8. Interior Urbanism

Lockdown has presented the greatest challenge to the public nature of cities in our lifetime. During the year the work of this platform shifted as we observed that regulations associated with private space began to control movement in all spaces whether public, private, interior or exterior.

We began by studying the new London Plan, which declares that due to the increasing density of the city, internal and elevated spaces are now part of London’s ‘public realm’. We walked through London documenting the behaviour and actions of people in archetypal public spaces such as Trafalgar Square, and newly designated spaces, the Sky Gardens at the Walkie Talkie, where we critiqued its regulation, surveillance and access. We met with members of the GLA Regeneration team and contributed ideas to the Mayor’s design guidelines on interior public space.

During lockdown we observed changes in public space in London, Beijing and Shanghai which have shaped our attitudes towards the future city. Students produced Public Space Charters, which guided their projects at 22 Bishopsgate – a self-proclaimed ‘vertical village’. By proposing new uses and connections to amenities in the building students have designed prototypes for more democratic, free and accessible types of interior public space.

Vicky Richardson