Natural Stone Awards win for Elephant Springs

Elephant Springs, the stunning centrepiece of Elephant Park, has won the Best Use of Stone in the Landscape (Commercial & Public Realm) category at the 2022 Natural Stone Awards.

This 420m² water playscape, a jewel in Lendlease and Southwark Council's £2.5 billion revitalisation of Elephant and Castle, is celebrated for its innovative use of vibrant Prima Porphyry stone.

Hardscape sourced 300 tonnes of this beautiful stone, expertly crafting it into natural-looking mounds, ravines, and channels that are as resilient as they are beautiful. Collaborating with Mel Chantrey and The Fountain Workshop, the team used a series of techniques to shape the new playscape, including a scaled plasticine model to get a feel for how the stone could be moulded and layered to create a playful yet safe space for children.

The design team, in partnership with RoSPA, ensured that the playscape was adventurous but secure, while Hardscape’s sister company, IP Surfaces, meticulously drilled and processed the boulders to perfect the water flow.

The project impressed judges with its "unique sense of place" They stated that "this exciting new natural stone and water landscape sets the benchmark incredibly high for creating playful landscapes in the public realm". They were impressed with how the placement of the stone slabs creates the impression of a natural igneous rockscape. "The scheme provides a safe, tactile, and aesthetically pleasing haven of considerable community benefit and enjoyment.

The project impressed judges with its "unique sense of place," setting a new benchmark for playful, public landscapes. They praised the placement of the stone slabs, saying it created the impression of a natural igneous rockscape and highlighted the playscape as a safe, tactile, and visually stunning haven that offers immense community joy and engagement.

Beyond the prestigious Natural Stone Award, the Park also clinched a Silver WAN Award, a ROSPA Play Safety Award for Publicly Accessible Playgrounds, and the Developer Magazine Pineapple Award for Public Space of the Year.