BA Hons Photography (Contemporary Practice): docklands / urban city idea

For my urban city environment project I wanted to reflect on the old and new architecture, and how this impacts today's society.

The changes that have been made to the London Docklands in the past 25 years have been among the most striking and most dynamic developments in the world. The London Docklands Development Corporation (1981-1998) played a huge role in the area transformation, turning what used to be an industrial wasteland into a vibrant area for commerce, residential life, and tourism. The area of the Docklands is over eight and a half square miles, all of which have been affected by the new developments in businesses and transportation. The Docklands represents one of the largest concentrations of twentieth and twenty-first century architecture in the world, and with new projects in development now, it will continue to grow, benefiting not only the area but London as a whole.

The history of the London Docklands dates back to the early 17th century, when the first docks were built as a part of the East India Company. The number of docks began developing, and experiencing a boom during the 1800`s. The Docklands later reached their peak in the 1930s when over 100,000 people were connected to the Port of London through their jobs. However, in the post-World War II years, people began to see the decline and the closure of docks around the world, and therefore the docklands of London were no different. New technology, such as containerization and air transport made the docks seem old-fashioned and no longer as useful as what they once were. Many docks around this area were closed in the 1960s, leaving behind empty warehouses and creating a very uninviting environment.

The word derelict was most used to describe the docklands in the 1970`s and early 80`s. By 1981, 59.7% of lands and buildings that fell under the control of the LDDC were considered derelict, vacant, under-used, or unused. As the skills of the people in the area were not appropriate for new industries, the docks later experienced a severe loss of jobs from 1978-1983.

The condition of property in the Docklands was so bad, that most investors didn't wish to take a gamble on trying to develop the property. Plus, there was very little transportation between the Docklands and Central London, meaning that if the area was to be refurbished, investors would also have to pay for transportation improvements to make the area more accessible, a project that would take on millions, if not billions, of pounds. The Docklands were in a downward spiral, and without intervention, the situation looked bleak.

However, in 1981, hope came for the Docklands. The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was founded in the Local Government Planning and Land Act of 1980 with four primary goals, this included, making the lands and buildings useful, encouraging new industry and commerce in the area, ensuring good housing and amenities for its residents, and creating a pleasant environment. Instead of relying on a grand plan for development, the LDDC instead focused on market-led development in order to be more flexible.

One of the first challenges faced by the LDDC was transportation. At first, the company wanted to see how much more access the new developments would demand before spending millions on building new roads. Because of this, the construction of new roads was ongoing, but as they built, they found the new roads were actually insufficient to handle the amount of people that came with the new developments. It appeared that the redevelopment might fall apart, if new transportation systems were not put into place. The Docklands Light Railway, was built in a monorail style which alleviated the strain, but didn't solve the problem entirely, though in today's society, it can carry approximately 80,000 people daily. An extension to the Jubilee line was proposed, and while it took several years to be approved, it was ultimately successful and was completed in 1998 with stops in Canada Water, Canary Wharf. Furthermore, over 72 miles of new roads were built in order to make the area, especially the Isle of Dogs, more accessible from Central London. And in today's culture, the Docklands are easy to get to by train and car, and the success of the area is due in much part to its improved transportation.

In addition to building up the area's industry, the LDDC wanted the Docklands to attract new residents and improve the housing in the area. New housing developments were created all over the docklands, many portraying a unique post-modern exterior. Due to these developments being built quickly, many have pre-fabricated interiors which can be assembled off-site and then put into place like a puzzle. Many of the developments are now local landmarks due to their unique look, such as The Cascades apartment block off Westferry Road, which is one of the most well-known buildings in the entire Docklands. The expansion and improvement of housing invited thousands of people to the Docklands, allowing the area's economy to expand and pay back much of the cost of the development. The area is extremely popular with young bankers, lawyers, etc… because of its prime location to businesses in the area, chic living, and great selection of stores and restaurants, the area is described as being like a pretty, new, clean, large Midwestern city on the Great Lakes. When located in the area, you don’t experience the same hustle and bustle of central London, instead you find wider roads, more sunlight, and an atmosphere that is a touch more relaxed.

Perhaps the most iconic development in the London Docklands is the area known as Canary Wharf, on the northern end of the Isle of Dogs. Development of Canary Wharf began in 1982, with the conversion of an old warehouse into the television studio complex Limehouse Studios. This work was created to revitalize the area, creating a different kind of development, in this case, the television industry. In time, Canary Wharf will carry on development, and continue to grow and attempt to attract many different groups to its land.

As with the rest of the Docklands, Canary Wharf development began as a primarily low-rise complex. In effort to maximize floor space to entice firms to move there from the City, high-rise development was called for, despite the protestations of many, who claimed that high-rise development would be too visible, particularly from Greenwich Park. In spite of this, it was decisive that this new development would be situated directly above the Docklands Light Railway station in the centre of Canary Wharf.

In the late 1980`s, in effort to start work and control over the development, it was passed on to the North American firm Olympia and York, already known for their designs of Flemington Park in Toronto and the World Financial Centre in New York City. Olympia and York were chosen because of their ability to take an undesirable location, and make the area striking to tenants with elegant buildings and extensive landscaping. Similar to their work in downtown Manhattan, their design took into account the scenic location on the Thames. With over 25 acres of land being set apart for waterside promenades, as well as boulevards, parks, and squares, they wanted to make sure that the water played an important role as a visual element.

For the most iconic building in the Canary Wharf development, Olympia and York called on architect Cesar Pelli to design a skyscraper at 1 Canada Square, immediately adjacent to the DLR station in the centre of Canary Wharf. Pelli had worked with Olympia and York on the World Financial Centre, and the Canary Wharf Tower looks similar to its Manhattan sibling a tall, severe tower with slight stepped recessions and a pyramid peak. When the building was built in 1991, the Canary Wharf Tower was somewhat at odds with the rest of the development, having been clad in Welsh stainless steel instead of the stone Olympia and York asked for. Pelli claimed to have done this to further his goal of making a simple, yet pure design. His use of steel cladding was incredibly innovative for his form, as it had never been used on American skyscrapers before, but Pelli had intended to make a skyscraper that was not American, and that it didn't fit neatly into the three main styles of Classical, Gothic, and Art Deco? His design managed to incorporate he style of an American building and adding to a distinct touch of British high-tech. At 800 feet in height, the Canary Wharf Tower is the tallest building in Britain, and one of the tallest in Europe.

However, One Canada Square is not the only skyscraper in the Canary Wharf development, It's since been joined by 8 Canada Square, and 25 Canada Square, both standing at approximately 650 feet in height. All three towers are fully rented out as office space, and together, they draw the eye upwards, creating a spectacular skyline sometimes described as a miniature Manhattan. This style of architecture links back to the photo the flatiron building produced by the photographers Walker Evans, Berenice Abbott, Edward Steichen, and Alfred Stieglitz.

As an originally industrial area, the Docklands have made much improvement in the last quarter century. For a district that was initially the overflow of commercial space from the City of London, the Docklands have shown a lot of dynamism, and are now able to compete with the rest of London as an economic powerhouse. Much of this, had to do with the dramatic overhaul of the district firms like Olympia and York that made the Docklands an appealing place to work with its graceful landscaping and dignified architecture. The Docklands area is known for its elegance commercial centre, and has earned nicknames like Manhattan-on-Thames or Wall Street on water. With development of the area continuing, and transportation made much easier, one can only imagine what the Docklands will look like in years to come.

Below is an image created by a computer-generated model of what the Docklands might look like in just a few short years.