[Music] hello I’m here to tell you about a
hello I’m here to tell you about a
hello I’m here to tell you about a project that I founded constructed and
project that I founded constructed and
project that I founded constructed and then ran in London and it’s a project
then ran in London and it’s a project
then ran in London and it’s a project which was run on a shoestring which
which was run on a shoestring which
which was run on a shoestring which means on very little resource it was a
means on very little resource it was a
means on very little resource it was a huge miracle that it happened and it
huge miracle that it happened and it
huge miracle that it happened and it came from the conviction that we were
came from the conviction that we were
came from the conviction that we were missing something in the city and that
missing something in the city and that
missing something in the city and that place um we could refer back to the
place um we could refer back to the
place um we could refer back to the village well which was always a place
village well which was always a place
village well which was always a place for meeting people where you came to get
for meeting people where you came to get
for meeting people where you came to get water but in the city such places were
water but in the city such places were
water but in the city such places were often lacking like where would we in
often lacking like where would we in
often lacking like where would we in London say sit and meet people who live
London say sit and meet people who live
London say sit and meet people who live completely different lives from us who
completely different lives from us who
completely different lives from us who think completely differently and that
think completely differently and that
think completely differently and that was um in a something of a of a tangle
was um in a something of a of a tangle
was um in a something of a of a tangle because London is very busy buzzy place
because London is very busy buzzy place
because London is very busy buzzy place there’s plenty of plate street life if
there’s plenty of plate street life if
there’s plenty of plate street life if you like in certain areas and in these
you like in certain areas and in these
you like in certain areas and in these boom areas there’s a sense of a real
boom areas there’s a sense of a real
boom areas there’s a sense of a real city but um just down the road in
city but um just down the road in
city but um just down the road in another neighborhood you’ll find that
another neighborhood you’ll find that
another neighborhood you’ll find that it’s McDonald’s that is trying to be
it’s McDonald’s that is trying to be
it’s McDonald’s that is trying to be that village well is trying to be the
that village well is trying to be the
that village well is trying to be the place where you would have your
place where you would have your
place where you would have your children’s birthday parties where you
children’s birthday parties where you
children’s birthday parties where you would go out for the evening and that’s
would go out for the evening and that’s
would go out for the evening and that’s that’s a world that’s quite flat it’s
that’s a world that’s quite flat it’s
that’s a world that’s quite flat it’s quite standardised it’s quite
quite standardised it’s quite
quite standardised it’s quite prepackaged it’s saying you know who you
prepackaged it’s saying you know who you
prepackaged it’s saying you know who you know and you follow the drill we felt
know and you follow the drill we felt
know and you follow the drill we felt that it was really important to have
that it was really important to have
that it was really important to have other kinds of places in the city places
other kinds of places in the city places
other kinds of places in the city places where you could share skills places
where you could share skills places
where you could share skills places where there was some particular
where there was some particular
where there was some particular paraty where you could make crazy stuff
paraty where you could make crazy stuff
paraty where you could make crazy stuff where there was a kind of the confidence
where there was a kind of the confidence
where there was a kind of the confidence that got built around and curiosity
that got built around and curiosity
that got built around and curiosity around meeting people such that you
around meeting people such that you
around meeting people such that you would grow to love strangers and look
would grow to love strangers and look
would grow to love strangers and look for more and more of that diversity and
for children it was important to have a
for children it was important to have a place that wasn’t some spongy rubber
place that wasn’t some spongy rubber
place that wasn’t some spongy rubber colored enclosures they need places
colored enclosures they need places
colored enclosures they need places where they can invent their games they
where they can invent their games they
where they can invent their games they need places where they can invent their
need places where they can invent their
need places where they can invent their city and that’s why it’s such an honor
city and that’s why it’s such an honor
city and that’s why it’s such an honor to be in Reggio Emilia where these ideas
to be in Reggio Emilia where these ideas
to be in Reggio Emilia where these ideas were found in and now so famous
were found in and now so famous
were found in and now so famous throughout education so in 2010 we had
throughout education so in 2010 we had
throughout education so in 2010 we had the great opportunity to try out our
