Peckham Weeklies
The Peckham Weeklies were a multi-disciplinary, multi-age, free range community group that was started by Ulrike Steven as part of the Peckham Co-design, a project developed in collaboration with Ash Sakula. The PECKHAM WEEKLIES came together every Tuesday evening in different pubs in Peckham and the Old Kent Road area. Substantially assisted by the wisdom of existing community groups, it generated an inclusive and productive framework for meetings: through its focus on devising and publishing magazines about Peckham, it has provided a valuable forum for debate which, in turn, has brought about a deeper understanding of and engagement with issues of planning, the local economy and identity.
The Peckham Weeklies team have co-created a series of content-rich magazines and events, harnessing the talents of local volunteers to delve into the architecture and activities that make Peckham a distinctive and interesting place. Peckham Weeklies have proved fertile ground, sparking new ideas, research proposals and links with local and national groups.
The Peckham Weeklies team emphasised that planning isn’t just for planners—everyone should participate in thinking about what makes a good city!
The Peckham Weeklies team from 2014-2017 included, among others, Alexander Christie (photographer), Dan Harder (graphic designer), Jessica Cargill Thompson (journalist), Veronica Simpson (journalist), Gemma Holyoak (CSM student), Joe Hamlin (CSM student), and Ulrike Steven (architect). Several exhibitions and events also involved Prof. Mark Brearley and students and staff from UCL and Cass Cities.
now is the time
During the London Festival of Architecture 2015 event on the 9th June the peckham weeklies explored why “now is the time” to become an engaged citizen. Governed by policies, strategies and plans that are indigestible and unknown to the majority of people, the urban landscape of London is being transformed dramatically.
The peckham weeklies team for “nowis the time” included architects what if: projects ltd / journalist Veronica Simpson / graphic designer Concentric Blue / graphic designer: Yelena Chernyakova / web designer and opera singer: Peter Lurie / architect Michelle Male / A level students Florence Harry and Alex Partridge / facts and figures person Michael Mohamed / exhibition designer Phil Simpson / long term local activist Audrey Kidd and architect Benedict O’Looney
Speakers at ‘now is the time’ included: Professor in sociology at LSE Cities Suzanne Hall / head of Cass Cities professor Mark Brearly / Peckham Vision co-ordinator Eileen Conn/ and members of the peckham weeklies project team.
“now is the time” was hosted by Maverick Projects at the Safehouse in Peckham
Event date: 9 June 2015
Location: Safehouse, Peckham
knock’d’em in the Old Kent Road
“Knock’d’em in the Old Kent Road” was an event organized as part of the London Festival of Architecture in 2016 to highlight the diversity and richness of communities in the Old Kent Road and to question how these communities will be impacted by the looming large scale regeneration of the area.
The Old Kent Road is often referred to as the cheapest street on the Monopoly board. Now it has been declared an Opportunity Area. But for whom? And for what?
Next Tuesday’s event (28 June), Knock’d ‘em in the Old Kent Road, brings together the communities around the Old Kent Road to engage with the knotty issues of who wins and who loses when regeneration comes marching into your neighbourhood, as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
Southwark is proposing to build more than 20.000 homes in the Old Kent Road area, but most of these will replace industrial land and retail sheds that currently employ the same number of people as the centre of Glasgow. How will their loss impact on the existing communities and the local economy?
The event was hosted by Peckham Weeklies – a free-range voluntary community group – together with Old Kent Road People, local residents, Vital OKR, businesses, the CASS, UCL and LSE. The evening featured a dynamic mix of group activities, five-minute provocations, and OKR studies, followed by an open-mic forum where everyone had the chance to share their thoughts.
Together, we’ll flush out the facts, provide insights about the scale and style of communities at risk, and galvanise people around what needs to be done to preserve the essential qualities, facilities and character of this iconic street.
As a grand finale, all attendees were invited to join our spontaneous kazoo choir that performed the classic music hall song “Knock’d ‘em in the Old Kent Road”. The Pearly King of Peckham was in attendance.
“Knock’d ‘em in the Old Kent Road“ was hosted by Maverick Projects at the Asylum Chapel.
Event date: 28 June 2016 19:00 – 21:00
Location: Asylum, Asylum Road, Caroline Gardens, SE15 2SQ
As part of the event, we launched the Livesey Exchange crowdfunding campaign (LEX1) and plans of this new community venue on Old Kent Road were presented to the neighbourhood for the first time.
In 2016 the name of this community interest group changed to Action OKR to reflect their focus on the Old Kent Road regeneration area.
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dates:
2014 – 2016 - note: