In an attempt to explore an unloved plot in London, this project focuses on a semi-detached property segmented into a series of commercial shop fronts and residential dwellings, located in the heart of Rye Lane in Peckham. A town previously known as a farming community, housing fields and small farms, used to be a place to gather produce and rest, for people travelling to London. This stimulated the concept of redesigning the shop fronts into one communal space; a market hall, where food and wine is sold and enjoyed. The proposed scheme led to the adaptation of a derelict building, converting it into a public market space, a brownfield site into a series of allotments and an abandoned warehouse into a restaurant and kitchen. The adjacent brown-field site is segmented into a series of large plant beds, growing various herbs, fruits and vegetables, placing perennial vegetables and root crops in areas with more sun, whilst using shading for leafy greens to prevent wilting. Finally, the abandoned warehouse is exposed and adapted into a restaurant, adding on a further extension which mimics the ephemeral nature of the temporary scaffold structure. Peckham’s history has long associations with food production for the City of London. However, today its spaces are disconnected from these methods and means. Addressing this issue, this project proposes a ‘community led food landscape’ at the end of Rye Lane. Cultivating awareness around food growth, production, selling and serving, the proposed development aims to celebrate the market culture of food currently existing in Peckham, allowing visitors to enjoy the collaboration of flavours and reconnecting with different heritages and identities. Finally, markings in the ground depicting previously existing structure, are penetrated in order to function as water channels, which will eventually be used for irrigation purposes.
