Through the E20 viewfinders

What is there to do in the Olympic Park? Well if you’re 12 years old, you might be interested in the recent discovery of dinosaurs and mermaids.

The 12 year old cartographers at Chobham Academy are not simply mapping the park, but reinterpreting it too. Suggestions for future activities for young people include the grounded - rolling down hills (of course!) and climbing up new climbing walls positioned on the sides of the E20 blocks - to the over-excited - navigating kayaks with game consoles, tracking herds of roaming dinosaurs and even swimming with mermaids in the River Lea. 

 

All slightly fantastical perhaps, but they clearly demonstrate how the 12 year olds have grasped that E20 is an ever-changing part of London: Its emerging character will be as much defined by the people who use it, as by its designers.
 

Modular viewfinders, designed by the architects and wayfinders at Mobile Studio, have acted as lenses through which the students can project their ideas for the future. 

The views captured when the group built the viewfinders in the park will ultimately link to an online guide. The aim is to excite other young people about the Olympic Park’s potential to become many important things to many people, and to encourage them to see it is as their new back yard.

 

Our View 2012

What a difference a year makes... It is just over a year since redevelopment of the site opposite our office began. During 2011 not just one, but 2 development projects have taken shape on the site opposite us, with another 2 projects a little way further down this stretch of canal and a couple more in the pipe line. 

Back in January 2011

 Summer 2011

 January 2012

It has been fascinating (and pretty noisy). We look forward to waving to our new neighbours later in 2012...

A big thank you goes to Alan Ledger of Durkan Estates, for stepping in at short notice on Friday morning to speak to the Senior Bees about some of the redevelopment work taking place just across the canal from our office.

Having met previously with architects, designers and planners, the Senior Bees appreciated hearing about this redevelopment from the contractors perspective. It was really interesting to hear about Alan's role at Durkan and it was a real eye-opener to have an insight into the complexities of managing large scale developments.

We hope to welcome Alan back to give another talk once the scheme has been completed.

The work over the canal has really picked up over the last few weeks with a forest of cranes springing up and the building on the Durkan site starting to take shape.

Hertford Road Development

The demolition and work preparation of the site opposite our offices continues... Over the course of January they have drilled up the concrete foundations, put the big bits through a concrete crusher and moved around some huge piles of rubble. You can also start to see them digging the foundations for the site at the other end of the basin.

Going, going, gone

In early December work began on the site across the canal from our office, giving us front row seats to the demolition process. Returning today after the Christmas break our view has significantly changed!