Transforming Newham's Custom House: Nurturing, De-stigmatising and Caring A CRITICAL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT BRIEF FOR CUSTOM HOUSE Transforming Newham's Custom House: Nurturing, De-stigmatising and Caring The Bartlett's Development Planning Unit, 2020 University College London 34 Tavistock Square Bloomsbury London WC1H 9EZ United Kingdom +44 20 7679 1111 Empathy Needle Team: Mengdi Liu, Natalia Meléndez Fuentes, Yujun Yue, Erick Lau Gastelo, Daniel Lewis Lallana, Mina Abdelmelek, Harsh Gupta Supervision: Dr. Giorgio Talocci Editors: Natalia Meléndez Fuentes and Daniel Lewis Lallana Design and Layout: Natalia Meléndez Fuentes Graphic contents: Mengdi Liu and Yujun Yue All photos included in this brief were taken by the Empathy Needle Team. DISCLAIMER The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of University College London. The analysis, conclusions, recommendations and views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the DPU or UCL. Information contained in this publication is provided without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for particular purpose and non- infringement. UCL specifically does not make any warranties or representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any such data. Under no circumstances shall UCL be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of this publication, including, without limitation, any fault error, omission with respect thereto. The use of this publication is at the User’s sole risk. Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to negligence, shall UCL be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, even if UCL has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Excerpts may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. CONTENTS 0 8 A W O R D O N POSITIONALITY 1 0 OUR THEORETICAL BASIS: RICHARD SENNETT’S URBAN LINGUISTICS 1 2 H O W C U S T O M H O U S E ’ S VILLE A N D CITÉ T O O K DIFFERENT PATHS 1 6 TOWS ANALYSIS: LOOKING AT CUSTOM HOUSE’S UNBRIDGED VILLE A N D CITÉ A S A N OPPORTUNITY 1 8 CUSTOM HOUSE’S REGENERATION PLAN: OPPORTUNITIES TO B R I D G E VILLE A N D CITÉ 2 0 5 2 O UR STRATEGY: INTERVENTION 5: NURTURING, INCENTIVES & BENEFITS DE-STIGMATISING & CARING 5 8 2 8 TIMELINE INTERVENTION 1: CO-PRODUCTION GAME 6 0 3 2 FINAL REFLECTIONS INTERVENTION 2: INTEGRATION 6 2 4 0 REFERENCES INTERVENTION 3: COMMUNITY SPACES 4 4 INTERVENTION 4: AESTHETICS A W O R D O N Empathy Needle is an interdisciplinary and multicultural group of designers temporarily based in London, United Kingdom. We look to craft an inclusive and empowering Daniel Lewis Lallana practice of participatory design—one Erick Lau Gastelo Social Researcher that is prevailingly driven by an Lawyer United Kingdom empathetic approach. Peru Natalia Meléndez Fuentes Development Cooperation Spain TRANSFORMING NEWHAM'S CUSTOM HOUSE P A G E 0 8 POSITIONALITY Mina Abdelmelek Architect Yujun Yue Egypt Economist China Mengdi Liu Architect Harsh Gupta China Civil Engineer India NURTURING, DE-STIGMATISING AND CARING P A G E 0 9 OUR THEORETICAL BASIS: RICHARD InIn his book Building and Dwelling: EthicsEt for the City, urban planner RRichardi Sennett puts linguistics at the sservicee of the urban through two FrenchFr words: ville and cité. Illustratively,Ill Sennett explains that ‘villev ’ stands for the overall city, its uurbanr environment, its socio-political cconditions,o and the projects behind tthese.h Conversely, ‘cité’ encompasses ttheh character of life, attachments to pplaces,l and how people aspire to live collectively (Sennett, 2019: 2). In understanding these, one might assume that the ville should reflect the desires of the cité. However, they appear divorced across many neighborhoods and cities. TRANSFORMING NEWHAM'S CUSTOM HOUSE P A G E 1 0 SENNETT’S URBAN LINGUISTICS Learning from Sennett, the area of focus of this development brief, Newham’s Custom House, can serve to illustrate how the disparity between ville and cité can be looked at as an opportunity to bridge current gaps. At present, Custom House’s built environment is divorced from the aspirations of its residents. Thus, designs for the future—such as Newham Council’s Regeneration Plan —hold the potential for the ville to better accommodate the cité. The Empathy Needle team has conceived a development strategy that provides a binding agent for Custom House’s ville and cité, allowing for coalescence between the two to be achieved. NURTURING, DE-STIGMATISING AND CARING P A G E 1 1 HOW CUSTOM HOUSE’S VILLE AND CITÉ TOOK DIFFERENT PATHS A regenerating dockland area located Other changes that followed the between London’s Canning Town