Blackfriars Road
London, UK
MRG Studio have been appointed by Southwark Charities to design the landscape and public realm for a new Almhouses and office development on Blackfriars Road led by Fathom Architects. The Almshouses will offer older people in need the opportunity to lead independent lives in a safe, secure and supported environment. The landscape and public realm will create a vibrant hub for residents, local charities, community users and office tenants. A social, inclusive oasis between Blackfriars Road, the Viaduct and the Rochester Estate, consisting of a new community garden, new West-East pedestrian connections between Blackfriars road and Chancel Street and a forecourt to the new building at the West.
Our design is inspired by the site’s history. At the time of purchase in 1752, the site straddled tenter grounds on the western side and market gardens on the east, and this heritage of industry and production will be expressed in the tenter hook landscape forms and the integration of food crops in amenity planting.
Although not reflected on historical maps, the land purchased by the Charity’s trustees in 1752 was then known as the ‘Physick Garden,’ where herbs were grown for medicinal use. After the first Almshouses were built, the remaining undeveloped land was leased for use as kitchen gardens. This landscape heritage will be reflected in the roof terraces, where residents will be able to grow their own fruits and vegetables and office workers will have breakout spaces within sensory gardens for mental health and well-being.