the great opportunity to try out our
the great opportunity to try out our ideas to make them real by winning the
ideas to make them real by winning the
ideas to make them real by winning the meanwhile London competition and the
meanwhile London competition and the
meanwhile London competition and the only problem was is faced with the
only problem was is faced with the
only problem was is faced with the reality of a large site which we had for
reality of a large site which we had for
reality of a large site which we had for five years how would we to make these
five years how would we to make these
five years how would we to make these kinds of paradise these images we had of
kinds of paradise these images we had of
kinds of paradise these images we had of conviviality in the post-industrial city
conviviality in the post-industrial city
conviviality in the post-industrial city in a place which was a place of
in a place which was a place of
in a place which was a place of deprivation a place of fear and a place
deprivation a place of fear and a place
deprivation a place of fear and a place of turf gang warfare well we looked at
of turf gang warfare well we looked at
of turf gang warfare well we looked at the we looked into the future and it
the we looked into the future and it
the we looked into the future and it looked quite hazy but um when we looked
looked quite hazy but um when we looked
looked quite hazy but um when we looked up back into the history of architecture
up back into the history of architecture
up back into the history of architecture we found a typology which was um
we found a typology which was um
we found a typology which was um supported this kind of hybridity this
supported this kind of hybridity this
supported this kind of hybridity this kind of diversity and was called the
kind of diversity and was called the
kind of diversity and was called the caravanserai and the each caravanserai
caravanserai and the each caravanserai
caravanserai and the each caravanserai was a place which had a kind of
was a place which had a kind of
was a place which had a kind of confident look and was a place of refuge
confident look and was a place of refuge
confident look and was a place of refuge in a hostile world it was a place where
in a hostile world it was a place where
in a hostile world it was a place where you know had well for animals where
you know had well for animals where
you know had well for animals where traders could get in the shade and trade
traders could get in the shade and trade
traders could get in the shade and trade they could sleep and a local population
they could sleep and a local population
they could sleep and a local population set up a hotel to host travelers with
set up a hotel to host travelers with
set up a hotel to host travelers with money with trade
money with trade
money with trade and we liked this robust in
and we liked this robust in
and we liked this robust in architectural framework we felt that it
architectural framework we felt that it
architectural framework we felt that it offered something that we needed for the
offered something that we needed for the
offered something that we needed for the temporary City a place where in fact
temporary City a place where in fact
temporary City a place where in fact every caravanserai passing through made
every caravanserai passing through made
every caravanserai passing through made its own temporary city in the space and
its own temporary city in the space and
its own temporary city in the space and the word caravanserai is is is a
the word caravanserai is is is a
the word caravanserai is is is a difficult word it’s um it the difficulty
difficult word it’s um it the difficulty
difficult word it’s um it the difficulty of saying caravanserai actually became
of saying caravanserai actually became
of saying caravanserai actually became one of the strengths of the project
one of the strengths of the project
one of the strengths of the project because it forced us to tell the stories
because it forced us to tell the stories
because it forced us to tell the stories and to explain what we were doing to
and to explain what we were doing to
and to explain what we were doing to invite people to participate on this
invite people to participate on this
invite people to participate on this adventure caravan means the people who
adventure caravan means the people who
adventure caravan means the people who are coming the animals the trade and
are coming the animals the trade and
are coming the animals the trade and suraíh means in turkish the palace or
suraíh means in turkish the palace or
suraíh means in turkish the palace or the palace fort the place where
the palace fort the place where
the palace fort the place where everything can happen and people can
everything can happen and people can
everything can happen and people can meet each other and trade
and actually we’ll pass the caravanserai
and actually we’ll pass the caravanserai a number of times wondering what it was
a number of times wondering what it was
a number of times wondering what it was you know I think I remember googling it
you know I think I remember googling it
you know I think I remember googling it it was nice to see something different
it was nice to see something different
it was nice to see something different come to you it was something that you
come to you it was something that you
come to you it was something that you know kenick down hadn’t seen it was
know kenick down hadn’t seen it was
know kenick down hadn’t seen it was music playing at one time star passed in
music playing at one time star passed in
music playing at one time star passed in and had a look and it very nice
