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Five years on
from London
2012, the
momentum
in Stratford
has continued,
with culture
and education
at the top of
the agenda
The 2012 Olympics was the catalyst
for large-scale regeneration in
Stratford. The cultural impact of the
Olympics was significant, not least
because it brought the area into
focus for a much wider audience.
Five years on from London 2012,
the momentum in Stratford has
continued, with culture and education
at the top of the agenda. We have
already seen the repositioning of
the Olympic Broadcasting Centre
into Here East (a 1.2 million sq ft
development, which is now home to
Loughborough University’s London
campus, UCL’s satellite campus,
Wayne MacGregor’s dance studio a
number of tech focused companies
such as BT Sport and the Plexal
innovation hub). The next stage
of the journey is the proposed
‘Olympicopolis’, scheduled to open
in 2021. This will add to the legacy of
the games as a number of world-class
institutions, covering art, education,
dance, design and technology head
eastwards. The scheme will provide
up to 3,000 jobs and visitor numbers
are forecast to reach 1.5 million. The
centerpiece is a new outpost for the
Victoria & Albert East Museum, where
it will dedicate space to showcase
digital art and design and include a
permanent exhibition space from the
world renowned Smithsonian. It will sit
alongside a Sadlers Wells dance centre
and the University of Arts new fashion
campus at Stratford Waterfront.
Another area that has benefitted
from a carefully curated and
methodical development approach
is King’s Cross. The upgrading of
the buildings and spaces into a truly
mixed-use urban area has been
critical in creating a sense of place.
One of the most noticeable features
of the new development is how well
integrated the cultural amenities are
with the surrounding area, bringing
the public into direct contact with
music, theatre, art and dance. This is
exemplified in King’s Place, where the
lower floors are host to concert space
– the first public concert hall to be
built in London for more than 25 years
– and art galleries. King’s Cross even
has its own Musician in Residence,
the result of a collaboration between
King’s Cross and the PRS for Music
Foundation, who occupy space in
the estate. As well as the arts, the
area is developing a reputation as
one of the world’s leading knowledge
clusters. A catalyst for growth was
the arrival of Central St Martins to
the area, along with the Francis Crick
Institute who joined well-established
entities such as the British Library
and the Wellcome Trust to help drive
the dramatic transformation from
industrial wasteland to cultural hub.
Camden is the heart and soul of
alternative culture in London. Much
of the activity is centred on Camden
Market; a diverse community of over
1,000 creative sellers, street food
traders and independent stores. The
market itself is made up of several
markets each with a character of its
own; from crafts and Japanese pop
culture in Camden Lock Village to
vintage clothing in the Stables Market.
It now draws crowds from all over
the world. Camden has long been
home to London’s after hours music
industry. The musical institutions of
KOKO and the Roundhouse have been
particularly influential. KOKO began
life as a Victorian theatre back in the
late 1800s and was reincarnated as
a music venue in the 1970s enjoying
notoriety and providing a platform
for many of the first-wave punk
bands such as The Sex Pistols & The
Clash. The Roundhouse, a Grade 2
listed former railway engine repair
shed was transformed into a ground-
breaking performing arts venue 50
years ago and now welcomes artists
from all over the world. However,
in an era where live music venues
are increasingly under pressure and
increasingly come into conflict from
neighbouring residents, reinvention is
the name of the game and KOKO is in
discussions to develop a hotel as part
of a major refurbishment of the club
to help preserve not only its future
but the cultural identity of the area.
Stratford
King’s Cross
Camden
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
05
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