Old Street Public Square
London, United Kingdom
Description: New public square "smart-city": planting, stage, underground station entrance and digital tech gallery
Location: London, United Kingdom
Area: 5000 sq. m.
Stage: Concept Design
Status: Ideas competition
Period: 2018
Client: Islington Council, in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL) and Hackney Council
Engineering: Arup
Digital Technology: Urban Intelligence
Djao-Rakitine Team: Irene Djao-Rakitine, Giuliana Galasso, Federica Terenzi, Marzia Vanzati, Amélia Chevée
Old Street square digital platform uses real-time data on digital tech business and natural & cultural environment to inform and empower citizens.
A digital tech gallery showcases innovation and promotes local start-ups.
Looking at the stage and screen from the terraced seating.
The project aims to create an innovative natural and cultural public square to improve users’ environment and experience through digital technology. The square provides a healthier and greener environment, an inclusive public space representing the smart city of the future.
The stage is one of the main elements of the square. It is a space for people to come together for social, cultural, and commercial purposes. The Screen displays real-time information, public art, and commercial advertisement.
The terraced seating above the new station entrance provides people a place to sit while viewing the stage and information displayed on screen. Located below the stage at station level, the digital tech gallery showcases technological innovation and is connected to the square through a mirrored oculus.
The islands of wilderness are protected areas of planting featuring a diverse palette of species. They are monitored with sensors which collect information on rainfall (quality, quantity), vegetation, moisture, soil, tree conditions, air (pollution, temperature, humidity), wind, light, noise. The islands are contained by circular benches which provide generous seating space for people to pause, eat, watch, interact.
All images are © Djao-Rakitine, unless otherwise stated.
