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New Cross NDC |
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New Cross NDC |
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The New Cross NDC project
seeks to illustrate the emotional and physical value of land that
is lost through over-development, and its effect on individual and
communal happiness. Our proposal regenerates a one-hectare site to
provide a new library, theatre, health centre, artist studios and
affordable housing, and integrates a local primary school into the
scheme. Society places greater emphasis on wealth generation than happiness. For more than 50 years, citizens in Europe, North America and Japan have enjoyed considerable increases in personal wealth. At the same time, there are no signs that this has led to a happier population. Conventional wisdom would suggest that we should build high-density, sustainable communities to mitigate the need for transportation. Whilst it is difficult to disagree with the principle, it is placing great pressure on public open space in London. For more than 250 years, routes from London, Greenwich and Surrey have converged on New Cross. Today the area has, in a sense, become a victim of its own success – blighted by traffic and concerns about safety. For the wider community we are looking at the impact the scheme will have on the local and global environment, the health and fitness of residents, the actual and perceived sense of security, on whole-life education and employment – in other words on improving residents' quality of life. The scheme is developed around two spaces, which would form part of the Mayor of London's 100 Public Spaces – a square and a 'Sanctuary Garden'. The scheme's legacy should be greater happiness: to forge a strong sense of community, place nature and environmental sustainability at the heart of people's daily lives, and to initiate healthy living. Buschow Henley worked in conjunction with structural engineer Jane Wernick, environmental engineer Max Fordham, landscape architect Jenny Coe and cost consultant Stockdale. The project was exhibited by the RIBA in 2006 in the touring exhibition – 'Sustainable Living by Design'. |
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