SME Partner

Andreas Lang, Public Works Ltd

Academic Partner

Dr David Pinder and Dr M Ferreri, Queen Mary University of London

Project Title

Re-valuing Temporary Urban Use

Project Description

Revaluing Temporary Urban Use was a collaboration connecting urban researchers with art and architectural practitioners to discuss value practices around temporary urban use. The project with Public Work Ltd focused on researching the values of practitioners, local authorities and users around selected projects in Hackney Wick, London.

The project brought together practitioners and researchers to expand understanding of the values mobilised by projects of temporary use, for example, alternative economies and voluntary labour. It sought to identify their relationship to the wider dynamics of urban transformation and to question which values are mobilised by temporary uses and who benefits from them. The project involved a survey of the terrain of temporary use in Hackney Wick and Fish Island and a set of three representative practices – Frontside Gardens, Hub67 and Swan Wharf – were analysed in detail.

A public seminar provided a useful feedback tool for ongoing work exploring the makeshift city as a place for learning and knowledge production resulting in a contribution to Wick Zine.

The project led to the publication of a handbook on the values of temporary use of vacant land and buildings in 2015.

Public Works Ltd have been funded by London Creative and Digital Fusion. More information about London Creative and Digital Fusion can be found here.