An overhead CGI rendering of Strand East situated in London. To the north is Olympic Park. All images courtesy LandProp.
IKEA's building a neighborhood. I recently read up on The Globe and Mail's Doug Saunders's visit to the site, dubbed Strand East, which will be managed by the property development arm of Inter IKEA Group.
The designs, available in an interactive web site, will be implemented in a stretch of property in east London and span some 26 acres, with 1,200 homes and apartments for families and dwellers of different sizes and incomes, as well as office and commercial spaces and a school.
A view of Dane's Yard and the Northern Quarter, the planned creative zone.
Indeed, Strand East's recent press release [PDF] points to five types of quarters, from a creative one in the northeast to a commercial one in the north. At the south, "The Hub" will serve as the primary social space, with a public square, a community building and cafes and bars. The residential area will pay homage to London's urban character, with "mews" and back alleys for privacy, and townhouses for larger families. With an eye towards sustainability and community, some areas will be designated solely for walking, and clean energy strategies are promised.
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