Archwayreport

Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme Artist’s Report Michael Pinsky July 2015

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

1.0 Introduction This report articulates my thoughts with regard to the New Public Square and Traffic Scheme in Archway. Many of my responses overlap closely with issues already considered within the scheme, whilst others are beyond the scope of this immediate development project.

The report suggests some medium and long term ideas which could be considered for a successful conclusion of the Archway scheme. Whilst I am aware that as the Flower Mews Island becomes the Archway Square Peninsula, the myriad of landowners make creating a holistic scheme extremely challenging, this document takes an aspirational position and considers how the peninsula can be successfully stitched to together assuming that landownership issues can be overcome in the longer term.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

2.0 Pedestrian Circulation In terms of urban planning, the overall approach to the site is determined by whether Flower Mews is perceived as passage or a square once this area is reconnected to the buildings on its western aspect. People traveling from Archway Tube Station towards Highgate, will either choose to walk diagonally along Flowers Mews and then navigate through a series of staggered junctions to the eastern side of Archway Road, or they will walk directly up Highgate Hill and then around to Tollhouse Way.

After studying the complexity of the crossing, it seems more appropriate to create a sense of enclosure at the top of Flowers Mews. This would allow the northern end of the mews to become a calmer zone where people could sit and meet, encouraging the development of coffee shops and restaurants, which could use the pedestrianised area for chairs and tables.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

2.1 Cycle Circulation I proposed that the cycle route should travel closer to Archway Tavern on the northern side of the square, and then have a bend to pull it closer to Archway Tower on the southern side of the square.

This would increase circulation space for pedestrians walking up Highgate Hill, allowing for the possible development of commercial units on the western aspect of Highgate Hill. The bend would also slow down cyclists descending Highgate Hill.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

3.0 Climate Archway Tower has a huge impact on the area, both in terms of shadow and wind.

The need to militate against strong winds came up as a high priority at the consultation session. This reinforced the idea of creating a sense of enclosure through planting and trees. People particularly highlighted the impression that they are being blown off their feet as they emerge from the tube station.

In terms of the shadow movements, the top end of Flower’s Mews is the least impacted by Archway Tower, which good amounts of direct sunlight throughout the summer months allowing the greatest scope for sitting and resting.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

4.0 Architecture: Archway Tavern, Public Toilets In and around Flower Mews the architecture is pleasant and at a relatively domestic town scale. The Archway Tavern is particularly attractive and its clock tower has the potential to be a focal point for the area. A lighting design for the clock tower would a huge positive impact on the night-time ambience of Archway.

Presently the ground floor of the Tavern is painted in black and there is a sense that this is building that looks in on itself.

However, the building has potential to face outwards on both its southern and eastern flanks, with large windows allowing internal views at ground level.

The ownership and use of this building will be key to the success of the Archway redevelopment.

At the core of the redevelopment are two rather unattractive entrances to the underground public conveniences, which are no longer in use. These basement spaces are in private ownership and have the potential to become a quirky commercial unit. A temporary planting scheme could be put in place to improve the visual amenity of the area in the short to medium time-scale whist not precluding the future development of this space. If possible the council could work in collaboration with the owner of Archway Tavern to create temporary planting structures that are sympathetic to the overall design of the area and offered some continuity of design for the seating area within the privately owned terrace outside the Tavern.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

4.1 Architecture: Archway Tube Station Archway is dominated by Archway Tower and its associated development on the western side of the development. Whilst it would be a challenge to make this tower actually disappear, although the artist Ruth Ewan did try this, much could be done to draw the eye down to the ground and first floor levels.

Presently, the eastern entrance for Archway Tube station is accessed underneath Archway Tower; a dark, gloomy and depressing place. If this entrance could be contained as an internal space until reached Highgate Hill, it would hugely improve perceptions for travellers using the station. In the longer term an entrance design of architectural significance would provide a focus at ground level for this side of the square.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

4.2 Architecture: Highgate Hill Ramp Further up Highgate Hill the wall and ramp down to the library detracts significantly from the area. This route has a high footfall as this is the route to Whitington Hospital, Archway Leisure Centre and large residential districts. In the medium term a series of commercial units could be placed on this route blocking the view down to the brutalist square below. This could be designed to last up to five years, as an interesting and quirky structure. The first floor level above the units should also be considered within this design to maintain a street facing presence and balance the building massing of Archway Tavern.

In the longer term the building structure could take over the basement square and re-align with the street on Highgate Hill, offering a significant commercial development opportunity, improving both the visual qualities of this side of the Highgate Hill and pedestrian navigation.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

5.0 Topography There is a noticeable incline as one moves north up through the site. This results in the southern end of the site feeling vulnerable, as if the pavement is falling into St John’s Way. Certainly in terms of the space being used by children, there is a risk of balls, scooters and prams rolling onto the road. Whether or not this risk is real or only perceived, a sense of enclosure between this area and the road would create a zone which would feel safer. It is essential however that this sense of enclosure is created through structures that add to the visual enjoyment of the space, such as planting areas and trees. Traditional barriers should be avoided at all costs.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme

6.0 Art and Transport The junction of Highgate Hill and Flowers Mews would be a natural location an artwork, visible from all conjoining streets and from around the new Archway square. During the consultation session concerns were raised that the new arrangement of bus stops would require travellers to walk significantly further between buses than they are having to in the present arrangement. This could be seen as a disadvantage, but it could also be seen as an opportunity. The movement of travellers across the area as they change buses increases the passing trade for local commercial units. Travellers may chose to stop for a coffee or do a little shopping between bus journeys.

From the centre of Archway Square all linking bus stops can be reached within a few minutes. Sitting in the centre of the square is far preferable to standing at the bus stops. If travellers knew exactly when their bus was leaving they could remain in the square away from traffic noise and pollution until the bus arrival was imminent. This data could be relayed on a screen, but a far more elegant solution would be to create a sculpture which transmitted this live information feed. Sequences of lights, with colours to correspond with bus routes could travel through a sculptural form, indicating times of arrival.

The sculpture could not only mark the first buses to arrive, but the subsequent arrivals. Travellers may not choose to catch the next bus, but instead do a little shopping, or relax with coffee and catch a later bus.

Michael Pinsky Archway’s New Public Square and Traffic Scheme