Julia Schönbrunn


The project uses the potentials of the existing heterogeneous and fragmented urban tissue. In contrast to the small parcels lining the main street, Rye Lane's "Second Row" is characterized by large plots and building ensembles. This change of scale is due to historic transformations: during the 19th century industrial and commercial functions were added to the initial fabric and, later on, spaces vacant after the German bombings in World War II were used for larger housing estates and shopping venues.

These sites, some of them still available or underused, some of the functions obsolete or out of date, are now redefined by implementing new functions and buildings, a diverse mix of public and private programs. The existing connections to Rye Lane by small streets, gaps and passages are used as public accesses; back roads to the sites serve mainly as feeders for the new developments (access by car, delivery of goods etc.). The functional and structural limits of Rye Lane as the backbone of Peckham Centre are overcome by a multitude of new extensions and functional options.