CKV 2/3 PO

Public garden within office development
Chiswick Park
London (UK)
1999 - 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chiswick Park is a public garden within a major new office development near to central London. The approach to the landscape was to provide two clearly defined spaces: the 'inner garden' and the 'outer landscape'...

Public garden within office development
Chiswick Park, London (UK)
Plan: 'Inner garden' (left) and inclusion of inner garden in 'outer landscape' (right).

  

Public garden within office development
Chiswick Park, London (UK)
Impressions: Rocks are used as retaining elements (left). A lake is split into two levels with a waterfall at the center point of the 'inner garden', onto which the office buildings front (right).

  

Chiswick Park is a public garden within a major new office development near to central London. The approach to the landscape was to provide two clearly defined spaces: the 'inner garden' and the 'outer landscape'. The 'inner garden' is a highly designed, elevated space at the centre of the site onto which the buildings front. It makes reference to both Monet's paintings and to Chinese influences of the 19th century. It includes water lilies, a nymph, an arched timber bridge, a timber boardwalk, rocks, grass and conifer related trees.

The quality of the 'inner garden' is accentuated by natural materialisation and the use of warm, red colors. Rocks are used in the garden as retaining elements, architectural features and sculptural objects. The center point of the 'inner garden' is a large scale lake split into two levels with a waterfall. A timber boardwalk and bridge provide vantage points from which to view the garden.

In contrast, the 'outer landscape' is a simple and functional design that includes site boundaries, peripheral car parking and arterial corridors between the buildings. The principle character of this area is that of a park landscape with groups of large trees set into an articulated landscape of grass and paving. This soft landscape-feature forms an evergreen backdrop for the buildings. The function of this 'outer landscape' is to facilitate clear circulation for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. Planting at the boundaries of the site reacts to the larger surrounding cityscape.

Realization: 1999 - 2000
Credits: Adriaan Geuze, Nigel Sampey, Theo Reesink, Tyler Meyr, Jacco Stuy, Fritz Coetzee, Sabine Müller
Architects: Richard Rogers Partnership
Engineers: Ove Arup

http://www.enjoy-work.com/chiswick-park/index4.html