London, United Kingdom
Description: Streetscape redevelopment including paving, custom made furniture and tree grilles, planting and lightingLocation: London, United KingdomArea: 2572 sq. mInitial concept design: VogtStages: Concept Design to ConstructionStatus: Completed Period: 2015-2018 Client: Selfridges Retail LtdArchitects: David Chipperfield ArchitectsCivil Engineers: WSP / Parsons Brinckerhoff Project Management: StanhopeCost Consultant: Alinea Consulting LLPDjao-Rakitine Team: Irene Djao-Rakitine, Povilas Marozas, Charles Dujardin, Chun Wing Fok
Awards:
- RIBA London Award 2019
Located along the eastern side of Selfridges department store in London, Duke Street public realm project aims at upgrading the overall streetscape experience, including the quality of street lighting, paving, furniture, pedestrian comfort, and traffic, and create an elegant focal point in front of the new Selfridges entrance designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
At the core of the project are two sculptural objects placed amongst four new feature trees: a drinking water fountain and a bench. Located in front of the new store entrance, these sculptural elements made of Italian marble provide a place to rest, meet, and rehydrate. In a city where most public drinking fountain has disappeared, our project aims at reducing plastic bottles proliferation by offering visitors, inhabitants, and employees of the district an attractive opportunity to refill their water bottles.
High-performance tree pit details including custom made tree grilles have been developed to optimise tree growth in an exceptionally cluttered underground environment. Tree species are selected considering the different constraints of the site. The pavement is being extended and parking reorganised.
The Selfridges Duke Street project received the RIBA London Award 2019
"Djao-Rakitine creates monolithic street furniture for London's Selfridges" by Ali Morris, in Dezeen.
"Selfridges public realm by Djao-Rakitine" by Tina Thakrar, in Trends Magazine.
"Du mobilier urbain, en marbre et monolithique, devant le grand magasin Selfridges de Londres" in La Revue du Design.
All images are © Djao-Rakitine, unless otherwise stated.
