The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'Peninsula' as "A piece of land that is almost an island, being nearly surrounded by water", hence the title of this project.
I had coffee with a friend who lives on the Peninsula last week. He told me that the 'Pen' bit comes from 'penumbra' meaning 'a partial shadow', the 'insula' means 'island'.
I'm wondering if other people find the meanings held in words less exciting than I do! I love the idea of a place being 'almost an island', able to hold the positive and negative elements associated with islands; and also the connection with a shadow, again something that has positive and negative connotations.
Walking around the West side of the Peninsula with Aoife today I was struck again by the contrast of that industrial landscape with the towers of Canary Wharf just across the water, and with the neat plastic models of what the East side of the Peninsula will become over the coming years. There is something magical about the Peninsula, I think - which is to do with the contrasts, with the light and with the fact it is nearly surrounded by water. I am looking forward to working there over the next couple of months.
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