East London Waterworks Park: Codesigning Green Circular Futures

Sponsor:	East London Waterworks Park
Sponsor Liaison:	Nathan Miller, Dorna Shafieioun
Student Team:	Donnie Bowley, Dante Giles, Lorenzo Reetz, and Reese Will
Abstract:	East London Waterworks Park aims to turn a decommissioned water depot into a vibrant green community space, guided by input from the Waltham Forest Borough community. As part of this engagement, co-design workshops were hosted in local schools, where circular economy prototypes were drafted and delivered to the group for analysis. Additionally, environmental experts and teachers were interviewed regarding their experience with codesign and environmental education. These ideas were then cultivated into draft prototypes for each of the four schools visited. To support any future co-design efforts within ELWP, a design document was created to highlight the process followed, including challenges encountered and proposed solutions, to streamline any efforts from volunteer groups.
Link:	ELWP Final Report ELWP Final Presentation

Executive Summary

Introduction and Project Goal

Urbanization and industrial expansion across the United Kingdom, especially in London, has resulted in environmental decline and a growing number of brownfield sites—abandoned or underutilized aerials that frequently house environmental risks. These spaces coincide with the reduction of green spaces and the rise of environmental hazards. Further, children’s disconnection from nature has frequently been cited as contributing to the rising mental crisis.

East London Waterworks Park (ELWP), a registered UK charity since 2022, proposes a transformation of a brownfield site within Waltham Forest Borough. They aim to convert a decommissioned sewage treatment plant into a co-designed and community-led, biodiverse park. Central to the mission of ELWP is community partnerships and youth engagement through nature-based education. This project, conducted in partnership with ELWP, aims to co-design circular economy prototypes with students and develop a framework for future educational and environmental programs.

Objectives and Methodology

This project has three core objectives:

1. Assess best practices in integrating nature-based education in the UK schools’ curriculum. 
2. Collaborate with students and teachers to identify and select potential circular-economy topics for prototyping.
3.  Develop circular economy prototypes in collaboration with ELWP, local primary schools, and Waltham Forest College, along with a design document for streamlined prototyping processes.

Through background analysis, teacher and expert interviews, and multiple co-design workshops across three primary schools and Waltham Forest College, these objectives were fulfilled. The workshops consisted of students engaging in circular economy concepts using interactive cards to create sustainable solutions to problems within their school community and beyond. These workshops provided data that was analyzed and visualized using Gephi, and then referenced to draft prototype designs pertaining to each school’s needs and wants.

Best Practices for Nature-Based Education 

From our interviews with teachers and environmental education experts we concluded that five core categories must be addressed to develop successful practices for integrating nature-based education into a community. They are as follows: Co-Design Awareness and Practice, Community Engagement and Local Involvement, Sustainability, Circular Economy, and Green Skills, Pedagogical Strategies and Learning Effectiveness, and Demographics and Access to Learning.  

Prototype Concepts

Based on student’s ideas and feedback from teachers and environmental experts, the team developed customized designs for each school. Each prototype highlights ELWP’s values of circularity, inclusivity, and environmental awareness: The following artistic representations and scale drawings correspond to the findings from each school, offering a customized option for each of the schools visited. 

Gainsborough Primary School

Gainsborough Primary School’s prototype (figures 1 and 2)  includes a central water-filtration, play feature, using recycled materials, crushed concrete, and moss. The play feature is surrounded by a living wall and a butterfly garden using native British plants. 

Figure 1: A water-filtration play feature, surrounded by a living wall and butterfly garden.

Figure 2: To scale potential modular representation including play features with gardens

Kingsmead Primary School:

Kingsmead Primary School’s prototype (figures 3 and 4) includes raised garden beds containing native British flora. Each bed contains compost from the student’s lunches and are surrounded by a small silver birch forest, providing shade and space for rest and relaxation. 

Figure 3:Miniature birch forest with raised flower beds, filled with native plants.

Figure 4: To scale representation of a modular forest with raised flower beds

Daubeney Primary School:

Daubeney Primary School’s prototype (figures 5 and 6), highlights water filtration systems with two shallow ponds. The first pond contains native filtration plants and is connected to a splash area with fountains for sensory play.

Figure 5: Plant-filtered pond connected to play-focused shallows

Figure 6: To-scale layout example of a plant-filtered pond with swimming and splash areas

Waltham Forest College:

The Waltham Forest College prototype (figure 7) is a rainwater remediation site that also emphasizes studying and collaboration. The site incorporates absorptive measures such as high porosity concrete steps and bioswales. There is also a pump system incorporated into the site that will allow students in plumbing and other adjacent fields to monitor the quality of the water being filtered.

Figure 7: Rainwater remediation integrated with student well-being infrastructure Design Document

Along with the prototypes, a design document was written to outline the actions of the team over the course of the project, such that they can be easily followed and replicated by any future groups within ELWP or WPI. This document highlights any points of failure and proposes possible solutions that can be utilized in the future. The purpose of this document is to take this report and condense it into 2-3 pages for easier access for volunteers.