Globe Town

Shiraz Bayjoo proposes a large photographic, collage of archival material that combines the history of Tower Hamlets with the contemporary character of residents today.

Bayjoo collaborated with the Globe Town community at Tower Hamlets Archives in the summer of 2021, working with sourced images from the archives which reflect the religious, cultural, and symbolic identity of residents today as well as the history of the area.

The final image reflect these discussions and conversations.

A vinyl mural will be installed this summer 2023.

Globe Town market square is located in a predominantly residential area in the Roman Road West Town centre and is walking distance from Bethnal Green Station, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Hospital and Regents Canal. The market square is framed by 3 residential blocks; Bevin, Clynes and Windsor House and a Market that has existed since the 1800s. Globe Town market Square experiences low footfall, issues of waste, anti-social behaviour and has poor lighting.

The proposed market square redesign seeks to improve the quality and quantity of public space, generate creative enterprise opportunities, and provide opportunities for the community to contribute to the design of the public realm.

The aim is to refurbish an underused public space, support current and new market traders, high street businesses, local community groups and residents. The design approach follows principles of good urban design to create active, well-managed, flexible, green public space and reinforces existing green routes, improves connections, to create a place for the community and a new destination for visitors.

The design responds to local engagement with high street businesses, market traders, local community groups and residents. The design has developed in collaboration with Friends of Meath Gardens, Globe Town Assembly, Roman Road Trust, Plastic Free Roman Road, the Cranbrook Community Gardens and Tower Hamlets Homes.

Engagement was conducted from March to August 2020 and consisted of :

• 1 to 1 consultation with traders, businesses and gardening group
• an event hosted on the market square
• community engagement event hosted over three days in 189 Roman Road
• pre-consultation meetings to review the detail design with Friends of Meath Gardens and the Cranbrook Community Gardens

This has resulted in 3 complementary design strategies:

1. reinforce routes and green corridors through the strategic placing of mature/ semi-mature/fruit trees, planters, and the removal of street clutter.

2. create a multi-functional space that can accommodate various scales of community events and markets.

3. improve the night time experience of Globe Town Market by upgrading existing street lights with integrated power supply for market traders, lighting perimeter building soffits and low level lighting to the trees

Note : In addition we propose to upgrade the quality of the square through the installation of SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) infrastructure & sections of permeable block paving.

Market square redesign

Reinforce routes and green corridors

1. woodland area: 6 large trees, shrubs and ground cover

2. 5 stand alone mature trees and ground cover

3. 4 dwarf size wild fruit trees in raised planters

4. mobile and modular planters : 1.5 x 1.5m

5. new bin store with green roof

Create a multi-functional square

6. linear seating for daily use of the market square that can accommodate temporary tables during events

7. market pitches arrange in clusters to allow for different activities to take place

8. integrated power and water supply for the street market. Community events and landscape maintenance.

Improving night experience

9. new lamp posts with integrated power, low energy and high output light fittings

10. ow level lighting to tree canopies

Drainage & infrastructure

11. permeable block paving, drainage and SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) infrastructure

12. reinforced pavement for fire engine access

The planting strategy is part of wider ambitions to provide Globe Town with a ‘green corridor’ and will enhance green links between local green routes.Tree pit detail: mature, semi mature and fruit trees with sustainable drainage systems (SuDs)

The proposed planting scheme responds to the ambitions of local community groups and is composed of 4 types of planted areas that spreads across the square at different scales, and will improve the local biodiversity:

• 5 mature trees
• Woodland area, including 6 semi mature trees
• Mini orchard, including 4 native dwarf fruit trees
• 4 mobile planters [1.5 x 1.5m minimum] Medicinal, edible, and bee-friendly plants, will attract different types of insects and bees. Attracting pollinators will be important for maintaining the fruit trees in the area, and will provide a useful tool for teaching and workshops. Easily movable, different types of planting could be tested on different locations on the square.

Bin store for market traders located on the flank wall of Clynes House with green roof (the proposed large scale artwork will be located above the green roof)

Proposed tree schedule

Proposed planting schedule

proposed lighting strategy

The proposed lighting scheme includes the new light columns with integrated power supply for market traders and energy efficient fittings and new lighting to the perimeter businesses. Within the new planted zones low level warm lighting will help discourage anti-social behaviour, a will animate the square at night and support evening trade for businesses.

The market layout provides a flexible multiuse space. We are progressing with plans to re-open the arch and create a new walking route between Queen Mary University of London and the town centre via Meath Gardens - this will be subject to the a separate consultation soon.

These plans along with recruiting new traders will help improve footfall and help activate the square.

The pitches are clustered with stalls back to back, allowing space between stalls and shops. The market stalls are organised around new six lamp posts for service connection - electric connections and meters are proposed. Utilities bills for lamp columns and power will be paid for by Highways/Market Services.

Proposed market pitch layout

Option 1: Ceramic collage with archival images from Stepney library archive focusing on protest movements in-situ

Option 3:
Ceramic collage with archival images from Stepney library archive

Shiraz Bayjoo proposes a large photographic, ceramic collage of archival material that combines the history of Tower Hamlets with the contemporary character of residents today.

Bayjoo proposes collaborating with residents to source images that reflect the religious, cultural and symbolic identity of residents today as well as the history of the area. This history could include, but is not limited to, the London docks and the textile industry, trade unionism, the welfare state, women’s vote and the area’s famous resilience during the Second World War bombings. The final artwork will include images, symbols and text. Research material will be sourced from local archives including Stepney Library.

The final artwork will be bright and vibrant, reminiscent of South Asian cinema posters, and it will be made of ceramic tiles, referencing late Victorian ceramic murals local to the area.

View artist video here

About Shiraz Bayjoo:

Shiraz Bayjoo is a Mauritian artist living in London. His work considers ideas of nationhood and identities, often tracing histories of people and places through archival sources – including maps, images, and texts. He creates painting, photographs, installations as well as public artworks and collaborative projects.

Colourful sprayed wall-painting that reflects the light

Elevation drawing of the colourful sprayed wall-painting that reflects the light

Rana Begum proposes a full-coverage wall painting with a sprayed pattern she describes as ‘an explosion of colour, culture and energy.’

The bold colours and flurry of sprayed marks represent the vibrancy and activity in the area. The painting is intended to be an energetic and exciting reference to the regenerated market, infusing the area with a sense of positivity, light and joy.

Begum proposes using many layers of vibrant and pastel colours to create a sense of depth and movement. The circular forms will appear to hover back and forth on the surface of the wall. Begum also proposes using metallic elements in the paint, creating a shiny and iridescent effect. Light will reflect off the surface of the painting, creating different visual effects at different times of day.

View artist video here

About Rana Begum:

Rana Begum. Photo by Anne Purkiss

Rana Begum was born in Bangladesh and lives and works in London. Her work moves between painting, sculpture and architecture, and investigates the interplay of colour, light and geometry. Begum’s works absorb and reflect varied densities of light to produce an experience for the viewer that is both temporal and sensorial. Her visual language draws from the urban landscape as well as geometric patterns from Islamic art and architecture.