South Quay Plaza

Client: Berkeley Homes

: Foster & Partners

Contrasting the urban intensification of Canary Wharf and the surrounding Marsh Wall and Isle of Dogs, South Quay Plaza creates much needed public green space associated with three new residential buildings, rescuing a vacant plot that has been closed to the public since the 1996 Docklands bombing and renovating public realm associated with existing buildings beyond the development’s ‘red line’.

Appointed by Berkeley homes, HTA Design was responsible for the landscape design and has delivered the first three phases of the development with the fourth well underway. Designed to the highest quality, the new public realm has already become popular with local residents, playing a key role in revitalising the public realm of the greater South Quay area, and creating an important piece of green infrastructure for the Isle of Dogs. The slender new building footprints result in over two thirds of the site offered as public realm, opening up walking and cycling connections to the wider area and allowing high levels of walkability in the immediate neighbourhood and beyond. Creating climate resilience and increased biodiversity are key drivers for the design of the public realm; contrasting the impressive height of the buildings, the public realm consists of a series of tranquil gardens, framed by large trees, that create a green envelope from the buildings, providing visual interest, high levels of amenity and play for children. The park is inclusive and accessible and has been carefully designed to create a place for residents of all ages to come together.