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Design initiatives

Camden Design Initiative

The Camden Design Initiative was launched at the British Museum in December 2001 with our partners The Architecture Foundation, The Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Greater London Authority Architecture and Urbanism Unit.

Design initiatives

The main aims of the initiative are to:

  • improve public space and the built environment in Camden
  • celebrate achievement and raise awareness of outstanding features so that more people are able to enjoy them
  • encourage a wider range of people to engage in and understand the process of achieving good design and involve them in determining the future look of the borough

The partnership aims to achieve this through:

  • delivering a series of landmark building projects in Camden
  • setting high standards for all design aspects of the built environment and building on good practice
  • promoting awareness of high quality design, particularly through the Camden Design Awards
  • encouraging more people in the borough to become involved in the design of their local areas
  • developing links with schools, promoting wider career access to the design industry and offering support to students in local architecture schools

Projects undertaken within the Design Initiative include:

  • Camden's Design Awards Schemes
  • Architecture Foundation Conference - a worldwide conference on architectural centres held in Camden with an exhibition at the British Museum.
  • An exhibition at the Bartlett School of Architecture to demonstrate our work in promoting good design
  • design workshops run by the Bartlett School of Architecture for Camden planners to improve understanding of design principles
  • seminars for staff and students of the Bartlett School of Architecture
  • architecture foundation workshops in Kings Cross for five local community groups
  • Swiss Cottage Library touring exhibition
  • a streetscape design manual
  • Camden Artists in Residence grant scheme, which supported a film made by a professional dancer and young people at The Place to explore its architectural spaces; and a residency at the Calthorpe project working with young people
  • Streetscape Summit - a workshop for Camden staff
  • Euston Road - London's best connected street exhibition at the British Library
  • The Living Sculpture at Camden Lock market designed by Ron Arad which has brought young people together with local media and design companies to express their ideas on screen
  • a placement scheme for Bartlett School of Architecture students
  • membership of the Design Quality Indicator scheme - a method of assessing the value of design in the building process which is being used on various school projects

Examples of projects

Recent and current projects, which demonstrate the commitment and approach to good design include

  • the extension of Great Ormond Street Hospital, recently opened, to provide accommodation for parents whose children are hospitalised
  • the redevelopment of Swiss Cottage to build a new leisure centre, Hampstead Theatre and Swiss Cottage Library
  • refurbishment of Russell Square; major landscaping works to remodel Brunswick , Bloomsbury and Bedford Squares, and the restoration of Waterlow Park in Highgate including a new square in front of the Grade 1 listed Lauderdale House.
  • work with University College Hospital and their architects to extend and improve the new hospital campus in Euston
  • A variety of school projects including the provision of specialist facilities at Hampstead School, Torriano Infants School; St George's Annexe, South Camden Community School; Netley Autistic provision and Community Centre.
Last updated: 4 December 2008