draft isle of dogs waterspace strategy reduced feb 08

prepared for: British Waterways London

Isle of Dogs“A new water park in Thames Estuary Parklands”

prepared by: Farrells

Date Febuary 2008

DRAFT

Sir Terry Farrell

Principal, Farrells

FOREWORD

The Waterways of the Isle of Dogs are positioned as a gateway to the Thames Estuary Parklands and were historically central to the economic development both of London and Britain. They are a unique landscape of engineered docks and canals alongside the River Thames and are exceptional in their size and rich heritage.

Today their national significance and role in the revival of East London is unclear. They provide visual amenity for the regenerative force of Canary Wharf. However they are currently under-utilised and disconnected; and the vastness of the open water creates physical barriers between communities on the Isle of Dogs.

A new vision is needed for these waterways that develops a 21st Century purpose and role for the docks. We proposed their transformation into a national attraction and influence in their own right within Thames Estuary Parklands.

The reinvigoration and re-imagining of the docks is possible by significantly increasing activity on the water, and improving the connections and landscape around and across the docks. The dock must be seen as an asset which will both integrate the communities of the Island and reach out as a positive influence, and amenity for all across the city. The vitality of the renewed docks will restore the life and activity that symbolises the proud places they once were.

Client: FARRELLS

7, Hatton Street

London

NW8 8PL

T. 020 7258 3433

F. 020 7723 7059

[email protected]

British Waterways

1 Sheldon Square

Paddington Central

London

W2 6TT

1 I n t r o d u c t i o n

1 Threshold of Thames Estuary Parklands

2 Site Context

3 Surprising Degree of Bio-diversity and Variety

4 Facts and Figures

5 The Isle of Dogs Scale Comparisonon

2 C o n t e x t

1 A History of Urban Features

2 The System seems to “Straightening the Thames”

3 The Development of the Docks

4 A Hub of Bustling Economic Activity

5 A Vibrant and Proud Community

6 Disconnected Today from the National Waterway Network 7 The Economic Centre of Canary Wharf

8 Well Connected to London, but the Docks are “Bypassed”

3 D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c R e a l m

1 Development of the Public Realm

2 Canary Wharf Does Not Engage the Docksoc

k4 D i s c o n n e c t e d I s l e o f D o g s

1 The Isle of Dogs has Become ‘Disconnected’

2 The ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ Mentality

3 The Isle of Dogs is Territorial

5 T h e P o t e n t i a l f o r C h a n g e

1 The Docklands New Role

2 Building on Regional Initatives

3 Building on Local Initatives

4 Connecting Three Landscapes

6 S t r a t e g i c P r i n c i p l e s

1 Connect the Neighbourhoods and Communities

2 Animate the Docks

3 Create a Sense of Place

5 P r o p o s a l s a n d I d e a s

1 Connect the Public Realm

2 Make Connections Accross with New Bridges

3 Inhabit the Water’s Edge Pro-actively

4 Humanize the Vertical Scale of Buildings at the Dock Edge

5 Increase Accessibility to the Waterways and Improve Connections

6 Define New ‘Urban Rooms’ Based on the Size and Shape of the Docks

7 Create Character Areas by Inhabiting the ‘Urban Rooms’

6 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s

1 Provide New Public Realm and Infrastructure Works

2 Bring in New Boats and Boat Facilities

3 Create a Managed Ecological Environment

4 Encourage Floating Structures

5 Promote Areas for Aquatic Sports and Waterside leisure

7 A N e w W a t e r P a r k i n t h e T h a m e s E s t u a r y P a r k l a n d

1 I n t r o d u c t i o n


2 Site Context


4 Facts and Figures

5 The Isle of Dogs Scale Comparison

The Isle of Dogs is a unique place in East London. Its location, landscape, and scale offer great opportunities for enhancing its role within the context of the Thames Estuary Parklands. This introduction outlines some basic information about the area and region.

The Isle of Dogs is at a strategic location in East London and marks the threshold into Thames Estuary Parklands.

Thames Estuary Parklands is a holistic and coherent approach that sees the area as part of one eco-region, incorporating three landscapes; urban areas (‘brownfield’ and developed areas) landscape and ecology

(‘green’ infrastructure) and the rivers and riparian habitats (‘blue’ infrastructure).

