Infrastructure and landscape

Thames Barrier Park by Patel Taylor and Allain Provost

The Thames Barrier Park in London was presented at the AT Awards live finals on 7 November 2022 at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to a jury comprising, Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Peter Bishop, Hanif Kara, Juliette Morgan, David Partridge, Simon Allford, and Chair Isabel Allen. Read about how the project has stood the test of time, below.

Completed
2000

The 14-hectare Thames Barrier Park, designed by Patel Taylor with Allain Provost, Alain Cousseran and Arup, transformed a derelict brownfield site into an inviting public space and has been a catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area.

Shortly after its completion, a neighbouring plot was sold to Barratt Homes who built one of the fastest-selling new housing developments in London at the time. Others followed, bringing more affordable housing, a primary school and new retail units to the area. The area around the park is now buzzing and full of life.

The park connects the surrounding neighbourhoods and the water, opening up key river views. Credit: Phil Riley

Open everyday, all year round, the park provides a wide range of amenities for residents and visitors alike. Picnic and children’s play areas, a basketball court, visitor pavilion and coffee shop, alongside 32 fountains, create a unique space cherished by the local community. A ‘Green Dock’, a 40-metre-long sunken garden, runs diagonally through the park, providing a wind[1]protected microclimate for a range of plants and wildlife. Planting has been chosen to display variety throughout the year and to create a welcoming habitat for insects and birds.

Detailing is simple and robust with materials chosen to give contrasting textures and ensure easy maintenance and durability. Two decades after its opening, the park remains a rich and inviting public space and has won five consecutive Green Flag Awards which celebrate ‘amazing spaces’ around the world.