Streetfilms voyaged across the pond to visit some of London’s
innovative transportation and public realm projects. We interviewed
Paul Harper, a head urban designer at Design for London, who was in charge of the 100 Public Spaces Programme.

The 100 Public Spaces Programme improved the public realm of London
through streetscaping, transportation and public space planning. In
this interview, we take a special look at—and a visionary zoom
around—Aldgate, a neighborhood in East London undergoing considerable
change, including an inclusive transformation from car-dominated
streets to a large public park.

Design for London is now part of the London Development Agency’s
Design, Development and Environment Directorate. The 100 Public Spaces
Programme has transformed into new public space initiatives
under the current mayor, Boris Johnson, with a focus on the legacy of
the Olympics site in East London. The Aldgate neighborhood’s public
realm continues to become more people friendly with transportation
planning and parks.