Hackney Wick and Fish Island Creative Industries

Hackney Wick andFishIsland CREATIVE P OTEN TIAL

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Introduction Hackney Wick andFishIsland CREATIVE P OTEN TIAL pc wehr eprr o praet u as rhasl pcs fr example for spaces, rehearsal currently they offer rehearsal spaces to Stratford also East theatre inEC2. but permanent or temporary whether space develop further their existing initiatives might in East London theyfrom for example how hosting a satelliteexploring in interested are Barbican The consortium. a of part as or alone either playthey part the extend and consolidate could they how of Shoreditchidea the Trust.clear Space,and very Barbican a havethe studios Space creative the for with conversations support initial had have weexercise mapping this and of part industries.As innovation in investment or programmes, programming educational cultural through benefits activity regeneration creative wider host delivering which whilst organisations nurture to potential the exists There Next steps=mapping theexisting /mapping thepossible. of regeneration whenanarea becomesvictim of itsown success. to an area in the short term but they also guard against the future flattening effects Moves such Paris.as this ofhave a –lodgments two-fold functionatelier they the attract additional and creativeinvestment Bostonand activity of areas protect certain in studios of to interventions for 15% include to developments new for precedents requirements the include activity-examples international are There site. the end Northern of Fish Island as a precursor and to attract interest in the Olympic and Wick Hackney on nurtured is industries creative of cluster the where site,one The mapping exercise suggests that there could be another narrative for the Olympic Olympic site-in both itsgamesandpost gamesguise. and semi public spaces which could sit along the very different figure ground of the and yardcanal frontage,street, of these could be typology amplified as a networkthe of routesto and animatedextend public assets existing These there. is what of assetsexisting the on HackneyWick,buildsgrowthfor in drawsand model which a for allow to businesses arestudios, and infrastructureof numbers sufficient there both still Olympics the to connected factors of number a by affected profoundly businesses.Although arts specialist some and suppliers material building as such otherbusinesses also industry but printing the parallel and particular industriesin the throughout found community, Homerton.arts and an is It complementary co-existedboth which be with can industries creativeDalston WhitechapelBow, and community-alongside arts practise flourishing still art and historic Although a both is there where areas the of one is Island Fish and Wick boroughs,Hackney to planning were or leftleave. either had who businesses and leases long sufficiently site otherwise) and (creative Olympicbusinesses and artists the give to unwilling landlords namely of significant presence the both of uncovered repercussions negative We the also Wick. but Hackneyactivity -mapped of DFL businesses by and commissioned activities architecture/art muf the 2009 April and March In The social cultural and economic ecology of a place is as fragile as any other ecology.

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 These are examples of creative practitioners perstudio composite. Different buildings have very different tenures andsomore orless stable populations. The scale andclusters of studio buildings are uniqueto Hackney Wick andFishIsland. A Creative industries VALUE WHAT ISTHERE rts andcreativerts industries inHackney Wick andFishIsland?

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 detailed mapping phasecould expose the percentage of supporting occupied by creative practitioners such asdesigners, &galleries artists butalsoby avariety ofbusinessesfrom supporting printers to ﬁnancialconsultants. Amore This istheminimumnumberof studios (includinglive/work) offered inHWaccording to 1on1interviews withstudio managers and artists. The studio spacesare not only 6 VALUE WHAT ISTHERE 1 0 � �� Studios � � �� in �� Hackney Wi ��

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Comparisons canbemadebetween thestudio provision of Dalston andHackney Wick andFishIsland. Dalston and VALUE WHAT ISTHERE (counted todate) creative industries Hackney Wic no. 300

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 ��

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�� Galleries VALUE WHAT ISTHERE Some of thestudio buildings housegalleries, which draw visitors to thearea; they are linked through jointshows andshared marketing. ��

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Events takingplaceduringHackneyWick Festival2008 VALUE WHAT ISTHERE

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� � � ﬂat inoneof theirdevelopments. partners gave thefestival equalbillingto Victoria Park asareason to buya partnerships, someof which have continued. Family Mosaiconeof the in thearea. Itboth attracted visitors to thearea butalsoestablished new have cometogether-it follows along history of site-speciﬁ eventsc arts Is oneexample ofandresidential how thearts communitiesof Hackney Wick The Hackney Wick festival organised by Space Studios and the Wick Coalition

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 � �� Events takingplaceduringHackneyWicked Festival200 VALUE WHAT ISTHERE � � � ��

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Simon Oulds, watercolour challenge ofThe Burning the wicker mansecret location Sunday BBQ Performance Openingnight Dave Scream Notarius Art (Van Gallery) Tangent projects art outsideinstallations 10Artists 7 Live bands@counter café 6 FishIslandStreet Party 5 The Hive Cabaret 4 Live Jam Grafﬁti Artists 3 AshesandDiamondstheatre group 2 Coracle Regatta 1 Laura May Lewis iconicHollywick sign General, nonspeciﬁcorsecret locations: Events �

