Jubilee Gardens Belvedere Road, London Surrey England
Jubilee Gardens
Published: 15th July 2010
Jubilee Gardens
Jubilee Gardens was created in 1977 to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and sits at the heart of London’s cultural centre, South Bank. Its neighbours are the iconic British Airways London Eye, The Shell Centre and the River Thames.
At the moment Jubilee Gardens is a maintained grassed park but local community groups, businesses, statutory authorities and the South Bank Centre have joined forces to oversee its redevelopment. This project is being led by the Jubilee Gardens Steering Group.
The plan is to create a world-class park for everyone who lives in, works in and visits the area to enjoy. Whether you want to meet up with friends over a picnic, take a break during a daytrip, attend a free festival or cultural event or simply sunbathe, we want to create a park which you will love visiting.
The overall mission is to create a park which is as soft and green as is sustainable.
Need for Change
Jubilee Gardens was laid out as a riverside park to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
However, in the last decade the Gardens have deteriorated, largely as a result of the disruption caused by the construction of the Jubilee Line and of Hungerford Bridge.
The context in which the Gardens sit has also changed enormously since they were originally planned. There is a need to create an open space of world-class standard to serve those who live and work in Waterloo as well as visitors to the area. South Bank currently welcomes over 10 million visitors every year and this is predicted to rise significantly over the next decade.
Jubilee Gardens Steering Group
The Jubilee Gardens redevelopment is being led by a steering group which represents both local business and community interests. The group is co-ordinated by South Bank Employers’ Group.
The Steering Group was formed in January 2003 when the South Bank Centre, currently the leaseholder for Jubilee Gardens, agreed to work with local stakeholders to redevelop the site and to create an independent trust to manage its future.
The following organisations are represented on the steering group:
- British Airways London Eye
- Coin Street Community Builders
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
- Friends of Jubilee Gardens
- Government Office for London
- Greater London Authority
- London Borough of Lambeth
- London Development Agency
- Shell International
- Shirayama Corporation
- South Bank Centre
- South Bank Employers’ Group
- Waterloo Community Development Group
- Waterloo Community Regeneration Trust
- Waterloo Project Board
The primary objective of the steering group is to develop an outstanding design for the Gardens which meets the needs of the various stakeholder groups. The Steering Group has so far been successful in securing funding from the Waterloo Project Board, British Airways London Eye, South Bank Centre and London Development Agency. The aspiration of the Group is that that the Gardens should be managed and operated locally via a charitable trust.
West 8
West 8 has been announced as the winning design team picked to turn Jubilee Gardens into a world-class park. The four-way contest saw West 8 selected ahead of EDAW, Gross Max and Thomas Heatherwick by both the Jubilee Gardens Steering Group and the local community.West 8's design concept focuses heavily on developing an organic, lush and green park, with softly undulating hills. Trees and flowers will bloom throughout the year to provide a 'botanical ambience' for one of London's most important green spaces. The sophisticated surface of the concept creates paths which are fluid and inviting, prime lookout points which frame dramatic, panoramic views of the Thames, the London skyline and the South Bank, and intimate spaces where people can find their own space to relax and enjoy the micro-climate. At night, a theatrical spectacle of light will subtly animate and play with the new weaving landscape.The decision to select West 8 is underpinned by support from the local community. An innovative consultation process ensured that the local community was given the opportunity to meet each of the shortlisted design teams face to face and to evaluate their concepts. Participants then scored each of the teams against a range of criteria, considering how well they had met the design brief and their skills at interacting with the community. In the opinion of local people, West 8 excelled across the board. It is anticipated that the final design will be submitted to planning at the end of the year, following further in-depth consultation with all stakeholders including local residents, employees and businesses. |
Adriaan Geuze, partner of West 8 remarks:"We are delighted to be selected for such a vital and prestigious project. The scheme has been close to our hearts for some time now and we welcome the opportunity to realise the scheme alongside a strong and motivated design team. This will be a milestone in West 8's evolution, offering the chance to give physical form to our vision for a public space promoting intimacy, playfulness and exploration. We thank the people of Lambeth and the Steering Group for their support and look forward to contributing to this vibrant and growing neighbourhood of London." |
Source: www.jubileegardens.org.uk
www.jubileegardens.org.uk
www.jubileegardens.org.uk
