Camden Highline

Date: 2021

A new linear urban park, reimagining a disused North London railway.

Concept (Images and Text): Adapted from competition entry led by Feilden Fowels and JL Gibbons with contribution by JA Projects and others.

In 2020 Camden Highline held an international open competition to reimagine the 1.2km strip of disused railway running between King’s Cross and Camden Town in North London as an urban park. JA Projects, as part of an interdisciplinary team, were very proud to be one of five finalists.

Working as part of a team led by Feilden Fowles and J&A Gibbons, we developed a strategy to ensure local residents, workers and business owners would feel a sense of ownership over this new park – throughout its design, construction and operation. We prioritised a ‘learning through doing’ approach – named Situated Action Research, which encouraged cross-disciplinary and cross-community collaboration to share experiences and spark new ideas.

Our idea was centred on stitching together the places and identities on both sides of the railway, as well as along its length – places which currently feel disconnected from each other. The project uses the principles of decolonisation and decarbonisation as a prerequisite of design excellence, placing people back into the heart of nature.

As designers, it is in our nature to look and listen closely and act strategically. Our proposal mediates the interconnected global emergencies of biodiversity, health and climate change. But, it also works locally by asking how a complex web of heritage, ecology, design, art, engineering, business planning and care-taking, can be transformative and enrich everyday acts such as walking to school.