London Places

The London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) was set up over 30 years ago to serve and look after the interests of Chinese businesses.

In September 2008, the LCCA, the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment and Westminster City Council launched the Chinatown Design Strategy to help transform Chinatown itself.

Suzannah Kwok, a consultant specialising in Chinese professional services, is the LCCA's vice President.

She told BBC London that the strategy featured a number of initiatives to enhance Chinatown. The LCCA is driving three of these. "The workshops ran by the Prince's Foundation has come up with some excellent initiatives and we now need to raise funds to effect them."

Cllr Robert Davis, Westminster City Council's Deputy Leader, said: "Although it clearly has its own distinct identity, these ambitious plans will help to make it become more authentic and reflect the cultural heritage of the local community."

Suzannah Kwok

The Cultural Centre

A new cultural centre aims to entertain and educate both Chinese and non-Chinese visitors to Chinatown.

"My Chinese history and culture isn't as good as some of my English friends," admits Suzannah, who was born in Bristol but whose parents are from Hong Kong.

Schools will be invited to the cultural centre, with the intention to make Chinatown a 'visitor experience' rather than just somewhere to get lunch or dinner.

"The plan is to work closely with the Chinese embassy to bring Chinese artists over and have art displays. We can also have mandarin lessons and workshops there. It will be a good base for people to come and do things," says Suzannah.

A building has been identified to house the cultural centre and, with the help of the Prince's Foundation and Westminster Council, it is hoped that work can begin shortly.

The Nine Dragons concept

Another idea that grew from the Prince's Foundation was to improve the visibility and sign-posting of Chinatown's entrances and exits.

The preferred solution is '9 Dragons.' The number nine has a special significance in China's cultural heritage: '9' being the largest single digit and considered auspicious.

Coincidentally, there are nine entrances and exits to Chinatown. Dragons are 'most potent symbol of good fortune in the Chinese pantheon.'

The plan, at the moment, is to have a wall of '9 Dragons' but there could also be nine separate dragons dotted around Chinatown. It's all in the hands of a feng shui expert, explains Suzannah.

"Part of the concept is to have nine dragons dotted around Chinatown and we are not sure if splitting them up, as well as having a wall, will help. The businesses might say: We have a Nine Dragon wall, then we've split them up, it might be unlucky for us."

The pagoda in Newport Place

The Pagoda

"We are looking at humanising Newport Place, where the Pagoda is," Suzannah says of the final major element of the Chinatown design strategy.

"We want to revamp the Pagoda and create an Imperial Palace Garden-type effect, having benches, more plants, more greenery and potentially a water feature."

The LCCA is working closely with partners such as Westminster City Council and corporate landlord Shaftesbury PLC to implement the Prince's Foundation design strategy.

Other plans include:

• A new Chinese Gate on Wardour St
• New paving on Wardour St
• Better lighting in Lisle Street
• Tube announcement at Leicester Square: 'Alight here for Chinatown'
• More alfresco dining in Chinatown

"The plan is to make this Chinatown one of the best Chinatowns outside of China," says Suzannah.

"I know that there were 'Save Chinatown' campaigns a few years ago but for all intents and purposes Westminster Council knows having Chinatown here is a good and positive thing. We bring a lot of business into Westminster and into London."

Embracing young and old

Without a vibrant community, there would be little point in the physical transformation of Chinatown. It is a point that Suzannah recognises, but which she is also equally optimistic.

"We've engaged some of the younger members of the Chinese community in London Chinatown; some of the BBCs [British-Born Chinese] have got involved. And it is positive because in order for Chinatown to move forward we need to embrace the younger generation coming through as well as respecting the elders."