Eric Reynolds has near-legendary status in the UK regeneration sector. Credited by one former government adviser as having “virtually invented regeneration”, Reynolds credits include the creation of Camden Lock Market, the revitalisation of the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, devising Gabriels’ Wharf, and breathing new life into Old Spitalfields Market.
Reynolds also created Container City™, the brand behind the arts community made out of former shipping containers that is located in Trinity Buoy Wharf in London’s Docklands. In an homage to Reynolds written for Regeneration & Renewal in 2009, former government adviser and director of Navigant Consulting Tim Williams said Camden Lock was “one of the most successful regeneration projects ever”. He added that Reynolds should be given a place in the “regeneration Hall of Fame – he virtually invented regeneration”.
Container City I, the first of the Container City™ projects was completed in five months in 2001, was originally three stories high and included 12 work studios across 445 square metres, but, due to high demand a fourth floor was added providing three residential/commercial units. An additional 22 studios on five floors were added to create Container City II in 2002 and the Riverside Building added in 2005. In total there are now over 65 Container City projects in the UK, plus one in New York, ranging from touring theatres and sports halls to cafes and broadcastings studios for the Olympic Park.
Mr. Reynolds has been responsible for reviving depressed, atmospheric places that many others would never consider tackling. One of the strategies adopted by his company – Urban Space Management, established in 1971 – is to acquire short-term leases, between four to ten years for each site, and then offer the space for rent to artists’ workshops, markets, retail shops, cafes, sports event organisers, and other community groups and corporates. One example of the success of this strategy is the Bishopsgate Goodsyard in London’s East End – it involved one of Europe’s oldest railway arches being transformed into a 2.6-hectare cavern containing a fruit orchard, swimming pool, football pitch, gallery, workshops, and event space.
One judge said Reynolds deserved the lifetime achievement award because he has always “rebelled against the system”. The judge added: “He does things the rest of the market won’t do – with Camden Lock Market, he had the vision to create a successful market in a place no one else would touch as they wouldn’t have had the vision.” The judge also said that Reynolds had “pioneered the meanwhile use approach to regeneration” which involves using buildings for short-term purposes.
Eric had this to say about the award:
"It certainly has been a lifetime but the 43 years that I have been engaged in regeneration have passed with the same speed as a long weekend.
Back at the beginning we of course did not know that what we were setting off to do was “regeneration” we just saw it as producing affordable and hopefully attractive places at low cost. The control of cost and the inclusion of sweat equity have meant that we have been able to be lighter on our feet and more flexible in our response both to opportunity and to challenge.
Looking back I can see that the range of activity has been quite wide including making churches in shopping centres, museums in cottages, theatres in industrial buildings, an opera house, swimming pools, shops, offices pubs, clubs , art galleries ,schools, a water wheel , markets, stations, a telephone exchange, a lighthouse, high and low streets, floating markets and stages, piers, tents and Olympic broadcast studios. All have been interesting and fun.
I have been lucky in my friends and supporters and in my optimistic almost everything is possible cast of mind. Thank you all very much"