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Cafe, ChapmanRoad Old Ford Lock There are somenew enterprises openingbutmost are leases. onvery short Active street frontages are theexception rather thantherule, buildings openinto yards more often than they openinto thestreet. Public FaceofHackneyWick andFishIsland VALUE WHAT ISTHERE Turkish Local Shop, Roach Road cafe , Felstead Street C C offee afe , Felstead Street

Shop, Roach Road

C Lane E levator Gallery offee

Shop, Prince Edward Road ,

White Post Prince Edward Road Transportable Burger takeaway, Bagel Shop, Hepscott Road

ward Road Mobile Food Shop, Food Stall, PrinceEd Wallis Road -

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Cafe, ChapmanRoad the Olympic Site V Yard The existing of yard typology andframed vista could inform new developments. V VALUE WHAT ISTHERE iew from iew in , Roach Road Monier Road towards , Hackney Wick andFishIsland View from Greenway Studios W arehouse , Smeed Road , Felstead Street Studios Yard, White Post Lane Greenway staircase, DaceRoad

, Smeed Road towrds View from Warehouse, DaceRoad Yard,

Dace R Olympic site White Post Lane

oad Yard Yard entrance, DaceRoad Old Ford Lock, Daceroad , Wallis Street Duckets cut Old Ford Lock the canalonDaceRoad D erelict steel structure, facing

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 There isacoincidencebetween conservation area andstudio spaces. Creative industries VALUE WHAT ISTHERE and conservation areas inHWandFI

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 following pages we take oneindustry, theprintingindustry asanexample. Many of thebusinessesthat were inplace2007have now left. Onthe 2 VALUE WHAT ISTHERE 007

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 following pages we take oneindustry; theprintingindustry asanexample. Many of thebusinessesthat were inplace2007have now left. Onthe Printing VALUE WHAT ISTHERE

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Things Fashion Ltd.Wallis Road BRG PrintFinishesLtd.MainYard, WallisRd Central Books.99WallisRoad,E9 Print Printing IndustryinHackneyWick andFishIsland VALUE WHAT ISTHERE ers, Publishers, Distributers, Binders, Printsuppliers Number ofEmployees: Date movein: Workforce islocal,soloactionimportant Located nexttoHackneyWickStation Clien Facts: Nature ofBusiness: Number ofEmployees: ises fromOlympic Date movein: Have beenestablishedinthearea foralongtime Clien - locatedneartoPrintersandSuppliers Facts: Finishers-Specialistindustry Nature ofBusiness: Number ofEmployees: 40staff Date movein:1989 Client base:NationalandInternational U Clien 5 millionbooksstroedonsite. Facts: Distributesover200bookpublishers,approx magazine andbooks Nature ofBusiness:Publishers/Distributer EL, Queen ts inc ts ts Print ontofa : 02Arena, : Localprinters, : Artgalleries,BFI,smallpress books, MaryUniversity 1971 Business relocated tocurrent Central Londonbased site. b Screen ProcessPrinters Print Finishers rics . Central Londonbased 30 12 sta - Specialistindustry staff ff

prem - Workforce islocal,solocation isimportant. large numberoft-shirtstotheO2forconcerts.” “This ishandyfordeliverypurposes,aswedelivera ‘central London’andclosetoO2Area. Location benefitsfrombeingwithineasyaccessof Specialist business-fabricprinting. ises. Moved toHackneyWickforlargerbusinessprem Largest saves time. Local business–transport costsare lowerand “We knoweveryone locallyinthisbusiness.” and suppliers. print’ industries–normallylocatedneartoprinters Print finishesare knowninthebusinessas‘post good clientbaseknowledge. established intheregion foralongtime– Requested tostayinthearea becausehavebeen Olympic regeneration masterplan. Business thathasbeenrelocated duetothe shops, mostare locatedcentral andwestend.” “ East Londonhasapoordistributionofbook “ Locationwasgreat formoneyand London witheasyaccesstogoodtransport routes. relatively lowandlocationontheedgeofcentral Attracted toHackneyWickbecauserent was area.” printers, publishesandpintrelated industriesinthe “When wemovedtothearea there were alotof Hackney Wick. Large publishinganddistributionhousein f abric printingbusiness in HackneyWick spa ce!” - Wick. Ifwehadtomove,where wouldwego?” Future plans“Weare planningtostayinHackney industry.” the machine,andthismachineiscommonin “The guydidnotknowthebackfromfrontof ‘expert’ aroundtovaluetheirmachines. “LDA sentandadvisorwhotheyclassedasan The MullerMartiniStitchingMachine corner, everyone livedoffeachother.” Around here there usedtobeaprintersonevery “This area usedtobeknownasPrintersParadise. Workforce islocal,solocationimportant. large numberoft-shirtstotheO2forconcerts.” “This is handy for delivery purposes, as we deliver a ‘central London’andclosetoO2Area. Location benefitsfrombeingwithineasyaccessof Specialist business-fabricprinting. ises. Moved toHackneyWickforlargerbusinessprem Largest f abric printingbusiness in HackneyWick -

