British Land and AustralianSuper, the joint venture partners behind the Canada Water masterplan, have today unveiled a new Asif Khan-designed public architectural landmark. The dramatic 170m long boardwalk is inspired by the history of the Surrey Docks and its role at the heart of the timber trade during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Townshend Landscape Architect designed a series of new steps down to the water’s edge with waterside seating alongside an educational dipping pond, transforming the area into a unique public space to bring people together to learn about the area’s heritage and ecology.
The striking red timber structure allows people to traverse the dock by stepping from timber to timber, following in the footsteps of the rafters who hopped between floating deal planks in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The boardwalk aims to enhance connectivity within the town centre, while providing visitors with a new way to experience nature without disturbing the environment. It offers visitors the ability to connect with nature and walk between the different natural wildlife habitats. Gracefully weaving across the dock, the elevated structure floats on the water’s surface, offering unique views and bringing people down to experience nature up close.
Through the creation of a series of islands and channels, Townshend, working in collaboration with the London Wildlife Trust, has created a new shoreline alongside a mosaic of different habitats that will maximise biodiversity. Three new wetland habitats have been created, alongside seven wetland islands, and over one kilometre of shallow edges. Reed beds, new flowering plants and trees have been planted to attract dragonflies, butterflies, kingfishers and frogs, while providing ideal nesting habitats for ducks, swans and other birds.
Asif Khan said: “Crossing water can give us powerful sensations. This boardwalk immerses us in a few moments of colour, of nature and of beauty. I want to evoke the crossing of time too. I hope this gives someone a chance to take a breath and look at things in a new way. In today’s world, I think this is more important than ever.”
British Land’s joint head of Canada Water, Emma Cariaga, adds: “Asif Khan is a world-class architectural talent and he has created a striking new centrepiece at Canada Dock that will be used every day by the local community. The design is a fantastic tribute to the area’s rich history and the boardwalk will connect people to both nature and the surrounding area.
“Canada Water is progressing at pace with the first phase of homes, workspace and retail completing in the coming months. Canada Dock provides us with a unique opportunity to create an interesting place for people to meet and socialise, especially on the southern edge where cafes and restaurants will spill out onto the dock in the future.”
David Mooney, chief executive officer at the London Wildlife Trust which will play an active role in the wetland’s management, said: “If every developer worked for nature’s recovery as much as this, the environment would be in a much better state.”
Gary Alden, senior associate at Townshend Landscape Architects, “At Canada Dock we had an incredible opportunity to reverse the ecological decline and create a space that improves the wildlife habitat and provides an environment where people and nature are better connected. By creating a mosaic of habitats it will help to sustain a more biodiverse community of birds, invertebrates and other wildlife.”
Over the next decade, the 53-acre Canada Water masterplan will deliver a new district for central London with around 1 million sq ft of new retail, leisure and education amenity; up to 2 million sq ft of workspace for 20,000 workers; between 2,000 and 4,000 new homes; all alongside a 3.5-acre public park, a town square; the first new high street in London for 100 years; and a new leisure centre.
