Royal Victoria Square, Docklands.
Have been visiting Royal Victoria Square as part of our Streetlife module, where for an assignment we were tasked to select a completed regeneration project reflecting our aspirations for the Rotterdam site we in January. Completed in 2000, Edaw were commissioned by the London Development Agency to create a square that would act as a hub for future proposed developments and connect with other green spaces within the vicinity, such as Thames Barrier Park. The 1.6Ha square is larger than Trafalgar Square and acts as the new public plaza to London’s largest exhibition centre, The Excel. The square provides an attractive through route from Custom’s House DRL Station to the award winning footbridge, designed by Lifschutz Davidson, which links the northern dock to West Silvrton. The design is a contemporary interpretation of the area’s identity as a working industrial dock. A central deep-set lawn is framed by granite walkway’s with two large canopies forming a covered passageway to the main entrance of the exhibition centre. Water and lighting featues animate the plaza from the quartzite deck running through the main route and, to one side, a triangular set of trees defines the pedestrian route from the bridge to the station. Respecting the square’s historic features, the design incorporates a Grade II Listed warehouse that was originally at the head of the finger dock.
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