First design sketches for the site
April 10th, 2007
Newham forwarded the first sketches by the landscape designer Sharon Swift and our feedback below.
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Date: 06.04.07
Project: Abbey gardens at Bakers row
Dear Sharon
Thank you so much for the initial sketch designs. The residents were generally very happy about the first steps and more so that we are on board in such an early stage of the project.
Our feedback is quite long and we hope you are ok with that. The length of the feedback is a reflection on this being views from all the Friends group.
We would be more than happy to meet as well but since not all members can attend daytime meetings it would only be Dasha and myself.
We also have collected a lot of material about the history which we can email to you should you wish to have it for reference.
Below are the feed back of the Friends Group:
ON LAYOUT
1- The open area in the proposal close to the future DLR station should be designed as one continuous space with the formal square proposed by DLR at the end of Bakers row, it should feel like one open space. This continuous open space should not become a municipal square but be more purposeful such as:
a) Closely tree lined with apple and cherry trees acting as an urban orchard (this also refers historically to the Orchard of the Abbey), providing that issues of fallen fruits on paved areas can be resolved by perhaps having low vegetation under the trees
b) Become the space where the richness of the history is explained and illustrated. It was quoted on Newham website that this street is one of the most historical streets in Newham. The park should respond to different histories not only the archaeological site. Maybe it can house the plaque that is currently at the entrance of the depot. This is something we are currently exploring for our event in May. Please refer to our section on Public art below.
2- We all liked the 3-zone layout. However we think it would be good to have a direct connection between the garden and the square. We can imagine that we might have more events along the way with the friends group and it would be good if they can be on the square or spill out into the square. We think it would be good if there were a large gate that can open up to the square.
3- Although we really like the topographic landscape and the recessed entry it should be noted that there are potential elderly residents who have shown interest and they should be considered for accessibility.
4- We would like to see as little fencing as possible, so if there are other design solutions to reduce this, we would appreciate it. Fences to the outside need to be carefully chosen.
5- The design language of the street is very angular and non organic, and we feel to keep a continuity in the design between the street and the new public spaces would be really important. Perhaps the open zone close to the DLR and the zone of the remains are much more formally designed and the community garden is much more wild and adhoc in design.
6- We would like areas of the community space to be sheltered through the existing topography or hedges – again this seems to be covered on the design, but we were not certain.
ZONE OF THE REMAINS
1-There should be a different solution to protecting the remains than fences – there are precedents where remains have been externally protected by toughened glass or thick transparent plastic covering and lit from underneath.
2-The idea of seating around the remains is very nice specially as there may be possibility of one off screenings or performances organised by the friends group, this also emphasises the idea of an alternative protective solution for the remains
PLANTING
1- There should be substantial screening with plants at the back of the site to hide the structures, which are an eye sore from the depot.
2-As part of the community garden It would be good for some wild spaces left to provide a bit of varied habitat – this seems to be covered on the design, but we were not certain
3-It would be good to have some input in the plant choices when that stage arises – it would be good to encourage diversity of insects and birds through plant choice
ENCLOSURE IN COMMUNITY GARDEN
1-We have agreed on having a traditional bread oven. Dasha has been on 2 courses and she is passionate to bake bread there and potentially run workshops for kids. For this reason we would need a place for storage of the timber logs that we can lock and a tool shed for the garden. We would like this to be considered on the plan.
2- There was also the idea of a more sheltered area from rain etc for events, communal BBQ etc.
3- we would need water and electricity on the site, perhaps even a toilet.
PUBLIC ART AND ILLUSTRATION OF HISTORY
1- There was a concern that if the historical information was just on information boards that they would be vandalised or deteriorate as is seen in so many places. Perhaps this can be part of a public art commission. The plans of the new station refer to a public art commission, which we seem to remember was a wall mural installation with lighting. It would be good to co-ordinate and check who invites the artist and how he/she is to be chosen. If we can have any input at all in choosing the artist it would be nice to work with a local arts institution. maybe space studios – in Hackney Wick http://bowfestival.spacestudios.org.uk/projects/index.asp, they have a lot of experience with community projects.
2- There was also another really interesting project called park fiction
http://www.parkfiction.org/ in which artist helped structure the overall process of how a park is established and they created a extensive archive of desires.
We are also happy as a group to lead on the public art commissioning due to some members experience, contacts and grants in such public art projects.
Finally there were a few points that we wanted to have clarification on
> is the location of the remains on the draft design accurate?
> What coordination is there between the street design and the site design – who is responsible for each in the Council so the coherence is achieved?
Street design questions to DLR:
> What sort of trees will be planted on the modified pavement again would be good to be coherent
> what will happen to the existing trees
> how will the entrance to Abbey House work?
Again thank you so much for involving us from such a preliminary stage and as you see we are extremely positive and passionate about the project and are really happy to be collaborating with you and Newham on this.
Hope to speak to you soon
Yours sincerely
Torange Khonsari
Friends of Abbey Gardens
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