The Water Gardens, Hyde Park Estate, London

The Water Gardens is a 5000sqm Phillip Hicks iconic Brutalist 1960s semi-public communal courtyard podium deck, with a large shallow concrete pond, serving over 200 apartments. The podium deck was leaking and in urgent need of repair. Refolo landscape Architects' (R-LA) design restored and enhanced the original Brutalist layout with innovative contemporary solutions. These included new paving design; pedestrian priority roadway; bespoke seating inspired by Brutalist designs; contemporary jet water features; a large variety of drought-tolerant terrestrial planting providing interest and biodiversity; new aquatic shallow shelves with marginal vegetation; newly designed lighting across the site enhancing Brutalist features; reinstatement of the forgotten 60s self-sufficient tree irrigation; and new rainwater harvesting system for irrigation.

Overview

  • Project Name

    The Water Gardens, Hyde Park Estate, London

  • Location

    Central London, Hyde park Estate (Tyburnia)

  • Category

    Public realm

  • Landscape Architect

    RLA Ltd (Refolo Landscape Architects)

  • Client

    The Church Commissioners for England

  • Awards

    LI Awards 2020 Finalist - Excellence in Horticulture and Planting Design

Details

  • Project Team

    Lead designers: Refolo Landscape Architects Cristina Refolo - Founding Director Mark Burgess - Creative Strategy Director Client: The Church Commissioners for England Joanna Love, Commercial Manager James Parker, Project Manager Project Manager: Collier International. Dermot O'Brien, Director Bernice Maher, Associate Director Soil Specialist: Tim O'Hare Associates Tim O'Hare, Director Drainage Engineers: Cundall Paul De Vere, Associate Alastair, engineer Main Contractor: Makers William McCrimmon, Regional Construction Manager Michael Ling, Site Manager. Landscape Contractor: Bartholomew Landscaping Andy Coles, Director Andy Behan, Director Finn Chu, Directors Aquatic Landscape Contractor: Aquayoy Water Gardens Ltd Ian owen, Director

  • Year Completed

    2020

  • RLA Ltd (Refolo Landscape Architects)

    Profile

  • Approximate Map Location

    Location

    Central London, Hyde park Estate (Tyburnia)

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