The water infrastructure and landscape plays an important role, since much of the region is shaped by water. The reinvention of the Isle of Dogs as a national attraction fits within this parkland strategy as an asset

which will both integrate the communities of the Isle of Dogs and reach out positively across the city and region, creating an amenity for all.

1 I n t r o d u c t i o n - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands


Thames Estuary Parklands

The Waterways of the Isle of Dogs are a unique and important landscape, consisting of engineered docks and canals alongside the River Thames. The Isle of Dogs is part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and also part of London Docklands, a network of docks and canals that occupies the land beyond the boundaries of the city to the east. The Isle of Dogs includes the main body of the peninsula east of Limehouse Basin, the gateway to the Regent Canal, and Limehouse cut and west of the River Lea.

These connected waterways are exceptional in their size and rich heritage. Between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, the development of the docks epitomised the age of imperial trade with London’s predominance as the world’s first global city. With decline in the twentieth century the docks became redundant, until the late twentieth century with the regeneration of Canary Wharf and other significant areas. However the new developments have not integrated the waterspaces, leaving them underused.

Isle of Dogs in 1987

Building of Canary Wharf

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - I n t r o d u c t i o n 1

2 Site Context

Aerial Photo of the Isle of Dogs


2 Site Context

Images of the Docks



There is a surprising degree of bio-diversity and variety within and around the Isle of Dogs. As a series of connected waterways, there are many areas of marine natural environments and aquatic and animal habitats.

The area’s rich industrial heritage can be seen in the many warehouses and historic buildings. With the more recent regeneration scheme there is also a number of new housing complexes and office developments. The new development at Wood Wharf will bring in an additional 2500 new dwellings.

Biodiversity and Variety in the Isle of Dogs

4 Facts and Figures

Conservation Areas


• 5.8 Km of river frontage

• 10.5 Km of dock frontage

• 110 acres of Docklands

Waterway and Open Space Water Frontage

• Waterways represent 10.6% of total area

• Open space represents 7% of total area

• Total area of peninsula is approx. 1,037 acres

Grade 1 Listed

Grade 2* Listed

Grade 2 Listed

5 The Isle of Dogs Scale Comparison


The City Marylebone and Oxford Street Regent’s Park

The Isle of Dogs is large in scale. It comparies in size with the City, Marlyebone and Oxford Street and Regent’s Park.

approx. 1.6Km approx. 1.6Km approx. 1.6Km

2 C o n t e x t


2 The System Seems to “Straighten the Thames”




6 Disconnected Today from the National Waterway Network 7 The Economic Centre of Canary Wharf

8 Well Connected to London, but the Docks are “Bypassed”

The Isle of Dogs has a a rich heritage and vibrant communities. Today however the docks have lost their traditional role. as they are disconnected from the national waterway network and transport infrastructure, and they are overshaddowed by Canary Wharf.


The Isle of Dogs consists of a number of strong urban features that greatly influence the character or the peninsula. These artificial or manmade interventions are large scale big infrastructure projects. These include:

The historical Greenwich axis, acts as a progression • linking Blackheath Gate, the Queen’s House and the Royal Navel College and Grand Square to the Thames.

The docks and waterways.•

The economic centre, visually powerful and • regeneration effect of Canary Wharf, and to some degree the O2 Centre.

The roads at the north and the Dockland Light Rail • line running down the centre of the greatly affect movement and connections

The Jubilee Tube line.•

The northern crossrail route.•

2 C o n t e x t - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary ParklandsUrban Features

O2 Centre

Canary Wharf

Greenwich Axis

Docklands Light Rail Line

Canary Wharf

Cross Rail

Docks

Northern Roads

Greenwich Axis

Jubilee Line

Dockland Light Rail

O2 Centre

2 The System Seems to Straighten the Thames”

An initiative that partly lead to the formation of the docks advocated for the creation of a canal system to reduce the three-to-four-mile trip around the peninsula in and out of London. The ‘Straightening of the Thames’ was proposed. One of the first docks built, the City Canal (later known ast the South Dock), was built for this purpose.

The Docklands that were built over the 1800s, the Royal Docks, West India Docks, and London Docks, were mostly developed for commerce purposes, not only navigational. However, the system of connected waterways that developed did accomplished the initial scheme of straightening the Thames to some degree.

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - C o n t e x t 2

The London Docklands

Straightening of the Thames: London’s DocklandsStraightening of the Thames


Before the 1800s the landscape of the Isle of Dogs peninsula consisted of tidal marshes, which where sparsely-settled, and drained for agricultural uses.

