Retrofitting and redesigning any old industrial site is a feat in itself. Silvertown is aiming high in its goal to achieve the pinnacle of cultural hubs and become a cornerstone precedent in how to transform city brownfield sites. To complete all 200,000m2 for a budget of £3.5b, could be plausible.

The vision is for it to be a green & blue, nature-based inner city hub. Green roofs are a refreshing addition to new developments, powered more by the 110% Biodiversity Net Gain requirement. The use of water will aid in cooling the highly-dense space, alongside the addition of many trees.

The buildings are all quite high, and as you can see in a few of these images, they cast a lot of shadows, which raises concerns about what vegetation will survive and thrive in this area.

This design seems to be more about actual positive function rather than “key piece” design. It shows a pragmatic approach to climate mitigation is welcomed in our ever-changing environment.

Silvertown – Reinventing the Royal Docks in London — SLA