Futures Forum: The Blue New Deal from the New Economics Foundation @ Climate Week in Sidmouth: the presentation
Futures Forum: The Blue New Deal from the New Economics Foundation >>> parliamentary briefing: 'bringing a fresh and hopeful perspective to coastal communities around the country'
A new report just out from NEF focusses on one example - with very pertinent comment below:
Re-imagining Margate: architects can boost our coastal towns
JULY 22, 2016 // BY: FERNANDA BALATA
Last year, we launched our vision for revitalising the UK’s coastal communities – the Blue New Deal. Coastal communities are a diverse group, but their coastal setting connects them around their most unique and valuable asset. Dotted along our coastline, many of these communities share the same economic, environmental and social challenges – from high levels of inequality and unemployment, to the increasing threat of coastal flooding and erosion.
Over the last twelve months, NEF has brought together a diverse range of voices and perspectives on the UK coast, to co-develop ideas that will tackle the big problems that many coastal areas face.
Collectively these ideas are informing an action plan for coastal transformation, which NEF will launch later this year, to support more good jobs and increased economic prosperity on our coast, while protecting the heritage and natural resources on which communities depend.
What’s happening in Margate?
Margate is an archetypal seaside town and it shares a similar history to many coastal communities in the UK – a heritage plaque still proudly claims the very first donkey rides, deckchairs and boarding houses. But what began as a much-loved beach resort had, by the 1990s, become a run-down town with polarised communities, high levels of unemployment, deprivation and pockets of anti-social behaviour.
More recently, arts-led investment in Margate has begun to alter specific parts of the townscape. But more is needed to sufficiently address the complex issues that Margate – along with other coastal towns – are facing.
Architecture has a part to play in improving our coastal towns
Architects and designers have a key role to play in creating a new and better economy. The spaces we manage, and the built environment we create, can and should be designed to enable more sustainable lifestyles and support people come together, to share ideas, to have fun and co-create better, more resilient and more inclusive communities.
There is also a range of opportunities to deliver best value to society from our precious natural resources, through innovative activities, approaches and materials that can support a healthier environment.
Students from Central Saint Martin’s BA Architecture Course have taken NEF’s research as a starting point for informing architectural responses to regenerating coastal communities. They went to Margate to investigate the nature and history of the town, gathering stories of real people who live, work and play in the area. The results are 14 proposals that celebrate the distinct cultural values and realities of Margate, offering possibilities for sustainable development and civic pride.
Using additional NEF research into issues around housing and local economies, these projects pose simple questions that seek to highlight the key issues that Margate faces.
- Does housing affect experiences of community? Kane, Ryan, Ayesha and Helena identified social cohesion and integration as primary housing concerns. Whether newcomers are ‘down from the city’, or resettled migrant communities seeking a place to belong, thoughtful insertions into the town’s existing fabric seek to revitalise iconic buildings, while new skillsets from diverse communities are mobilised in supporting broader regeneration.
- Why do local economies lack dynamism? Coastal areas often foster higher than average levels of low-wage, low-skill, seasonal and part-time employment. Oscar, Lewis, Anna and Awais investigated how architectural interventions can develop the infrastructure of the built city to increase resilience to economic and environmental shocks.
- Building new, more sustainable coastal industries. Seaside towns have suffered from the loss of traditional industries – such as boat-building, fishing and decreased tourism – and now face socio-economic challenges. Jonathan, Jandre, Mona, Dominik, Nathan and Ben suggest strategies for using existing buildings to support new industries, and their proposals offer a new direction and identity for Margate.
The architectural proposals from this group of students is just one – amazing – example of how different professions, individuals, and disciplines can come together to tackle the problems that coastal towns face. The Blue New Deal is a journey to find these exciting solutions and share them widely, to help inspire and deliver change. We encourage everyone to join us.
The students work was exhibited in London at the Central Saint Martin’s show in June, including full scale fishing huts made using digital fabrication techniques!
As a result of the partnerships created between the students and members of the community in Margate, the exhibition travels to Resort Studios in Margate between 22nd and 24th of July.
The stories of Studio 2 are featuring on the Blue New Deal website, where you can also find out more about the initiative. The Blue New Deal action plan will be launched in October 2016.
ISSUES
Re-imagining Margate: architects can boost our coastal towns | New Economics Foundation
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