During 1800 -1865 the northern docks were developed by West India trade at the neck of the Isle of Dogs. These included the Blackwall Entrance Basin, the North Import Dock in 1802, and the Export Dock in 1806. The City Canal was built in 1805, which later became South Dock. In 1812-15 roads were laid to the Greenwich Ferry. Poplar was linked to the City by the London and Blackwall Railway in 1840 -1841 and development of “Cubitt Town” began in 1842. In 1850-51 a new, railway-serviced dock was built north of the Blackwall Basin. Riverside wharfs were also developed after 1853.Minimal use was made of the marshy interior of the peninsula during this time.

Between 1865 -1980 the Isle of Dogs saw full dock development. In the mid 1860s the Millwall Docks were developed along with a new eastern entrance basin. A new rail line was developed to link to the Greenwich Ferry in the early 1870s, which added rail servicing to all the docks. In 1902 the Greenwich Foot Tunnel opened, and in the 1920s there were major works to link Millwall and South Docks. During the war, Millwall and West India Docks, like the whole of the Docklands, were hit hard, as they were major strategic targets. Reconstruction began immediately, and for the next 25 years the whole of the peninsula saw rebuilding and modernisation. With the removal of the rail lines and clearance of many warehouses and wharves the whole complex closed in 1980.

Since 1980 the peninsula has seen much post-industrial development and redevelopment. Infrastructure works consisted of the the Docklands Light Railway and Canary Wharf, South Quay Plaza, and the London Arena and Harbour Exchange at Millwall. Some of the latest phase of development has replaced some initial redevelopment, and there has also been the covering-over/reclamation of docks waters for new development sites.

2 C o n t e x t - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

1934

1862

1766

2005

Images of the Docks as a Bustling Industrial Centre



The docks became a bustling centre for industrial Britain as the economic gateway for activity to Britian and the empire.

Its docks handled a wide variety of cargoes, and many associated industries such as flour and sugar processing and ship building began to flourish. The East India Company brought in Indian spices and silks through its East India Docks. The warehouses on West India Quay became known as Blood Alley, because the sugar in the sacks unloaded by Dockers scratched their backs so badly that they bled. Canary Wharf took its name from Canary Islands produce unloaded on that site. To the south, Millwall Docks were used for grain and other food materials.

Images of the thriving Communities of the Ise of Dogs


The docks were developed because of years of lobbying by colonial merchants and with this strong economic base, the Isle of Dogs became the hub of a vibrant community, with the early farming and fishing village of Blackwall and Poplar to the industrial dockworkers communities of Cubitt Town and Millwall. These communities had strong social networks and identities that can still be felt today.

The success of the area caused severe housing shortages because of the growing population. In 1920, local residents demonstrated their anger over the horrible living conditions by closing the only two roads that give access into the Island and declaring independence. During the war years the residents demonstrated their resilience in another way when the Isle of Dogs became a target of heavy bombing.

Since the war, the communities in the Isle of Dogs are still strong, howevever, they have felt social and deprivation issues after the decline of the docks.


British Waterways Map

Images of the Waterways


In the past the Isle of Dogs acted as a gateway connecting international trade systems to the national waterway system.

The national waterway system is a connected network of waterways, rich in history and ecological importance. Today the network is used primarily for leisure activities, however the docks are disconnected and isolated from the network and its leisure pursuits.

6 Disconnected Today from the National Waterway Network

Images of the Docks as an Bustling Centre

Canary Wharf


Today, the significance of the Isle of Dogs and its waterways is eclipsed by Canary Wharf. These docks are lost in the visually and economic overshadowing of the high rise towers of Canary Wharf.

Canary Wharf stands out as a clear place in a ‘Mental Map’ of London, however the Isle of Dogs is forgotten. The ‘Address’ of Canary Wharf is one of importance. The rest of the island, consisting of residential communities, and the historic docks themselves have been marginalized.

7 The Economic Centre of Canary Wharf


8 Well Connected to London, but the Docks are ‘Bypassed’

The Isle of Dogs is well connected to the transportation network of London, with the Dockland Light Rail Line running down the centre of the peninsula, the cross rail connections, and the Jubliee line at Canary Wharf. However, the transport system and waterway connections have overlooked the docks.

10 minutes to Central London

13 minutes to London City Airport

2 minutes to North Greenwich

7 minutes to London Bridge

Transport Connections

Jubilee Tube LineDLR and Cross rail

3 D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c R e a l m


2 Canary Wharf Does Not Engage the Dock

The dock edge has evolved on the Isle of Dogs from the historical dock uses to the new redevelopments in Canary Wharf. These changes have had a direct effect on the public realm at the water’s edge, significantly reducing the quality of the environment.

3 D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c R e a l m - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

“Private Utility”

In the past the public did not access the quayside

Today’s regeneration initatives create waterside environments for all

“Public Amenity”


Canary Wharf discourages waterways access

“Private Amenity”

Historic London Docklands Brindley Place Albert Dock, Liverpool Canary Wharf

Historical Water Edge Today’s Regeneration Initatives Canary Wharf’s Poor Public Realm

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c R e a l m 3

In the past, the public did not have access to the quayside. This space acted as a ‘private utility’, and was used as private unloading space for goods.

When buildings were directly on the quayside, the building had a collonnaded platform for the unloading of goods. Goods were taken from this space and transferred into the warehouse building for processing and then shipped out. When buildings were set back from the quayside, this space was not publically accessible; it was reserved for the unloading of goods.

The dockside edge has been used in recent regeneration initiatives as a fantastic opportunity for waterside amenity. In these cases the edge becomes a “public amenity”, and gives the public access to the quayside.

Regeneration schemes like, Liverpool’s Albert Dock, Manchester Quayside, St. Catherine’s and Brindley Place, opens up quayside spaces creating accessible waterside environments. The public are given and encouraged access to the waterside edge by the creation of pleasant public realms, either in a colonnaded walkways filled with retail and restaurants, or a landscaped quayside environment


Recent development in the Isle of Dogs treats the quayside as an “private amenity”.

Most buildings face away from the water and give limited access to the waterside edge. Buildings that are set back from the quayside have controlled and restricted waterfront access, and building that abut the waterside edge have blank colonnades which do not promote public activity.

3 D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c R e a l m - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

The only form of connection in the new development of Canary Wharf is “though the window” of the office towers. This leaves large surrounding docks underused.

The public realm is also disconnected from the water. Pedestrian connections do not allow for the public to engage with the water spaces. The example shown here of an air conditioned bridge illustrates how detached these two environments are from one another.

There is also a disparate relationship with the water, as views are focused inward towards the buildings and away from the water. The picture shown here is of the outdoor seating of a Starbucks in Canary Wharf. Its benches face inward, away from the water and towards the building façade.

At the water level the facades of the office towers are blank and underused. They do engage with the docks or create a pleasant waterfront environment. This is clear with in the vast blank colonnades that abut the water’s edge.

Underused, empty water spaces Disconnected public realm

Disparate relationship with the water Blank and underused facades at water level

2 Canary Wharf Does Not Engage the Dock

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P u b l i c R e a l m 3

4 D i s c o n n e c t e d I s l e o f D o g s




The Isle of Dogs has now become a ‘disconnected’ place. It is detached from surrounding communities and internally separated. This is due to its unique development history, the location of attractors, large phyisical barriers and the territorial tendancies of the communities.

4 D i s c o n n e c t e d I s l e o f D o g s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

The Isle of Dogs is disconnected from its surrounding communities. The large network of transportation infrastructure to the north creates a physical barrier between the docklands and the community of Poplar. The Thames also forms a physical barrer separating the Isle of dogs from Greenwich and other communities to the east, west and south.

Internally the peninsula is split in two, with Canary Wharf as an economic district in the north and the polarised residential communities in the south. This disconnection occurs because of:

Strong differences in terms of function; one is an • economic centre with high rise buildings and the other a series of residential communities.

The residential communities in the south have • little identity in comparison to the strong identity of Canary Wharf. Mental mapping of the south area is cloudy.

The docks create physical barriers that are difficult • to cross.


A ‘Disconnected’ Isle of Dogs

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - D i s c o n n e c t e d I s l e o f D o g s 4

Another issue is the location of the attractions of Canary Wharf and the tube station. Their location at the front door of the peninsula means that any associated activity is restricted to the most connected part of the peninsula, the area around Canary Wharf. This further helps to disconnect the south, as the ‘ripple effect’ is restricted to the north, and the communities in the south to not see any of the benefits. By contrast, the Greenwich peninsula’s attractors, the O2 Centre and tube stop, are located at the tip or most distant part of the peninsula, causing the ‘ripple effect’ of activity to radiated down the peninsula.

