William Street, Knightsbridge, London
ReardonSmith Landscape was appointed to redesign William Street, creating a new piece of public realm in an area which has a rich history and a prime location, adjacent to Hyde Park in Knightsbridge. The improvements aim to deliver a high quality public realm with increased green infrastructure and inclusion of characterful details which tell the narrative of the site’s rich history. Referencing the influences locally of famed architect and advocate for open public space, Thomas Cubitt and resident Lady Morgan, who petitioned the Queen to create The Albert Gate linking the William Street to Hyde Park.
The site is located just South of Hyde park partially within the Albert Gate Conservation area and bordering the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council. It is strategically important to a network of green spaces linking to Hyde Park, which was addressed within the improvement works. Routing a defined 2-way cycle path through the space, was a requirement of the design. In order to create an area of public realm for all to use, a raised surface was implemented, with a common palette of materials and subtle delineation using public realm features and paving finishes rather than road markings.