The Oval, London

The Project

The Oval is a cul-de-sac street flanked by commercial and light industrial premises, located between the busy Hackney Road and Regent’s Canal in Bethnal Green, East London.

It is home to a number of industrial printers and design-based businesses the newest development to open is Oval Space – a creative and event workshop space used for product launches, fashion shows and TV shoots, and for hosting club nights and live shows.

Until recently the oval hardstanding in the centre of the street had been used for parking and as a vehicular turnaround and had also attracted abandoned vehicles and anti-social behaviour. In a bid to improve the public realm for this increasingly busy site, permission was granted by Tower Hamlets to develop a pedestrian-only space with new paving, trees and seating, as well as a performance platform.