Future Hoxton

Future Hoxton is a project designed to allow residents of Hoxton, an inner London neighbourhood, to share their views about how the area might develop in future. Undertaken in connection with William Hodgson's academic research at the Bartlett School of Architecture it featured a model of the area to which comments were added.

PEER, an arts organisation situated in the heart of the Hoxton area, was the venue for the construction and subsequent interactions with a large model. Buildings were built from cork blocks to which flags containing comments could be added. Historic maps were pasted to the gallery walls to provide context.

The large model engaged residents and businesses in the process of plan making and widened the understanding of the historic built environment of the area. The results were intended to inform the Future Shoreditch area action plan and the evolving LP33 local plan both being undertaken by the Hackney Council. Flags showed planning applications, landmarks and historic buildings as well as visitors comments

In addition to visitors to PEER adding their comments to the cork model visiting school parties created small structures which proposed diverse ideas such as outdoor cinemas, skateboard parks and market gardens. These ideas supplemented the information flags showing planning applications and landmarks.