Arise Abbey
The city is growing and a lot of development and improvement works are concentrated either in the inner city (such as the station re-development) and the outer edge with all the planned urban extension. The Cambridge Architects Association held a Charrette, or workshop, whereby over 60 local architects and various professionals brainstormed ideas for sites in between.
The Society took part in the lively and constructive event where different groups tackled different problem areas within the city. The Society's team looked at the junction Barnwell Road with Newmarket Road and associated community areas. Team Members were David Taylor, Joyce Baird, Catherine Hall, Terry Gilbert, Carolin Göhler. Here is a summary of the Society’s proposal:
Post-war, Abbey offered dream homes in a desirable location.
Today, increasingly heavy traffic flows have given rise to access problems, particularly for pedestrians. It is a poorly defined district with inadequate central community facilities and plenty of unattractive, uncared-for areas. It is, on the whole, appreciated by neither the old nor the young. The good supply of 'commons' for passive recreation both on its edges and in individual neighbourhoods is not well linked to central Abbey with its hidden and poorly-furnished low-cost recreation and sports facilities.
Linking this community together by tunnelling or bridging the main roads is awkward for pedestrians and cyclists, costly and land hungry. Sustainable design directly benefiting the community is essential – partly through reutilisation and partly through phased redevelopment.
Newmarket Road would be transformed into a Green Boulevard with a shared pedestrian and vehicle area – mitigating the impact of traffic by further restricting traffic speeds between the roundabout and traffic lights. Quality design of surfaces and landscape (trees, central recycling point, public art and so on) is essential – converting into a gateway to Abbey and the City but without creating a transport bottleneck.
A Business Area for employment and training would be linked across Newmarket Road to the restored 'heart' of the co-located community facilities: the Church Square and Green enclosed by the Holy Cross and spiritualist church and the 'Abbey Ark' with its shared community facilities (health centre, nursery/play/ education & office space). An upgraded shopping parade and library would enclose the Shop Square with its combined market / events space managed by local people. Here, at the centre of Abbey, new, well-connected and maintained public green spaces – a colourful linear park utilising the broad highway verges and tranquil, high amenity pocket parks – would be provided for all age groups.
For further information on the Charrette and ideas for the City visit: www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/Regions/East/CAMBSARC200958.pdf
The Society took part in the lively and constructive event where different groups tackled different problem areas within the city. The Society's team looked at the junction Barnwell Road with Newmarket Road and associated community areas. Team Members were David Taylor, Joyce Baird, Catherine Hall, Terry Gilbert, Carolin Göhler. Here is a summary of the Society’s proposal:
Post-war, Abbey offered dream homes in a desirable location.
Today, increasingly heavy traffic flows have given rise to access problems, particularly for pedestrians. It is a poorly defined district with inadequate central community facilities and plenty of unattractive, uncared-for areas. It is, on the whole, appreciated by neither the old nor the young. The good supply of 'commons' for passive recreation both on its edges and in individual neighbourhoods is not well linked to central Abbey with its hidden and poorly-furnished low-cost recreation and sports facilities.
Linking this community together by tunnelling or bridging the main roads is awkward for pedestrians and cyclists, costly and land hungry. Sustainable design directly benefiting the community is essential – partly through reutilisation and partly through phased redevelopment.
Newmarket Road would be transformed into a Green Boulevard with a shared pedestrian and vehicle area – mitigating the impact of traffic by further restricting traffic speeds between the roundabout and traffic lights. Quality design of surfaces and landscape (trees, central recycling point, public art and so on) is essential – converting into a gateway to Abbey and the City but without creating a transport bottleneck.
A Business Area for employment and training would be linked across Newmarket Road to the restored 'heart' of the co-located community facilities: the Church Square and Green enclosed by the Holy Cross and spiritualist church and the 'Abbey Ark' with its shared community facilities (health centre, nursery/play/ education & office space). An upgraded shopping parade and library would enclose the Shop Square with its combined market / events space managed by local people. Here, at the centre of Abbey, new, well-connected and maintained public green spaces – a colourful linear park utilising the broad highway verges and tranquil, high amenity pocket parks – would be provided for all age groups.
For further information on the Charrette and ideas for the City visit: www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/Regions/East/CAMBSARC200958.pdf
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