Street Campus

Smithfield Market creates a new concept of university, it is not just a place, Street Campus is a new connexion in the city. The main space is the public area, new access connect transport lines with the project as a new typology of urban infrastructure. And a drastic operation in a historical building transforms the market in an education institution.

Smithfield Market is an opportunity to convert this campus in a way to make city. We get us used to hide infrastructures deep underground. It makes a disconnected, dark and restrict urban walk. This project proposes to do the opposite solution, it takes advantage of the opportunity to design a campus as an infrastructure to combine existing basement structures with public transport, public space, and the perfect location. Conventional streets will be eliminated revealing what is hidden under the streets. The starting point is Barbican and Farringdon stations, both are close to the market, opencast and the railways cross the market’s basement. The beams that form the north street are removed, it discloses big retaining walls, brick arcades which consolidate the building, past century’s barrel vaults and the punctual and rhythmic passage of trains; these set up new public space at the University, Street Campus. The big street operation will be articulated by some access to connect the capital with the new level, eight meters lower, through existing structures or small urban interventions. The Barbican station will be the first access using the out of operation platforms, and a new footbridge cross to the pedestrian way. Near to the building the old towers that have been release will be used to create other two access through two walkways. In the other side a passage connects the main street with backyards that will be transform into a viewpoint with pedestrian access to the new street. Finally, Farringdon station has another access. From this new street you can access to the building, the university transforms the old market by some structural alterations, the basement level becomes into the main entrance with the most important public uses, and the others levels contains classrooms and the student housing. Whole operation was thought as an infrastructure, from the access to the facilities, consider technical and urban aspects like a way to take action similar than others projects like Barbican Center or the Millennium Bridge with the Tate Modern, both assemble and build the City of London.