The Role Of Design Elements: Street Light, Information Signage, Plant, Paving...

Potters Fields Park

Section AA1:

Key Information: Address: 165 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 3LW Date: 2007 Name of landscape architect: Gross Max Landscape Size: 1.7 hectare (Gardenvisit, 2013)

Space designer: Anna Rose (Space Syntax, 2021) Plant style: Prairie type planting schemes United Kingdom

History:

Location Analysis:

Traffic Analysis The site is conveniently located between the main and secondary roads. There are 3 bus stops within 5 minutes and 7 bus stops within 10 minutes, as well as jetty and tram.

Legend Main Road Secondary Road Tertiary Road Bus Station Tram Jetty

Simple Information About The Surrounding Building: Key Information Of City Hall: Completion: 2002 Size: 19,814 square meters. Height: 45m Architect: Norman Foster (Foster+Partners, 2021) Landscape architect: Townshend landscape architects Appearance: unique spherical design.

Design principle: taking into energy efficiency, the spherical exterior is used to reduce the surface and thus the heated surface.

Current use: as officers for the Mayor of London and London parliament. The space at the top can host events, and the public can be invited to enjoy the view of the (Inside Space) London from the terrace.

Masterplan:

Shenghan Xue

London

Potters Fields Park (Mapbox, 2021) The Site Has A Rich HHistory And Has Gone Through Four Phases： -1618-1708, it was the London Pottery Kin. -London's trading centre from 1861-1950s -From 1977 it was London's ecological space and it officially became what is now known as Potters Fields Park in 1988.

-Today, it is London's tourism hub and was redesigned and opened in 2007 (Potters Fields Park, 2021).

Buiding Analysis The location is surrounded by a wealth of businesses.

There are also many other attractions and restaurants, as well as accommodation, within 5 minutes of the location.

Legend Site-Potters Fields Park Restaurants Attractions Accommodation

Key Information Of Tower Bridge: Completion: 1894 (Tower Bridge, 2021) Length: 240m. Height: 65 m Designer: John Wolfe Barry and Horace Jones Architectural style: Gothic. In 1977, Tower Bridge was painted from its original old brown into its current red, white and blue color to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee .

Purpose: built in 19th century to link the East End of the London, and allow London’s population to cross the river better.

Current use: transport access, famous attraction and precious history heritage.

The site uses raised steps to resist the gentle slope. Surrounded by the City Hall and other tall buildings. Potters Fields Park plays an important open space in a busy city. Also, the section shows a selection of plant configurations, mostly brightly coloured herbaceous plants (Plant configuration information from Potters Fields Park, 2021).

Illustration:

Pedestrians The site has three main entrances on the site, allow people to enter the park from different directions.

The park borders are designed with granite terraces as elements. Designers have used chunky steps to connect the raised lawns to the riverside walkway, and provide seating for pedestrians who stop to enjoy the River Thames, Tower Bridge, offering the open space for civic relaxation and public events.

To ensure that the park is in good condition all year round, and not just exciting in one season, Gross Max took inspiration from plant designer Piet Oudolf (Potters Fields Park, 2021). It became the first park in London to introduce 'prairie planting'. From planting beds full of vibrant Echinacea in summer to spiky snake roots in autumn and winter. The gardens can offer interesting colours and textures all year round, which fulfils the designer's vision. The perennial herbs and grasses form a colourful herb garden whose richness not only presents a diverse colour show but also offers the opportunity to observe and get close to nature, as well as being a new home for wildlife.

