Hackney Wick Project

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How do we deal with economic, social and environmental challenges that affect the lives of people?

 

When I first launched my project, I thought that I would be looking into designing a new style of residency which was more functional, with an easy construction method and effective materials, to solve the short supply housing issue. However, I realised that my project is not just to construct building or residencies. It is about the reflection of the state of society and the mind.

 

Hackney has been settled since Saxon times. From the Middle Ages until the 19th century it was a favourite residence of wealthy Londoners. However, after suffering severe bombing during the Second World War, the government targeted Hackney for relocating industry and factories, which attracted blue collar and immigrant workers. When the wholesale restructuring of the London economy occurred in the 1970s and 1980s it wiped out most of the remaining larger firms. Hackney was left with low intensity enterprises and cheap warehousing. But now the government and the Local Authority have a master plan to improve Hackney’s environment for a better quality of life and develop new industry growth such as media and art.

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In Hackney today there are people from many different ethnicities, cultures and education background. I think Hackney is in a time of transition spiritually and physically. This project guides a new approach to large scale urban design that allows people to shape the places where they live or work and and improve its distinctiveness and quality.

 

Every building has its own story. It is impossible to represent the essence of Hackney with the past, present and future without understanding the history of Hackney, including its culture, population, economics and education. I want to design to represent Hackney’s historical and present day diversity and incorporate vision for the future.

 

In order to improve the quality of life through architecture, I realise I have to research and analyse surrounding environmental issues to identify what people need, what people like and how my architectural design can improve the daily reality of people in a positive way.

 

I think architecture is about people. In a broad sense, architecture is making places with responsibilities for a better real world.  In my understanding, I believe that architecture can improve social environmental issues, such as cultural and educational factors.  Architecture can support individuals and society, for a better quality of life.