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 buildings left Printers Displaced VALUE WHAT ISTHERE Blue Lithographic Printers andbusinessesrelocating - empty PrintingIndusty Facts: books Nature ofBusiness: Relocated inMarch2008toEssex Printers ofmagazinesand make thearea more presentable to visitors isseenasathreat to thecontinuingoperation of local businesses. The relocation of themanufacturing sector furtheraway from Central/East London, threatens thecontinuing “business asusual” duringtheOlympics. Both thedisruption to freight trafﬁc andthepotential aspiration to instance, very little work hasbeendone to record theimpact of losing independentspecialist businesses mixed economy, around theOlympic Site, before thisactivity isdisplacedby large-scale regeneration. For

viability of aspecialist manufacturing sector, that currently dependsonaskilled work force, andongood It is important toIt isimportant understand thecontribution madeby the creative sector andsmall businessto aviable A major concern amongstA majorconcern manufacturers/fabricators inFIisweather they willbeable to continuewith during the clearance of theOlympic site, it isnow difﬁcultto know where thesebusinesses have gone. Andrew Brown-Corporate Affairs director BPIF £2 billionturnover 17, 000employees 1,600 printandpublishingbusinessesinLondon Big marketgenerator –Soho/Central London market - Light industryneedtobelocatedinproximity ishes Ltd Barry Tucker -ManagingDirector. BRGPrintFin “If wemovebeyond Hackney,wewillbestruggling.” Industry beingpushedouttomore affordablesites Rising costandglobalcompetition Consolidation andrationalisation inindustry Trends: parked ontheroadsandinYard, customersand which resulted inlargenumberofvehiclesbeing Car mechanicsoperating fromGrey QueensYard in area. - Area fallingintodecline,changeofbusinessuser - Roadclosure anddiversionsforOlympicsite Due to: was hardtooperate fromFishIsland. The area wasbecomingveryrundown;business Main reason formovewasthechangeinarea. Essex. Blue Lithographic Printersnowrelocated toHarlow Concentrated aroundcityfringe. - Olympics Games? ture forthe Is there anopportunityforprinterstoprintlitera location. roads, businessescannotsurviveinthecurrent cannot getoutontimebecauseofblockages Printers rely on‘just-in-time’clients-ifdeliveries Transport linkscrutialtoprintingindusty ishes Ltd Barry Tucker -ManagingDirector. BRGPrintFin here” “We needtokeepthelifeandbloodofarea Promote localbusiness. so wedid.” “Wehadtheopportunitytomoveabetterarea, ness decision. - ReasonformoveoutofFishIsland,wasabusi premises sincevacatedhashad4rave’s” - Vacant buildingisbeingmisused.“Blue’sold Blue’s vanscouldnotparknearbusinesspremises. transport links viatheA12. - - -

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 The canalnetwork Links: C VALUE WHAT ISTHERE Animation ofcanalbyartintervention -WilliamShannon 2009-. View fromthecanaltobuildings’facades. represents to anopportunity anal network create anetwork of routes andanimated publicandsemispaces

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 nity amenities and arts organisationsnity amenitiesandarts inHomertonusedby residents inHackney Wick. links. These connections were gleaned through anecdotal evidence of for example people livinginDalston andworking inHackney Wick butother links includethecommu Even thoughHackney Wick andFishIslandmight bethoughof asclose to Stratford there are strong connections back to HomertonandDalston reinforced through transport Links VALUE WHAT ISTHERE toDalstonand