Prairie Planting Style

Legend

Main Pedestrians Road Secondary Pedestrians Road Tertiary Pedestrians Road

(Digimap, 2021)

(Digimap, 2021)

A Brief Description Of The Project: Potters Fields Park is a small public garden in London, covering 1.7 hectares (Gardenvisit, 2013). It is a unique green open space on the bank of the River Thames, adjacent to Tower Bridge and City Hall. In 2007, Potters Fields Park was designed

by Gross Max (Gross Max, 2021) and used the spatial design solutions by Rose (Space Syntax, 2021). The new Potters Fields Park is better connected to its surroundings and provides a pedestrian route through the park, which makes good use of the park’s location and allows people to cross the park quickly to reach the City Hall and Tower Bridge. It also facilitates access to the park by the surrounding residents, maximising the social, environment and economic benefits of the park. Additionally, the park is designed to cater for different people, by planting grassed areas close to the Thames River without too much dense vegetation to avoid the people’s view being blocked. Presently, the park is now a beautiful, world-class area that provides a safe, clean, peaceful and relaxing space for workers, visitors and community in the heart of the city (Haymarket Business Publications, 2007).

Raised Lawn(Google,2021)

Colorful Planting(Google,2021)

Summer Plant Style

Autumn And Winter Plant Style

Representative Photoes:

Aerial View(Google,2021) Seen From The Rear(Google,2021) The Gateway On The Tooley St The Granite Seat The beautiful open riverside view serves as a green area for people Potters Fields Park was once pottery trade centre, so Gross Max to walk and rest, where trees are mostly planted. The canopy shades designed the park with the distinctive foliage elements from the pottery the public from the sun and leaves shadows on the ground through the adorning the gateway into the park from Tooley St. similar, carvings canopy, making the area under the trees a shaded area for the public. can be found on the granite seats (Landscape Architect's Pages, The dense vegetation at the rear provides a more private space.

2021).

Reference List: Digimap. (2021) OS Roam. [online] Available at: https://digimap.edina.ac.uk/roam/map/os [Accessed 25 October 2021] Foster+Partners. (2021) City Hall. [online]. Available at: https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/city-hall/ [Accessed 29 October 2021] Gardenvisit. (2013) Hooftman, Eelco. [online]. Available at: https://www.gardenvisit.com/biography/eelco_hooftman [Accessed 20 October 2021] Google. (2021) potter field park - Google Search. [online]. Available at: https://www.google.com/search?q=potter+field+park+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjXiLf gzePzAhUH0YUKHR-vCdsQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=potter+field+park+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIECAAQHlD1sWFY2LZhYOy3YWgAcAB4AIABRIgBhgOSAQE 2mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=jZx1YZeOHYeilwSf3qbYDQ&bih=626&biw=1341 [Accessed 24 October 2021] Gross Max. (2021) Projects: Potter Field Park. [online]. Gross Max. Available at: http://www.grossmax.com/projects.asp?n=Parks&x=4&y=16 [Accessed 20 October 2021] Haymarket Business Publications. (2007) IN PLACE: Potters Fields Park, South Bank, London. Regeneration & Renewal, pp. 12.

Mapbox. (2021) Studio. [online]. Available at: https://studio.mapbox.com/styles/shenghan/ckv6gxu420kru14qmnf3ns5vz/edit/#9/51.5131/-0.0898 [Accessed 25 October 2021]Maylim. (2021) Maylim | Potters Fields Park. [online] Available at: http://www.maylim.co.uk/projects/potters-fields/ [Accessed 20 October 2021] Landscape Architect's Pages. (2021) Potters Field Park, London. [online]. Available at: https://davisla.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/potters-field-park-london/ [Accessed 24 October 2021] Potters Fields Park. (2021) History of Potters Fields Park - Potters Fields Park. [online]. Available at: https://pottersfields.co.uk/potters-field-park/historypotters-fields-park/ [Accessed 20 October 2021] Potters Fields Park. (2021) Planting in Potters Fields Park - Potters Fields Park. [online]. Available at: https://pottersfields.co.uk/potters-field-park/plantingpotters-field/ [Accessed 20 October 2021] Space Syntax. (2021) Potter’s Field | Space Syntax. [online]. Available at: https://spacesyntax.com/project/potters-field/ [Accessed 24 October 2021] Tower Bridge. (2021) The architectural style of Tower Bridge | Tower Bridge. [online] Available at: https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/history/thearchitectural-style-of-tower-bridge [Accessed 29 October 2021] All the diagram produced by own.

