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London Embankment Archive: A Civic Building for Deptford

Part 1 Project 2023
Finn Kramer
Oxford Brookes University Oxford | UK
The presence of the Thames’ tributaries in the capital city is dwindling amidst the expansion of the urban plan. As a protagonist in the future of London’s lost rivers, the London Embankment Archive is sited on the historic embankments of the last surviving tidal saltwater creek in the metropolitan area, Deptford Creek.

At an urban scale, the project is represented as a Monument, sited in the context of 57 freehold sites undergoing high volume residential development on the creek. The mass of the tower remoulds the volumes of lost areas of the river into 15 imposing storeys, acting as a visible reminder, transmitting its message to the surrounding area.

At the local scale the two main uses of the scheme are a multi-use civic complex on the lower floor, and an archive, housing records of the changes to London’s littoral zones. These uses connect both the public and governing bodies to encourage the urban correction of the rivers, and their position in the hierarchy of infrastructure.

Utilising stone and modern masonry techniques, a heavyset material economy borrows from the traditional construction methods of the Thames’ embankments, enhancing the durability and versatility of the building.

Finn Kramer

Tutor(s)

2023
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