Re-designing London’s

GROSVENOR SQUARE RE-DESIGN TO CREATE LONDON’S MOST OUTSTANDING GREEN SPACE

Grosvenor Britain & Ireland announces that Tonkin Liu has been appointed to re-design London’s Grosvenor Square ahead of its 300th anniversary.

Situated in the heart of Mayfair, the Grade II listed square has a rich history that can be traced back to 1726. It has housed presidents, protests and even a WW2 blimp – the first to be staffed by an all-female crew - and has been continually modified throughout its history to meet the changing needs of those around it. However, today it has a low profile and offers limited amenity to the many who live or work in the area.

Over the past three years, Grosvenor, which manages the public garden on a not for profit basis, has been working with local residents and Londoners to build a shared vision for its future: to enhance the square’s contribution to Mayfair and London by making it more sustainable and welcoming. These ambitions will be brought together by Tonkin Liu in a design developed with the active participation of Mayfair’s many communities as well as people with an interest in the future of public gardens.

By reinventing how the square contributes to the environment, and the well-being and needs of people who rely on it, Grosvenor plans to create the capital’s outstanding green space and a future for the square focused around the community.

Tonkin Liu has been appointed following a six-month long formal competition incorporating some of the world’s leading design and landscape teams as well as selected entrants from Grosvenor’s 2018 international Call for Ideas. The emphasis of their design process on connecting people back to nature, collective storytelling and community involvement were key factors in their success.

James Raynor, CEO of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, said: “Grosvenor Square’s original purpose was to bring the countryside to the city, it was the first of its kind and caused a sensation. However, today it provides limited benefit to Londoners, their well-being or the environment. Now it can once again become the capital’s most outstanding green space.

“Tonkin Liu has an impressive track record as a sustainable design studio, and as a champion of the garden square and public participation. We are excited to work with them on this project.”

Anna Liu, Director, Tonkin and Liu added: “As Londoners and as architects, we are thrilled to be part of this important moment in time, for the transformation of Grosvenor Square through an ecological and community agenda. Having responded to the shared vision put together by Grosvenor, local residents and Londoners, we will use nature and collective storytelling to deliver a vision of local and universal resonance.”