London Festival of Architecture City Parklets, LFA 2019 Exhibition, Public Realm UK
London Festival of Architecture City Parklets 2019
Square Mile Public Realm in the British Capital City: Urban Design England, UK
6 Jun 2019
London Festival of Architecture City Parklets in 2019
Archi-parky – City Parklets revealed for London Festival of Architecture 2019
Three city parklets – specially designed by London-based architects and designers to celebrate the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) – have been unveiled across key locations in the City of London’s historic Square Mile.
The miniature landscaped spaces are the result of a competition organised by the LFA in partnership with the City of London Corporation, and are intended both to showcase fresh design talent, and raise important questions about the boundaries between the individual and public realm within the city. Architects, designers and artists were invited to submit a design proposal for a bespoke public parklet that will transform an unused kerbside space into a place to rest, relax and admire the City – bringing additional life, greenery and well-designed pedestrian amenity to the City’s streets during the world’s largest annual architecture festival.
Over 90 teams responded, with the final three entrants selected by an expert jury including Simon Glynn (City Public Realm – City of London Corporation), Patrick Hegarty (Open Spaces – City of London Corporation), Giles Radford (Highways – City of London Corporation), Jennifer Dixon (EMEA Architecture Leader – AECOM) and Tamsie Thomson (director, London Festival of Architecture).
The new city parklets and their locations are as follows:
image courtesy of architects
Photos by Luke O’Donovan
The London Cablet by Fatkin
West Smithfield rotunda
As the era of fossil-fuelled transport draws to a close, what happens to our vehicles at the end of their useful lives and to the spaces they occupy in our cities? Fatkin has taken a decommissioned diesel black cab and peeled it open to reveal a public place for sitting, relaxing and playing. Hardy pollution-absorbing planting provides a habitat for pollinating insects and adds colour to the street. West Smithfield rotunda is part of Culture Mile, a major destination for culture and creativity in the north west of the Square Mile stretching from Farringdon to Moorgate.
Twitter: @fatkin_design
Pavement Art Gallery by
Patrick McEvoy
1 St Martins le Grand
Throughout London, York stone slabs form a canvas for pavement artists. These artists draw directly onto the pavement and their illustrations only exist for a short time. Presenting flagstones on a series of timber easels, The Pavement Art Gallery enables passers-by to create their very own pavement art using the chalk provided.
The gallery was made with the help of EWM Bespoke Interiors, EWIPro, Marshalls Paving, Solid Geometry Structural Engineers, University of Westminster and Prewett Bizley Architects.
Instagram: @pmcevoy
Rocks and Reeds by
PARTI
Billiter Street
Using London’s history as a marshland as inspiration, Rocks and Reeds mixes local landscape with ecological construction and playful, flamboyant architecture. Material taken from an adjacent demolition works has been reused to create a whimsical bench and planter, while a collection of tall grasses and wild flowers filter the air to tackle localised pollution caused from the construction site and a nearby road.
Rocks and Reeds was made with the help of Elizabeth Tyler, IOTA Garden and Keltbray.
Instagram: @parti.studio
Photos: Luke O’Donovan
With the support of the City of London, each of the winning teams was awarded a budget of £6,500 to create their ‘parklet’, which will be accessible to the public for the duration of the London Festival of Architecture and beyond, remaining in place until the end of September.
Tamsie Thomson, director of the London Festival of Architecture said:
“City Parklets not only showcases London’s talented pool of emerging and established architects, but also highlights often forgotten, and overlooked kerbside space as a key opportunity to address the City’s need for an increase in greenery and enhanced public realm. Each proposal has really delved deep into our 2019 theme of ‘boundaries’, creating a beautiful yet practical public space which will bring additional life to the Square Mile throughout the Festival.”
Alastair Moss, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, said:
“I’m delighted to see how these City parklets have used spaces creatively and considerately as we continue our efforts to improve the public realm across the Square Mile. In greening and re-using spaces previously occupied by vehicles, they will play a part in the City Corporation’s new Transport Strategy which highlights the importance of prioritising pedestrians.”
Location: 26 Store St, Fitzrovia, London WC1E 7BT, UK
London Festival of Architecture
Fresh Air Square, Tooley Street, Southeast London:
photo © Fresh Air Square, Tooley Street. Photography by Mediamixer, on behalf of Team London Bridge
London Festival of Architecture 2019
London Festival of Architecture Exhibition 2019
London Festival of Architecture graphic design competition
Twitter: @LFArchitecture
Instagram: @LondonFestivalofArchitecture
London Festival of Architecture
LFA Thessaly Road Railway Bridge Contest
LFA London Bridge Public Realm Competition Shortlist
London Bridge Public Realm Competition Shortlist News
London Festival of Architecture Dulwich Pavilion Shortlist
photo courtesy of LFA
Dulwich Pavilion 2019
image courtesy of LFA
London Festival of Architecture 2017
London Festival of Architecture Installations 2016
image from RIBA
London Festival of Architecture Installation in Clerkenwell
London Festival of Architecture Installation by Wilkinson Eyre
Festival of Architecture London
London Festival of Architecture
London Architecture
London Architecture Links – chronological list
Architecture Walking Tours London by e-architect
Coal Drops Yard
Architects: Heatherwick Studio
photo © Hufton+Crow
Coal Drops Yard
Bloomberg HQ London – 2018 Stirling Prize Winner
photo © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Bloomberg European Headquarters in London Building
Universal Works Store , Coal Drops Yard, London N1
Architects: Studio MUTT
photography : MUTT © FRENCH + TYE
Universal Works x Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross
Agar Grove Homes, Camden, North London
Architects: Hawkins\Brown
photograph © Jack Hobhouse
Agar Grove Homes
Comments / photos for the London Festival of Architecture City Parklets 2019 page welcome