Walkable london
All over the world, we are observing the trend towards pedestrianising whole districts rather than individual streets. Zaha Hadid Architects proposes ‘Walkable London’, a full-scale network of pedestrian routes which will create corridors of activation across the capital.
Transforming just a few streets will hardly make a big difference in terms of congestion, pollution, safety, public health, economic benefits and social capital. To make walking part of a daily routine, we need a full pedestrian network as an integral part of the city’s transport infrastructure.
The UK capital has seen some great examples of pedestrianisation that revitalised the whole districts. Based on our experience of working in 44 countries, Zaha Hadid Architects is presenting a tangible strategy that connects these disparate pedestrianised zones, and making London the number one walking city in the world.
London Low Line Vision
Once a key arterial supply route during the Industrial Revolution, the Low Line is perfectly situated to adapt to the 21st century as a lifeline injecting vitality, well-being, and nature into London.
The Low Line offers moments of sanctuary and rest to help balance the density and intensity of urban life. Conceived as a green corridor, a continuous and identifiable pedestrianised axis to encourage active travel, the Low Line will also link to nearby parks and their ecosystems of flora and fauna through the implementation of ‘nature corridors’. Community centred initiatives along its length will ensure the Low Line is successfully woven into the surrounding neighbourhoods as a vibrant and sustainable high quality environment to be enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike.
