Innovations for the Built Environment

People enjoying Streetscene

This was really good exhibition all about innovative ways of thinking about construction, the built environment and the way we use it. There were over 300 exhibitors covering all aspects of sustainability, placemaking and regeneration. It was a brilliant opportunity to get inspiration for my design project and gather useful information about the latest construction and material technologies. It also provided a great chance to speak to Landscape Architects and arrange visits to practices such as Gillespies, one the UK's largest and best known environmental design firms.

Before

After

It was great to see Streetscene completed and being extensively used and enjoyed by visitors as a place to eat their lunch, relax etc. In the Cityscape newsletter Streetscene was described as, "A showcase of urban design excellence on an unprecedented scale, demonstrating how a well-designed public realm can integrate sustainable products and features into the urban landscape." In my opinion it was slightly disappointing. There was poor attention to detail in places as the contractors had ran out of time to complete the project fully. The flowers arrived late, 6.30pm the day before the exhibition opened and had been planted still in their pots. The design had been very limited as we had to use the contributions from suppliers. Overall though I think it was a success as everyone seemed to enjoy the space. In the evening it provided the location for a cocktail party with a jazz band playing.