Shape Newham has transformed 16 public spaces across Newham's town centres through a radical process of deliberative democracy, with installations delivered between 2021 and 2026. As part of the team led by AOC Architecture with Offices S&M, we collaborated with Europa on East Ham — repainting historic gateway arches and 40 street lamp posts in a new palette of traditional and contemporary colours.
Across eight neighbourhoods, residents participated in Citizens' Assemblies to set priorities, brief design teams, and review every proposal — from murals and wayfinding to pocket parks — working alongside ten locally selected artists. An exemplar for community-led, neighbourhood-scale placemaking.
Read more about the project.