Resilient Cities: Positive & Green Urban Development
A proposal for a new hybrid neighbourhood in Peckham that addresses overpopulation and lack of green space through integrated housing, commerce, and urban greenery.
Purpose
Provide a proposal for modern and sustainable urban development including conceptual model, master plan, and isometric views.
Scope
​Area of Peckham town centre, London
Problem
Peckham faces a growing population and increasing urban density, resulting in overcrowded streets, stacked businesses, and minimal access to green spaces. This congestion diminishes the quality of life and contributes to social issues such as stress, vandalism, and crime. The lack of available land for both housing and parks has created an urgent need for a more efficient, balanced urban design.
Overview
The design proposes a new compact neighbourhood development based on three main principles: housing for the rising population, new green parks and roofs, and spaces for sports activities. The proposal is grounded in extensive analysis of the area’s demographics, infrastructure, building-use patterns, and residents’ current living challenges and aspirations, while being guided by a vision for a positive and sustainable urban future.
Urban Analysis
The analysis revealed that Peckham's core is densely built, with overcrowded shops and minimal open or green spaces. Most of Peckham’s main street, Rye Lane, is occupied by closely packed retail units, often stacked or overlapping due to limited space, leaving little room for parks and public areas. These findings informed the proposal’s aim to create a compact yet balanced and livable urban environment.
Conceptual Model
The conceptual model explored compact vertical living through interlocking wooden blocks, symbolising layered urban density and multifunctional connections. This composition reflects Peckham’s dense and stratified character, where housing, retail, and leisure spaces coexist within limited ground area. The arrangement suggests how new vertical connections and elevated green spaces could emerge between structures, creating visual and physical links across the site divided by the railway.
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The concept then evolved into an architectural strategy that transforms urban density into a balanced, livable environment integrating housing, greenery, and community activity.
Design Proposal
The proposal envisions a new compact neighbourhood development located at the heart of Peckham, on the site positioned between the railway tracks. This central location allows for strong accessibility and visibility, establishing the project as a new urban landmark. The design introduces two hybrid tower structures that integrate housing, retail, food markets, restaurants, and leisure facilities within a single complex. Surrounding and elevated green spaces reconnect the fragmented urban fabric, providing much-needed parks and areas for social interaction. Through this combination of density, greenery, and multifunctionality, the project aims to enhance livability, well-being, and community identity in Peckham.
Conclusion
The project reimagines Peckham as a compact and sustainable neighbourhood that addresses the district’s lack of green spaces and need for better connectivity. By integrating housing, commercial activity, and greenery within a single development, it transforms the underused site between the railway lines into a connected and livable urban core. The design strengthens accessibility, introduces vital open spaces, and establishes a new architectural landmark that reflects a vision of balanced urban growth.
Techniques Used
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User-centered design
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Design thinking and problem solving
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Primary research and site analysis
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Model making
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Isometric drawing
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Iterations
Core Tools
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​SketchUp
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AutoCAD
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Enscape
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Adobe Photoshop
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Rhinoceros 3D
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​Miro