Many of the excellent schemes showcased in this month’s AJ put biodiversity and climate resilience at their core.
The reimagining of the Gascoigne Estate is at the heart of Barking and Dagenham Council’s ambition to regenerate Barking as one of London’s greenest, most affordable and sustainable neighbourhoods. White Arkitekter has developed a landscape-led scheme and the practice benefits from having an in-house landscape team.
When it comes to working with water, rather than fighting it, Rotterdam offers a cornucopia of inspiration with its Seven City Projects and a number of other climate-resilient schemes such as the Keilehaven Tidal Park, designed by De Urbanisten.
Also featured in the issue are two retrofit projects: the Edinburgh Futures Institute by Bennetts Associates and Pricegore’s Nottingham arts centre.
In News, we report on how the team behind London’s Earls Court regeneration is embedding climate change shock absorbers into its huge plans. There is also a feature on why Southwark Council’s housebuilding drive has stalled, as well as coverage of the 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize.
Our lead feature in Culture is about the nature-based public art installations at Oxford’s Begbroke Innovation District, while in Opinion, Rory Olcayto asks why there are no architects on the New Towns Taskforce, and the Secret Architect wonders whether the stupidest ideas are the best.
Also included in the issue are sketches by Dimitris Argyros, a column by David Grandorge and our competitions roundup.
