Victoria Embankment by Sandra Perez

VICTORIA EMBANKMENT

Bartlett Faculty of Planning Space and Place A

N OVE

C ER EST

LEIC

RD T GA

OU ET H

E SOM

ROO E L P TEM DEN GAR

ARK P E YD

N NDO

EYE

“I send, I send, here my supremest kiss

To thee, my silver-footed Tamasis;

No more shall I re-iterate thy Strand,

TMIN S E W EY ABB

TER

Whereon so many goodly

structures stand.” —R. Herrick

CONTENTS

Site Analysis 4

USE

T HO

ERSE

SOM

F ROO PLE TEM DEN GAR

which places would you walk to?

BIG BEN

E PA

leicester square

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

OR take the tube?

covent garden

westminster abbey

TM WES Y ABBE

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

EYE

would you walk?

ER INST

LONDON EYE

hyde park

DON

LON

london eye

HYD

HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT

temple roof garden

LEIC

somerset house

R ESTE

ARD

NT G

COVE

Site Proposal 23

Site Project 36

Infrastructure 41 Proposal

VISUAL DIMENSION

VISUAL DIMENSION Bound by trees and different levels. User friendly space is created, instilling a sense of continuity, making people feel comfortable and providing beautiful open space, river views, permeability through spaces that communicate to the other side of the road through the space between the trees.

Tall trees and railings make the street space narrow and less communicated with other spaces. The solid concrete railings segregate the nice green spaces from the street, acting as visual and physical barriers. The location of the bicycles is very dangerous, leaving little space for maneuvering safely.

PERCEPTUAL DIMENSION

RIVER THAMES PATHS TUBE STATIONS (NODES) PARKS/OPEN SPACE LEAST IMAGEABLE

mind maps

MOST IMAGEABLE

mind maps

Common Elements - The ‘Public Image’

asked to map the area around you from memory if you were

...what would you draw?

PERCEPTUAL DIMENSION

minutes to get there....

USE

T HO

SE MER

ER S

EST

LEIC

RDE

T GA

EN COV

RO PLE TEM DEN R A G

which places would you walk to?

BIG BEN

HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT

RK E PA

HYD

hyde park

temple roof garden

OR take the tube?

covent garden

leicester square

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

london eye

ST TMIN WES EY ABB

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

EYE

would you walk?

5 MINUTE WALKING DISTANCES

LONDON EYE

somerset house

DON

LON

westminster abbey

it only takes 5

25 minutes to get to these landmarks you have

...would you

walk or take the tube? Appendix B: Interviews

PERCEPTUAL DIMENSION

NT OVE

OU ET H

ER SOM

NT OVE

ER S

EST

LEIC

DEN

GAR

SET

ER SOM

HOU

ER S

EST

LEIC

DEN

GAR

ROO PLE TEM DEN GAR

which places would you walk to?

2STRAND WHITEHALL

LONDON EYE

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

OR take the tube?

hyde park

ST TMIN WES EY ABB

hyde park

temple roof garden

covent garden

leicester square

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

london eye

westminster abbey

EYE

would you walk?

OR take the tube?

TOWER OF LONDON

temple roof garden

DON

LON

would you walk?

ST TMIN WES EY ABB

RK E PA

HYD

EYE

somerset house

DON

LON

LONDON EYE

HYD

ST PAUL’S CHURCH

somerset house

RK E PA

covent garden

HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT

leicester square

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

london eye

TOWER OF LONDON

westminster abbey

25 minutes to get to these landmarks you have

...would you

walk or take the tube? Appendix B: Interviews

SOCIAL DIMENSION

Crime data obtained via: http://www.police.uk/crime

FUNCTIONAL DIMENSION 16

LAND USES

ZONE

INSTITUTIONAL MIXED USE

9 4/14

PARKS/OPEN SPACE (publicly accessible)

PARKS/OPEN SPACE (no public access)

COMMERCIAL (retail)

COMMERCIAL (office)

