Design process

The design brief was to provide a place where people could benefit from the restorative feelings associated with green areas in the city. The father and son team of Jacques and Peter Wirtz, from Belgium, was commissioned to design the park. The Wirtz site analysis suggested that there were no over-dominant views and axes in the park, except possibly from the underground station entrances, and out of this analysis a sinuous design form emerged, a strong feature when viewed from above.

The stone walls and the textures were two important elements in the designer's concept. The change in levels across the site of approximately 3m from north-east to south-west were exaggerated, using polystyrene to produce an interesting landform on which the curved walls and planted areas are located. Water was cautiously included, but was sited away from the station box.

The Wirtz design was passed to Canary Wharf Contractors Ltd to construct, and English Landscape Architects were commissioned as executive landscape architects to oversee the implementation of the scheme.

Willerby Landscapes Ltd. (WLL) advised Canary Wharf Contractors on the need to appoint a technical landscape architect, and to produce a full-scale, off-site, mock-up of the park in order to condense the design period. The park mock-up was constructed first, modified four times, and then the detailed technical drawings were produced.

The underground station beneath the park was in operation throughout the construction process. A critical mass/weight needed to be maintained to stop the station from rising with groundwater pressure.

Tree planting was carried out between September 2001 and June 2002. Most of the trees are still within their original containers, which is common in a development like Canary Wharf. All planting is serviced by an automatic irrigation system. All works, including CCTV bases, electrical ducts, water main diversions, acid dosing delivery system etc. were carried out by the landscape contractors.

The park was granted planning consent by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets after the normal period of public consultation. The selection and appointment of the landscape architects, Wirtz International, and the rest of the consultant team was the responsibility of the Canary Wharf Group's Business Development Group, in consultation with the company's Chief Executive.

The contractor was responsible for the initial 12 months maintenance. A comprehensive maintenance manual was compiled, and the on-going maintenance of the park is being carried out by Canary Wharf Management Ltd.