and had a look and it very nice
and had a look and it very nice agricultural that was called caramel all
agricultural that was called caramel all
agricultural that was called caramel all right it’s lovely me and just like my
right it’s lovely me and just like my
right it’s lovely me and just like my eyes I think this is a very rough area
eyes I think this is a very rough area
eyes I think this is a very rough area we went to the shop on we heard music he
we went to the shop on we heard music he
we went to the shop on we heard music he started running my shaft out please just
started running my shaft out please just
started running my shaft out please just waiting and it was here so he didn’t
waiting and it was here so he didn’t
waiting and it was here so he didn’t came in and it’s raining and we were
came in and it’s raining and we were
came in and it’s raining and we were just party all right it was this very
just party all right it was this very
just party all right it was this very rare chance to play with a piece of
rare chance to play with a piece of
rare chance to play with a piece of London and to experiment because there
London and to experiment because there
London and to experiment because there is almost no experimentation going on in
is almost no experimentation going on in
is almost no experimentation going on in city making we wanted this to be
city making we wanted this to be
city making we wanted this to be something which was radically open where
something which was radically open where
something which was radically open where the community was anyone on the site
the community was anyone on the site
the community was anyone on the site I’m lucky to live around here and I like
I’m lucky to live around here and I like
I’m lucky to live around here and I like to come here with my friends you know
to come here with my friends you know
to come here with my friends you know and kind of play music it’s kind of like
and kind of play music it’s kind of like
and kind of play music it’s kind of like a little Haven little oasis it’s a great
a little Haven little oasis it’s a great
a little Haven little oasis it’s a great place to kind of chill with the plants
place to kind of chill with the plants
place to kind of chill with the plants and stuff this is much much this is what
and stuff this is much much this is what
and stuff this is much much this is what I’m the happiest amongst the green staff
I’m the happiest amongst the green staff
I’m the happiest amongst the green staff there’s a lot of magic think seeing a
there’s a lot of magic think seeing a
there’s a lot of magic think seeing a car once a time I think he’s the feeling
car once a time I think he’s the feeling
car once a time I think he’s the feeling of our little family we thought why
of our little family we thought why
of our little family we thought why don’t we have like 10 sarees we have a
don’t we have like 10 sarees we have a
don’t we have like 10 sarees we have a hundred square meters of cupboard space
hundred square meters of cupboard space
hundred square meters of cupboard space could we find a new material bringing
could we find a new material bringing
could we find a new material bringing them into some translucent glass
them into some translucent glass
them into some translucent glass reinforced plastic to create a fluid
reinforced plastic to create a fluid
reinforced plastic to create a fluid highly decorated roofing material and
highly decorated roofing material and
highly decorated roofing material and that was one of the fairy tales that
that was one of the fairy tales that
that was one of the fairy tales that came out of this project we’ve kind of
came out of this project we’ve kind of
came out of this project we’ve kind of invented a new material which could
invented a new material which could
invented a new material which could change the way that factory sheds look
change the way that factory sheds look
change the way that factory sheds look in the future I had found out about
in the future I had found out about
in the future I had found out about competition they were holding four kiosk
competition they were holding four kiosk
competition they were holding four kiosk space I got my space and
space I got my space and
space I got my space and I spent that summer trading I mean first
I spent that summer trading I mean first
I spent that summer trading I mean first of all building helping to build the
of all building helping to build the
of all building helping to build the kiosk was one at my personal touches to
kiosk was one at my personal touches to
kiosk was one at my personal touches to it I was busy working in my kiosk and
it I was busy working in my kiosk and
it I was busy working in my kiosk and you know networking and liaison my
you know networking and liaison my
you know networking and liaison my children were playing in the sand here
children were playing in the sand here
children were playing in the sand here or water in the plants
or water in the plants
or water in the plants now it’s a Kemp flower field people
now it’s a Kemp flower field people
now it’s a Kemp flower field people sitting around planting music this is
sitting around planting music this is
sitting around planting music this is like a mini United Nations of people a
like a mini United Nations of people a
like a mini United Nations of people a perfect place to make friends
perfect place to make friends
perfect place to make friends connections that one needs these nexus
connections that one needs these nexus
connections that one needs these nexus of these these physical intersections an
of these these physical intersections an
