Complex City: London's Changing Character

A collaboration with Allies and Morrison and Historic England, published by RIBA.

Year: 2020

Part story, part atlas - this is a study of a city’s complexity. The most successful, interesting and sought-after cities are those with an intrinsic and distinctive character that remain dynamic and relevant. They are complex and contradictory, and that is worth embracing. This is a visual, geographic and narrative journey that explains why London is the way it is today. Using stunning maps and artful imagery, it makes a compelling case for a finer grain understanding of density through a character-based approach to planning. Each character area is broken down, exploring the characteristics and character-based development potential. For design and planning professionals developing the key concept stages of a project, it’s a valuable reference tool to inform site analyses. For map lovers and those fascinated by London, it is a must-read.

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“London is a data-rich city, a plethora of publicly available datasets allowed us to analyse multiple spatial attributes. We worked closely with Allies and Morrison to create plans that communicate the messages behind the extensive research of London’s character.”

“From the watercourses to natural and artificial landscapes to the ancient core to the Roman routes outward to the Medieval roads. There are the pre-existing villages and towns that have come into London’s orbit. There are the legacies of the Georgians, the Victorians and the 20th Century, and the possibilities of today’s Opportunity Areas.”

— Allies and Morrison

Floor area ratio, in and out of Conservation Areas

“The main challenge for us was to create analytical plans that communicate complex information in a clear and captivating way. The end goal was to combine the technical aspect of GIS systems with graphic design which is the overlap of our passions. ”

Thames and its tributaries

This map from Complex City illustrates the dominance of the Thames and its tributaries over vast areas of London that are vulnerable to tidal surges,

Density of Roman roads

This map from our new book Complex City illustrates the relatively higher densities that exist on the roads first set down by the Romans into and out of the centre of London.

“The outcome is a book that includes an amazing body of research followed by captivating images. You can pick it up and read it in-depth or flip through the chapters that work as standalone parts as well as a complete story.”