Hackney Wick and Fish Island
The hosting of a major sporting event such as the World Cup or the Olympics can drive massive change in the landscape of cities. Given the urban, economic and, above all, social consequence that the construction big infrastructure has on a neighbourhood, it has to be carefully considered. Developing an Olympic stadium, driving a high level of traffic for a short period of time, can have irreversible negative consequences on a place (Hello, Brasil).
For the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic games, the largest regeneration site in Europe was seen as an opportunity to rejuvenate London’s Lower Lea Valley.
Aware of the potential consequences of the construction of the Queen Elisabeth Olympic park in this area, the Mayor of London piloted the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). This organisation is responsible the physical legacy of the Games – the long-term planning, development, management and maintenance of the Park and its impact on the surrounding area after the Games. It delivered an important number of Olympic fringe projects in the Lower Lea Valley and East London.
Hackney Wick and Fish Island (HWFI) was previously industrial area and has become home to the densest concentration of artists in Europe. The emergence of a creative neighborhood such as Hackney Wick has been driven by the on-going pursuit of affordability, as well as the need for self-regulated workspace. Thus, this fragile ecology was more at risk of suffering the consequence of the Olympic regeneration masterplan: whether by eviction or the increase in property prices and rent.
In order to sustain and develop this environment of creative production, the London Legacy Development Corporation commissioned a study – realised by Richard Brown – in order to understand the ecosystem of these creative factories. “It is therefore crucial to understand the social and spatial factors at play in these creative factories.” He analyses the internal architecture of the premises, the importance of the yards and common areas, and the different practices of the tenants, as well as their relationship to the space: shared studio or live/work space…
Considering the findings from his study the work The LLDC has focused on was:
“preserving and enhancing the character of the area, giving it a robustness and resilience to survive the forces of gentrification. Strengthening links between local artists, businesses and community groups and providing places of exchanges”
Practically, the local makers were commissioned to use their skills in public realm interventions such as the construction and improvement of bridges, playable spaces and roadways to help establish signs of the existing creative activity in the area. This resulted in projects that helped improve the neighbourhood, linking grass-roots initiatives with strategic development, while contributing to the wider aims of the Olympic Games.