Unit A

Unit A is a research-led BSc Architecture Design Studio at the University of East London, lead by Carsten Jungfer and Fernanda Palmieri. We work with live-project situations and connect design learning with research through knowledge exchange between students and external partner organisations. Unit A focuses on social-spatial conditions within contested urban contexts and understands architectural design both as a spatial and strategic response to specific socio-spatial contexts.

22/02/2016

1:2000 Model of London


Upon visiting the Building Centre, I got to see interesting information in the style of an exhibition about London as a 'Built City'. The best feature for me personally was the large interactive 1:2000 scale model of Central London. The model details the London landscape with roads, bridges, viaducts, parks and almost every building that is currently built, plus ones that are proposed, approved or under construction. As an interactive model, a video presentation about London as a built City plays on a nearby screen and the model illuminates itself with statistical information from the video. The model includes parts of north and south London and a long stretch of east to west London (including our UEL Docklands campus). The southern portion of the River Lea (Thames - Olympic Site), unfortunately is all that is present on the model, however I believe that the model should still be experienced first hand.

Also present at the Building Centre is statistical information about London as a whole focusing on roads, bridges, traffic, public transport, commuting in Greater London, population, green spaces and future plans for the city, highlighting certain areas that have the feasibility to be improved. Around the model, are details on the wall about each London borough focusing on each local council's plans for their boroughs in the form of redevelopments. There is plenty of useful information on the boroughs that are relevant to our River Lea project (Haringey, Hackney, Waltham Forest etc.) focusing on potential growth areas, future infrastructure and architectural visions. While I was there, coincidentally members of the public were meeting inside the building Centre for a speech presentation given by members of the Greater London Authority I believe, about plans for London (in this case - cycling) and were open for debate over their proposals. This was on a Friday around 12pm and heard that there was going to be another meeting the Friday after, which could mean that visiting on a Friday especially could give you the chance of seeing and even engaging in a speech about future plans for London.

The Building Centre is located at 26 Store St, Fitzrovia, London WC1E 7BT just off of Tottenham Court Road and is open to the public from Monday - Saturday. Visit their website for any further information.

Further info on this can be found on unit A dropbox, LINK here

written by Jonan Momodu, 19 Feb 2016
posted by at