Publica

DRAYCOTT AVENUE

Creating a sociable pedestrianised public space

Year

2021-5

Service

Urban Design

Client

Tribeca Holdings Ltd

Collaborators

NRP, Metis Consultants, Furnitubes, Central London Gardening Co.

Location

Draycott Avenue, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The redesign of Draycott Avenue began with a public realm strategy for the Brompton Cross Area, which sought to prioritise pedestrian activity and celebrate its independent businesses and creativity. At the centre of the vision was the transformation of Draycott Avenue.

Brompton Cross, 2016

Publica has worked in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Tribeca Holdings to deliver pedestrianisation and public realm improvements to the entire area. Engagement with residents and the area’s independent businesses was central to the design process, resulting in a design that supports local community activity.

Initial Concept Sketch

Draycott Avenue has been reimagined as a safer, more elegant and inviting destination that thrives as a versatile pedestrian thoroughfare, a welcoming place to spend time and a lively hub of commercial and social activity.

Draycott Avenue, 2021

Vision Drawing, 2022

Draycott Avenue, 2021

Vision Drawing, 2022

PUBLIC REALM TRANSFORMATION

Bespoke new benches, made from iriko timber, were designed in collaboration with Furnitubes. The seating is removable, allowing the space to flexibly adapt to street events, al fresco dining and everyday public use.

Photography by Edward Bishop

A new planting bed was introduced around an existing Italian Alder tree, installed by Central London Gardening Co, providing a natural buffer from Walton Street traffic. In addition, four new street trees were planted, including three Gleditsia triacanthos and a Celtis australis.

To prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, a section of the carriageway was closed to through traffic to Walton Street. The project has introduced 396 square metres of new pedestrian space – doubling the amount of pedestrian space that was originally there.

High-quality, natural materials define the character of the space. Yorkstone paving is accented by Grampian granite quarried from Moray, northeast of Scotland, which also forms the raised table connecting Draycott Avenue with Donne Place.