Camille Walala sees a inexperienced future for London's Oxford Road
Walala, who recently painted a parade of shops in east London, had the idea of designing a new Oxford Circus at the start of the lockdown – when she said she was "impressed with the quiet of the streets" and "the feeling of peace." that she had come to London in the absence of traffic ”.
Together with her partner, creative producer Julia Jomaa, Walala started imagining what London might look like in the future and has just released a series of renderings showing a whole new kind of Oxford Street. The images show an area that is completely pedestrianized, interrupted by trees, plants and fountains and painted in bright colors and stripes.
Walala's Oxford Circus isn't a huge crowd of buyers, but rather full of sculptural pieces, raised planters, and places for people to stop and rest – all to create an environment that makes people happy and not stressed out. It's a radical change, but one that no longer feels removed from reality.
Cities around the world are leveraging the decline in traffic caused by Covid-19 to find new ways to operate roads and sidewalks, and to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists. And the possibilities for designers are huge, as CR recently wrote in an article in which he argued that creativity could save cities after Covid.
"This project is my what-if portrait of the city of tomorrow and my own projection of what the London I love might one day look like," says Walala, who has lived in the capital for 23 years. “At times like these, when the future is uncertain, mental health is in dire straits, and many of us face major challenges in our lives, I believe it is crucial to hold on to the hope we have for the future and spread joy in the present. "
camillewalala.com