In a new book, author Iain Sinclair argues against the Olympic redevelopment of London's East End, and argues that the legacy goals its planners are pushing largely already exist.
Sinclair refers to the communities that exist in the area, which are being pushed out by the massive regeneration efforts underway to prepare for next summer's event.
"Certainly Sinclair has responded with all guns blazing: his new book, Ghost Milk, is an elegiac assault on the Olympics and the regeneration culture it has spawned – or ‘Dr Frankenstein with a Google Earth programme and a laser scalpel', as he calls those he blames for carving up his beloved borough. It seethes with anger at the impact of the Olympics' computer-generated aesthetic on a previously rough and ready part of London and, crucially, on the people who live there.
‘Everywhere there's an erosion of locality,' he says as we walk towards the vast, churning building site circumscribed by the now infamous blue fence.
‘Everywhere communities – allotment growers, houseboat communities, small businesses – are being wiped out by this global conglomerate obsession with putting up huge blocks.'
Sinclair was never going to take kindly to the Olympic development that has bulldozed through Hackney Wick and parts of Stratford where, in the 1970s, he used to work at Chobham Farm."
FULL STORY: Iain Sinclair on exposing the dark side of east London's redevelopment
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research