When I have asked any British architect in their sixties and seventies about their favourite period, many love Georgian architecture. This remains true regardless of whether or not they also like modern architecture, which is not necessarily contemporary architecture. If you wonder what that interest may be about, stepping into Woburn Walk, which is located nearby Saint Pancras and Euston stations, will give you a chance to see it their way.
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Designed in 1822 by the architect Thomas Cubitt, i understand it to have been London's very first purpose-built pedestrian shopping street. As such, it provides a clear case study on how design can help bring commerce into a residential area respectfully and proportionally.
The architectural trick used there is in the rhythmic uniformity of the streetscape. Ironically, something we learnt about in school, but when it comes to practice, very few clients/decision makers seem to be interested in it today.
For example, the beautiful curved bow windows on the ground floor not only interact with the street and build that rhythm, but they are also used as tools to both maximise light and provide a clear zone for displaying goods. Above them, elegant rendered stucco covered brickwork with classic sash windows and delicate iron balconies.
We need to think about the period in which these were built. (And also the horses, the carriages, the busy-ness, the dirt. ) By separating the pedestrian street from the chaos, Cubitt created a go-to destination where human scale, light, and quiet interaction were part of the draw.
I realise I go on about thoughtful design and considered environments here quite a bit, but the truth is, those have always been a vital part of city living. Woburn Walk is an example of a space that shows how those principles can continue to provide proper relief and joy in the middle of a car-dominated, very busy part of town.
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