Twenty years ago, NLA threw an opening party on Store Street, just a day after the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge announced London as the Host City for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012. So today, as part of NLA’s celebrations of two decades of making the city a better place, it is an opportune moment to take stock of, and celebrate, the advances both it and the city have made in that time. 

In this issue we take a comprehensive look at the ongoing legacy project that sprang from the London Olympics 2012. There’s an interview with Shazia Hussain, who has taken her background in the wider area to channel it into her new job as chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation. In the same piece we talk to Tim Reeve, whose V&A will be such a large part of the cultural regeneration that is East Bank, and is already at the well-received V&A Storehouse project over at Here East.

Elsewhere in this special feature on Newham, I catch up with Metropolitan Workshop, who are key players in the borough and beyond, as they celebrate 20 years in the game, with collaboration and extensive, fruitful consultation at the heart of all that they do, including in the crucial and at one time controversial Carpenters’ Estate.

Jobs and skills will be a big part of the wider East London’s continuing renewal, and we have a Skills Special this issue, too, to build on the research NLA put together on this key aspect of London’s future built environment sector. Columnist Yolande Barnes takes a look at this important issue, and there is an opinion piece from Regal – whose training scheme for former military services personnel is exemplary – along with a viewpoint garnering opinion on the importance of skills to all.

As the London Festival of Architecture gets into full swing this month, Eliza Grosvenor writes about the ‘Voices’ theme, while Jace Tyrell pens another note about how Opportunity London is making waves for the city at events like UKREiiF and beyond.

We take a look at Buckley Gray Yeoman’s continued rise, including its decision to run an unusual offshoot – the Shoreditch Arts Club – while Raluca Racasan talks to Expedition’s Chris Wise and looks at the Pavegen technology in her tech feature.

There is plenty more besides – including two building reviews, the first looking at British Land’s Dockside project at Canada Water and the second at Maccreanor Lavington’s distinctive, shutters-filled affordable housing project at White City. Arup’s Sowmya Parthasarathy talks New Towns, We Made That’s Holly Lewis provides an update on women’s safety in the city and Dinah Bornat details what we can learn from Earl’s Court’s consultations and masterplanning.

One last legacy: this is the final edition of NLQ in printed form. It’s been a great (and award-winning) journey over the last 15 years, but it is now time to find new and exciting ways of reaching the NLA audience, evolving long-form editorial into printed research reports and much more online via the web, mixed-media formats and elsewhere. 

Enjoy the issue, watch this space, and see you on the other side… 

Editor

Top of their game 10

David Taylor catches up with architect —and Shoreditch Arts Club owner— Buckley Gray Yeoman

 

Newham Special 20

An extended feature on the borough and beyond including an interview with LLDC’s Shazia Hussain and V&A’s Tim Reeve, an essay on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s future by Prof Greg Clark and a profile of Metropolitan Workshop

 

Interview 54

Expedition at 25— Raluca Racasan meets Chris Wise

 

Skills Special 60

Another extended feature, this time on NLA’s Skills for Places research, including the study’s opening night speeches, the report summary, viewpoint and columnist Yolande Barnes’s position

 

Building reviews 80 | 90

Reviews this quarter of British Land’s Dock Shed and Stanhope’s MacFarlane Place

 

 

Need to know 4

The quarter — our summary of all the key news events this term

 

From the team 8 | 46

Nick McKeogh on NLA at 20 and Eliza Grosvenor on this year’s London Festival of Architecture

 

Best of the web 16

Holly Lewis tells David Taylor all about her practice’s work on safety audits for women

 

Opinions 58 | 71 | 74

Opinions this time from White Arkitekter, Fabrix and Chetwoods

 

Letter from the boroughs 72

Leader of Camden Council Richard Olszewski on building an innovation district

 

Coffee break 98

Dinah Bornat answers NLQ’s questions on play, consultation, Earls Court and more

 

My London 102

Christy Vanek of Otis sings the praises of London’s accessibility aides

 

 

Portfolio 6

Paddington Square’s new public art additions from Lacuna Projects

 

A quarter in comms 41

John Walker of CT Group presents his 10 point plan for planning

 

Q&A 42

David Taylor quizzes Arup’s Sowmya Parathasarathy on the New Towns Taskforce

 

Neighbourhood stories 48

Spencer Lu meets Barnet resident, architect and designer Adrienne Lau

 

Humanise 52

The Humanise Summit’s key findings. By Raluca Racasan

 

Opportunity London 76

Jace Tyrrell says international investors should put their money on London

 

Tech talk 78

Pavegen’s ingenious technology to capitalise on foot-power

 

Market essay 104

Newsteer’s regeneration director Mark Byles calls for government help on the viability gap