The new exhibition at the NLA is called Waterfront London - rediscovering the rivers and canals of the capital.
The exhibition has great models and interesting facts about the the Thames and other rivers around London. It shows examples of developments that have been carried out or will happen in the future along the riverfront.
One of the most important things that the exhibition brings to light is the importance of the Thames and riverfront as public open space and how today it is not as beautiful or active as it used to be. And that this is something that has huge potential and should be fulfilled.
As an landscape architect student this is interesting and great. I love the opportunity to work along any kind of water and the Thames is obviously a fantastic resource of water.
The challenge is today greater than ever, with increasing flooding and climate change to consider. The Thames barrier has over the last few years been used a lot more than thought when it was built in 1982 and we all know that the Thames barrier will not be enough for the future.
So future developments need to consider flooding and try to find solutions for this.
The other challenge is to protect the Thames for its biodiversity. It is the largest continuous natural habitat in greater London. The heavy rainfall and flooding is causing the sewer system to discharge into the Thames and the Lea river when it becomes overloaded to save properties. This has severe consequences for ecology.
Some of the developments that i am looking forward to is Battersea Reach, King Cross and Venture Xtreme Surf Centre.
Model of Buro Happold and Grant Associates bid for one of the Olympic sites. 
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