Thames Tideway Tunnel

Thames Tideway Tunnel is a major infrastructure project which will prevent millions of tonnes of untreated sewage from entering the iconic River Thames. It has created the opportunity to enhance the experience of one of the world’s most famous rivers through the creation of a necklace of public spaces above new civil engineering works. This follows a great tradition in the UK for treating major infrastructure works as a positive challenge to not only meet operational needs but also improve the quality and accessibility of civic, public space. The eight central sites span five London boroughs, stretching 10km from Falconbrook Pumping Station in the west to Blackfriars Bridge in the east. The project follows in the civic spirit of the original Bazalgette scheme with most sites situated on the foreshore and each sharing the same aim: to bring people closer to the river. These spaces will introduce vibrant destinations along the river and offer a whole new experience of the water’s edge and entirely new views to and from the foreshore when the project is completed in 2023. A carefully considered design framework has been considered that looks at both the wider river context and unique local characteristics, embracing a strategic urban vision along the river for greater connectivity and public realm that is rich in identity. The project is a complex stakeholder environment and includes consulting with over 25 organisations including the Port of London Authority, Environment Agency, Transport for London, Marine Management Organisation, Historic England, Thames Water, in addition to respective local planning authorities and landowners. At each site, the architects are working with artists to integrate a diverse range of artworks into the architecture and landscape, offering the opportunity to creatively respond to Bazalgette’s pioneering sewer system as part of a project-wide heritage interpretation strategy. Blackfriars Bridge Located at a point of historic significance where the lost river Fleet meets the tidal River Thames, and once considered the transition between salt water and fresh water, today the Blackfriars site is one of the best connected and most visible places in London. Here, 4,600m2 of new public space will be introduced to the foreshore. The landscape design of the main civic space, large enough to host events, tells the story of the tunnel and engineering beneath the ground, while an area of more intimate spaces reflect the journey of the Fleet from Hampstead Heath to the Thames through a series of planted terraces. Large-scale sculptures by an artist have been integrated into the landscape. Victoria Embankment This prominent site sits within the formal and civic context of Whitehall Palace, under the gaze of the London Eye. The area epitomises the city’s infamous Victorian Embankments, which have inspired the design of the new architecture and landscape that provides a viewing point for Westminster. The narrative is a journey through the tunnels from Bazalgette’s pioneering engineering to modern-day, ground-breaking solutions, which are expressed through a family of patterns integrated into the features across the terraced public realm. Chelsea Embankment Located at a green and tranquil point along the Thames, this site has been designed to feel part of the river and provide a space for contemplation; it has a restorative quality in the context of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The language of bricks found in the existing river wall and Victorian sewer system (with reference to the lost river Westbourne) have informed the materiality of the design. Brick contours generate flowing forms that rise and fall to create terraces of steps, seating and kiosks, which enclose the space closest to the road and ‘erode’ on the outer edge, opening up views of the river. This gives the foreshore structure an organic character while accommodating the complex engineering and operational constraints.