New Public Realms along the River Thames

Battersea Park from Chelsea Quay.

With the completion of the new Tideway Tunnel, or Super Sewer, the tunnels that were dug down to the tunnel have been covered over. Instead of leaving these concrete-topped areas unused they have been turned into areas, of varying size and shape, that the public can access. This has allowed the public better access to the embankments and the River Thames.

Each of these new public realms is unique, with each one containing extracts of poetry, newly commissioned public art and, in some cases, allows the public to 'dip their toes' in the river. Accessible ramps, benches and planting make these wonderful places to visit.

As construction developed and artists were commissioned, the River Thames was given three distinct themes for its west, central and east sections.

• West: 'Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition'
• Central: 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'
• East: 'The Shipping Parishes: Gateway to the World'

Intertidal terraces.

So, let's take a look at these public realms, their art and what they have to offer.

Putney Embankment - 'Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition'

Putney Embankment was the first of the new public spaces to open.

It consists of granite paving with smooth surfaces, while tactile paving informs of changes in levels.

Timber-laid benches, with spaces at the ends for wheelchair users, along with other seating offer views upstream to Hammersmith and downstream through the arches of Putney Bridge. 

The public art was designed by Claire Barclay and is called 'Water Finds a Level' and includes a bronze marker for the start line of the University Boat Race. Then there are bronze handrails cast from oars that were used along the River Thames and artwork, along the walls, showing Putney's rich heritage.

Carnwath Road Riverside - 'Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition'

This pocket park sits on top of one of the three 'main drive sites', from where the tunnel boring machines began making the tunnel. 

The space has non-slip paving and has seating on the Thames Path, with the whole site being fully accessible. 

The public art was designed by Sarah Staton and is entitled 'Standing Heron and Heron in Flight'. 

It consists of two bronze-cast herons. One heron is placed at the river end of the site, while the other is visible when approaching the site, from Carnwath Road.

Chelsea Quay.

Chelsea Quay - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

Chelsea Quay is situated where the River Westbourne enters the River Thames.

Brick, instead of granite paving, was used to complete Chelsea Quay.

Timber benches and other seating atop the raised brick areas offer views across to Battersea Park, as well as along the River Thames, in both directions.

The raised terraces, although not accessible to all, protect the quay from flooding at high tide.

Lighting of two different colours has been incorporated into the ventilation shafts, showing if the tide is coming in or going out.

Intertidal terraces along its eastern and western edges have been planted with native species and will provide refuge for fish, while allowing birds to nest, too. The river wall is textured to promote the algae and river weed to flourish.

The lower terraces have been designed to be floodable, allowing people to literally 'dip their toes' into the river.

The public art was designed by Florian Roithmayr and is called 'Moving In'. 

It includes a tactile artwork formed of brickwork integrated into the vertical surface of the public space, steps, intertidal terraces, and the river wall. Groupings of colourful glazed bricks, in specially formulated patterns, echo the Chelsea Flower Show and the historical Ranelagh Pleasure Gardens

This artwork is designed to change as the River Thames rises and falls over parts of it, while the weather will change other pieces.

Heathwall Quay - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

One of the smaller areas of the Tideway Tunnel project has reconnected the Thames Path, so pedestrians no longer have to detour around the pumping station.  

The quay is fully accessible with granite paving throughout and with wooden benches facing the river. The entire quay was designed to allow panoramic views from Battersea to Vauxhall.

Isle of Effra, from Vauxhall Bridge.

Isle of Effra - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

Sitting directly outside the Special Intelligence Service (MI6) building, where the River Effra once joined the River Thames.

It has granite paving throughout with semicircular benches around its centre. Intertidal terraces have been planted with native species and will provide refuge for fish, while allowing birds to nest, too. 

The public art was designed by Richard Wentworth and is called 'Negative' and 'Positive'.

It includes a bronze plaque, A3 in size, that is an open letter to passers-by written in negative. Its counterpart, 'Positive' a bronze plaque, A3 in size, is the same letter, but written in positive.

Seating at Effra Quay.

