Water way ahead for the capital

Transport for London has begun a forward-looking project into reviving London’s waterways, conceived with product design group Priestman Goode.

The ideas are being considered by London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London in a bid to solve transport problems in the English capital and revive its flagging waterways.

According to Priestman Goode founder Paul Priestman, “We were asked to look at designing everything you need in London, from traffic lights to pretty much everything you see in London. It is a fantastic brief.”

Priestman says the experimental design proposals are almost complete. He says the project has looked at ideas for restricting traffic in central London, and “how to start using the river in the city and make it part of a central transportation system”.

“These are really challenging some of the aspects of design facing all cities around the world,” Priestman adds. Priestman says more and more of its work comes from generating concepts.