London Festival of Architecture 2022.

On Tuesday June 14th we celebrated the London Festival of Architecture with a sold out panel discussion at the London School of Architecture (LSA) in Hackney. 

We gathered a panel of experts across transport, infrastructure, history, urban planning and architecture to unpick the densification opportunities of the Stewarts Lane Rail Depot in Battersea, as researched in daab design’s self-initiated study, Between the Lines. The panellists included Neal Shasore of the LSA, Holly Lewis of We Made That, Kevin McGinley from Network Rail, and Steve Smith of Urban Narrative, while daab’s Dennis Austin moderated the evening.

Discussing the context of the tangled industrial site, Austin guided the speakers through the history of the area and its role in London’s transport ecosystem. Lewis spoke about the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea (VNEB) strategy initially produced for Wandsworth Council, and precedents set by European countries in their quest to efficiently mix industry with residential models to create strong communities in London. 

The panellists rallied their perspectives in an engaging discussion, asking what truly is industry, what scale does it operate at, what do modern communities need, and how can we create resilient spaces that address the housing needs of contemporary London? 

“We have been asking ourselves “what is the problem here, and how can we turn this problem into an opportunity”?” quipped Network Rail’s McGinley.  

“The challenge is how can we progress railway sites and develop? How can we create people-friendly transport areas that engage communities and are permeable?”.

Lewis and Smith contended that planning and policy can only go so far in developing transport sites, which need to understand the value sets of the local communities they need to best serve. 

Shasore noted the execution of the VNEB’s development so far and its role in the regression of the community through expensive private housing and limited urban activation or usable greenspace. Austin, citing daab’s Between the Lines study, pointed to the parcel of land which needs to be unlocked, noting the major opportunities at grade level which are the current barriers to creating pragmatic and beautiful public mixed-use spaces. 

“I think your attitude to looking at the development as a whole rather than just a low or high line is extremely important. We need to create permeable, light, people-friendly spaces and room for industry to continue.” 

‘Efficient Densification’ was organised to celebrate the 2022 London Festival of Architecture.  Thanks to our event partners, the London School of Architecture.