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Canada Water unveils new Asif Khan- designed pedestrian public
boardwalk
British Land and AustralianSuper, the joint venture partners behind the Canada Water masterplan, have unveiled a new Asif Khan-designed public architectural landmark. The 170m-long boardwalk is inspired by the history of the Surrey Docks and its role at the heart of the timber trade in the 19th and 20th centuries. Townshend Landscape
Architects designed a series of new steps down to the water’s edge with waterside seating alongside an educational dipping pond, transforming the area into a unique public space to bring people together to learn about the area’s heritage and ecology. Asif Khan said: ‘Crossing water
can give us powerful sensations. This boardwalk immerses us in a few moments of colour, of nature and of beauty. I want to evoke the crossing of time too. I hope this gives someone a chance to take a breath and look at things in a new way. In today’s world, I think this is more important than ever.’ The red timber structure allows people to traverse the dock by stepping from timber to timber,
following in the footsteps of the rafters who hopped between floating deal planks in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The boardwalk aims to enhance connectivity within the town centre, while providing visitors with a new way to experience nature without disturbing the environment. Gracefully weaving across the dock, the elevated structure floats on the water’s surface, offering unique views and bringing people down to experience nature up close. British Land’s joint head of
Canada Water, Emma Cariaga, commented: ‘Asif Khan is a world- class architectural talent and he has created a striking new centrepiece at Canada Dock that will be used every day by the local community.’ Through the creation of a series of islands and channels, Townshend, working in collaboration with the London Wildlife Trust, has created a new shoreline alongside a mosaic of different habitats that will maximise biodiversity. Three new wetland habitats have been created, alongside seven wetland islands, and over 1km of shallow edges. Reed
beds, new flowering plants and trees have been planted to attract dragonflies, butterflies, kingfishers and frogs, while providing ideal nesting habitats for ducks, swans and other birds.
Gary Alden, senior associate at
Townshend Landscape Architects, said: ‘At Canada Dock we had an incredible opportunity to reverse the ecological decline and create a space that improves the wildlife habitat and provides an environment where people and nature are better connected. By creating a mosaic of habitats it will help to sustain a more biodiverse community of birds, invertebrates and other wildlife.’ Over the next decade, the
53-acre Canada Water masterplan will deliver a new district for central London with around one million square feet of new retail, leisure and education amenities; up to two million square feet of workspace for 20,000 workers; between 2,000 and 4,000 new homes; all alongside a 3.5-acre public park, a town square, the first new high street in London for 100 years, and a new leisure centre.
asif-khan.com |
townshendla.com
BRENDAN BELL
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