of these these physical intersections an intersection between the physical and
intersection between the physical and
intersection between the physical and the conceptual and the spiritual as well
the conceptual and the spiritual as well
the conceptual and the spiritual as well you need these hotels of caravanserai
you need these hotels of caravanserai
you need these hotels of caravanserai Azure laboratories all these places
Azure laboratories all these places
Azure laboratories all these places where where things can meet caravans
where where things can meet caravans
where where things can meet caravans right does that in its visionary way
[Applause]
[Applause] so we opened on a April Fool’s Day and I
so we opened on a April Fool’s Day and I
so we opened on a April Fool’s Day and I think in Italy you know this that some
think in Italy you know this that some
think in Italy you know this that some people make fish and and pin them on the
people make fish and and pin them on the
people make fish and and pin them on the back of grown-ups well such things are a
back of grown-ups well such things are a
back of grown-ups well such things are a wonderful way to open a project which
wonderful way to open a project which
wonderful way to open a project which was very adventurous and foolish in its
was very adventurous and foolish in its
was very adventurous and foolish in its own way and one of the things we did is
own way and one of the things we did is
own way and one of the things we did is we made giant fish which we attached to
we made giant fish which we attached to
we made giant fish which we attached to bicycles and had a race around the site
bicycles and had a race around the site
bicycles and had a race around the site traditionally in the East End kings and
traditionally in the East End kings and
traditionally in the East End kings and queens the pearly kings and queens not
queens the pearly kings and queens not
queens the pearly kings and queens not the real ones come to open projects and
the real ones come to open projects and
the real ones come to open projects and we were very honored we had a pearly
we were very honored we had a pearly
we were very honored we had a pearly Queen come to open the caravanserai and
Queen come to open the caravanserai and
Queen come to open the caravanserai and she hitched up her skirt and gone on the
she hitched up her skirt and gone on the
she hitched up her skirt and gone on the bike and joined in it was a magic moment
bike and joined in it was a magic moment
bike and joined in it was a magic moment and we needed these magic moments
and we needed these magic moments
and we needed these magic moments because this site was a big challenge it
because this site was a big challenge it
because this site was a big challenge it had no water no drainage they’d buried
had no water no drainage they’d buried
had no water no drainage they’d buried the electrical connections we never had
the electrical connections we never had
the electrical connections we never had electricity there was actually no money
electricity there was actually no money
electricity there was actually no money very little just the stuff that we
very little just the stuff that we
very little just the stuff that we funded and it’s not the place to tell
funded and it’s not the place to tell
funded and it’s not the place to tell that story but it was something which
that story but it was something which
that story but it was something which meant that we were always having to do
meant that we were always having to do
meant that we were always having to do things differently here
things differently here
things differently here um so we first of all we named the
um so we first of all we named the
um so we first of all we named the project in big confident letters along
project in big confident letters along
project in big confident letters along the front of the site and then we had a
the front of the site and then we had a
the front of the site and then we had a lot of discussions we had a lot of
lot of discussions we had a lot of
lot of discussions we had a lot of themes and different groups coming
themes and different groups coming
themes and different groups coming together to think what did this space
together to think what did this space
together to think what did this space need to be what was the content of of
need to be what was the content of of
need to be what was the content of of this new kind of social space and we
this new kind of social space and we
this new kind of social space and we made a model which we could take around
made a model which we could take around
made a model which we could take around places in which people could play with
places in which people could play with
places in which people could play with and move things around we we made a plan
and move things around we we made a plan
and move things around we we made a plan eventually which was very useful for
eventually which was very useful for
eventually which was very useful for getting licenses for planning for
getting licenses for planning for
getting licenses for planning for getting funding for telling people all
getting funding for telling people all
getting funding for telling people all the different things that were on the
the different things that were on the
the different things that were on the site and then we had to build and we
site and then we had to build and we
site and then we had to build and we wanted to build simply with the things
wanted to build simply with the things
wanted to build simply with the things which we were donated so we had a pile
which we were donated so we had a pile
