THE GREAT ST[INK]

by April Glasby

The Great St[ink] : Paper Pier aims to foster closer relationships between local people and immigrants, an issue highlighted in the demographic research conducted on the area. To do this the pier provides temporary accommodation for seasonal migrant crop pickers and encourages them to communicate with locals via a printed newspaper. To produce the newspaper, the pier provides space for the necessary industries (ink production, printing and paper recycling), as well as hydroponic soybean farming, which is turned into biodegradable ink. The pier creates a physical connection between land and water, and therefore between Essex and the migrant community. The ferry port connects the island via water to Gravesend, Tilbury and London. These connections are integral to the island’s operation and the pier, therefore, becomes a ‘high street’, which includes provision for shops, cafes and more, showcasing the materials, food and drink produced on the rest of the island.