The Terrace Pocket Park
2017
The plan for this area was to reclaim a neglected patch of open land, characterised by low-quality vegetation, poor boundary treatments, and underutilised pedestrian routes, and to reimagine it as a welcoming, accessible, and attractive public space.
The design formalises existing desire lines and pedestrian shortcuts, enhances visibility and access from surrounding properties, and introduces flexible zones for seating, social interaction, and pop-up events.
The Terrace Pocket Park is located on the corner of Manor Royal Road and London Road and forms part of the wider Gateway 2 area in the south-western corner of the business district.
Gateway 3 (Red)
In order to properly announce the pocket park, the park is designed to be highly legible and inviting. This is achieved by introducing distinctive landmark elements, such as the raised lawn area, the seating walls, a bespoke piece of public art and the introduction of the table tennis activity which will all be visible from outside of the site.
The public artwork in centre of the park has been designed by Allen Scott Landscape Architects and is called “On Reflection”. It is a geometric piece that reflects some of the shapes of the elements found in the park itself ie the shape of the lawns, the angle of the paths and line of the walls.
The reflective surface allows people to view themselves in the artwork and captures the changing sunlight reflecting it back, while the blackboard on the back of the artwork invites people to write their thoughts and their own personal reflections on the artwork itself.
There is an old covenant on this patch of land that requires for it to remain in public ownership and to be used for recreational purposes and kept as public open space only.
Old maps of the area shows that there were once tennis courts nearby, so the introduction of the outdoor table tennis table is a nod to the past before the wider area become developed.
