Studio Weave were appointed to work alongside London Borough of Hackney to develop designs for key interventions that would enhance the environmental quality, pedestrian comfort, health and wellbeing across the town centre. The commission built on the outline public realm improvement strategy set out in our Permeability Study (2018). Our scope included developing designs for procurement and technical design for delivery; and leading a co-design process with key stakeholders – including Ridley Road Shop Owners & Traders Association - to ensure any public realm improvements reflected the ambitions of town centre businesses and users.
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Dalston town centre has experienced dramatic and widespread change over recent years, and the impact of regeneration is felt across the area: long established communities are cognisant of the opportunities and risks; and the delicate balance of their ecosystem. A meaningful part of developing a scheme which supported these communities was a programme of collaboration with businesses, community leaders, and interest groups - including holding a stall on Ridley Road market and hosting a series of evening workshops at Ridley Road Market Bar.
The proposals which were collectively agreed included: coordination of refuse and servicing strategies to accommodate carriageway reductions; highway realignments to increase footways and space for parklets; greening, paving upgrades, provision of amenities such as water, street furniture and tree planting. Our scheme brought these elements together into a coherent landscape concept. And we developed the concept into a technical design package including detailed paving and planting layouts, engineering of suds planting, horticultural and material specifications, as well as street furniture product design.
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