Aldgate Public Realm
The radical remodelling Aldgate gyratory into a pedestrian-friendly, healthier urban environment
London, UK
The complete redesign of the busy Aldgate gyratory into a traffic-free, pedestrian-friendly public realm. At the centre of this regeneration project sits a large square and newly expanded churchyard gardens.
The £23m redevelopment of Aldgate Public Realm for The City of London Corporation took over seven years to complete and involved re-routing the existing gyratory to create one of the largest open spaces in the Square Mile.
The busy roads have been replaced with pedestrian-friendly streets and a central main square where people can convene, relax and socialise. The square is the centrepiece of the scheme and unites two heritage-listed buildings: Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School and the St Botolph without Aldgate Church. The square is centred around a new pavilion, which will become a central meeting point, and comprises a large lawn with seating opportunities and a water feature, which will ensure the space is used all year round.
The churchyard gardens have been enlarged to sensitively realign the setting of the church, bringing the focus back to the historic building and re-establishing its presence within Portsoken. The gardens are richly detailed with lush, high-quality planting and provide a secluded and tranquil space for relaxation and contemplation.
The completion of the square has significantly improved the area's appearance and the air quality within this part of London, signalling the importance of investing in high-quality public realms.
Award
Year
New London Architecture Award: Transport and Infrastructure: Highly Commended
2015
National Urban Design Award
2018
Civic Trust - Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design - Commendation
2019
Civic Trust Award
2019
NLA Wellbeing Award
2019
Project details
Title
Aldgate Public Realm
Client
City of London
Status
Complete
Project team
Gillespies and Make Architects
Gillespies team
Stephen Richards, Oliver Duguid
Photography
Gillespies and John Sturrock
