Gensler’s design, called the London River Park picked up awards earlier this month for Best Conceptual Project and the Planning Excellence Award handed out by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Spearheaded by Gensler’s London office, the Park was conceived it as a part of the 2012 London Olympic Games events. According to Gensler’s press release, the park will be a “theatre for a programme of changeable events, gardens, and educational features”.
The Park would be situated on the north side of the Thames and would be the first continuous riverwalk between Blackfriar’s Bridge and London Bridge. The walk would feature six floating pavilions to host a number of cultural and education events including plans for “Sustainability” and “Culture” islands.
Hopes are high for the project, described by London Mayor Boris Johnson as a “fantastic catalyst for rejuvenating the Thames as a major transport artery”. Mayor Johnson went on to say he has “no doubt that (the London River Park) could become one of the capital’s most popular attractions”.
Chris Johnson, managing principle of their London office said of the project that “in heavily built cities, the requirement for open space provision needs to be addressed seriously and why not creatively? As active players within the construction industry, it is our responsibility to show and drive the commitment to improve the quality of life in London. The London River Park will attract significant inward investment to the City and leave a lasting legacy of improvements to the river for future generations to enjoy.”
The Park’s mile long floating structure combines flexibility with longevity. Although its planned to coincide with the 2012 festivities, the pavilion configuration allows for a continuously evolving public space to be utilized even after the Olympics leave town. And although the Park is intended to put to rejuvenate the least used river stretch is central London, Gensler designed it so when needed the Park could be detached and floated on the river to be used where desired.
