Leigh-Anna Forde

Archive Vivantes

This project acts as a living archive of Caribbean culture, floating atop the Thames,  aiming to aid the integration of Caribbean immigrants into the Putney area. The immersive journey created through the scheme includes spaces that each cater to a different sense: the feel and taste of rippling saltwater seas, the melodious harmonies of Caribbean music, the refined and dynamic flavours of the cuisine, the rushing thrill of tumbling freshwater waterfalls through a rainforest, the sombre truths entwined in their dark history, and the warm, humid air mirroring their climate. The programme also includes spaces designed to bridge disparities in the minority group, including legal services, adult education facilities and skills and training offices. This is partnered with facilities to raise awareness among the majority group including sensitivity training offices. However, the compartmentalised areas of water on which the buildings float, controlled by a channel system, means that the educational/ professional spaces can be lowered during the evening/ night, drawing attention to the spaces that foster a vibrant nightlife, an aspect which is currently lacking in the Putney area.

Elevation A Filtration System in the Swimming Compartments

Ebb and Flow Garden Centre

My proposal integrates three flood mitigation strategies that engage the community and rejuvenate the area.

1. Rain Garden: A rain garden with local plant species and deep roots will be added along the embankment on new land. This garden will absorb and filter runoff water through topsoil, sand, and compost, providing ecological benefits.
2. Detention Basins: A large detention basin inland and smaller basins in the rain garden will store stormwater runoff. An urban grey water reed bed system will filter excess water for use in the garden centre. Land from the embankment will be reused to extend the garden, and leftover clay sediments will be turned into tiles for the garden centre’s façade.
3. Garden Centre: The building, inspired by flood barriers, will act as a physical barrier with a sloping green roof, creating a flexible communal space for relaxation and events.

The Ebb and Flow Garden Centre includes:

• A shop selling gardening materials
• A seed bank for visitors to plant seeds in the rain garden
• A café

This design embraces nature’s rhythm, creating a harmonious synergy that benefits both the environment and the community.

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