ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich, England by OKRAMay 3rd, 2011 by Sumit Singhal
Cutty Sark Gardens is a place of international allure, where you can experience a part of history. This space desserves to be treated with intrigue with it’s prominent position along the Thames, adjacent to the Old Royal Naval College Grounds and nearby the historic towncentre of Greenwich, this place deserves to be treated with allure.
Cutty Sark Gardens will be transformed into a tidal square. ‘Tide’ implicates change, flexibility, time. By addressing Cutty Sark Gardens as a tidal square, it is able to react on its surroundings as well as different flows of people. A sequence of atmospheres is brought to life by extending the urban space, park and riverfront. This attaches the square to its context, providing identity and legibility. The central position of the Cutty Sark will be strengthened. The impressive tea-clipper will be a sculpture in between square and parkzone. A pleasant square provides both intimate and large scale, and has an ability to change. For example, an intimate space with waterelements in the surface can be tranformed into a paved area. By turning off water, people can move from one place to another. A vibrant and an intimate space is desired, providing a 24h, weekly and a seasonal rhythm. Cutty Sark Gardens will be better connected to its urban environment by optimizing the liaison between the sophisticated urban square around the Cutty Sark, the entrances at Greenwich Church Street and King William Walk, an optimized cyclist and pedestrian route along the river Thames and an improved connection to the Royal Naval College. Expressive, active facades along the square’s edges change the vitality of the urban space radically. Architecture should contribute to a perfect connection of the urban tissue and Cutty Sark Gardens. The built environment should be the square’s setting, a background for the ship. With the upcoming Olympic Games 2012, Cutty Sark Gardens should be durable and able to develop in time. This development starts as soon as possible, showing visitors the square is changing. The accent will be on temporary measures, as well on specific issues like entrances, safety and small programmatic interventions. During the Olympics, the square will be a green area with access for all. It accommodates different types of use, for different types of weather. A dynamic lighting scheme provides safety during evening and night. After the Olympic Games, Cutty Sark Gardens will change into ‘destination Cutty Sark Gardens’. Paved areas transform into permanent green areas. Extra attention will be paid to linkages to adjacent spaces, extra cycling facilities, creating different types of sub-spaces. Contact OKRA and OKRA
Category: Garden |