There is no secret when talking about the developments of Stratford in the last 30, 40 years. Stratford has constantly been subjected to new and innovative projects. Although this has completely changed its image, from a relatively poor part of London, to one of the most emblematic areas, reminiscence of an old and underprivileged Stratford are still capturing the eyes of the public.
So called ‘’ugly’’ structures, built in the 70s and 80s, proved to be problematic after the completion of Westfield shopping centre and the Olympic Park, stealing the glimmering new look of Stratford, and ruining the modern image of a fresh Stratford.
The solution for this: a massive titanium sculpture meant the hide the once considered modern shopping centre and buildings of Stratford, entitled ‘’The Stratford Shoal’’.
‘’The Stratford Shoal’’ consists of a series of curved, branch-like steel trees that support a series of giant titanium leaves designed to display shades of green and yellow.
This sculpture is a public realm intervention, aiming to mask the old and outdated structures of the 1970s, and to reassure the residents that they live in a much desired modern area.
These type of intervention are a good example of how ideology changed in the last 40 years. What was considered new and fashionable has now become aged and old-fashioned.
Conflicting structures from different architectural styles, old and modern, classic and futuristic, are ever present in big cities, as to remind us how much our views have changed. It is almost an accepted concept, that the image of a big city must consist of a clash between the old and the new, striving for fresh projects that also shift the attention from old and archaic elements still present in the city.
by Sebastian Nita
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