The disconnection on the Isle of Dogs causes an “us” and “them” mentality on the island between the south and north.


‘Us’ and ‘Them’

Canary Wharf in the North

Polarized Residential Communities in the South

4 D i s c o n n e c t e d I s l e o f D o g s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands


The disconnection is fruther augmented by the territorial nature of the communities in the south. Their urban structure has not progessed from the walled secure componds in the 1850s, as they have now shifted to a number of gated communities. This creates a number of territories within the community along with a number of social issues. The large water barriers further seperate these marginalized communities.

Gated Communities in the Isle of Dogs

Images of Gated Communites in the Isle of Dogs

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - D i s c o n n e c t e d I s l e o f D o g s 4

5 T h e P o t e n t i a l f o r C h a n g e

1 The Docklands New Role

2 Building on Regional Initatives

3 Building on Local Initatives

4 Connecting Three landscapes

There is a potential for the docks to change by following other local and regional initatives. They can recieve a new role within London and the Thames Estuary Parklands.

London’s dock spaces need to be re-activated with a new positve role.

The aspiration for the reinvented docks will be to create a world class landscape of water-borne activity and uses. There are many examples from around the world of waterways being used positively to promote an optimistic urban identity for the local and wider community.

The involvement of world class artists and designers will help make the dockside experience of crossing bridges or using the quayside stimulating and enjoyable and an asset in its own right. Sporting activities, concerts, boating activities, water gardens, educational opportunities, cultural events, employment and leisure pursuits are all attractions which could connect groups and organisations through positive engagement with the water.

5 T h e P o t e n t i a l f o r C h a n g e - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

1 A New Role for Docklands

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - T h e P o t e n t i a l f o r C h a n g e 5

The Isle of dogs can build on the success of other regional initiatives such as the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley, the Olympics and Stratford City, Paddington Basin, Canary Wharf, Greenwich Peninsula, Biota!, the Kings Cross regeneration and the Thames Estuary Parklands.

2 Building on Regional Initiatives

Regional Intiatives

Paddington Basin Greenwich Peninsula BIOTA! Olympic Legacy Thames Estuary Parklands

British Waterways has begun this process, with the regeneration at Wood Wharf. The new vision for this high density, mixed use development engages and activates the surrounding water environment, and strengthens access and connectivity to the surrounding neighbourhoods, as well as providing new amenities. The combined partnership at Wood Wharf, including Richard Rogers, Martha Schwartz, and British Waterways, has developed a strong public realm environment at the water’s edge.

3 Building on Local Initiatives

5 T h e P o t e n t i a l f o r C h a n g e - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Wood Wharf Landscape Plan

Illustrative View from the Southwest View of South Esplanade Looking Northwest

4 Connecting Three Landscapes

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - T h e P o t e n t i a l f o r C h a n g e 5

As the threshold to the Thames Estuary Parklands, the docklands can become invigorated with new uses and waterborne activities to create London’s new Water Parks, making the blue landscape the driving force for complete regeneration.

BLUE = WATER

GREEN = PARKS

BROWN = TOWNS

Parks

TownWater

Three Landscape in the Isle of Dogs

4 S t r a t e g i c P r i n c i p l e s


2 Animate the Docks

3 Create a Sense of Place

The creation of London’s new Water Parks can be accomplished through three strategic principles of change, which are detailed in this section.


The Isle of Dogs is home to many different neighbourhoods

and communities. Each has its own rich history and

particular relationship to the waterways: from the early

farming and fishing villages of Blackwall and Poplar; the

industrial dockworkers communities of Cubitt Town and

Millwall, to the contemporary high-rise business and

residential developments around Canary Wharf.

This diagram illustrates the centres of activity: hubs of

commercial activity such as the Billingsgate market;

visitor attractions such as the Museum in Docklands; or

neighbourhood centres with shops, surgeries and schools,

such as Island Gardens.

The opportunity now exists to use the restoration of the

public realm and docks to enhance and unite these places

and people and to create a memorable, exciting and

connected place in the city for the newest generation of

islanders to be proud of.

6 S t r a t e g i c P r i n c i p l e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Centres of Activity Connecting the Neighbourhoods

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - S t r a t e g i c P r i n c i p l e s 6

2 Animate the Empty Docks

The lack of uses on the docks and lack waterside engagement has left the dock spaces empty and sterile.