Effra Quay - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

Effra Quay is just along from the Isle of Effra, on the other side of Lack's Dock, and is another granite paved area that greatly expands the Thames Path. Around this quay are more intertidal terraces that have been planted with native species and will provide refuge for fish, while allowing birds to nest, too. 

Benches face the River Thames, offering views of Battersea Power Station and along to the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye.

The public art was designed by Richard Wentworth and reflects the connection of the area to the sewer and Royal Doulton.

It consists of six bronze-cast sculptural seats of three sizes and are shaped like toilets.

Sandbags by Richard Wentworth.

Tyburn Quay - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

Tyburn Quay has finally created a space where the public can see more of the River Thames, where, previously, seeing over the walls of the Victoria Embankment was quite tricky.

Granite paving has been used to ensure the longevity of the space. It is fully accessible with ramps, steps, raised areas, timber benches and varied seating, allowing everyone to enjoy the space.

The lower terraces have been designed to be floodable, allowing people to literally 'dip their toes' into the river.

A kiosk and accessible toilet are also part of the quay.

The public art was designed by Richard Wentworth and consists of stacks of bronze-cast sandbags, remarkably well cast as they have the texture of hessian. They are stacked at various points and are to be used as informal seating or perches.

Bazalgette Embankment.

Bazalgette Embankment - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

This is the largest of the new public realms and accounts for half of the three acres of new public space. 

It was here that the Fleet Sewer emptied 500,000 tonnes of sewage into the River Thames each year. 

The site has granite paving throughout, making the vast majority of the space accessible to all. Raised beds contain ferns, grasses, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees.

The original listed sturgeon lamp standards and lions head mooring rings have been repaired and reinstated, allowing everyone to get up close to these incredible pieces of River Thames history.

Public toilets are sited at an undercroft near Blackfriars Bridge.

The public art was designed by Nathan Coley and is entitled 'Stages'. It consists of five sculptures which frame views to and from the river while also creating focal points within the space. They range from 4 metres to 9 metres in height. One includes a 'water wall'. 

The sculptures are made of a bespoke concrete with a black basalt and quartz aggregate that gives the surface a monolithic appearance.

King Edward Memorial Park Foreshore.

King Edward Memorial Park Foreshore - 'The Shipping Parishes: Gateway to the World'

To avoid taking up public space this area was deliberately extended into River Thames. 

Asphalt, concrete and granite paving have been used across this site, with a long timber bench that wraps around the lower terrace along with various other seating across the space.

Two grass mounds slope away from the central area 'connecting' the site with the King Edward Memorial Park behind.

Perennial planting and newly planted trees bring the two spaces together, while intertidal terraces provide habitat for invertebrates, while the textured river wall promotes algae growth.

The lower terraces have been designed to be floodable, allowing people to literally 'dip their toes' into the river.

The public art was designed by Kew Locke and consists of six bronze-cast boats, entitled 'Cargoes'. 

The boats relate to the timescale of site’s historical links with the dock communities and the impact that the former British maritime power and trading empire had on different economic, ethnic and social groups, both locally and internationally.

Gallery

Poetry on a ventilation shaft.

The Ventilation Shafts

If you look closely at the ventilation shafts, on these new public spaces, you will discover that they are inscribed with poetry. The poet Dorothea Smartt was commissioned to write the poems, with each one specific to the site. The poems draw on the stories of people living or working near or on the Lost Rivers.

Other Public Realms that have been created as part of the Tideway project

• Deptford Church Street, Deptford
• Falconbrook Pumping Station, Wandsworth
• King George's Park, Wandsworth

Chambers Wharf is one of the main drive sites for the tunnel boring machines.

Facts about the Tideway Tunnel

• The new public realms cover three acres
• At Acton the tunnel starts at a depth of 32 metres
• The tunnel falls away at a rate of 1 metre for every 790 metres
• At Abbey Mills pumping station it reaches a depth of 66 metres
• The tunnel is 7.2 metres wide
• The tunnel has a capacity of 1.6m cubic metres, or 600 Olympic-size swimming pools