22nd October 2008
Thames Barrier ParkWhich was built in 1991 by London Docklands Developement agency, before the developement the area was a disused brownfeild site and there were no residents within a 1\2 mile radius. The park seems enormous ad when we went there were barely any people using it at all, which enhanced scale and size of the park. The main feature of the park is the dry dock, with yew hedging shaped and sculpted into wave shapes to reflect the movement of the water when the dock was in use. The use of yew was interesting, presumably chosen for the fact that it is easily shaped, traditionally used in historic landscaping.
A family walking down the dry dock in the park. Other features of the park included a memorial, some fountains and a childrens play area. The park is easily accessed by the Docklands light railway which is also used by residents living in the many apartments surrounding the park. These properties front straight on to the park with views directly across the park from the west looking east towards thames barrier. The park is quite a way from the centre of London and seems to have a strange relationship to the city. I couldn't decide wether it was meant to be an escape from city life or a link between the park and the city; i got the impression that whatever the intensions the park is not close enough to the city to be well used, people seem to come especially to the park, either to visit or as residents, which limits the parks clientel severely. the materials used in the park were interesting- there seemed to be a mix of expensive materials and cheaper materials, for example the use of granite next to concrete seating, or meadow land. one thing i did notice was signs attached to the wire fencing informing people that the steel was galvinised rather than stainless, and there for not worth stealing. i found the memorial a really nice feature to the park, a shelter with a hole in the roof, with beautiful veiws across the Thames and onto the Thames barrier. It was an elegant structure and served well as a sort of contemplative space, with simple seating and wooden board underfoot.
The memorial with Thames barrier in the background.
The fountains at the opposite end of the dry dock to the memorial were a disapointment and apparently have been a disapiontment for the last two years, the area looks just like a manky old bit of concrete and even when we visited had a bit of tape and a cone to try to dissuade people from walking on it. The fountains were originally meant to shoot up jets of water from the pavement level, but have been out of action with no repairs being done on them. i enjoyed the visit to the park and do actually like the park but it is not very well used at the moment.
