Building Design magazine features an article today about the A1 Project, which is set to become the first of six exemplar projects by Transport for London to improve the urban design of major traffic routes. The article is included below.

Stitching the A1

Studio Egret West has launched ambitious plans to regenerate the London borough of Islington by overcoming the “barrier” of the busy A1 road.

The practice, established by former Alsop directors David West and Christophe Egret, last week put forward proposals for eight “stitches” across the road to link the two sides of the borough on either side of the main arterial route and open up a series of new public spaces. These include (pictured from top) sites at Goswell Road and Highbury Corner.

The proposal, also worked on by Atkins and Intelligent Space for Islington Council, is set to become the first of six exemplar projects by Transport for London to improve the urban design of major traffic routes.

Bridget Fox, deputy leader of Islington Council and a member of the Urban Design London network, said the scheme would build on major regeneration projects such as the new Arsenal stadium and the Argent King’s Cross development.

TFL design champion David Ubaka said the six projects would be pushed through by a new TFL “design arm” and had been influenced by the work of Danish urban guru Jan Gehl.