BDP's urban design director to join our Whitechapel forum

Above: Gergana Draganova, Director of Urban Design at BDP (Courtesy BDP)

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Gergana Draganova, Urban Design Director from BDP will be contributing to our 'Knowledge Cities' event this month at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, talking about the firm's masterplan for Whitechapel.

Gergana will be joining senior directors from Barts Life Sciences, MedCity and NHS Property Services among other contributors to discuss the changing area around the modern Royal London Hospital and new town hall at Whitechapel as well as best practice for master-planning science cities development.

Following completion of proposals for the new Whitechapel Crossrail station, BDP was appointed to develop a 15-year regeneration vision to stimulate economic development and physical growth in the area, which is one of the most deprived in London. This new vision for Whitechapel was adopted as planning policy as the Whitechapel Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document.

As a result of the planned Crossrail investment, the area faced significant development pressure and the masterplan provides an overarching framework to piece development sites together and ensure high-quality placemaking that would enhance its character. The policy framework seeks to respond positively to the rich architectural heritage including a wide range of listed buildings and conservation areas.

The Whitechapel Masterplan provides for 3,500 new homes, community facilities, seven new public parks and spaces, and a new university and commercial campus which will create around 5,000 jobs. The plan also seeks to create a more cycle and pedestrian-friendly environment.

Extensive consultation with the community and key stakeholders was undertaken. Initial engagement sought to capture the issues and aspirations of various stakeholders through a variety of different engagement methods, including meetings, workshops, a project website, postcards and press releases.

Gergana is an architect and urban designer with significant experience in residential, transport related and mixed use development, undertaken on behalf of both public and private sector clients. Her work is mostly focused on town centre regeneration and placemaking for new urban centres, including masterplans, design codes, development frameworks and feasibility studies. Gergana’s projects reflect her passion for collaborating with the clients, stakeholders, residents and other professionals on creating and reinventing the unique qualities of diverse urban environments.