1 The URL of 5 minutes audio recording saved on KALTURA: https://vle.shef.ac.uk/ultra/courses/_98010_1/cl/outline

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Introduction We explored different landscape projects during the London Field Trip, experiencing the different ways in which the streets, parks and squares provide different experiences for visitors, and documenting how the design elements in these landscape projects are chosen and placed to create spaces, guide visitors and create landscape value.

The reason I focus on the design elements is that I find that there are similar elements in every site I visit, but they are always overlooked. We can notice that each of the different design elements is just a small element of the site, people may remember the whole park after they visit but not the design elements, however they all play an important role in the site and give it a unique and attractive character. For example, the park creates a comfortable and relaxing space by choosing some greenery and warm colours.

Therefore, my theme is the role of design materials. And I will mainly discuss the four design elements: street light, information signage, plant and paving. For now, let’s take a look back together.

The First Design Element: Street Light 1. The Street Light Plays The Role Of An Illuminator

2. The Street Light Plays The Role Of The Scenery Line

Street Light Illuminator Collage)

Street Light Scenery Line Handdrawing

Street Light provides essential illumination. When night falls, lights shine like a river of stars on the Thames River, providing bright clothes of light for the night and the charming night sky intoxicates people. It brings a distinctive image from the natural daytime landscape and becomes a highlight of the area.

During the day, the street lights on either side of the road are a unique sight that punctuates the city which is a very different scene from the brilliantly illuminated at night, turning the city into a palette of light and dark.

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The Second Design Element: Information Signage 1. The Information Signage Plays The Role Of A Guider (Information Signage Guider Collage)

Information signage may be an element that is not thought of as having much to do with landscape.

However, the presence of the information signage allows people to know at a glance where they are and what is existing in their surroundings. Try to imagine that in an unknown space, all actions would be cluttered and unguided. How can people therefore get a better feel for the landscape space without it?

2. The Information Signage Plays The Role Of An Introducer Signage carries intelligence and culture, conveying important information and details about a place, as we can find when passing the Tower of London, Tower Bridge... So, neatly organised signage plays an important role in guiding people and also carries contextual information about the place.

(Information Signage Introducer Collage) 4 4

The Third Design Element: Plant 1. The Plant Plays The Role Of A Palette (4 Images Of Plant Seasonal Colour Changes) Spring&Summer

Autumn

Winter

Trees are lush and green in the spring and summer, collecting the most vivid colors from nature. In autumn, the leaves change to warm tones to bring warmth in the cooler autumn months, while the chilly winter causes many trees to lose their leaves, but one sees a different view, and the bare trees seem to cater more for the winter atmosphere. As a result, the different colors and forms that plants take on following the seasonal changes not only make the park colorful, but also change the whole look of the landscape, which leaves a distinct and dynamic first impression. Therefore, trees can be very decorative.

(Photographed Plant Colour Palette) These four photographs were taken on a trip to London and the colours of the plants are a great palette for the urban landscape.

2. The Plant Plays The Role Of A Functioner -The Planting Densities Create Different Landscape Atmospheres: (Potters Fields Park Riverside Section AA1)

(Potters Fields Park Planting Area Section BB1)

Potters Fields Park is divided into two different planting density zones. Near the riverside, extensive The other area is surrounded by towering buildings and bordered by Tooley St, where there is lawns and trees with random canopies are used to ensure that views are not obstructed and that light an enclosed planting area. By reducing the width of the paths and planting dense vegetation shines through the canopies leaving an art of light and shadow on the ground. to create a number of more intimate spaces for contemplation. Trees with a dense canopy are placed in this area to reinforce the sense of closure, which contrasts this area with the openness of the riverside area.

