Comments on: The landscape architecture of Parliament Square, Westminster, London UK

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:58:21 +0000

ps. Environmental (wind, light and water and green amenity) city modelling as an urban design tool will become increasingly important as cities densify and grow. See: Modeling the environmental impacts of urban land use and land cover change — a study in Merseyside, UK.
[ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6V91-4CJCWN4-1-1&_cdi=5885&_user=331728&_pii=S0169204604000830&_origin=&_coverDate=03%2F28%2F2005&_sk=999289997&view=c&wchp=dGLzVlb-zSkWl&md5=45a45709e800d4c7a0309b6d40b63a7c&ie=/sdarticle.pdf ]

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:51:02 +0000

The seasonal aspect of square design are top of mind at present due to the newly redesigned King George Square in Brisbane receiving considerable criticism about for not being climate responsive. [ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/students-to-tackle-lack-of-shade-in-brisbanes-king-george-square/story-e6freoof-1225830006430 ]

As a space it works well as a thoroughfare to connect areas of the city (through wider pedestrian and plaza areas, continuity of surfaces and finishes, changed orientation of the square and use of topography and grades) but is less desirable as a place to stay and experience.

These two aspects of design creating place and making connections would be important considerations, which potentially could reinforce the functional aspects of the square.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:00:04 +0000

I will look more carefully in future but my impression is that Parliament Square receives very little use except (1) on those few hot days when every greenspace in Central London is strewn with sunbathers (2) during political demonstrations – which are more often held in Trafalgar Square. The 1905 photograph is of the design shown on the old Ordnance Survey map, above, and looks to be a more useful space then the present traffic island.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:14:15 +0000

Yes, it is interesting also to watch each individual group for the duration of the clip. There seems to be a fair amount of sunbathing occurring. It is quite probable that in 1905 such activities would have been frowned upon. [ http://www.imagestate.com/Preview/PreviewPage.aspx?id=1345297&pricing=true&licenseType=RM ]

Aquitaine in Bordeaux has a pedestrianised Parliament square. [ http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1848/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1848-467222.jpg ] and [ http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/Image/1848/Thumb/1848-467215.jpg ]

A panorama of Parliament Square in London in winter suggests more peripheral pedestrian activity. [ http://www.starbase1.co.uk/galleries/Panoramic/London%20Panoramas/London%20Central/slides/parliament-square_en.html ]

Perhaps dining experiences on the square [ http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/reviews/roux-at-parliament-square-rics-parliament-square-london-sw1-1984395.html ] and the view from surrounding tour buses [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57A_5teEz38&feature=related ]are more important in this season?

Adam in winter the grass offers much needed visual contrast to the predominant ‘grey’.

By: Adam Hodge

Adam Hodge — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:32:49 +0000

The time lapse clip indicates that a lot of people enjoy sitting on the grass in social groups.Does this mean that paving the area throughout would kill off the ‘relaxed ‘ feel of the place that grass offers or would a great number of seats in social groups be necessary if the area was paved ?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:21:35 +0000

I agree about the role of traffic engineering – and I very much like the time lapse photography of Parliament Square.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:08:39 +0000

ps. A short timelapse of Parliament Square[ http://www.hdtimelapse.net/details.php?movie_id=240 ]

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:58:00 +0000

Of course the traffic solution will be an integral part of the design solution, but I don’t believe it should entirely dictate what the square should be.

Utzon, in designing the Opera House, proposed a solution that separated cars from people – cars below the podium and people above. I am not suggesting this is the solution, but rather that perhaps it would be best not to foreclose on the potential for a range of options which might be imagined to deal with traffic and the extent/limits of pedestrianisation.

A traffic engineer with a comprehensive understanding of the feeder systems to the area might be a good person to have at hand to consult with?

It would also be interesting to understand pedestrian movements between the key buildings in the precinct, and also the many ways the square is currently used and the shortest, longest and average stay of people in the square.

Tom, is the Square considered vulnerable to a Tsunami or is inundation in a Thames flood event (mitigated by the Thames Barrier) the biggest natural climate threat?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:08:34 +0000

Good idea. They should pave the whole of Parliament Square for pedestrians and then let motor vehicles drive on the ‘road’ sections as and when necessary. This could be on four sides in the rush hours, on three sides on other weekday times and on NO SIDES on weekends and public holidays. The traffic policy in front of Buckingham Palace (ie around the Victoria Fountain) is excellent but the design policy is wrong: it should be designed as a pedestrian space onto which vehicles can intrude from time to time (eg when a prince is being married, buried or crowned).

By: Adam Hodge

Adam Hodge — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:29:20 +0000

Would it be worth making the square less of an island in the mannner of Trafager square, merging it with the Abbey or New Palace yard . The Foutain wall suggested in commnent 5 could then be used to define the road perimeter.