Making the most of London’s limited space

Space is at a premium in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.  For a long time developers have struggled to make the most of London’s compacted infrastructure.  Creating space for accommodation is hard enough, but when demand for outdoor sport space is also at an all-time high how do you fit a 43-metre football pitch into a city centre?  

How about two or even three?

Of course, the answer is simple, you stack them.  London-based studio AL_A have released images of an outdoor pitch system that will allow three pitches to occupy the same space.  The concept behind the design is a pitch that can be easily erected at empty plots across London.  The system would then offer a lifespan ranging from just a few days to a year, meaning they could be used to fill sites awaiting development.

The modular system would comprise a lightweight carbon-fibre structure, able to stack five-a-side football pitches one on top of the other.  The light and flexible nature of the construction material would allow quick and easy installation, allowing them to be erected where needed.

There are a growing number of applications for carbon fibre in architecture, as researchers continue to investigate the lifespan of the lightweight and high-strength material.  It remains an expensive material, but its broadening uses are helping reduce the overall cost of the material.  If the potential of carbon fibre can become mass producible, it could spark a revolution in the construction industry.

Image copyright: AL_A www.ala.uk.com