Thames Barrier Park

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.