A design competition was held in late 2011 to create designs for the North Park Hub and Playground, the social focus of the northern part of the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and a key resource for local residents after the 2012 Games. London-based firm erect architecture were chosen for their winning design concept to create a community hub building integrated into the parkland and river valley of the north park area.
The plan also includes a playground themed on its surroundings with the chance to climb trees, build dens and have everyday adventures in nature. erect architecture is an emerging practice with a strong focus on culture, education and play. Their buildings and playspaces have won several high profile awards for projects such as the Kilburn Grange Playpark in north-west London.
“….celebrate the British love of plants from around the world, inspired by Victorian pleasure gardens, our landscape palette intends to explore and celebrate our rich ecological heritage. We have taken the theme of life cycle and ecology to inspire our design approach to the Hub and playground.
In response to the powerful and sculptural topography of the wider North parkland, three tensioned and dynamic landforms have been set up to respond to this context and take the fore of an ‘unfurling leaf’, with the Hub forming the hinge point and focus.
Using the design language of the staged timber seating used throughout the wider parkland, which accentuate and transform the fluid landforms and add layers of human habitation, the Hub repeats and builds unpon these forms to develop the building volumes. Set back from the street, views of the Hub will be see across an expansive species rich meadow whose land form guides the visitor to the entrance following a low mound, which forms a threshold between (the) east west connection and park. ” – erect architecture design competition entry panel
North Park Design Team
erect architecture (design lead)
Land Use Consultants (landscape architects)
HuntleyCartwright (quantity surveyors)
Tall Engineers (structural engineering)
Max Fordham(services engineering)
Ashley McCormick (artist enabler)