There is a need to animate these empty and underused dock spaces by activating the waterside edges and water spaces themselves. These new activities would create active docks that bring people to the waterfronts, and give new uses and bring life back to these historically important water spaces.

Empty dock - STERILE! Active dock - LIFE!

Connecting the Neighbourhoods

3 Create a New Sense of Place

The docks need a new identity. There is a need to create a new sense of place. This will be done through the enhancement of the environment, access, activity and placemaking.

Floating Environments Offering Ecological SolutionsThe environment of the docks needs to be enhanced. The nature of the moving ecological environment must be brought forward, ones that are temporary and floating.

Access to the waterways must be improved, to allow for a landscape that is open to all users.

An abundance of different activities need to be available on the waterways.

The placemaking attributes of water and the docks should be used to their full advantage. Watersides are memorable and romantic places. The big structures of the Docklands are also mentally significant. These spaces should be used to fill peoples’ minds with thoughts and memories, encouraging them to come back and experience them over and over again

Access for All to the Water

Activity and Spectacle on the Water

Memorable Placemaking

6 S t r a t e g i c P r i n c i p l e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Floating Environments Offering Ecological Solutions Access for All to the Water

Activity and Spectacle on the Water Memorable Placemaking

Aspiration Sketch of the New Water Parks in the Thames Estuary Parklands

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - S t r a t e g i c P r i n c i p l e s 6

London’s Waterparklands will become a proud place; full of life and activity once more

6 P r o p o s a l s a n d I d e a s

1 Connect the Public Realm

2 Make Connections Accross with New Bridges






For the Isle of Dogs waterspaces to become active space a number of interventions are needed. Here we have outlined a number of proposals and ideas to make this transition a reality.

The improvement of the public realm and pedestrian connectivity around the docks and the island are vital for creating a new sense of place, activating the docks, and connecting the neighbourhoods. An improved public realm will re-connect people to the water spaces of the docks.

Identified on the Water Edge Ownership diagram are areas on the island of public and private space. Also identified are water edges that are publicly accessible, publicly accessible but privately owned, and areas where there is no public access to the waterfront. It is clear that much of the water edge is accessible to the public; however certain key areas of the water’s edge are not. In addition, the pedestrian routes along the Thames have gaps, making them disconnected.

The public realm and pedestrian linkages on the island should be improved and connected around and across the docks, as well as around the outside, along the Thames. A continuous pedestrian route should be installed around the docks and the gaps connected along the Thames. New linkages at key points should be made in the form of new low bridges, designed for the pedestrian to cross the docks, helping to link communities, reducing the disconnection on the island and bringing people closer to the docks.

Public access

Private space

No public access to dock edge

Public access but privately owned

Public space Existing linkages

Proposed route along dock edge

Proposed linkages

1 Connecting the Public Realm

7 P r o p o s a l s a n d I d e a s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Water Edge Ownership Improve Pedestrian Linkages

2 Make Connections Across with New Bridges

To make connections across the docks, new bridges should be built. These would be humanly scaled, community-based links, as opposed to transport infrastructure such as tunnels or high, inaccessible bridges. They would make it possible for people to walk or cycle from side to side.

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - P r o p o s a l s a n d I d e a s 7

Rialto Bridge, Venice

Newcastle Millennium Bridge

Millennium Bridge, LondonBailey Bridge, France

The existing edges of the docks do not promote a good public realm. The first diagram of the existing waterfront edge illustrates how the edge is removed from the public realm and surrounding environment. Focus is misplaced, with the view from the public realm facing inward instead outward to the water. The landscape environment is disconnected from the public realm at water’s edge, as it is positioned on the interior. The height of the edge is high about the water level with added high railings. In situations where tall buildings are situated directly on the quayside, vast, blank and underused colonnades, with air vents from the office tower and the underground parking further create a poor public realm at the water’s edge.

A new waterfront edge is proposed that is the reverse. This edge engages with the waterfront with a high focus on creating a good public realm that is connected and interacts with water. This is done through the bringing of landscaping back to the waterside, and by creating boardwalks and floating platforms that allow people to connect with the water. In the colonnaded areas, the air ventilation system should be re-directed allowing these colonnades to infilled with retail uses.

