Issue 48 AUG 25 web - Flipbook - Page 115
with lush, green foliage punctuated by bright white, pink
and purple flower heads. The planting here is suited to
lower light levels and is drought tolerant. In the Southern
Plaza, the planting is more suited to full sun and
is designed to create a sense of enclosure from busy
Shaftesbury Avenue behind. A mix of native and
non-native plants form a seasonal matrix that is tolerant
of water stress, is biodiverse to support pollinators and is
capable of withstanding sudden deluges.
Whitfield Gardens
Whitfield Gardens is a cherished community space
opposite Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road. The space has
a long and varied history, including as a burial ground
notorious for body snatching and as the site of the last V2
rocket strike to hit central London in 1945. However,
over recent years, anti-social behaviour meant that the
Gardens no longer felt entirely safe. Planting was
overgrown making it feel dark and neglected with lighting
mostly borrowed from adjacent streets.
The lighting for Princes Circus is distinctive and
welcoming, helping to support local businesses including
the Shaftesbury Theatre. In the evening, hidden
projectors create the magical feeling of a dappled forest
floor.
West End Project transformed Whitfield Gardens into an
open, inviting space, a great place to stop for a picnic
lunch in an area with heavy footfall but previously poorly
served with seating. It has been described as London’s
outdoor living room.
Above, Whitfield Gardens credit LDA Design
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