THE CONVERSATION: Don’t give up on ambitious green architecture – despite London’s Garden Bridge folly

Description

London’s proposed “Garden Bridge” is no more. After years of controversy, the city’s mayor has finally sunk the idea into the Thames.

The notion of a bridge covered in plants and trees spanning the river did have some merit. But it needed to be in the right place, with the right design, and the project needed to generate support from local Londoners. Thomas Heatherwick’s proposal appeared to lack awareness of this.

Nonetheless, the Garden Bridge’s failure shouldn’t be an excuse to rein in our ambitions. In order to deliver more innovative urban greening in London and beyond, there remains value in thinking bigger, bolder and greener.