Existing water edge condition

Proposed new waterfront





There is a need to humanize the scale of the existing docks spaces. In the new development, with its large office buildings in combination with the vast empty water spaces dwarfs the human scale, making a poor public realm environment around the water’s edge.

By putting smaller buildings and landscaping at the periphery or floating on the water’s edge, it is possible to create a better pedestrian scale, thus humanizing the vertical scale of the buildings at the dock edge.

Providing new bridges will help to reduce the industrail scale of the docks as well, improving their usefulness and sense of place.

Existing Condition Proposed New Waterfront



‘Democratise’ the waterways by providing access for new uses while also improving water connections for new activities and uses to become possible.

Improve the Thames Riverbus route by adding • more stops and jetties along the Thames.

New ferry links and bridges should be added • along the Thames, helping to improve connections across.

Options for creating new potential canal links • into the Isle of Dogs docks from both the east and west would help, as inexperienced boaters and small watercraft find trip along the Thames from Limehouse or the Lea River difficult, due to the currents and the presents of larger boats on Thames.

Another potential option would be the creation of a • ‘fake’ canal along the Thames for smaller watercraft to travel along the river in a more controlled route, however this is only a preliminary idea.

Lock connections into the waterways should also • be improved by adding new ship docks on the east of the island. These should also have locks for smaller craft to enter and exit more easily.

Internal dock linkages should also be improved • and/or relocated to better connect the internal waterway system.

Increasing Accessibility and Connections Norfolk Water Taxi

To Encourage Sailing

To Encourage Mooring

Existing riverbus jetty

New riverbus jetty

New ship dock with quarter lock / small craft lock

Existing lock

Relocated lock

New ferry link or pedestrian bridge connection

Possible new connection to inland waterways navigations

Millwall Outer Dock West

Millwall Outer Dock South

Millwall Outer Dock North

Millwall Inner Dock

South Dock East

South Dock West

West India Dock South

Middle Dock

Cuttings

Blackwall Basin

West India Dock Import

West India Dock North

Poplar Dock



Many of these docks spaces are massive in scale. Studies were conducted to come to grips with sheer size of some of these docks.

Millwall outer dock for example, is 600m in length and 107m wide. This is the equivalent of approx. 4.4 football pitches long. At the basin section of the dock the dock is approximately 1.5 football pitches wide. South dock at its widest portion is 132 m wide, which is equivalent to 2 Boeing 747’s.

The scale and shape of the docks lends itself to the defintion of a series of ‘urban rooms’, as illustrated in the diagram.

Urban RoomsScale of Millway Outer Dock

Scale of South Dock

4.4 football pitches across1.5 football pitches wide

3.5 Tate Moderns accross

2 Boeing 747’s


Residential

Retail Areas

Large Office / Employment

Inhabit the ‘urban rooms’ with different activities and uses based on the their shape, size, and the surrounding land uses.

The character areas define the types of activities • and uses that can occur in the reinvented dock spaces.

For example, the large basin area of Millwall outer • dock is named an area for attractions, to draw people closer to the tip of the Isle of Dogs.

By comparison the West India Dock North should • take on the character of civic space, based on the presence of the museum.

The west portion of South Dock should play off of • the economic centre of Canary Wharf, and function as the business area.

Key transition zones are identified as places • where careful attention must be given between the characters of each ‘urban room’, such as the transition zone between the Nature Reserve to the Business Area in South Dock, or the transition between the Attractions area to the Tranquil area in Millwall Dock. These transitions also occur between the docks and the outside connections to the Thames.

General Land Uses Patterns Character Areas


Community

Employment / Industrial

Green Areas Spiritual / Tranquil

Attractions

Outdoor Activites

Business

Nature Reserve

Residential

Civic

Cultural

Boating Docks

Key Transitions

Passage

Ecology


Key Transitions

Passage

Ecology

7 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s





5 Promote Areas for Aquatic Sports and Waterside Leisure

Based on the proposals and ideas, and secifically the character areas and the different activities they represent, this section outlines new waterway activitives. They are devided into five different categories based on type of use and activity.

New public realm and infrastructure work should be provided to improve access and mobility within the docks.

New public realm environments on the water • spaces, consist of new public bridges, walkways and floating platforms.

To help create a new attraction closer to the end of • the peninsula, a new viewing tower could be built to allow the public to have access to a view similar to the high rise towers of Canary Wharf.

