Title: | Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-sea, UK |
Markets: | Public Realm, Parks and Green Spaces |
Client: | Southend-on-sea Borough Council |
Services: | Landscape architecture |
Region: | United Kingdom |
Status: | 2012 |
The regeneration of Warrior Square Gardens marks an important milestone in the revival of Southend. Proving popular with the public since the redesign, the gardens offer a vibrant green space in what had previously been a neglected Victorian square.
Gillespies has been true to the components of a traditional garden square by establishing a clear threshold around a retained open central lawn. The replacement of the old overgrown borders with a multi‑functional frame around the gardens marks the extent of this green space, offering a new expansive entrance square, an elevated limewalk along the northern edge of the gardens with long feature benches and a floral walk to the south. The gardens retain a sense of detachment from the surrounding urban environment, whilst updating its use and appeal for modern lifestyles.
The new layout is carefully structured around some of the finest trees in Southend, with perimeter walks and views celebrating the dominant line of original lime trees as well as majestic Pine and Cedar trees. In the true spirit of Southend’s heyday, residents and tourists to the town now have an invitation to walk in the middle of a traditional English floral border, stroll along the limewalk beneath a canopy of majestic Lime trees and picnic on the lawn.
Awards
- 2012 Civic Trust Awards: Commendation