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Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Shoreditch Trust hasstrong ecop VALUE WHAT ISTHERE:C recycled wasteglasssetinresin. Lotto Lab,andmanufactured byStudioVan DeGraf inHomerton,using The SolarSlabusedforthebeacon were designedbyBeau Lottoat slabs. top ofthetowerandthroughphotovoltaictechnologyinsolar paving tion producesitsownelectricitythroughsolarpanelsmounted atthe Six metre towerofcoloured Plexiglas,colour panelsandlight.Installa supported byTFL. Low-energy street lightingprojectfundedbyShoreditch Trustand The Beacon,Shoreditch in NewYork.” will beHackney’sversionoftheScienceBargecurrently ontheHudson be afloatingallotmentmoored intheKingslandBasin.Thehopeisthis ownership ofa60ftX15fthopper–itsnowworkinprogress butitwill City GrowthStrategy ‘and‘2012foodgrowingplaces.’Wehavetaken “We are workingwithBritishWaterwaysontheircontributionto‘Boris’ technology. The BargewasfundedbyShoreditch Trustusingavarietyofgreen F The Barge,RegentsCanal,Shoreditch wood fromsustainableforest source. Building materials,fromsustainablesources–recycled plasticchairs, Photovoltaic cellstoproducerenewable electricity. Roof-mounted solarpanelstoprovidehotwater. Renewable hydro-electric powertominimisecarbonemissions. efficient cooling. temperature fromthecanalandheatpumptechnologyforenergy Location ofrestaurant adjacenttocanal.Usestheambientwater A 10 OrsmanRoad,London.N15QJ Waterhouse Restaurant, Shoreditch unded byShoreditch Trust. socialenterprisefundedbyShoreditch Trust. rec ASE STUD edents - www.greencareh2o.com from ‘Greencare H20’inassociationwithBelu. Produces filtered chilledbottledwateron-site,usingafiltration system - Ahotcompostertomanagethegarden’swaste - Lavatoriesfeaturingasustainable,‘paperless’toilet - ‘Wormery’digestingraw foodforcomposting Waste managementsystem as theWater houserestaurant and theShoredicth Beacon. showcasing green materials, alow carbontechnology indevelopments such Shoreditch Trust have apolicy ofemerging supporting green tech industries, develop acreative workspace for smallgreen tech companies. organisations such astheShoreditch Trust withstrong green credentials to back into thearea. This history of innovation could continue by attracting a state finishingmachine ofthat theart could attract other printers to move the dyingindustry, even now Hackney Wick boasts aprintingcompany with There isastrong history of innovation inHackney Wick-plastics petrol and Y

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Voluntary Design&Build Van-der-graaf Water HouseRestaurant Things Ltd Sweet LoveCafe Space Studios Shoreditch Trust Schwartz Gallery Quadroprint Ltd Morning StarNewspaper MD SetDesign Mapps Café Lotto Lab Jennifer RichardsonTower HamletsCouncil Griddlers Café Gavin Turk &HouseofFairytales Gavin Riding-FishIslandBusinessClub Furniture Manufacturers Yard www.ﬁshisland.co.uk Elevator Gallery David PowellAssociates Counter Cafe City Fringe Partnership Central Books British PrintingIndustriesFederation (BPIF) BRG PrintFinishers Blue MarbleTrust Blue Lithographics Printers Ansel Associates Abrahams Cases A Foundation &theCutUpCollective Consultation VALUE WHAT ISTHERE Unit 3,AutumnStreet, London Furniture Manufacturers Yar d

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009 Consultation VALUE WHAT ISTHERE Shoreditch Park, picture taken by Alan Denney. arts communityissupported toarts grow into Olympic Park. ” - ”HW &FIhaspotential to beNew Soho, iftheright advantage istaken of new mediainfrastructure andexisting ” and itsamazinghow many filmmakers we have already met whoare working inthearea. ” - people working inthearea. We openedonly afew monthsago, to thelaunch support of anew filmmagazine, ”One of thebest thingsaboutrunning acafe inHW, isthat itcreates to anopportunity meet allthecreative Hackney Wick iswhat Shoreditch was 50years ago. working inthearea.” - studio basedhere, ithasalltheright typeof facilities, itisjust aquestion of connecting withother people other people are based. For instance Iwork inOmegaWorks andIcould imagineasuccessful digitalmedia and where they really were based. There issomuch potential for collaboration, to isimportant know where ”I set upwww.fishisland.co.uk because Iwas intrigued to findoutmore aboutwhowas working inthearea provision, that aconcern affects SMEacross alleconomicsectors. ” - economic sector, studio artist provision should beunderstood inthewidercontext of affordable workspace ”There are 3dozen studio artist providers, operating across thefive host boroughs. Although thisisasmall showcasing thework of all42people livingandworking inthebuilding. ” - live/work units. The successof the Hackney Wick Festival hasinspired aforthcoming collaboration location, for instance ourGallery isbasedontheground floor of abuilding that houses42long established ”Working alongside other creative organizations isoneof thethingsthat makes the area attractive asa Eject Creative Studios

- ” - Shoreditch Trust Space Studios DPA David Powell A -

- Schwartz Gallery S ssociates Ltd. weet Love Cafe

Creative Potential : Hackney Wick and Fish Island/ muf architecture/art llp /Report 07 2009