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there is no doubt many of london's pavements and their 'public realm' look very different to what they did five years ago. 'clean vs cluttered' is a book and exhibition that will highlight the narratives at work that argues streets should be clean, uncluttered and more recently; polished ('london streets paved with gold' metaphorically)

it is a study of every high street in the gla area that has been 'upgraded' within the last five years. the study will compile street by street the costs, interview where possible; the politicians, the engineers, the lobbyists and the workers and compile before and after images and drawings. specific case studies will be highlighted, including the western side of old street ec2, king street w6, the thames path in the corporation of london and brick lane. it is hoped that interviews and photographs wiil be undertaken where the new materials being laid have been extracted from and their journey documented from as far as china

moreover data will be compiled on the significant and growing industry of design guides and design manuals, with interviews with the specific site designers, the project commissioners and the opinion formers who influenced and argued for the re-paveding london's streets and pavements

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the project is being assisted by three masters students