Square designer chosen

Tuesday November 17, 2009

A team of architects has been chosen to design the new £1 million public square for Hammersmith following a public vote.

Scape Design Associates have been appointed as landscape architects for the new piazza, following a consultation in October.

More than 500 residents had their say on a variety of design ideas for the square and Scape was the clear favourite. The company was one of three design teams, short listed from an original list of six, to showcase their initial designs to residents who were asked to comment and vote for their favourite.

A design panel - which included local residents, internationally renowned architect John Thompson and Design for London - took the results of the public vote into account before announcing Scape as the winner.

The Scape design was a popular choice due to its provision of green space, an original water feature and the treatment of the reinstated steps leading up to the front of the historic town hall. Some residents expressed a desire for more grass and the initial proposals from Scape will be worked on following further workshops with local groups.

Councillor Mark Loveday, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Strategy, said: "Consultation is the key to getting this scheme right and I think the design panel and the people who attended the public consultation have made a wise choice.

"Now that we have a design team in place we can consult stakeholders further on the fine detail of the square and ensure the final proposals are something we can all be proud of."

The Square will open up views of the art deco façade of the original Town Hall and be the centrepiece of an ambitious regeneration project for the west end of King Street.

Scape will now work with Robert Townshend, the lead landscape architects on the wider scheme - which is set to include new shops, restaurants and offices - to ensure that the square complements the wider regeneration proposals.

Matthew Bonning-Snook of King Street Developments Ltd says: "After taking into account the comments from the general public, we're delighted to announce the appointment of Scape Design Associates as architects for the new public square in King Street.

"The design panel felt that Scape provided an innovative response to the design brief, and that their proposals will create a public square which is not only accessible to all and can be used for a variety of different activities, but will provide a suitably elegant setting for the Grade Two listed Town Hall."

The design competition for the public square was sparked after the council announced its intention to save taxpayers' cash and regenerate the west end of King Street by replacing the ugly town hall extension with a new building to the side of the original town hall. The move would allow the re-creation of the public square in front of the town hall.

King Street Developments is expected to hold further public events on the detailed design of the wider scheme in 2010 before bringing forward a planning application later that year. At that stage the council's formal consultation with residents would begin before the planning committee considered any proposals.