RIBA to host community debate on the future of Shoreditch

Date:

20 November 2008

Press office contact:

Mina Vadon
T: +44 (0)207 307 3761
E: mina.vadon@riba.org

Date and time: 24 November 2008, 3pm – 6.30pm

Venue: St Hilda's Community Centre, London, E2 7EY

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is to host its final Building Futures Game event of 2008, this time heading to East London for a community-based event on the future of Shoreditch.

Working with OPEN Shoreditch (the Organisation for the Promotion of Environmental Needs), the local community group behind the 'Save Shoreditch' campaign, the Game enables residents and businesses to build an alternative vision for this contested area of the capital.

Over the last ten years, Shoreditch has established itself as London's creative hub, characterised by an eclectic mix of studios, galleries, independent shops, bars and restaurants. Its proximity to the Square Mile also means that it is well placed for expansion. However the numerous development plans for new buildings and businesses have been hotly contested by the local community. One key area of debate is the proposed development of medium to high-rise towers on the City Fringe site at Bishopsgate.

The Building Futures Game presents an accessible and innovative new approach to tackling the big issues involved in town planning and development. The event with OPEN Shoreditch will seek to address the challenges of large scale development in Shoreditch, by creating a community based plan. Outcomes will seek to protect local character, advance the needs of business and residential communities, promote diversity and a sustainable future.

Tamsie Thomson , Head of Building Futures at RIBA said:

"This is an area of London facing some great challenges as to the way it moves forward. Many groups want to be part of change in Shoreditch. We have seen recently how large scale development might affect the area; this event seeks an alternative vision from a community perspective."

Rebecca Collings, Co-chair, OPEN and the 'Save Shoreditch' campaign said:

"We relish the opportunity to come up with a positive vision. A vision that retains what we value from the area's diverse past, which also embraces the best of the new. A coherent masterplan for the area, that manages change for the better."

Notes to editors

1. For further information, contact Mina Vadon in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3761 or mina.vadon@inst.riba.org|

2. The event takes place at St Hilda's Community Centre, Boundary Estate, 3 Club Row, London E2 7EY. Nearest Underground tube station is Liverpool Street

3. Launched in January 2008, the Building Futures Game is a form of scenario planning where participants work through a lively and interactive process of 'playing out' a range of possible futures, generating a number of possible resolutions. Working through this process, participants are given a chance to really get to grips with the fundamental issues affecting town planning in their towns and cities.

4. Building Futures is the RIBA's think tank on issues affecting the future of the built environment. It was established to create space for discussion about the needs of society from our built environment and, consequently, the built environment professions in 20 years and beyond. The group aims to highlight and promote those working with new technologies and developing new ideas, which will contribute to the future of our towns and cities and address society's changing demands over the coming years. How and where will we be living in 50 or 100 years' time? What technologies will architects be using to design new buildings and what materials will be specified? How will the inevitable new technologies affect the buildings and places we use every day? The Building Futures programme is ongoing and includes exhibitions, debates, events and research activities. For more information visit www.buildingfutures.org.uk |

5. OPEN Shoreditch is a non-partisan forum of local community groups and individuals. The purpose of this forum is to bring together a diverse range of individuals into a powerful coalition in order to act effectively for the common good. This is done by sharing information and concerns, establishing public relationships with accountable politicians (e.g. by hosting a "hustings" for a ward election), identifying local campaigns and, if necessary, instructing OPEN to bring judicial proceedings. The OPEN Shoreditch forum nominates directors of the company OPEN. "OPEN" is the trading name for Organisation for Promotion of Environmental Needs Limited, a not for profit company with members' liability limited by guarantee. OPEN campaigns, amongst other things, to protect local character, advance the needs of local business and residential communities and promote diversity and a sustainable social and natural environment. Ultimately it's about people: being able to participate in change, taking pride in our communities and taking responsibility for our environment. People join OPEN wanting a new approach to regeneration and redevelopment and to act effectively together as citizens. OPEN also has forums that are active in Dalston in the London Borough of Hackney and Aldgate in the City of London.