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Within landscape, an edge can often be hard to define, but boundaries have played an essential role in the development of Britain for centuries. Described by W. G. Hoskins as among ‘the most ancient features in the English landscape’,1 hedgerows, fences, holloways and roads are a common sight, but overlaid onto these are myriad invisible delineations that may hold more importance in modern society than the physical borders they derive from. As future landscapes are increasingly catalogued within digital planes, we question the role and interpretation of tradition and ritual. In our current climate crisis and with escalating pressures for development, will designations like the greenbelt, common land and areas of outstanding natural beauty need to adapt as we move into an increasingly uncertain future? This year Design Studio 8 situated itself on the edge. By immersing ourselves in the discovery of physical and invisible boundaries through active observation and interaction, we considered how these edges may shift and define the landscapes of our future. Initially, we ventured to the outer edges of the Thames Estuary, exploring the stretch of the Thames from Canvey Island to Leigh-on-Sea and Southend. These landscapes, once home to many commercial industries, are now characterised by conflicting uses. We questioned how, in a landscape of constantly shifting tides, fragile margins and blurred edges, these spaces may react to future environmental change or developmental pressures. Term one fostered an environment of practice-based research,
encouraging immersion and on-site experimentation. We then expanded these initial explorations into larger landscape propositions that challenged boundaries and transitioning environments. Design Studio 8 encourages an environment of collaboration while fostering individuality in each design approach. We seek to challenge conventions – of drawing, making, planning and designing – rewriting the rules and developing processes and ways of working that reflect and confront the complexity of our industry. Our studio ethos is underpinned by innovation and creativity, acknowledging the importance of the unexpected, embracing accidents and developing the ability to design through a process-driven approach.