The Changing Face of Hackney

The Building Exploratory held its first ‘Pecha Kucha’ style evening on 26th November to the delight of all. The session was fully booked within hours, participants being attracted to the format and the impressive range of speakers. Seven local artists, designers and architects explored the theme “The Changing Face of Hackney” using 20 images, each of which were shown for 20 seconds. Speakers including Brownsierra, Aranzazu Fernandez Rangel, Andrew Merritt, Alison Barnes, Fugitive Images and Waugh Thistleton embraced the format with enthusiasm, adapting in their own way to the restrictions it creates. Following the presentations, a lively discussion focused on the rapid transformation of Dalston, the growing demand for housing and alternative proposals for derelict sites and public spaces. Small Fry Films were present to capture the event for a documentary on East London commissioned by Transport for London. Similar evenings in partnership with Architecture Centre Network will take place early in 2010 - “Artists Working in Regeneration” in February and “Temporary Use of Building Space” in March.