Agenda
This year unit B has asked students to reimagine cities for a more compact, sustainable, and human-centric vision of the future! Students were asked to engage with and challenge existing value accounting systems to answer the question: What would cities look like if they allowed people to live and work in a way that improved their wellbeing and allowed the planet to thrive, rather than being focussed on facilitating economic growth?
Site
The sites for the year are located in the Old Oak Common and Park Royal redevelopment area (OPDC). Before it almost accidentally became a location of huge strategic importance, it was no doubt the forgotten corner of West London. Historically accommodating light industrial uses which meet the logistical needs of the city, the area maintained low land values despite its proximity to central London. Students explored the power dynamics shaping the area before formulating their responses.