My project is based in Coal’s Drop Yard. Coal’s Drop Yard was redeveloped in 2018 by
Thomas Heatherwick, after being left abandoned
in 2003 following a shooting incident. This trend of
turning abandoned spaces into expensive, trendy
commercial areas is common in London, as seen with
examples like Battersea Power Station. However,
this kind of redevelopment, smoothing of a city, often
erases the previous traces of occupancy and history,
creating regulated spaces for specific activities, and
not tolerating any activities outside the designated
purposes. Since the redevelopment, Kings Cross has
been surrounded by many commercial and expensive
developments, such as Google and Samsung offices,
as well as luxury apartments like R8, a 13-story
building, and many more. Despite being marketed as
affordable and welcoming, the reality is different.
The process of gentrification is affecting areas like
Somers Town and Camley, slowly encroaching into
their residential areas. For instance, St Margaret’s
Nursery was demolished to make way for the HS2 rail,
despite local opposition and continuous meetings with
the Somers Town Neighbourhood Forum and Camden Council. As a result,
the community of Somers Town has a significant
amount of graffiti on shops, billboards, and hoardings,
representing the voices of people who are against
gentrification and unstable developments.
These decisions are made by the Camden Council
without considering the importance and attachment
held by the people to these places. It is evident
that having a website and conducting meetings is
not enough. Neighborhood forums should have
dedicated spaces within a town hall to ensure that
their voices, plans, and ideas are heard. Therefore, the project aims to disrupt the town hall to interject the
community’s voice, and not only disrupt the town hall
but also Coal’s Drop Yard.
