The architectural duo Edgy Collective and LINDA have been announced as the winners of the London Festival of Architecture's (LFA) competition to create a new public space on Camden High Street. The winning design will be implemented as part of an innovative trial to transform the busy London street into a pedestrian-friendly zone this fall.

The competition invited architects, designers, and artists to submit bold and creative concepts for reimagining Camden High Street as a vibrant public space. The initiative is supported by the London Borough of Camden, which is conducting an 18-month pedestrianization trial throughout this year and next. The project aims to enhance Camden's public realm while supporting local communities and creating a lasting positive impact for the area.

Although the specific details of the winning proposal have not yet been publicly disclosed, it was selected for its innovative interpretation of the competition's central theme of "square." According to competition organizers, the design shows exceptional potential to transform the high street into a vibrant, inclusive, and pedestrian-friendly public space that truly reflects the dynamic character of Camden's diverse community.

The winning team expressed their enthusiasm for the project, stating: "We're thrilled to get the chance to prove that sustainable design isn't a nice-to-have; it's the future of urban public space. Greener, wilder, more thoughtful streets aren't a dream – they're a design decision." Their vision emphasizes environmental sustainability and thoughtful urban planning as essential elements of modern city design.

LFA director Rosa Rogina praised the winning proposal, explaining what set it apart from other submissions. "What stood out about Edgy Collective and LINDA's proposal is how it reclaims one of London's busiest streets with intelligence, flair, and a real sensitivity to the spirit of Camden," she said. "From the bold use of the road itself as a social spine, to the clever adaptability of the planter structures, the design doesn't just create a square, it reshapes how public space can function in a layered, lively urban setting."

Camden High Street serves as a crucial connection between Camden Town underground station and Camden Lock, providing access to the popular Camden Market. Last summer, the council conducted public consultations on plans to pedestrianize the street, creating a new motor traffic-free zone. The competition specifically sought bold and creative proposals that would respond to the theme of "square" by reinterpreting the concept spatially, socially, or playfully to foster meaningful connections between people and the surrounding environment.

The competition process was structured in two phases to ensure thorough evaluation of proposals. Round one applications were assessed based on 60 percent team profile and 40 percent initial vision. Shortlisted teams each received a £1,000 honorarium to develop detailed design proposals during the contest's second round. This approach allowed participants to invest proper time and resources into creating comprehensive design solutions.

The winning design will now be developed through close collaboration with Camden Council. The project operates with a total budget of approximately £100,000, which includes a £12,500 design fee for the appointed team. This funding structure ensures that the winning designers can fully realize their vision while working within municipal budget constraints.

This announcement comes three years after NOOMA Studio won an earlier LFA competition for a creative £25,000 public realm installation in nearby Phoenix Road, Somers Town, in central London. The success of previous competitions demonstrates the ongoing commitment to improving London's public spaces through innovative design.

Edgy Collective, co-founded by Adrienne Lau, Daniella Levene, and Leila Taheri, operates as a multidisciplinary team that reimagines spaces with a deep commitment to place, community, and ecological consciousness. The collective blends design and communication expertise with public engagement and horticultural knowledge, creating work that spans rewilding installations, ecological community-building, food growing, and nature conservation initiatives.

For this project, Edgy Collective collaborates with Susanna Grant of LINDA, a leading garden designer and urban ecology consultant. Grant specializes in creating biodiverse, habitat-rich urban gardens, consistently placing plants and wildlife at the heart of her designs. Her design approach champions nature-first principles and promotes the creative reuse of materials to protect and enhance existing urban ecosystems, making her an ideal partner for this environmentally focused public space project.