In terms of transport, a new water bus route should • be added as well as new water taxi and water velo hire locations. These initiatives will help to connect the water spaces and encourage public movement by the water in the island.

These infrastructure initiatives could also help • introduce the use of sustainable and energy resources in the docks, by encouraging locations for windmills and windsculptures, as well as biomass/heat exchange pumping areas.


8 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Public Realm and Infrastructure Proposals

Public Realm and Infrastructure Aspirational ImagesA New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s 8

8 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

New boat activities and boating facilities should be encouraged. The key is to promote a variety by providing the necessary facilities and moorings for these boating activities to take place.

This is to be accomplished by sitting specific • locations for the harbour masters and British waterways offices, as well as strategic locations for boat centres, boatyards and chandlery, and boat builders.

Specific areas for different types of moorings could • also identified, to correspond with the character of the dock and surrounding uses. Therefore specific areas for mixed use and residential moorings, as well as visitor moorings, business / commercial moorings such as water taxi points, tall ships exhibition and museum boat moorings, and visiting vessels and static hotel ships locations are identified.


New Boats and Boat Facilities Proposals

Boat and Boat Facilities Aspirational ImagesA New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s 8

The water spaces should become a managed ecological environment.

This can be done through the addition of water • gardens, and zones for managed ecological habitats.

To bring forward a sustainable landscape, areas for • the creation of reed beds and grey water recycling are also identified.

The water spaces should be seen as a continuous • and connected network, thus allowing for movement of water and connections with the habitats of the river.

Like other park spaces, areas for public recreation • should be encouraged, with the addition of new children’s play spaces at the water’s edge and a new drained dock beach area added.

New visitor and education centres will also help to • educate and bring forward the many new activities and events taking place in the new docks.


Environment Proposals8 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Environment Aspirational ImagesA New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s 8

New floating structures should be encouraged to help humanize the scale and help create a better public realm at the water’s edge. These new floating structures act as places for new activities, drawing people to the docklands while also reaching out to the local communities.

Encouraging different uses on the water, such • as a floating theatre, an arts pavilion, a new mediatachque, a floating religious building, and multipurpose spaces will encourage more civic and cultural activities to take place.

New retail uses, strong connections into the • new shopping at Wood Wharf, floating shopping markets, a floating hotel, a floating business expo centre at Canary Wharf, a submarine city island at the viewing tower and other floating retail and leisure opportunities will create new and exciting spaces and attractors that will help to draw people to the docklands and give the island a unique identity.


Floating Structure Proposals8 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Floating Structure Aspirational ImagesA New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s 8

Building on existing boating sports in the docks, the new vision promotes new aquatic sports and waterside sporting activities.

Through the creation of a managed recreational • boat and sports area in the in Millwall outer dock, more attractions and unique uses will draw people down to the southern portions of the peninsula helping to bring about a more balanced community in the Isle of Dogs.

Within this sports zone there is the potential for • 300m rowing practice lanes, an artificial kayak run, boating centres for sailing, rowing and other recreational boating, waterski jumps, a scuba diving school, and a swimming ‘lido’. Special moorings for sport boats are also identified within this zone as well as spectator viewing areas.

In terms of non-aquatic sports, a new climbing • structure is proposed as well as continuous running circuits around some of the docks.

5 Promote Areas for Aquatic Sports and Waterside

Aquatic Sports and Waterside Proposals8 N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

Aquatic Sports and Waterside Aspirational ImagesA New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - N e w W a t e r w a y A c t i v i t i e s 8

7 A N e w W a t e r P a r k i n

T h a m e s E s t u a r y P a r k l a n d s

9 A N e w W a t e r P a r k i n T h a m e s E s t u a r y P a r k l a n d s - F A R R E L L S - A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands

New Vision as London’s Water Parks

The new vision for the Waterways of the Isle of Dogs creates a new major water park in at the verge of the Thames Estuary Parklands and London.

By re-inventing this unique landscape that is full of rich heritage into a place with a new national and local significance, the docks are transformed by increasing activity and uses of the water, and improving the connections and landscape around and across the docks. These re-imagined water spaces integrate and unite the Isle of Dogs and create a positive amenity for the whole region to share.

A New Water Park in Thames Estuary Parklands - F A R R E L L S - A N e w W a t e r P a r k i n T h a m e s E s t u a r y P a r k l a n d s 9

draft isle of dogs waterspace strategy reduced feb 08

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