Union Park North

‘Disposed in a fine taste of picturesque scenery’

The northerly extension of Union Park was awarded to GROSS. MAX after an invited competition organised by Quintain. The commission followed our earlier work on nearby Olympic Way. The realization that Repton -famous for his Red Books of before and after perspectives- was the original designer of a ‘forgotten landscape’ at Wembley Park added interest and intrigue. Inspired by Repton we proposed a restraint landscape of meadows, lake and carefully placed groups (exotic) temperate trees on lawn.  A nineteenth century description of Wembley Park reads: ”a mass of wild flowers growing on the banks of a stream flowing through the park, with dragonflies darting over the water and then vanishing into deep shades of the plantations’ This blissful state can now be re-experienced in our contemporary  park though visitors may have the faintest knowledge of the past history of the place and the scenes of enchantment which these acres once presented. The flow of movement and circulation integrates the park into its wider urban context. The landscape responds positively to the challenge of climate change and creates a dynamic setting for contemporary urban living - a celebration of both culture and biodiversity. The Park is framed by semi mature tree planting and swathes of herbaceous, perennial, wildflower and aquatic planting which add to the biodiversity and natural qualities of the park. The lake, with its island of swamp cypress trees, is part of the sustainable urban drainage of the new urban quarter.