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-Plants Protect People During Bad Weather And Regulate The Ecosystem:

From the two diagram above, plants carry out photosynthesis, absorbing co2 and releasing oxygen to provide respiration for life on earth. Also, plants can store carbon in their rhizomes, so regulating greenhouse gases and benefiting the ecology (Native Plants and Ecosystem Services, 2021).

-The Plants Create An Ecosystem That Enhances Rainwater Management：

(Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Section 1)

A visit to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park revealed small gently sloping areas in parts of the park, where designers planted lawns and some short plants to help people move around in the rain. Plants help rain water to infiltrate and evaporate better, while people are less likely to slip and fall (see the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park section 1).

(Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Section 2)

Also, a rain garden has been created using a shallow recessed area of the Olympic Park by using soil and vegetation to purify the water(see the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park section 1).

Pond is used to store some of the rainwater, and increase infiltration and reduce surface runoff (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park section 2).

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The Fourth Design Element: Paving (A Collage Of Potters Fields Park's Paving As Functioner)

1. The Paving Plays The Role Of A Functioner -The Paving Is Used To Guide Navigation:

When it comes to paving, most people generally think of it as just for walking, but in fact it has many other functions. As one enters the Potters Fields Park from the riverside, the arranged paving underfoot directs the eye and footsteps to the stepped lawns of the park, thus initiating the journey.

-Use Different Paving Types To Convey A Variety Of Perceptions Of Different Spaces:

City Hall (Pinterest, 2022)

(Diagram About City Hall Paving Type)

(Diagram About Potters Fields Park Paving Type)

Potters Fields Park is adjacent to City Hall, which is a government office area, so the use of thick, heavy textured and cool toned paving allows the space around the City Hall to be perceived as stable and heavy.

Potters Fields Park is a green space where people can relax, so fine and warm tone paving have been used over a large planting area to give a light, soft feel, while the rough paving in some areas reduces the chance of children falling while playing.

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-Use Paving To Enhance Rainwater Management: (Potters Fields Park Section Diagram About Paving Rainwater Function)

By placing the paving at different angles to guide the water into the sewerage system.

Permeable paving is used in the park.

Also, porous red bricks are used in the planted areas in Potters Fields Park. The presence of the plants facilitates the infiltration of rainwater, and the porous bricks help to reduce the stagnant water, which makes this area have good water management.

Closer inspection reveals gaps all around the edges of the planting area, which direct rainwater to the drainage system during the rainy season.

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2. The Paving Plays The Role Of An Imaginator

I discovered the paving comes in different textures, sizes and arrangements, which in itself is a painting for the designer, the pavinga are like a base element or background on which the designer can play freely to create a unique space or work.

The drawing on the right that I made from collecting paving during the London field trip. I think the round tiles, in their own right, have features of safety, harmony and roundness. Therefore, I quickly came up with the image of a cute bear. So, the paving is just like an imaginator to start a brainstorm.

Conclusion In conclusion, by investigating and analysing the design elements collected during the London trip, we can learn once again that each element actually has a different role, just like paving, which is not just for people to walk on.

So, I hope that through my travel journey, I can arouse your curiosity about design elements. On the next trip, encouraging more people, including myself, can discover more interesting elements to discover their charms.

Finally, many thanks to our tutors at Lsc 21001, Laurence, Camilla and Charlotte for all their help and dedication during the autumn term!

Reference List: Native Plants and Ecosystem Services. (2021) Ecosystem Services. [online]. Available at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/ecosystem_services/ [Accessed 26 December 2021] Pinterest. (2021) City Hall. [online]. Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/search/pins/?q=city%20hall&rs=typed&term_meta[]=city%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=hall%7Ctyped [Accessed 26 December 2021] Pinterest. (2022) Pinterest. [online]. Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ [Accessed 6 January 2022] Most images and diagrams were taken and done by the author.

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