St Paul’s Piazzetta

Status:     On Site

Location: City of London

Client:      Corporation of London

Team:       City of London Public Realm Team

        Nigel Dunnett, Planting Design

      
Following the success of SWS’s popular installation at St Paul’s Underground Station, the Studio was invited to put forward proposals for softening the  urban environment on Cheapside, part of the historic and modern financial centre of London. Linking St. Paul's Cathedral in the west with Mansion House and the Bank of England in the east, Cheapside has recently become a retail destination with a range of retail and food outlets as well as offices.

The brief was to help alleviate pedestrian congestion by making the public realm more legible and providing space for people to sit and pause. Working with the City of London Public Realm Team, we analysed movement patterns of people across the area, particularly visitors to the Cathedral.

The resultant scheme creates new opportunities for sitting on granite planters and incorporates a new drinking fountain on the site of the historic Pissing Conduit and a highly sustainable planting strategy.