More is LESS, More London

Presently i'm currently writing a report on More London. More London is located next to London Tower bridge in Pool of London area, Borough of Southwark. Its a new dynamic regeneration development going on in Southwark. The site used to be an international dock part of Hay's Wharf but over time it became abandon. Today, its one of the sucessful and popular promenade and an art destination along the Sothbank.

Its landscape was designed by Townshend Landscape architects. The landscape design has a simple and a bold characteristics in its finishes and arrangement of features.
It consist of The Scoop which is the focal point of More london, its a sunken amphitheatre that accomodates about 800 people. Alot of different free events takes place there such as art exhibitions, etc.


Other water features are:


- Computerised Water fountain:

- Water Benches

- The Rill

Only one material (limestone) is been used accross the site. This gives the site a distinctive strong feel for space and a high quality finish.

More London has these Full Stop public art by Fiona Banner displayed randomly around the site. Its amazing to see how people do interact with them.

In conclusion, Its a very successful project, with a well balanced used of material and public art. Everytime i'm on Site i get the sense of being in a Destination place and when i'm off, i know i'm off.

Landscape Is. Unique Planter @ Barbican Theatre

This isnt like every other planter that has a shrub in it.

What makes it unique?

Its got an ash tray attached to the planter. Its a unqiue and by far a better way of having ash trays rather than wall mounted ash trays which to me makes some buildings look unpretty.

Landscape Is. Curve Art "Next Time I'm Here, I'll Be There" by Hans Schabus

The Curve art was displayed in Barbican Theatre, London

CURVE ART

This is a comterpary art by Han Schabus which explores the intersection between architecture and sculpture. This exhibition is quite unique, it consist of 461 different types of chairs bolted to the 80m long semi-circular gallery known as the Curve.

This exhinbtion reminds me of the seating arrangement on an aeroplane as the plane flys sideways. Hans view of art is by shifting materials and forms from one context into another and by playing with it which expectly gives space.

" I create new space and fill in other spaces. For me, sculpture is the organisation of material within space" - Hans Schabus

I strongly agree with his coated statement above, because in the design world its all about how spaces are been arranged in other for it to fit into its surrounding context in order for a project to be successful.
Design doesn't necessary have to be on ground level but can be explored in "the Space above ground level"

Barbican Lakeside Terrace

Location of Lakeside Terrace, Barbican



Just behind Barbican Center is the central public court of the Barbican, Lakeside Terrace which features a cafe area and a wonderful landscape. It's called Lakeside terrace because it has a huge artificial lake which has various features.

There 3 main seating areas within the court. Below shows the Waterside Cafe.



This is another seating area that is made up of steel fix street furniture. Its arrangement is very different because its been arranged in such a way that it invites people to seat either a group of as an individual.The seats don't face the artificial lake but you get the hear the sound of the lake which feels very relaxing and has this sensual feeling to it. While i was there alone i didn't feel like i was isolated from the rest. I felt comfortable that is not too close or far from another person.


Jet Water Fountain




Water Fall into the lake

I found this cool because the water runs underneath the stairs of the surround residential blocks. This gives the residents a good feel when the walk on the stairs. this is very interesting!


The Residential Blocks and underneath is the artificial Lake



In the lake, there were this seating areas in it which looked like "Seating Nest". Its unfortunate that i wasn't able to seat in it because its a private space but i think it should be made public .
But the idea of having Seating Nest in the lake is awesome.




The Third Seating area which has very huge Timber planters displayed in a linear manner. With steel fixed green seating's with different forms.





The fixed steel seats


Another Feature with in the Lake

Yes!! the Lake had wildlife! that's awesome because it just makes it feel like a real feature for the users. Wildlife in lakes or ponds makes it even more beautiful.

In conclusion i love the landscape because it had various features as u walk along the lake; firstly as u walk you come across different seatings in different forms and the on the other side the features in the lake too changes until u get to the very end.

Its a good peaceful place to go to, shutting down the busy city's activities and then listening to the sound of water just makes one feel good.

Landscape is Richmond Park

Map of Richmond Park


Richmond Park is one of the largest Royal Park in London. It's so huge that i wasn't able to walk round the entire park. On a Sunday day like today, walking round the park was very interesting because within the park there were various landscapes to see such as woodland garden, grasslands, Hills and also ponds.






Cycle Paths running in the middle of the park is a very good idea because it allows cyclist to have a good view while cycling compared to other parks their cycle paths are on the edge of the park. Richmond Park does encourage cycling.




One of the Ponds




Wildlife in Park: Richmond Park has a huge impact on encouraging biodiversity and habitat for animals. Below are:

- Different Duck species in pond




- Grey Squirrel


Good Idea!!! Play Ground in a Park. This invites young people and teenagers to get engaged with the park more.






Furniture in Park:

Benches: I think the benches in park are a very bad investment because it looks very unkept. I still think they could made more effort in having very descent and more attractive street furniture.

Apart from its furniture within the park, i think this park is a very good place to be in on a sunny day today. It feels very relaxing and makes you to get engaged with other places within the park. I loved the ponds more!

Materials found in Southbank

This is a task of identifying materials and how they are put in place. I decided to walk along the Southbank i.e from Waterloo to Tate Modern. I found the could identify most as shown below:

Flame Textured grey granite
- standard size 600mm by 1200mm


Polish dark grey granite insert


Granite slabs with grooves and glass inserts. I think this was done by machine.



Granite Drainage slab


D.A.E fixed to the ground furniture.


Maintenance: Graffiti removal van used to clean off graffiti around the skate park in Waterloo.





Tate Modern street furniture

Precast concrete block with rubber bolted to the top.


Disadvantages of using rubber surface is shown below:

The rubber surface is worn out and its hard to replace, therefore for just a little tear the whole rubber needs to be changed..


Sandstone slabs


Sandstone Tactile Paving



This picture is just showing how the granite pavers are laid.
From this image the granite pavers is laid on a sand bed, followed by hardcore and finally on compacted Earth.


Manhole cover

Manhole cover made with its surround material - resin bond aggregate, so that it blends with in it surrounding streetscape so as not to odd. Good idea!!!


Stainless steel bin mounted on a concrete base


Herringbone Paving pattern with joints of 5mm


Clay Pavers of standard size




Stone square setts with a punched finish texture


LED lighting between the Stone setts


Brush steel pole signage with aluminium signs. Likely to be supplied by Wood house


Stone setts with a cropped finish. Joint with concrete mortar of about 10mm spacing.


Another type of Tactile paving with a different texture


It's amazing when one can identify materials used in landscapes. This little exercise of identifying materials used along the Southbank has made me understand how certain materials are used. I have walked along the Southbank several times but not for once did i notice that a lot of different materials is been use at least about every 5-10m there is a change in material.