7 May 2009

FLYING CARS


Extract from Vice magazine - May 2009

1 May 2009

WHAT NEXT ?

Car park sites we've selected to develop small actions/events with inhabitants.
(See below)

WAYMAN COURT

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Wayman Court site plan


Wayman Court is located on the North side of London Fields. The half-dug car park on 2 levels is especially devoted to the residents. The basement is composed of private locked garages whereas the top open-air level is composed by car park bays.
According to our everyday surveys it is always more than 2 third empty. The fact is that it fills also half of the courtyard dedicated to the outside uses of the inhabitants.

We see it as an opportunity to develop our approach towards tomorrow’s city with less or without cars and more spaces for public realm negotiated between citizens.


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Wayman Court car park top slab


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Wayman Court car park from the courtyard


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Wayman Court car park entrance to basement

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Wayman Court car park basement

DE BEAUVOIR ESTATE (EAST)

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De Beauvoir Estate (East) : site plan


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De Beauvoir Estate (East) : typical courtyard


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De Beauvoir Estate (East) : typical ground floor with the ramp to first floor street


That part of the Estate is really surprising with all the groundflloor devoted to private garages with their blind bue doors. All the circulations are then transfered at first floor with ramps and stairs.
The result is a unexisting public realm nimbbled by cars (on street carpark). There is for sure something to re-invent to re-use those garages, to open them on the streets and courtyard and activate public spaces. On that case the private status of the garages should be investigated.

DE BEAUVOIR ESTATE (WEST)

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De Beauvoir Estate (West) : site plan

Simone de Beauvoir Estate is situated up to the Regent canal. Typical of the buildings of the 70’s it is composed of different typologies of buildings from 20 storeys towers to 6 storeys slabs. The public realm in-between is really poor without any continuity (fences, dead ends). The abandoned car park and its terrace are a real opportunity to re-invent its uses and provide a shared space, organized with the inhabitants.


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De Beauvoir Estate (West) : slab on top of the 1 level car park


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De Beauvoir Estate (West) : view of the carpark from the Regent canal


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De Beauvoir Estate (West) : entrance of the abandoned carpark


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De Beauvoir Estate (West) : access to the terrace from the housing building entrance


ASH GROVE

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Ash Grove :site plan

Ash Grove is situated up to the Regent Canal. It is a dead end surrounded by blind bricks wall except a door to a private back garden. This space with the involvement of the inhabitants could become an Eden. Where people can meet and exchange ideas about a city without car. With small events and talks organized during the summer.
It is really closed to weekly activities such as Broadway Market or Vyner street gallery opening. So there is also a potential flux of peoples who might join those events.


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Ash Grove :view from the entrance of the cul-de-sac


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Ash Grove :view from the back of the cul-de-sac


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Ash Grove : unfold brick walls