STRATFORD CROSS
A vibrant new heart for East London
Stratford is generally acknowledged as the World’s most successful Olympic legacy project. It has radically shifted London’s centre of gravity and transformed a vast swathe of industrial wasteland into a newly envigorated urban community, woven into a rich riverine landscape.
Strategically positioned between the East Bank cultural quarter, Westfield’s retail zone, Stratford’s two major stations and the 2012 Olympics Park, Stratford Cross acts as a key urban connector, and a new beating heart for East London.
Makower Architects led the re-visioning of the masterplan of this 6.3-hectare site and in the process, we created a new set of place principles and development parameters.
Wider macro site plan: showing the introduction of a wider mix of uses
Wider macro site plan: showing the introduction of a wider mix of uses
Working alongside our client Lendlease and the London Legacy Development Corporation, our masterplan commission of this 6.3 hectare site, which is still ongoing, has involved a total reimagining of public spaces and place-making, street edges and activation, the mix of homes and workspace, landscape, townscape and architectural character.
Our vision has shifted the are from what was becoming a monolithic commercial campus hub into a vibrant nature-based neighbourhood promoting well-being, play, diversity and social interaction. New layers of richness, human scale and responsive urban design have been introduced; diversifying the ground and first floor mix with additional retail and social uses, while strengthening pedestrian flow and visual connections. In addition, building heights and skyline, have been adjusted in response to updated St Paul’s view constraints, and a playful green landscape from the Park has been brought into the site.
A model of the site with public realm activation highlighted
With intensive analysis of constraints and environmental factors; with rigorous and user-friendly documentation, including place principles, urban design guidelines, and development parameters; complemented by clear and compelling imagery; and with a commitment to creative dialogue with the local community and key stakeholders, a long lasting legacy for London is being delivered.
Engaging with local stakeholders is a crucial part of our design process
Location:
Stratford Cross, East London
Use:
Mix-use, commerical, residential,
Status:
Ongoing
Size:
6.3 hectares
Client:
Lendlease
Project Date:
2014-2026
Collaborators:
Arup
Awards:
