A series of window displays that give the public the opportunity to have their say on the future development of the capital’s key financial centre, the City of London, have been installed in The Walbrook Building EC4.
In the new age of social media, a voice of many can be heard in a short space of time. NLA have installed a series of questions about the future development of the City in the windows of The Walbrook Building, asking the public to give their responses to questions such as what they like most about the City, what changes they’d like to see, and what their favourite public spaces are. Responses are being collated on Twitter using the hashtag #DevelopingCity.
Installed as part of an NLA exhibition – The Developing City – held in conjunction with the City of London at The Walbrook Building from 21 June to 9 September, the window displays aim to provoke the public’s thoughts and ideas about the City, They also help to celebrate the City by identifying its most loved elements and highlight the great architectural, historical and financial importance of this area.
The questions are already receiving some interesting responses, with one “What changes would you like to see in the City?” showing an overwhelming preference for more open space, with 75% of respondents picking this answer. Second choice was less traffic in the City with 13%, while more shops was at 8%, and more tall buildings at 5%.
Peter Murray, Director of the NLA, said,
"Do City workers love the City like New Yorkers love New York? Londoners are often less vocal than their transatlantic cousins but they can let us know through social media just what they think of the Square Mile. We also want to know what sort of things they'd like more of, whether it's more open spaces, more shops or more tall buildings. People don't generally have much of a say in these things – this gives them a voice."