"The decision to distinguish clearly between triangular meadows and beds on one side, and kidney-shape planting with well-oriented, curved seating on the opposite side, only adds to the design integrity."
"The hatched surface of the central ‘square’ suddenly reveals itself as a reference to the axis of Caledonian Road, overlayed with the axis of Piper Close"
Michael Asselmeyer, Principal Urban Designer, LB Islington
Arsenal Regeneration - Greenspace
Client and Partners: London Borough of Islington, Arsenal Regeneration Team, Newlon Housing and Hyde Housing Association
Size: 1900sqm urban park
Current Stage: On site, completion date Spring 2008
Cost: Estimated £500,000
The design of this open space project was first conceived of in late 2003, when civic, in collaboration with artist Nayan Kulkarni, developed ideas for two new public realm projects as part of the Arsenal Football Club’s urban regeneration project in North London. The two projects are physically linked: a Homezone in Piper Close; and an open green-space at the site known as Lough Road West.
The design team was commissioned by London Borough of Islington’s Sarah Ebanja (former Senior Corporate Advisor), then working with arts organisation METAL investigating how arts-led projects could impact on the cultural and social regeneration of the wider Arsenal regeneration project.
Piper Close had long since been blocked off as a highway, so we immediately looked at solutions to replace an informal ‘kickabout’ play area within a homezone, and in doing so developed concept designs for an openly accessible greenspace at the Western end of Piper Close. The greenspace project is the first of the two projects to have started on-site and is due for completion in Spring 2008.
above: Aerial overview
left: Site photo of completed space
above (top): bird's eye view looking towards Calidonian Road
above (bottom): eye level view of completed space from the Piper Close homezone