which we were donated so we had a pile of bricks and
of bricks and
of bricks and tried to build some big domes we were
tried to build some big domes we were
tried to build some big domes we were fortunate enough because they’ve been a
fortunate enough because they’ve been a
fortunate enough because they’ve been a lot of publicity around the project to
lot of publicity around the project to
lot of publicity around the project to have volunteers who were quite
have volunteers who were quite
have volunteers who were quite passionate about the project
passionate about the project
passionate about the project architecture students unemployed people
architecture students unemployed people
architecture students unemployed people just people who wanted to design or
just people who wanted to design or
just people who wanted to design or people who wanted to build or people who
people who wanted to build or people who
people who wanted to build or people who wanted to organize events and these
wanted to organize events and these
wanted to organize events and these people always promoted the the project
people always promoted the the project
people always promoted the the project to new volunteers and so there was a
to new volunteers and so there was a
to new volunteers and so there was a kind of success within that scenario so
kind of success within that scenario so
kind of success within that scenario so now I want to take you on a very
now I want to take you on a very
now I want to take you on a very lightning tour through the site which
lightning tour through the site which
lightning tour through the site which started with the the gates which were
started with the the gates which were
started with the the gates which were something which had to again be
something which had to again be
something which had to again be confident billboards which were quite
confident billboards which were quite
confident billboards which were quite difficult to send about all the events
difficult to send about all the events
difficult to send about all the events and eventually we made our second gate
and eventually we made our second gate
and eventually we made our second gate the the gardening and the way that
the the gardening and the way that
the the gardening and the way that people could take on a bit of this
people could take on a bit of this
people could take on a bit of this garden and own it and and cultivate it
garden and own it and and cultivate it
garden and own it and and cultivate it was a very important part of from the
was a very important part of from the
was a very important part of from the setting so there were people coming to
setting so there were people coming to
setting so there were people coming to watered attend to bring their kids to
watered attend to bring their kids to
watered attend to bring their kids to play and this idea of mixing a place to
play and this idea of mixing a place to
play and this idea of mixing a place to socialize with a playground doesn’t
socialize with a playground doesn’t
socialize with a playground doesn’t always happen and it’s it’s really
always happen and it’s it’s really
always happen and it’s it’s really important that children and adults can
important that children and adults can
important that children and adults can play together there’s places to escape
play together there’s places to escape
play together there’s places to escape from it all and in a kind of busy city
from it all and in a kind of busy city
from it all and in a kind of busy city you need you need these quiet moments
you need you need these quiet moments
you need you need these quiet moments everything could move so when there were
everything could move so when there were
everything could move so when there were events we could pick up these micro
events we could pick up these micro
events we could pick up these micro allotments and trees and change the
allotments and trees and change the
allotments and trees and change the space people would find their corner
space people would find their corner
space people would find their corner there were lots of groups coming around
there were lots of groups coming around
there were lots of groups coming around to find out how what vegetables really
to find out how what vegetables really
to find out how what vegetables really look like and eventually we found the
look like and eventually we found the
look like and eventually we found the drainage and we were able to make
drainage and we were able to make
drainage and we were able to make toilets which was amazing and we made
toilets which was amazing and we made
toilets which was amazing and we made this kind of a discreet accessible
this kind of a discreet accessible
this kind of a discreet accessible toilet with a baby change and in a very
toilet with a baby change and in a very
toilet with a baby change and in a very romantic setting the food that was grown
romantic setting the food that was grown
romantic setting the food that was grown was um able to be um
to need and and served in the the
to need and and served in the the trailer which allowed us to become a
trailer which allowed us to become a
trailer which allowed us to become a proper cafe and the long table was able
proper cafe and the long table was able
proper cafe and the long table was able to host feasts for a hundred people the
to host feasts for a hundred people the
to host feasts for a hundred people the flying carpet theater and the trading
flying carpet theater and the trading
flying carpet theater and the trading kiosks brought a little bit of color to
kiosks brought a little bit of color to
kiosks brought a little bit of color to the site which really helped to lift
