Thames Barrier Park arose from an international competition win in collaboration with Groupe Signes and Arup. The 14-hectare park transformed a derelict brownfield site into a new public asset and became a significant factor in attracting new investment to London’s Royal Docks.
Every aspect of the park creates a contemporary cultural statement; from its urban form that seeks to link the park into the surrounding docklands, to the varied richness of its landscaped components and the design of its buildings, right down to the material palette.
It creates a series of settings for surrounding new developments to respond to, while providing a rich and inviting public space that initiates a new piece of the city, imbued with its own clear identity, linking to the river and industrial context. The high quality of the landscaping, materials and planting all contribute to the success of the park, fostering a strong feeling of pride in the community and enhancing wellbeing for locals and residents alike.
This project is clearly a park of its time and it is as much a three-dimensional architectural and planning composition as it is a piece of landscape.
The Observer Review
