Designing urban identities: East London

From Stratford to Royal Docks, the identity of East London is being drastically reshaped, turning this former industrial area into one of the new cultural and financial districts of the city. We look at key projects in development that will have a major impact on East London with architects, planners and social and political commentators. The architectural heritage of London varies between sub-regions, boroughs and local communities, creating a city with many different characters. Will this be the case in the future, and how are new developments responding to existing identities and shaping new ones? And indeed, how important are these identities to the city’s future strength and prosperity?