the site which really helped to lift
the site which really helped to lift this very grey building site and became
this very grey building site and became
this very grey building site and became a sort of backdrop for bands but the
a sort of backdrop for bands but the
a sort of backdrop for bands but the rain was still with us and there were
rain was still with us and there were
rain was still with us and there were times when events had to be canceled and
times when events had to be canceled and
times when events had to be canceled and somehow we felt that we needed a big
somehow we felt that we needed a big
somehow we felt that we needed a big space we needed a place to properly host
space we needed a place to properly host
space we needed a place to properly host people so we set up an open call in a
people so we set up an open call in a
people so we set up an open call in a competition and the idea was that you
competition and the idea was that you
competition and the idea was that you had to be a man and a woman you had to
had to be a man and a woman you had to
had to be a man and a woman you had to be an engineer and he had to be an
be an engineer and he had to be an
be an engineer and he had to be an architect so these two skills and two
architect so these two skills and two
architect so these two skills and two genders came together flinched is a word
genders came together flinched is a word
genders came together flinched is a word in English which means that you have
in English which means that you have
in English which means that you have wood and steel coming together to make a
wood and steel coming together to make a
wood and steel coming together to make a stronger joint and the idea was to take
stronger joint and the idea was to take
stronger joint and the idea was to take scrap material timber which should was
scrap material timber which should was
scrap material timber which should was not deemed suitable for building and
not deemed suitable for building and
not deemed suitable for building and somehow like a magpie bird put it
somehow like a magpie bird put it
somehow like a magpie bird put it together so we gave a list a long list
together so we gave a list a long list
together so we gave a list a long list of materials that we did have on site
of materials that we did have on site
of materials that we did have on site and you were only able to build your
and you were only able to build your
and you were only able to build your project with these materials and it was
project with these materials and it was
project with these materials and it was fantastic success here it is finished in
fantastic success here it is finished in
fantastic success here it is finished in the shadow of the South Gate and it had
the shadow of the South Gate and it had
the shadow of the South Gate and it had a kind of magical urban barn character
a kind of magical urban barn character
a kind of magical urban barn character and was able to host a lot of you know
and was able to host a lot of you know
and was able to host a lot of you know fantastic discussions and theater um
fantastic discussions and theater um
fantastic discussions and theater um then it was time to go and we wanted to
then it was time to go and we wanted to
then it was time to go and we wanted to pick up the garden take all the good
pick up the garden take all the good
pick up the garden take all the good things and the good relationships to
things and the good relationships to
things and the good relationships to other places so we had an open call for
other places so we had an open call for
other places so we had an open call for something we called parks on wheels and
something we called parks on wheels and
something we called parks on wheels and again gave people a list of materials
again gave people a list of materials
again gave people a list of materials that they could build with a lot of
that they could build with a lot of
that they could build with a lot of inventive things came out of that there
inventive things came out of that there
inventive things came out of that there was a fantastic concertina garden which
was a fantastic concertina garden which
was a fantastic concertina garden which could go into the tube there was a
could go into the tube there was a
could go into the tube there was a a lot of vertical gardens which were
a lot of vertical gardens which were
a lot of vertical gardens which were taken on wheels to school yards in other
taken on wheels to school yards in other
taken on wheels to school yards in other places so I feel that there needs to be
places so I feel that there needs to be
places so I feel that there needs to be caravanserai everywhere and that this is
caravanserai everywhere and that this is
caravanserai everywhere and that this is a missing piece in the city
a missing piece in the city
a missing piece in the city infrastructure which one could argue was
infrastructure which one could argue was
infrastructure which one could argue was just as valid as train stations or
just as valid as train stations or
just as valid as train stations or supermarkets or football grounds a place
supermarkets or football grounds a place
supermarkets or football grounds a place where new concepts of sociability can be
where new concepts of sociability can be
where new concepts of sociability can be practiced and a place where ordinary
practiced and a place where ordinary
practiced and a place where ordinary citizens can have a real impact on their
citizens can have a real impact on their
citizens can have a real impact on their world thank you
”
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