Trailblazing park to get revamp
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
A park which blazed a trail for the redevelopment of a rundown area is set to get its first revamp
Bernie Spain Gardens was created in 1988 and named after one of the founders of a group of community activists who helped block a shopping centre development there in 1984.
But the clinical psychologist at the Maudsley Hospital died before she could see the area flourish – which it did thanks to the group, which became Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB).
One of the area’s lasting landmarks, the park named after her between Stamford Street and the Thames, began the process which has seen the area between Waterloo and Southwark Bridges transformed into one of the capital’s most important cultural hubs.
The park will be revamped in a design competition. Five landscape architects have been shortlisted to upgrade Bernie Spain Gardens.
They are Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape, J & L Gibbons, Kinnear Landscape Architects (KLA), Reynolds Design and West 8.
Four landscape practices were shortlisted from a list of nine. The fifth shortlisted entrant – Rachel Reynolds – is the winner of a graduate competition organised by CSCB and the London College of Garden Design and run in parallel with the wider competition.
The brief is to create a public open green space of high quality and sustainability and focuses on the northern section of the gardens between Upper Ground and the River Thames. It includes requirements to upgrade paths and lawns, introduce integrated irrigation, and create year-round horticultural interest with sensory planting that attracts wildlife.
CCTV, lighting, seating and new facilities for maintenance staff and gardening training programmes are also included.
During 2016 CSCB undertook consultation locally about its desire to improve the gardens – from the quality of the grass and planting to the relationship with its surroundings.
More than 250 people were involved and more than 700 comments gathered. The survey revealed that the gardens are highly valued, although a significant proportion – 42 per cent – of respondents felt that they were ‘beginning to show signs of wear and tear’. The northern part of the gardens – the area closest to the river – was highlighted as needing the most attention.
The selection panel, chaired by Paul Finch, programme director at World Architecture, comprises Sue Foster, Strategic Director, Neighbourhoods and Growth, London Borough of Lambeth, Rob Smith and Kfir Yefet, board members of CSCB, and Iain Tuckett and Alison Pinner, respectively group director and deputy group director of CSCB). The competition is being organised by Ted Inman, chairman of Jubilee Gardens Trust.
Mr Tuckett said: “From a very strong field the panel concluded unanimously that these practices had the best understanding of the complexities of the site. This included how to create a quiet space in a very busy area and how to meet the different needs of local residents, employees and many thousands of visitors. We look forward to seeing how the designs progress and to selecting a winner.”
Shortlisted competition entrants have attended a briefing session with soil and security specialists and cost consultants.
A midway guidance meeting will be held with each team during January. The practices will present their proposals at a public meeting on March 15, followed by an open exhibition on March 16 and 17 where users of the gardens and others will be able to feedback their views.
The panel will hold final interviews and select a winner in April.