Thames Barrier Park
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Thames Barrier Park
Martin Charles Download Original
Formation of a new landscaped park, including the construction of a pavilion building, associated structures, services and hard and soft landscaped areas on the River Thames, next to the Thames Barrier
In 1995, an international two-stage competition was staged for which the brief was very loose: reclamation of the derelict and toxic land, a park and residential development. The site previously housed a chemical and dye works, an armaments factory and a tarmac plant.
The design was for a simple, square-shaped grass plateau fronting the Thames, with housing development on three sides. Most of this square plateau is mown grassland, but it is marked by patterns of long meadow grass and copses of birch trees.
The entrance to park and green dock is marked by a piazza, paved in silver-grey granite (with lines of black granite), from which rise 32 pavement fountains.
This piazza is contained within the open northern end of the dry dock and is set within in situ concrete walls. The materials are simple: in situ concrete, robust balustrades, stainless wire fences, gravel and timber decking.
The dock ends at an open pavilion on the riverside walk. Approach is through a narrow ramped slot in concrete set in the wave mound. The pavilion consists of 23 irregularly spaced steel columns supporting a slatted timber roof with a large circular hole.
Data
- Begun: Aug 1998
- Completed: Oct 2001
- Floor area: 94,000m2
- Sectors: Landscape design, Public realm, Master-planning
- Total cost: £8.1M
- Tender date: Oct 1997
- Procurement: GC/WORKS/1 Conditions of Contract, Third edition 1989
- Address: Thames Barrier Park, London, E16 2HP, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Patel Taylor, Groupe Signes
- Client: London Development Agency
- Structural engineer: Arup
- Quantity surveyor: Tweeds
- Main contractor: May Gurney
Suppliers
- Timber decking/ bridges: Aldersbrook Constrcution
- Balustrades: D & B Dake
- Park furniture/ lighting: Woodhouse UK
- Iroko timber: Brooks Brothers
- Balau timber decking: Sneek Timber
- Paving/ granite: AT Knot