TRANSPORT LEISURE/OTHER (hotels, event space)

3 2

ZONE 1

BUILDING PROFILE NUMBER CORE STUDY AREA

CORE STUDY ZONE Appendix C: How the Victoria Embankment works 100m

FUNCTIONAL DIMENSION

KEY BUILDINGS

Name: Westminster Palace/Houses of Parliament Zone: 1 Use: Instiutional (Government) 7 Ownership: Public Public Access: Restricted Note:Gardens are also not accessible to public

Name: Somerset House Zone: 2 Use: Mixed (Institutional, Cultural, Open Space, Offices) Ownership: Quasi-Public (SHT) Public Access: Yes Note .LQJ路V &ROOHJH /RQGRQ UHQWV WKH (DVW :LQJ

Name: Portcullis House Zone: 1 Use: Mixed (Retail, Transport, Instiutional) Ownership: Public Public Access: Yes; except institutional (restricted) Note: Ground floor active

Name: Middle Temple Buildings Zone: 3 Use: Institutional Ownership: Private (Society) Public Access: No Note: Gardens are also not accessible to public

Name: Ministry of Defense Zone: 1 Use: Institutional (Government) Ownership: Public Public Access: No Note: Public access allowed on Whitehall Gardens

Name: Temple Gardens Buildings Zone: 3 Use: Institutional Ownership: Private (Society) Public Access: No Note: Gardens are also not accessible to public

Name: Embankment Place Zone: 1 Use: Mixed (Retail, Transport, Leisure, Offices) 10 Ownership: Private Public Access: Yes Note: Traffic, grade changes deter window-shopping

Name: Hamilton House Zone: 3 Use: Commercial (Offices) Ownership: Private Public Access: Restricted Note: Recently refurbished, decorative facade

Name: Embankment Cafe Zone: 2 Use: Commercial (Restaurant) Ownership: Private Public Access: Yes Note: One of only three cafes on the site

Name: Sion Hall Zone: 3 Use: Mixed (Institutional, Offices) Ownership: Private Public Access: Restricted Note: Strong security presence

Name: Embankment Pier Zone: 2 Use: Mixed (Transport, Restaurant, Recycling Ctr.) Ownership: Public (LRS) Public Access: Yes Note: Uses operate intermittently

Name: City of London School Zone: 3 Use: Commercial (Offices) Ownership: Private (JP Morgan) Public Access: No Note: Former school turned banking headquarters 11

FUNCTIONAL DIMENSION

POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES 13

Name: Parliament Square Zone: 1 Use: Open Space Ownership: Public Public Access: No Note: Site has been closed to public due to protests; could re-open as well as diversify activities in the space

Name: Embankment Place Zone: 1 Use: Mixed (Retail, Transport, Leisure, Offices) Ownership: Private Public Access: Yes 17 Note: Opportunity to make frontages more active by dealing with traffic and grading concerns; could add residential uses above ground floor

Name: Waterloo Bridge Underpass Zone: 2 Use: Open Space (used by church charity on Sundays) Ownership: Public Public Access: Yes 18 Note: Opportunity to make a better designed gathering space and improve the look, feel and comfort

Name: Temple Station Zone: 2 Use: Mixed (Transport, Retail, Restaurant, Open Space) Ownership: Public (TfL) Public Access: Yes Note: Opportunity to intensify development and add more uses, potentially over the station itself or in adjacent inaccessible greenspace to the west, as TOD

Name: Inner Temple Gardens Zone: 3 Use: Open Space Ownership: Private (Society) Public Access: No Note: Opportunity to either: open for public use (along with adjacent gardens) and improve permeability; or, to further develop the lands to Temple Station

Name: Offices near Blackfriars Zone: 3 Use: Commerical (Offices), small degree of mix Ownership: Private (mostly) Public Access: Restricted Note: Opportunity to make frontages more active, perhaps with retail or leisure uses; add residential above ground floor 12

