Tackling London’s Gang Culture
London has a long history of gang culture, once being considered the gang capital of the world. Yet despite handing that title over to American cities in the mid-twentieth century, gangs have remained a consistent problem - a problem which in recent years appears to be on the increase.
Whilst a gang is essentially a group of people, it can be a difficult thing to define. Gangs evolve rapidly, with offshoots quickly forming from established groups, introducing a new set of loyalties and rules. As a result of its ever-changing nature, reports on gang culture in London vary wildly. Involvement figures vary too, with some studies suggesting as few as 1,500 people involved in gangs in the whole of London, and others quoting 2,500 gang members in just one of London’s 32 boroughs.
Pattern books receded in use after World War II, when the building industry ramped up for the mass production of homes, increasing its efficiency by standardizing production, erecting swirling whirls of identical houses winding along side roads off major roadways. Developers - not homeowners or communities - decided how homes would look.
What if we could have changed the path of Hurricane Katrina? Would you be worried if the companies you do your shopping with controlled the climate? Are you prepared to pay to have rain? If you haven’t watched Owning the Weather yet, it comes highly recommended.
PHOTO ESSAY: Uppsala and the Bicycle - Where Cyclists Have Colonised the Roads
By Camilo Calderon.
In the first three parts of this photo essay series it has been shown how some cities in Europe have integrated bycicles within their transport networks. The essays have illustrated how well marked bicycle lanes, accessible parking spaces, signals indicating directions and distances, and connection with public transportation and maps encourage people to cycle more and make cycling part of their every day commute.
Instead of showing more of the same, this fourth part explores Uppsala - a small city of around 200,000 inhabitants that has managed to make bicycles its main mode of transportation. A city where cyclists have colonised the road.
Is London’s Cycle Hire Enough to Create a Cycle-friendly City?
London is on a mission to transform itself into a bicycle-friendly city. Last month saw the launch of two ‘cycle superhighways’ linking outer boroughs to the city centre, and on July the 30th London finally implemented a cycle hire scheme - years after numerous other cities introduced similar schemes.
Architecture – Created in China
My new post for Zouk Architects has been published. The piece discusses the role of the local architect, highlighting two examples of contemporary Chinese architecture:
A recent article in the Asia Times expressed concern that ‘Western architects are still clearly held in higher esteem than their local counterparts’, criticising some architectural developments in China’s cities for a ‘reckless embrace of all things Western’. Yet whilst the reality of these statements is subjective, the rise of the Chinese architect is clear, with modern, ambitious and locally designed buildings emerging across the country.
You can read the whole post by clicking here.
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