Peckham Project - Mapping
Updated: Oct 24, 2020
Before doing the site analysis, I started out by summarizing the brief. I defined the key words and looked up the examples for possible urban themes. Visualizing the urban theme helped me have a better understanding of it. I then translated the brief from what I first understood into a sketch which helped me understand the context I will be working with.
After reflection on the brief, I asked myself what would I want from this project? What do I want to include in this remodeled Peckham? And how could I include it?
As I mentioned in my previous blog, the art of mapping is like telling a story. Surveying the network is the start of the process and will only open up the possibilities of many other subjects and factors to map such as:
- Is the land flat or curvy? Has it already been manipulated?
- The water resources/paths, old, new and hidden underground. Can I use them? How far deep are they? Or uncovering forgotten canals and use them for a different purpose than its original one?
- Where are the green spaces? And why do they exist? Is it a commemoration area? A previous orchard, or a Leisure space?
- Where are the residencies and what types are they, for whom? Apartments, houses, for singles, families, elderly, disabled? For budget?
- What’s the density like?
- Are there specific political views or religions? How do they live together? How does it impact the organization of the city?
- The commercial areas, are they spread out or centered into one space? What kind of shops are they? How do they impact the cities life and habits?
- Where are the nods? The popular and un popular spaces and why?
- Where and how is the noise and CO2 pollution affecting the area? Which areas are affected? And why?
- Searching for possible sites to use. Abandoned sites? Or offices that might no longer be in use as more people will probably work from their homes? Site that are under-used, which could have more potential?
This process really shows on of the major roles in this project: Manipulate the landscape. See how to manipulate the site for Peckham’s advantage? To optimize and maximize its development for the resident’s future.
Taking a first look at Peckham, I can see it is already a well built up area. During my creation process, I have to think about the great question: what will be destroyed, what is worth or important to be protected and what could be reused?
What architectural style made Peckham?
Thinking of ideas, I could see how to re-use old structures by either readapting them or framing them to keep the history of the place alive and to allow the people of Peckham to still be able to identify to their city after major possible changes.
Defining or regrouping sectors and areas of interest could make it easier for residents or visitors to know where they want to go, such as:
- Commerce’s, (shopping; food, fashion, textiles, art, music…) which usually take a large part if a city. How do they impact Peckham? Maybe make a list of them and create sectors or make them more apparent? Use materials and textures and colors to make them stand out? What to keep of the facades? What is important?
- Eating (what kind of restaurants),
- Leisure (define leisure activities),
- Or sports.
Looking into Peckham’s history might inform me of its development and why it came to be. This could trigger some ideas to use for my project.
In the idea of making this area a better and safer place, I will have to think what could be done. Maybe having daily utilities, services and workplaces close to one another, and more enjoyable, friendlier and safer paths and avenues to walk on. Maybe installing patterns or putting each road forward or enlarging them?
Many questions and plenty to do for this new large-scale exciting project.