URBAN REALM DESIGN |
Pudding Mill Lane Station Urban Realm | Crossrail
The Crossrail project required the demolition and re-building of the Pudding Mill Lane DLR station to make way for the tracks as they emerge from underground. The station’s passenger capacity was greatly increased as it is the closest public transport link to the London Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Park. The public realm project was comprised of three distinct, but linked, spatial typologies: a large hard paved forecourt to the front of the station; a linear park with footpaths and cycle tracks that links to the River Lea towpath and a ramped footway and cycle track that re-connects the Greenway. A lorry park, turning area and track access ramp also needed to be incorporated into the designs. A space under the viaduct was fenced and surfaced for potential future use as a sports or play space.
Crossrail appointed the public realm team at Urban Initiatives (now Urban Movement) to undertake a strategic urban design framework for the area surrounding the station. The framework guided the re-design of the DLR station, the design of a new station square and other masterplanning initiatives in the area. The framework was successfully reviewed by CABE and the design review panel of Newham Council. At the strategic level Urban Movement worked closely with the Newham Planning team to achieve a permanent route from the station to the River Lea, overcoming Crossrail’s initial reluctance as the route passes important and sensitive line wide infrastructure.
We also worked closely and effectively with the station architects, Western Williamson and Crossrail’s engineering teams over a three year period to oversee a successful submission to the local planning authority. The project is now (2017) nearing completion and is due to open in 2018, with the landscape elements of the public realm having a value upwards of £1.5 million.
The overall conceptual approach was to integrate the new infrastructure into the existing and emerging landscapes using a neutral but familiar local palette of materials with a series of flexible, linked landscape/spatial typologies. All the materials specified for the project: granite; brick; steel; concrete and timber were all being used locally.
The station forecourt was laid out in large-scale granite setts with a bold contrasting boundary detail where it meets the concrete slab footways of the adoptable public realm. Bespoke benches, made from untreated sustainable hardwoods, were fitted around the viaduct support columns to avoid placing additional ‘obstacles’ on the forecourt. Other benches were commissioned with brick bases matched to the local bridges and viaducts. Inclusive seats with backs and armrests occur throughout the public realm at regular intervals to provide opportunities to rest.
The footpaths and cycle routes were generously proportioned to relate to the scale of the post-industrial landscape and the new oversized architecture of the station and anticipated residential blocks and towers.
Our ambition to create an accessible and coherent public realm led to the complete redesign of the Greenway ramp from a series of 1:20 switchbacks to a simple and direct 1:12 ramp. This innovative design not only made the ramp more attractive and accessible but also saved Crossrail a considerable amount of money. An earth bank was placed on its south side to visually ‘fix’ it in the landscape by planting it with native trees and shrubs.
To minimise the impact on the local drainage systems, permeable surfaces were used for footpaths, cycle tracks, parking and turning areas. The forecourt space was drained to underground soak-aways via attenuation tanks.
Crossrail appointed the public realm team at Urban Initiatives (now Urban Movement) to undertake a strategic urban design framework for the area surrounding the station. The framework guided the re-design of the DLR station, the design of a new station square and other masterplanning initiatives in the area. The framework was successfully reviewed by CABE and the design review panel of Newham Council. At the strategic level Urban Movement worked closely with the Newham Planning team to achieve a permanent route from the station to the River Lea, overcoming Crossrail’s initial reluctance as the route passes important and sensitive line wide infrastructure.
We also worked closely and effectively with the station architects, Western Williamson and Crossrail’s engineering teams over a three year period to oversee a successful submission to the local planning authority. The project is now (2017) nearing completion and is due to open in 2018, with the landscape elements of the public realm having a value upwards of £1.5 million.
The overall conceptual approach was to integrate the new infrastructure into the existing and emerging landscapes using a neutral but familiar local palette of materials with a series of flexible, linked landscape/spatial typologies. All the materials specified for the project: granite; brick; steel; concrete and timber were all being used locally.
The station forecourt was laid out in large-scale granite setts with a bold contrasting boundary detail where it meets the concrete slab footways of the adoptable public realm. Bespoke benches, made from untreated sustainable hardwoods, were fitted around the viaduct support columns to avoid placing additional ‘obstacles’ on the forecourt. Other benches were commissioned with brick bases matched to the local bridges and viaducts. Inclusive seats with backs and armrests occur throughout the public realm at regular intervals to provide opportunities to rest.
The footpaths and cycle routes were generously proportioned to relate to the scale of the post-industrial landscape and the new oversized architecture of the station and anticipated residential blocks and towers.
Our ambition to create an accessible and coherent public realm led to the complete redesign of the Greenway ramp from a series of 1:20 switchbacks to a simple and direct 1:12 ramp. This innovative design not only made the ramp more attractive and accessible but also saved Crossrail a considerable amount of money. An earth bank was placed on its south side to visually ‘fix’ it in the landscape by planting it with native trees and shrubs.
To minimise the impact on the local drainage systems, permeable surfaces were used for footpaths, cycle tracks, parking and turning areas. The forecourt space was drained to underground soak-aways via attenuation tanks.