and ExCel were the building of many Beckton, Custom House originally hotels and the construction of developed in the 1880s as a residential Westfield Stratford City—UK’s 4th accompaniment to the Royal Docks largest shopping centre (Ibid.). In this (Hidden London, 2017). Its present vein, the 1990s-2012 regeneration of physiognomy was consolidated during surrounding areas accelerated the the post-war period, when housing aforementioned public space was predominantly replaced by privatization in Custom House (Lane, council flats (Ibid.). Over time, 2019). Custom House became deprived; a situation perpetuated by mono- At present, Custom House is close to tenure and poor-quality housing three DLR stations and the Emirates (Macartney, 2003: 1). These conditions Air Line Cable Car. In addition, the have been preserved by increasingly Crossrail is envisioned to reach the commodified public spaces, which area by 2021 (ExCel London, 2020). Its have created barriers to mobility and proximity to the increasingly-busy social interaction. London City Airport further increases its valorisation. Despite its Further dividing ville and cité, the connectivity to the city, Custom new millennium saw drastic changes, House appears detached, with an such as the construction of the ExCel infrastructure and public service Center. Located north of the Royal provision that are inflexible and Victoria Dock, the ExCel was London’s lacking in organization. largest regeneration project since Canary Wharf (ExCel London, 2020). TRANSFORMING NEWHAM'S CUSTOM HOUSE P A G E 1 2 NURTURING, DE-STIGMATISING AND CARING P A G E 1 3 With regards to its social fabric, the latest Custom House census (2011) registered a population of 13,411, showing a rich national and linguistic diversity—see the pie charts below. Its diversity notwithstanding, the insufficient potential utilization of the area has hindered the formation of a strong sense of community among residents. That is, Custom House’s cité seems widely underrepresented and underserved by the built environment. Country of Origin, Custom House (Census 2011) TRANSFORMING NEWHAM'S CUSTOM HOUSE P A G E 1 4 Linguistic Characteristics, Custom House (Census 2011) NURTURING, DE-STIGMATISING AND CARING P A G E 1 5 TOWS ANALYSIS: LOOKING AT CUSTOM HOUSE’S UNBRIDGED VILLE AND CITÉ AS AN OPPORTUNITY Standing for Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths, a TOWS matrix allows an analysis of external conditions (threats and opportunities), in contrast to internal factors (weaknesses and strengths). Our TOWS matrix on the side is a product of field visits, desk research and analysis, to identify how to bridge Custom House’s ville to its cité, making them coalesce. The TOWS matrix on the side shows how our strategy aspires to make the most of opportunities, diminish threats, overcome weaknesses and exploit all strengths of Custom House. TRANSFORMING NEWHAM'S CUSTOM HOUSE P A G E 1 6 Matching external and internal factors, our TOWS has enabled us to: Strengths & Opportunities (SO): How can we use Custom House’s strengths to take advantage of the opportunities posed by the Regeneration Plan? Strengths & Threats (ST): How can we leverage Custom House’s strengths to avoid tangible and potential threats, such as increased commodification or gentrification? Weaknesses & Opportunities (WO): How can we complement the opportunities posed by the Regeneration Plan to overcome the weaknesses currently affecting Custom House? Weaknesses & Threats (WT): How can we minimize weaknesses and mitigate threats? NURTURING, DE-STIGMATISING AND CARING P A G E 1 7 CUSTOM HOUSE’S REGENERATION PLAN: OPPORTUNITIES TO BRIDGE VILLE AND CITÉ Newham Council’s Regeneration Plan As to how this development brief for the broader area of Canning Town relates to the Regeneration Plan, our and Custom House envisions a proposal is aligned to Newham complex intervention. The Plan has Council’s objectives to a certain identified and accounted for the degree. Nonetheless, our vision for needs of the community through Custom House directs its attention to consultation and participation. Its more psycho-emotional elements—in most relevant components are: Sennett’s terms, its cité. Not only do we consider that the people must be 1.Building new homes, with a focus central to the Regeneration, but the on social and affordable housing— Plan in itself must be at the service of ensuring residents their right to the community. remain or return; 2.Enhancing the area’s commercial potential; 3.Improving the area’s integration through infrastructure and road connections, with Freemasons Road as the commercial centre (Newham Council, 2019);