CONTEMPORARY HERITAGE PARK
NEWHAM
Water bodies, once the prime resources for the emergence of human civilization, have been controlled by humanized systems such as the installation of mega pipes inside the land, the creation of artificial water bodies (docks) and controlling mechanical devices (flood gates, locks), barrier wall, embankment wall and a complex system during the industrial revolution. The natural landscape and waterscapes became more mechanized and lost their connection to urban life. The context of this research project is postindustrial urban space which is enriched with water infrastructural heritage and bears the heritage from the golden era of industrial dominance, it is currently going through the transitional phase from derelict space to search for purpose. In this transitional phase the cultural heritage of this area is under the threat the loss of identity and facing emerging climatic issues due to the water mismanagement and time demands that the cultural heritage of this area is preserved in an appropriate way. This design project based on research seeks ways to revive the lost heritage connection between water, land, and humans. While re-purposing the site the lost heritage of the place should be protected and that is why this research lead design project focused on ecological, geological and heritage aspects of the site as a means of architectural intervention to tackle the emerging climatic and social challenges. It not only tries to solve the issues related to the urban water bodies but also try to create relationships with its user and provide ownership to the living cultural heritage of the place so the lost disconnection between the heritage can be sustained into mutual relationship between its role and its user activity.
URBAN VISION: CREATING A HERITAGE PARK
The research goal of this regeneration is to recover the symbolic value of the cultural heritage, connect them visually and physically with the public and provide required function.
Our investigation reveals this area’s land change can be identified as geographical complexity which changes sections of the land forever and it is also the unique character of the site. Due to the industrialization process the section of the land changes from natural sloped marshy land to manufactured land due to excavation of dock, filling the land with the excavated land and leveling of the area for construction. So, the journey of this area should be exposed to spaces that help understand the changes made in the section of the land by the process of industrialization. There is also a numerous water infrastructure with highly engineered systems to control the water in the docks. This water infrastructure is also a piece of object with whom the visitors should interact while they roam around inside the heritage park.
In short, the heritage park in this area should connect the heritages and the histories both on the land (factories, pumping stations, natural marshes, agricultural usage) and water (accessibility in past, remains of platform stations) with the surrounding and should have appropriate function and access for the public.
The expected performance of the park would be as follows
- exposing and connecting the city dwellers to the heritage building and infrastructures and different level land layers.
-providing purpose to the paths such as heritage square surrounded by active facades and dining activities adjacent to the heritage buildings.
-giving entrance the people to the heritage building such as converting the pumping station into library cum cafe, community food market, art studio, gathering space and infrastructural museum.
The Newham area is currently going to face getting a proper function after the industrial decline. The current architectural development pattern of tall quick apartment buildings gives evidence that it is going to be inhabited by people shortly. Though, the construction of the London city airport adds more to the environmental problems such as surface water management and tidal flood, but the transportation connectivity makes it the most potential space to develop as the new housing destination for the increasing population of the UK.
Though the protest, the development of the London City report instead of implementation of the People’s Plan could not stop the massive construction but indicates the willingness of the people of Newham to take care of their homeland. Future development should protect the tangible and intangible heritage of the water and the land. This design lead research project proposed one of the spatial translations how history can guide the urban path to experience the enriched heritage of the land and interact with the infrastructural heritage and above all become the focal point of urban life.
The infrastructure system such as electrical work /transportation work water work often intersect the ground. Some parts of it become above and below the ground while public buildings often rise vertically above the ground the each as a crucial architectural element can dominance the development to express the true essence of being in a place. This intervention positions the building in the transition of the ground and tries to express the true rich heritage of Newham as the leading dockland during the industrial revolution.
This research lead project showd how a contemprary heritage park could be envisioned by utilizign all the cultural, infrastructural and geological heritage asset in future urban development project.