Potters Fields Park

A Park with a View

London has a legacy of oversized and understated historic parks but -until recently- lacked appetite for contemporary urban spaces. A change in political and cultural climate at the start of the 20th century changed the deadlock and resulted in a remarkable -though temporary- urban renaissance. In 2002 then London’s mayor Ken Livingston and his special urban advisor Richard Rogers announced a programme of 100 new public spaces prior to the successful London Olympics bid. The aim was to create or update 100 of London’s public spaces. GROSS. MAX. contributed to several spaces including Potters Field Park. The park is located adjacent to the Foster + Partners designed (then) Greater London Authority building. The park has a unique riverfront location with open views across the Thames towards some of London most iconic historic monuments such as the Tower bridge, the Tower of London and the ever-changing skyline of the City of London beyond. The park complements the More London development. One of the most challenging aspects of the regeneration of potters Field Park was to reconcile different user groups such as residents, workers, visitors and tourist on a relatively small and intensely used space. The name Potters Field originated around the time of the brief flourishing of the English Delftware in the area during the 17th century. Details of pottery found on site informed the design such as the decorative cast iron entrance and park bench. The design of the park consists of an intimate neighbourhood park facing the residential areas and gradually opening towards the river with a lawn for events and a series of stepped terraces. The neighbourhood park has been planted with a spectacular variety of herbaceous plants and grasses designed by world renowned plantsman Piet Oudolf of the Netherlands.  Hedges,  Path and walkways bisect the plantings in a jagged, dynamic way, allowing visitors an up-close view  in an intimate setting. The park contains two pavilions of stacked horizontal timber designed by DSDHA Architects. One of the accomplishments was to establish a trust to manage the park.