Lyric Square

A street turned into a square

The public square commissioned to GROSS.MAX. after winning a RIBA organized competition. was conceived to complement the refurbished Lyric Theatre by MICA (former Rick Mather Architects). The public square incorporates high quality limestone paving, iconic street lighting, a new fountain water feature, clipped lime trees and a grove of light canopy trees (Robinia pseudo acacia). The grove of trees redefines the proportions of the square and refers to the original Hammersmith Grove. It acts as a welcome soft spot in an area devoid of major green elements. The limestone paving is intersected by strips of ‘Irish Blue’ limestone.  A centre piece circle of black stone animated by water jets draws the eye and marks theatre entrance. A dynamic composition of three curved black granite lines visually connects the two halves of the square while suggesting movement. The public realm is animated by a variety of outdoor events, performances and cinema screenings.  The square is designed to host food markets. A cast iron inscription embedded in the paving refers to William Morris -the famous textile designer, craftsman, writer and socialist who lived on the nearby Thames waterfront.