In the Shadow of the Shard

It was great to attend a screening yesterday of this documentary which gives a voice to the people of Bermondsey and the communities that live In the Shadow of the Shard. 

It was followed by a discussion with the film maker John Rogers, the Architects Bell Phillips, social historian Tessa Boase and John Paul Lynch a local resident featured in the documentary and a Director of Leathermarket JMB, a large TMO in the area. From about 21:30 in the film coverage is given to how the JMB became the first TMO to start developing homes through the provision of 27 homes at Marklake Court and how the community ensured that the homes were developed to meet their needs.

Since this film the JMB have developed another 40 homes on a neighbouring estate and there are more in the pipeline.

Aside from the interesting slice of social history across Bermondsey, this is a great example of how local communities can still influence/control the design process in their neighbourhoods.

It’s well worth a watch.