MORPHOLOGICAL DIMENSION

Victoria Embankment1857

Victoria Embankment1868

Victoria Embankment 1901

Victoria Embankment 1872

Victoria Embankment 1950

Victoria Embankment 1897

Victoria Embankment 1970

Victoria Embankment River Frontage between 1857 - 2011

Victoria Embankment 1990

Victoria Embankment 2011

MORPHOLOGICAL DIMENSION

Figure Ground Map (2011) 14

TEMPORAL DIMENSION

Pedestrian Concentration Profile of the Victoria

TEMPORAL DIMENSION

Pedestrian Flow Directions on the Victoria Embankment

Appendix D: Pedestrian flows + movement summary

TEMPORAL DIMENSION

ZONE 1: WESTMINSTER BRIDGE TO HUNGERFORD BRIDGE

8.00am

12.00pm

4.00pm

8.00pm

Flow: -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐

High pedestrian flows concentrating at Westminster Bridge, the Abbey and the tube station, moving both towards the South Bank and the Westminster Millennium Pier. Main peak times during the working rush hour, in the morning from 7.00am - 9.30am and evening from 4.30pm – 8.00pm. A peak starting from 11am till 4pm marking tourists arriving and due to work time lunch hour. Pedestrians mainly concentrating on the riverside road compared to the inner road and park areas, which is mainly used by workers and occasionally tourists. Declining pedestrian flow during late evening and early morning

-‐

Workers: mainly composed of civil servants commuting to surrounding government offices by foot/tube/Thames Clipper, resulting in morning and evening rush hour. Also using area for local amenities during lunch hour and jogging. Some but generally low use of the White Hall Gardens. Tourists: mainly arrive during the late morning till mid-afternoon causing pedestrian flow to become more compact and slow moving along and within the vicinity of Westminster Bridge. o Sightseeing at the main tourist landmarks i.e. Westminster Abbey and the Battle of Britain Memorial o Using local transport and tour facilities i.e. tube/Westminster Millennium Pier/Embankment Pier/tour buses o Mainly in family groups as oppose to large tour groups Street Vendors: Entertainers and painters but also refreshment booths selling to tourists on Westminster Bridge and near the Westminster Millennium Pier. Their opening times around 10.00 – 11.00, largely influenced by tourist arrival times

Users & Activities: -‐ -‐

TEMPORAL DIMENSION

ZONE 2: HUNGERFORD BRIDGE TO TEMPLE STATION

12.00pm

8.00am

4.00pm

8.00pm

Flow: -‐

-‐ -‐

Continuous pedestrians flow concentrated at Temple Station and along Waterloo Bridge, both ways towards Waterloo, the South Bank and the Strand/Aldwych. o Higher concentration during work rush hours – in the morning between around 7.00am – 9.30 am and in the evening between 4.30pm – 7.30pm o High pedestrian flows starting from 11am and into lunch hour due to arrival of tourists mixed with working lunch hour o Flow stabilizes between peak pedestrian hours, especially between the end of the morning rush hour and arrival of tourists Pedestrian flow declines gradually as distance from Temple Station & Waterloo Bridge increases. Flow stagnates in late evening and early morning.

Users & Activities: -‐

-‐ -‐ -‐

-‐

Workers: o Commuting to work places by tube/bus/walking/cycling/Thames Clipper, mainly in direction of the Strand, Fleet Street and the City of London o Jogging especially during lunch hours, but also after work on the Victoria embankment but also inside Park Students: Commuting to nearby universities by tube/bus/walking/cycling across Hungerford Bridge towards Vendors: outside Temple Station selling fruits and newspapers, and underneath Waterloo Bridge selling tourist souvenirs Tourists: higher levels of activity during late morning to mid-afternoon, mainly in families not large tour groups o Use of bus stops/tours and other transport facilities e.g. Temple station o Accessing local amenities, such as the Thames cruises o Somerset house attractions (but generally little awareness of activities there) o Little use of the restaurant Piers such as the Savoy Pier or Temple Pier by tourists, mainly to host pre-book events by locals. Homeless occupying areas under the Waterloo Bridge underpass (also at night) and the benches (throughout day) along Victoria Embankment

