Canal Walk, Swindon

As lead creative designers we undertook the detailed design to regenerate the tired 1980s public realm.

The design declutters the street and introduces a simple palette of quality natural stone paving. There is contemporary seating, with foliage introduced by planting street trees and by providing living green walls suspended above the street.

The design invokes the memory of the Wilts and Berks Canal, abandoned in 1914 and later filled during the town’s commercial development. It is remembered through text engravings, water droplet pavement markings and weather responsive lighting embedded within the paving.

A new landmark sculpture with water feature inspires public interaction at a key pedestrian crossroads.

AWARDS

CEEQUAL: The Assessment and Awards Scheme for Improving Sustainability in Civil Engineering and Public Realm (Whole Project Award)