gardens on hanover square reopen to public following transformation
The extensive redesign sees the square's original 300-year-old vista recovered to create a green oasis in the heart of London’s West End.
A view from the new orbital path, installed as part of the redesign of the gardens on Hanover Square. Photo by Publica
Opening today, 15th September 2021, the gardens are part of a wider transformation of Hanover Square, which heralds a new approach to the district’s historic townscape, its integration with new transport infrastructure and the restoration of a beautiful amenity space.
The project has been delivered by Westminster City Council to concept designs for the public realm by urban design consultant Publica and for the garden, by landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. The designs were developed by engineers and landscape architects WSP and delivered by FM Conway. Westminster City Council is the main funder for the project.
Commissioned by the council in 2016, the garden redesign is the first of a series of public realm improvements for the Square. Together, these improvements will transform the area and bring a revitalised setting for buildings, businesses, monuments and new public art, supporting the promotion of the wider West End as a retail environment, place to do business and area to visit. The remainder of the project will be unveiled once the new Elizabeth Line has been completed.
Landscaping and planting
The garden within Hanover Square has been redesigned in collaboration with Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and engineers WSP. Hanover Square was not originally laid out with a planted central garden, however the relation- ship between the trees and the townscape of the area has become very important. Trees were first planted along the east and west sides of the garden in the nineteenth century respecting the grand vista extending through the square north to Cavendish Square and south to St. George Street.
The principal aim of the landscaping scheme has been to recover this original 300-year-old vista which until recently had been occluded by trees, structures and other obstacles, and to reinvigorate and reimagine the gardens within the Square to create an oasis for the public amidst the bustle of the West End. There were several additional aims: the need to reflect the square’s new role as the first landscape destination for visitors to central London who will alight at the nearby Elizabeth Line station; the need to revitalise the central garden and precincts to reflect its heyday in the 1830s; and the need to make the statue of William Pitt the Younger, at the south end of the square, once again a conspicuous public monument.
The revitalisation of the square’s planting has been an important part of the refurbishment of the garden and its precinct. The boundary of the square’s garden has been replanted with a mixture of deciduous and broadleaf evergreen flowering shrubs, and large, long beds of herbaceous plants and shrubs have been formed along the outside edge of the perimeter path. Most of square’s mature trees have been retained, and new smaller flowering trees have been introduced to fill gaps in the boundary planting to supply seasonal interest and to enhance the feeling of enclosure within the gardens.
Garden paths
An important element of the redesign is the orbital path, which is designed to create a ‘place’ in the middle of the garden. Previously, there were two diagonal paths intersecting in the middle, which, when the Elizabeth Line arrived, would have become a cut-through for pedestrians walking to or from the station changing the nature of the gardens significantly.
This design enables the protection of the gardens as an important green space in the West End and mirrors the redesign of the pedestrian space and footway areas throughout Hanover Square outside the railings.
Railings
The historic characteristics of the square have been enhanced, with replicas of the early nineteenth century railings reinstated around the garden. A special section of ‘musical’ railings is to be incorporated at the east side of the gardens, extending children’s ability to play in the gardens and giving them an opportunity to engage directly with the history and townscape of the garden square. The railings have also been designed to support heritage lanterns and programmable festive lighting.
Water Feature
The water feature for Hanover Square Gardens provides a beautiful incident on the journey, rather than a central feature. Enhancing the experience of a green oasis, the sound of water adds to the sensory perception of the square, with the sound and sight of water being visible from both the main lawn and the orbital pathway. Crafted from Tarvos stone sections, to match the surrounding stone benches, the design sees a stone fountain that pours water into a pool beneath, creating an ambient sound while also reflecting light from the sun.
Projects ⋅ September 2021
See more
gardens on hanover square reopen to public following transformation
The extensive redesign sees the square's original 300-year-old vista recovered to create a green oasis in the heart of London’s West End.
A view from the new orbital path, installed as part of the redesign of the gardens on Hanover Square. Photo by Publica
Opening today, 15th September 2021, the gardens are part of a wider transformation of Hanover Square, which heralds a new approach to the district’s historic townscape, its integration with new transport infrastructure and the restoration of a beautiful amenity space.
The project has been delivered by Westminster City Council to concept designs for the public realm by urban design consultant Publica and for the garden, by landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. The designs were developed by engineers and landscape architects WSP and delivered by FM Conway. Westminster City Council is the main funder for the project.
Commissioned by the council in 2016, the garden redesign is the first of a series of public realm improvements for the Square. Together, these improvements will transform the area and bring a revitalised setting for buildings, businesses, monuments and new public art, supporting the promotion of the wider West End as a retail environment, place to do business and area to visit. The remainder of the project will be unveiled once the new Elizabeth Line has been completed.
Landscaping and planting
The garden within Hanover Square has been redesigned in collaboration with Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and engineers WSP. Hanover Square was not originally laid out with a planted central garden, however the relation- ship between the trees and the townscape of the area has become very important. Trees were first planted along the east and west sides of the garden in the nineteenth century respecting the grand vista extending through the square north to Cavendish Square and south to St. George Street.
The principal aim of the landscaping scheme has been to recover this original 300-year-old vista which until recently had been occluded by trees, structures and other obstacles, and to reinvigorate and reimagine the gardens within the Square to create an oasis for the public amidst the bustle of the West End. There were several additional aims: the need to reflect the square’s new role as the first landscape destination for visitors to central London who will alight at the nearby Elizabeth Line station; the need to revitalise the central garden and precincts to reflect its heyday in the 1830s; and the need to make the statue of William Pitt the Younger, at the south end of the square, once again a conspicuous public monument.
The revitalisation of the square’s planting has been an important part of the refurbishment of the garden and its precinct. The boundary of the square’s garden has been replanted with a mixture of deciduous and broadleaf evergreen flowering shrubs, and large, long beds of herbaceous plants and shrubs have been formed along the outside edge of the perimeter path. Most of square’s mature trees have been retained, and new smaller flowering trees have been introduced to fill gaps in the boundary planting to supply seasonal interest and to enhance the feeling of enclosure within the gardens.
Garden paths
An important element of the redesign is the orbital path, which is designed to create a ‘place’ in the middle of the garden. Previously, there were two diagonal paths intersecting in the middle, which, when the Elizabeth Line arrived, would have become a cut-through for pedestrians walking to or from the station changing the nature of the gardens significantly.
This design enables the protection of the gardens as an important green space in the West End and mirrors the redesign of the pedestrian space and footway areas throughout Hanover Square outside the railings.
Railings
The historic characteristics of the square have been enhanced, with replicas of the early nineteenth century railings reinstated around the garden. A special section of ‘musical’ railings is to be incorporated at the east side of the gardens, extending children’s ability to play in the gardens and giving them an opportunity to engage directly with the history and townscape of the garden square. The railings have also been designed to support heritage lanterns and programmable festive lighting.
Water Feature
The water feature for Hanover Square Gardens provides a beautiful incident on the journey, rather than a central feature. Enhancing the experience of a green oasis, the sound of water adds to the sensory perception of the square, with the sound and sight of water being visible from both the main lawn and the orbital pathway. Crafted from Tarvos stone sections, to match the surrounding stone benches, the design sees a stone fountain that pours water into a pool beneath, creating an ambient sound while also reflecting light from the sun.
Projects ⋅ September 2021
See more