parallel worlds boating community enclosed on themselves
architects and culture institutions inward facing

Narrative
The narrative collects a network of personal perspectives of the regeneration process taking place in the area of the Laban Centre and the neighboring water way and boating community on Deptford Creek. There is a fundamental structure of two parallel narratives taking place withing the same physical place, but rarely touching. A few individuals (promiscuous links in small world terminology) move between these narratives, resulting in an oddly intertwined clash of cultures, with classically one ousting the others.

The Mine Sweeper is a 150ft teak sea faring boat, built in the 1950’s to clear mines from the Suez canal. 12 were built. It is presently moored on the river bank facing the Laban centre, where it will have to move (in the near future), due to the development of the river bank by property developers as part of an ongoing regeneration process in the Deptford Creek area.

The London boat community is an eccentric space, populated by ex-squaters, enthusiasts and a wide variety of characters from diverse backgrounds. The narrative views the impact of the arrival of the Laban centre, and the forthcoming redevelopment of the area from the perspective of the boat community and the associated light businesses that will have to relocate as part of the process.

The river community in many ways represents the last bastion of free mobile cowboy-space in London. Most of the the historical dockyards in london have already been developed – squating is more or less a thing of the past.

Architectural Presence
The building of the Laban Centre is the first step in the redevelopment along the waterfront, and as such sets a permitted standard for future development.

Facade is designed in colaboration with an artist.

Building arguably fails to interact with its environment – sky and surrounding structures reflect in its facade, and a possible reaction to the existing neighbouring warehouses is the shed-like appearance and structure, whilst the moved earth that has been landscaped into auditorium hills surrounding the dance centre are reminiscent of the actual landing.

The clean detailing of the facade glass panels against the plastic coloured at the moment they touch ground is noted. One way access in/onto the site, mooring originally planned has not yet been realised (why?) and waterfront side of the site instead been decorated with a fence concisting of irregular heights in vertical stainless steel poles/tubes. the building adds slight colours reflecting on the creeks surface. Thats it and there is extension …….

The public presentation of the building development was in 2000/01.

Failed boat funding
group involved inexperienced in boats as well as engineering works. Taking out the boat to a yard structure, the project ran into unknown depth of finances due to underestimation of the time and crafts inolved to repair a wooden boat.