Retro-fitting nature into London in Exchange Square — LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA

The DSDHA team behind Exchange Square in London says its aim was to create a landscape that nurtures both plants and people while “retrofitting nature into the heart of the city.”

DSDHA were the architects, urban designers and landscape architects for the public realm framework of the square, a new public park for London, suspended above the tracks of Liverpool Street Station.

The 6,000 square-metre development, due for completion later this year, has already won a Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2021 award.

Exchange Square is a culmination of DSDHA’s Broadgate Public Realm Framework Plan for British Land, which “demonstrated the crucial role the public realm can play in establishing a new identity for a site- from an office-led campus to a truly mixed-use, creative environment with a broader mix of uses.”

“Fundamental to its success will be breaking down perceived barriers to surrounding areas of the city, and to encourage a more diverse group of people to use the public spaces through new planting, seating, lighting, high-quality materials, and more opportunities for temporary uses and events.”

The DSDHA team says the aim was to retrofit nature into the heart of London.

DSDHA collaborated with FFLO landscape architects to add 14,000 plants and more than 140 species to the square, creating a four fold increase in planting and enhancing the biodiversity of the area. 25% of the park is green space accessible to everyone.

“A strategy of ‘awesome’ planting is proposed that will offer seasonal variety and an ever-changing sensory experience that ensures the park will never be the same place twice,” say the designers.

Another aim of the project was to increase biodiversity in the area.

Exchange Square is now one of London’s largest green public squares, offering a, “unique place in the city where nature and culture are in balance.”

“Our ambition for this park was to create a landscape that nurtures both plants and people - retrofitting nature into the heart of the city,” say DSDHA. “By creating a new outdoor area filled with green space, it allows visitors to find a tranquil place within a busy capital.”

The designers hope the planting will offer seasonal variety and an ever-changing sensory experience.

Curved benches and groupings of chairs allow for outdoor working, while a waterfall and meandering pathways blend nature and urban, offering accessible relaxation opportunities in the heart of Broadgate. An amphitheatre made from terrazzo stone sits at the centre of the square.

“Bringing nature and wellbeing to the fore, in balance with technology, we have designed an informal open-air space in which to, meet, celebrate, work and relax surrounded by greenery,” say DSDHA. “It will foster creativity and conviviality and welcome new audiences.”