Vauxhall is in a hart of London with all its potential and rich history. But nowadays, it is a “Missing Link within missing  links” between the New American Embassy and London’s South Bank with all its galleries and activities. 
     Currently, people must navigate through a confusing gyratory of streets and transit options. Whereas Vauxhall was once known for its exciting Pleasure Garden paths, it is now characterized by its winding networks of busy streets, derelict train tracks and not attractive pedestrian and cycle paths. 
         My proposal is to make a sculptural transit from the rail, which now is a barrier between East and West. Opened rail arches will help to organize connection between lesiure and neighborhood, bringing a constant stream of people on both sides of the arcade. The aim of the scheme is to create an identifiable pathway and narrative through the area, linking the railway arches, green spaces and public art into a distinctive place once again.
    New “framing” construction will welcome people to cross the rail arcade through arches, framing both vistas of the Thames and Spring Garden as well. The concept is the area itself becoming an Urban Gallery, a place to wander and discover Vauxhall’s history, present state and future.
 

Despite being in Central London, local communities are cut off from its opportunities as well as from the River View and sun light. 

Arch viaduct is currently occupied by different shops, all with different showcases and ugly back doors.

Only few of arches are open now, what prevents comfortable crossing of the viaduct.

Not safe, not clean, not attractive. Area is suffering from high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.

There is a large area of open grass, popular for picnicking and informal ball games. 

These mounds created from spoil of previous housing rubble, which were destroyed during the Second World War.

A Tea House Theatre. During the summer period theatre performances are happening.

Pleasure Gardens are a beautiful place for spending time during weekends. There are a multi-use games area and community gardens as well.

To the east, the site is bound by Vauxhall City Farm, which uses sections of the Pleasure Gardens for grazing livestock. 

They organize educational events as well as horse riding lessons.

        London as a city is going through an incredible period of change and growth and Vauxhall is no exception. It lies within the wider Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea (VNEB) Opportunity Area, which will play a key part of the future prosperity of London, with plans including 16,000 new homes, up to 25,000 new jobs and an extension to London Underground’s Northern line.

Existing disconnected Open Green Spaces

Proposed connection of Open Green Spaces. Galleries and places of historic and leisure interest are now linked with green spaces, making a cultural route, which guides visitors.

Dispiriting experience through the main walk path.

Livening up the walk experience with exciting design.

 

The rail arches is a strong existing barrier between East and West for pedestrian flows.

 

To create new paths by opening some of the arches.

To instill more activities in and throughout the railway arches. As more people choose to walk through the arches they will naturally became safer places to be. This will turn a barrier into an opportunity.

 

        In the 18th century Vauxhall was the height of fashion. Vauxhall Gardens as a Pleasure Garden, was one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century. In 1662 the Gardens consisted of several acres of trees and shrubs with attractive walks. Initially, entrance was free with food and drink being sold to support the venture. Tightrope walkers, hot air balloon ascents, concerts and fireworks provided amusement. The rococo “Turkish tent”  became one of the Gardens’ structures, the interior of the Rotunda became one of Vauxhall’s most viewed attractions, and the chinoiserie style was a feature of several buildings.

        My proposed design was inspired by a rich history of the place. I wanted to recreated a sense of Gardens with its attractive walk paths throgh the trees but not in a obvious organic way.

Light
Sunlight through the leaves in the forest. There is a strong connection with architecture.
 

Paving 
Small shadows and lights on the floor with pattern, (it can be tiles with gradient, for example) or with a print of leaves. Suddenly a town has appeared as if it has been painted over the Pleasure Gardens that used to be there. It’s the memory of the land and one can still see the future by standing on the land. It’s a reminder of the connection between the past and the future throughout the history of the site, layers of human input  and our imprint.

Material
A project “Wind Veil” by Ned Kahn. A 260’ long by 6-story tall facade of a parking garage in Charlotte, North Carolina was covered with 80,000 small aluminium panels. This work fascinated me. How technical elements and simple wind could create something so natural, in this particular case waves on the water surface. I was looking for some kind of similar structure for my project, very simple, very  urban. I stopped at steel net, which allows me to see through and makes the view softer. Furthermore, it is very simple construction. I will use it like a wrapping material on a steel frames.

Navigation and Entertainment
Net gives me an opportunity to use it like a screen for projecting cinema and art performances during the night and navigation system during the day. I was inspired by lots of events, happening in this area nowadays. Particularly, I was fascinated with work of one Russian team, called Stain. They working with a new technology, called video mapping.

 

 Section A-A