Modernity.. nature &, living.
This is an update post on a previous post titled #WESEEBUTTERFLIES considering the Regents Canal in London at the stretch between Islington & Hackney.
The background of this spatial planning idea started with Architectural Review’s #NOTOPIA initiative in 2019 lamenting a (potential) loss of place. We asked why in terms of Regents Canal the city seemed not to be building on what it has already in place, rather than reinventing everything. By doing that we would manage to generate valuable, differentiated, realised pieces of city, #Topias! The postcard showed the river in London, the Thames with the Adelphi project marked & the Regents Canal running from West to South-East.
Now we witness a period of hyper-mobility (& delapidations) which gathers pace.. This is differentiated from picturesque texture or any “cosy” urban grit, it is more a disruptive and chaotic scramble. This is how things are, so many moving parts, some very fast, a lot of work, new & old modes (DIYed carts, scooters, suicidal on-roading) even tuk-tuks. Is this just big city stuff trying to “rub along”?
We see a lot of neglect and simultaneously sustainability thinking is asking us to consider repair and maintenance as existential problems. But this is just inevitable, slow renewal right? You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs…
*Update 08.’24
Neglect is making itself felt again, not actually with (more) collisions but in terms of bio-diversity. Canal bio-diversity has improved a lot in recent years, but overbright lighting for example is still a problem, as birds get confused and sing into the small hours. Failures of waste management, waste places as well as being straightforwardly unpleasant. At this location there are usually many birds, but those have gone quiet while gulls are dominating. Gulls eat rubbish when available and can be managed by councils. Thankfully we are reaching the end of the breeding season which will mean the screeching & commotion subsides and other birds come back?
*We are working with local authority & a TRA group on #futures, visions.. plans.
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In the context of uneven global mobility a practice interested in living spaces & modern construction methods.
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Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa? My website addresses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Wonderful blog by the way!
Hi,
Thank-you for your invite. Please send an email to the info@l1architecture.uk.
Regards, Lisa Harmey
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Thank-you! Time always seems to be short, especially when it comes to explaining, but we hope to become more successful at that, this is still a work in progress. I hope you will follow to see how things evolve in future, thank-you again.