My City Too - Church Street Market festival-goers asked what they want for public spaces

Published: 16 July 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

FESTIVAL-goers at Church Street Market were asked by young campaigners to illustrate on postcards how they want their public spaces to look, writes Josie Hinton.

The project, entitled My City Too, is part of the London Festival of Architecture 2010 and aims to encourage young people to take an interest in improving the quality of streets and open spaces in the capital.

Led by youngsters aged between 12 and 19, the project parked a Routemaster bus at last Sunday’s event off Edgware Road to ask residents to draw their perfect surroundings.

Ideas were collected from more than 250 people and will be sent to Mayor Boris Johnson and Westminster Council in a bid to help influence planing policy.

Robert Newcombe, 15, an ambassador for the project, run by architecture education charity Open City, said: “It was a great experience to engage with the public in Church Street and promoting our campaign I learned so much about what Londoners really want for their outdoor spaces.”

For more information visit open-city.org.uk or email mycitytoo@open-city.org.uk