London Loves the Thames

London Loves the Thames

Bankside Gallery, London, Southbank

June 2006

‘London Loves the Thames’ was an exhibition that presented the Agora: Cities for People research project focused on the planning and sustainability of urban environments and the improvement of quality of life within cities such as London. The exhibition celebrates London’s rediscovered intimacy with the Thames and it is a statement about the river’s sustainability. The project has been led by architect Gordana Fontana-Giusti, the core research team comprises Stefan Kueppers, Abdul Mohammed, Nicholas Koronis, Wendy Ciriello and Martin Woolley while the exhibition team includes artists Nicholas Robertson, Pierpaolo Inga, Claystation, Garance Marneur, Milos Covic, Boban Vajagic and Jeff Daniels.

Coinciding with the London Architecture Biennale, Architecture Week and London Sustainability Week, running from 16-25 June 2006 in the Bankside Gallery, London.

‘London Loves the Thames’ was a multi-media exhibition that encouraged public participation and included interactive displays such as a Chinese-style paper scroll for sketching and recording impressions about the South bank and clay modelling inviting visitors to create their own visions for the city of London.

The Agora London research team chose a site that stretches from the Globe Theatre along the river Thames westwards over Hungerford Bridge towards Trafalgar Square. They concentrated on this area of regeneration due to the growth of cultural institutions and consequent tourist activity.

The results of the Agora London research have been packaged into an Urban Design research resource which can offer consultancy services in the areas of: Urban Analysis, Urban Design and Urban Sustainability. These methodologies and outputs would be beneficial to architectural practices across UK and Europe, local authorities in UK and Europe, development agencies in UK and local communities and citizens associations in UK.

“The research does not aim to be too regimented... Agora has provided a Best Practice model that can be developed intelligently by other cities" remarked Hugo Hinsley of the AA School of Architecture.