School 21 welcomes you to LCF on East Bank
- Written byCeline Abdal, Bianca Pascal, Saifa Hossain, Ella Jiang
- Published date 30 March 2022
Share story
LCF's move to a single campus on East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is almost a year out. We invited students Celine Abdal, Bianca Pascal, Saifa Hossain and Ella Jiang from Stratford's School 21 to share their thoughts and ideas on what LCF can bring to the east London community.
Over the past few weeks, we as young social members of the community, have been conducting a project on LCF's new home on East Bank, investigating the bewildering psychographic changes London College of Fashion can, and will, bring to you all. Our team has been analysing and researching the impact that the new LCF building will have on our local culture in east London. We visited the London Legacy Development Corporation to base our research within the development of Stratford’s sensational legacy, with Layla Conway briefing Stratford’s major progressive plans of the rebranding. Our primary research was enlightened by a tour of Central Saint Martins, UAL by Berni Yates, exploring the immense changes it has contributed to their community by moving to an underdeveloped place which then went on to become a united environment through targeting the community and connecting the locals as a family. Concluding our research, our team has decided on some ideas of exciting contributions LCF will bring to you.
Stratford’s new life with LCF
What really is East Bank? East Bank is the contemporary powerhouse for young creativity and livelihood located within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is described as “a unique collaboration between world-leading universities, arts and culture”. As an institution, LCF will bring creativity, design and innovation to the environment as a safe space for engaging in new skill activities for the youth and locals. Our primary research has shown our team the immense power a united community holds; showing that everyone is capable of benefiting from the new LCF building. Our research of CSM has demonstrated the concept of unity. whereby community is the foundation of success. This is significant to LCF as we aim to share our powerhouse of this creativity with the whole of Stratford. Furthermore, the base of our research for the contributions that LCF can bring was conducted through the visit of LLDC, which has encouraged us to think about the impacts the new building will bring to the environment as many bright creative students will be coming locally and internationally to join our family. How would this benefit you, you may ask?
Look out for these features!
As for exciting events, there will be many. Starting off small by opening the first three floors to the public, our community will be able to view the intricate designs of the new LCF building. Some key features include the buttons embedded into the flooring of the university. These buttons will represent the strong feeling of togetherness that is expressed between the university and community and how the university brings everyone closer, just like buttons do for clothes. Another interesting feature is the brand new telescope that will be placed on the top floor of the building. You will be able to see all of LCF's historic campuses from the top of the Stratford building to represent the new central point for the community and the other LCF campuses. This symbolises the journey that LCF has taken, starting off as small separate campuses and arriving as one united front. The building will consist of a plethora of aesthetically designed rooms which will have multiple creative purposes such as art exhibitions and a variety of events. LCF is open to any ideas the public may have in order to ensure everyone within the community benefits from this new university building, not just students.
LCF has never been closer
Overall, after studying the psycho-geographic changes that LCF may bring to the new and improved East Bank, we are excited to reveal that the building will be complete by the Autumn term of 2023. Do you need a space to express your inner creativity? Are you looking to be a part of a creative institution where you can express yourself? London College of Fashion would like to welcome your ideas into the community and to help you achieve your aspirations. From exhibition space to collaborations with the university, no matter how big or small, LCF is here to support you. If you would like to take part in any workshops or explore the building, then don't hesitate to contact us.
Photographer and organiser: Salima Sule Ali.
Researchers and writers: Celine Abdal, Bianca Pascal, Saifa Hossain, Ella Jiang.
- Find out more about LCF's move
- Follow LCF on Social Media
- What’s on at LCF: open days and events