designed to allow citizens to speak, listen, negotiate – and be heard, on an equal footing. To symbolise the level of traction achieved by the local communities the roof ‘petals’ open and close.

The sociopetal enclosure would be designed for easy entry and house the ‘petal’ seating arrangement that encourages negotiation. It is hoped that over time the petal enclosure will transform from one where positive negotiation takes place to that of a space for more joyous occasions.

Phase 2

Emergence

Use of Clerkenwell Green to develop community ownership – (use value not exchange)

In the second and third phase of regeneration we speculate that it has been possible to create positive negotiation between local communities and stakeholders. We describe the incremental developments and activities that could occur on Clerkenwell Green.

In this phase of transformation the west end of the green retains it’s fluid transport routes and we envisage weekend car boot sales, seeing an influx of people and activity – and cars. There is potential for the petal enclosure to host cafe, central office or community resource services.

We envisage the greening of the Green as a system of urban agriculture where low copse wood would flow from the church garden at the east graduating to a low copse wood at the Crown Tavern. The copse would be planted to provide fertile furrows for public allotment plots and create a new typography. This green infill is designed to create a more focused space around the petal enclosure and waterclock.

Phase 3

Transformation

Phase three represents a future where full transformation of Clerkenwell Green into an urban idyll is achieved. A public lido is created from the sunken space of the former public lavatories.

Enormous trampolines located around the Green offer opportunities to bounce. With the increase of urban density the allotments have escalated skyward on a framework of open scaffold…. and the memory of the petal enclosure representing complex negotiation fades.

Camilla Wilkinson – Architect

Julia Ratcliffe – Structural Engineer

Christopher Eaton – Services Engineer

Aston Roberts – Part II, Architecture Assistant Emma McDowell – Diploma Student, Architecture Rebecca Gregory – Diploma Student, Architecture

A PDF of the scheme drawings and model is attached here:

lfa-clerkenwell-design-workshop-reduced.pdf

Many thanks to all those who represented us.