Michael Ho

In the 20th century a settled working-class community lived on the Isle of Dogs in the streets of terraced houses crowded in amongst docks and factories. This community, still somewhat isolated from the rest of East London, had its own schools, pubs, churches, clubs, societies, traditions and customs, as well as a very low crime rate. In response to changing technology and new patterns of international trade, the West India and Millwall docks had closed by the early 1980s, which led to a downfall of the community. The loss of work also destroyed traditional community life with its supportive networks and values. The project tries to address this issue with the establishment of a water treatment plant that will partially clean the River Thames, which result in an economical and ecological impact on the Isle of Dogs and its surrounding neighbourhoods. What I am hoping to achieve with this project is to revive and repurpose the lost community of the isle of dogs and speculate on how the clean river could become a coda and act as a moon to London.