Shoreditch is defo the most creative area of London. From the art, to the business, many people get inspiration in the warm colors of this eastern part of London. Every time I chill in Shoreditch, I feel like reading a book. Every street is like a new page that I discover or rediscover every day. New graphs, new shops, new restaurants, new artists bringing their own touch to the area are budding every time. The charm the area and the people living there comes from this blend between creativity and the authenticity. But is this district going to stay as charming as it is during a long time? Every time you go out in Shoredicth you can see renovation and big constructions… the neighborhood is experimenting a hotel boom, in 2016 it will welcome 7 new huge hotels.
I’ve decided to talk to Rachel Munro-Peebles the co-chairman of the Shoreditch Community Association about all the changes happening in the area.
If you had to define Shoreditch in one word, what would it be?
Shoreditch.
Why?
Because there is no where else like it.
How did Shoreditch evolve those last 10 years?
Well I’ve been here for over 14 years and my husband about 18 years – I started coming here back in the mid 90’s – when it was true art in the real sense. It’s becoming gentrified… slowly but surely…Shoreditch began over 20years ago when Artists, Musician and Creative’s came to create something new untouched… and so it began!
What were the main changes according to you?
Now it is becoming like everyone else, a homogenization of Central London. Its become mainstream….
What about Shoreditch building boom? Do you think that it’s a chance of growth and development for the area or on the contrary it is a risk to lose everything that make the area attractive?
Of course which is why some of us, especially the SCA, and creative locals fight to protect it, but getting the larger developers and Hackney Council to understand this is super hard. One way we can protect it is by the streetscape, and design of the new buildings coming in…. does anyone listen, no not many…. It seems to be just about how much money they can charge per sq foot! I’m a small developer in the area, and even I realize the importance of retaining the retail at an affordable price, so creative start –ups can afford to launch their new unique businesses…. Without them we will look like any other area in London!
What do the people of Shoreditch think about those 7 new hotels that will be built in the two next years and this phenomenon that some called the “Canary Wharf-isation” of Shoreditch?
Well there are split views here, the SCA believe the Hotels like the Ace and Conan have had a fantastic positive effect on the area, and we hope the others will too. They support local produce; businesses, residents and they more importantly support local small start up businesses…giving them the chance to platform on a retail frontage… and this is what the area needs! Protect the unique and develop them!
When we look at the style of the hotel, they look really luxurious. Do you think it will coincide with Shoreditch underground spirit?
There is no underground spirit – if you mean the underground art scene that left years ago, there are some old schoolers here… but most have left! Bring them back, create space for them… let them hang there work in the Hotels, create the unique! The hotels are luxurious but this is a natural process – the gentrification of the area, we saw the artists, musicians, designers, tech crew etc etc… We saw it all, but now we need to protect it
A message of “hope” for Made In Shoreditch readers?
You create what you want here; as long as you are creating the area will always be unique! Seek it out and develop and protect it! We are!
