Promenade of Light, London
- Client: London Borough of Islington
- Principal designer: Tonkin Liu
- Principal engineer: London Borough of Islington Traffic and Engineering Department
- Principal contractor: Gabriel Civil Engineering
- Contract value: £1.5 million
About the project
An underused grassed area once characterised this pedestrianised zone, orientating pedestrians along either busy Old Street or a narrow pavement in front of a parade of shops. What was needed was a public space where people would want to linger during the day, benefiting local businesses, and would enjoy walking through in the evening.
The design was the result of a competition organised by The Architecture Foundation and consultation with the public. Following collaboration between the council, design team and local community group, the grass and boundary walls were replaced with a generous central stone promenade and more trees were planted to supplement existing mature plane trees. Strong design features include a ring motif framing every tree and, of course, new lighting. Lamp columns with multi-directional spotlights provide theatrical effects such as the illumination of the tree canopy and planting.
Many more users now say they enjoy the space, and the project has attracted additional funding for a second phase.
The judges said: 'Streetscape design has transformed the pedestrian experience'.
