Could this be the look of a brave new Tottenham?

By Denise Roland Friday, August 10, 2012
7:00 AM

They may look like they’ve fallen out of the pages of a science fiction novel, but these bizarre buildings could help shape Tottenham’s future.

Oluwatumininu Jegede's proposal for a redesign of Tottenham police station

A team of architecture students have dreamed up ideas including construction of a high-rise farm in the middle of the Broadwater Farm estate, a community hub in the police station and a mentoring centre with a football pitch for a roof straddling Monument Way.

The Birmingham City University students spent a year focusing on Tottenham after last summer’s riots, with the brief of making the area a happier place, and came up with 11 proposals that are intended to boost residents’ wellbeing.

Dominic McKenzie, a visiting professor at the university who led the project with teaching partner Peter Morris, said: “We wondered how we could improve Tottenham through changes to the physical space.”

The students did research including visits to the area and interviews with residents.

Tom Critchell's proposal for a vertical farmers' market in the Broadwater Farm Estate.

One idea envisaged Broadwater Farm estate residents growing their own vegetables on a vertical farm constructed on unused space.

An exhibition to showcase the ideas opened last week, funded by ‘crowdsourcing’ – donations from the public. Professor McKenzie said there was scope for large-scale building projects to be funded in the same way after he raised £780 for the display in less than three weeks.

The exhibit, at the Bernie Grants Arts Centre in Town Hall Approach Road, South Tottenham, ends today.