TEMPORAL DIMENSION

ZONE 3: TEMPLE STATION TO BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE

8.00am

12.00pm

4.00pm

8.00pm

Flow: -‐

-‐ -‐

Constant flow of pedestrians along Victoria Embankment, concentrated at Temple Station during morning rush hour. Pedestrians flow towards Blackfriars, The City of London, the Strand and Fleet Street. Stabilization of pedestrian flow after morning rush hour, between 11.00am and 4.00pm Increase flow at end of working day, pedestrians more densely packed. Flow stagnates later in the evening and in the early morning.

Users & Activities: -‐

-‐

-‐ -‐

Workers: o Mainly commuting in the morning and evening using local infrastructure (bridge, Blackfriars Millennium Pier & Temple station) towards the offices in the City of London/Blackfriars and Fleet Street. o Jogging and exercise purposes especially during lunch hours, but also after finishing the working day Students: o Commuting by walking & using Temple tube mainly towards the Strand, Kings College London and the London School of Economics. Tourists: o Sightseeing; generally lower concentration of tourists in this zone compared to in the Westminster zone. High flow during late morning to mid-afternoon and on weekends compared to weekdays. Street vendors: by Temple station, selling newspapers & fruits, arriving early in the morning and leaving after evening rush hour.

TEMPORAL DIMENSION

12.00 AM

6.00 AM

12.00 PM

6.00 PM

Flow: • • •

Vehicle flow has certain similarities to and follows patterns of pedestrian flows i.e. time of peak traffic coincides with peak pedestrian rush hours in the morning (07.30 – 09.30 and 16.30 – 19.30), traffic flow also diminishes towards the later hours at night and early hours of the morning. Generally a continuous flow of moderate traffic, though vehicle flow may often be disrupted due to road construction or temporary suspension of traffic More vehicle flow during the weekends especially of tourist buses, but few cyclists and trucks

Users/activities: A constant mix of different vehicles throughout the day, i.e. private cars, taxis, buses, and trucks, however; • • • • •

Delivery trucks, construction trucks etc. mostly in the mornings and towards the end of the day – using the route to reach their main services areas Stationary parked tour buses along the stretch of Victoria Embankment mainly coming in during the later afternoon. Especially high volume during weekends. Bus Tours stopping temporarily to pick up customers throughout the day e.g. the London Original Bus Tour or private tour buses. Public buses used by workers to commute but also by tourists during the day Cyclists: higher volumes during the rush hours, cyclist number may exceed number of cars especially at Blackfriars. Higher use of the Barclay Bike Hire Stations during the weekdays than weekends.

o o o o

12.00 AM

KEY All cars – Bicycles/motorbikes/mopeds – Vans/Trucks – Buses (public/public tour buses/private tour buses) –

Vehicular Flows

SWOT ANALYSIS A final site analysis of the Victoria Embankmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s S trengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (as identified in the perce ptual dimension), and how our proposed vision and design interventions address each, ar e shown in the figures below.

VISION STATEMENT

GOALS + TIME HORIZON

MASTERPLAN IDEA

MASTERPLAN MASTERPLAN PROPOSAL PROPOSAL

SHORT TERM (2012) Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

100m

MASTERPLAN MASTERPLAN PROPOSAL PROPOSAL

MEDIUM TERM (2016) Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

100m

MASTERPLAN MASTERPLAN PROPOSAL PROPOSAL

LONG TERM (2021-31) Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

100m

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL SHORT TERM (2012)

MEDIUM TERM (2016)

ZONE 1 Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

100m

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL LONG TERM (2021)

ZONE 1 Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

50m

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL SHORT TERM (2012)

MEDIUM TERM (2016)

ZONE 2 Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

100m

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL LONG TERM (2021)

ZONE 2 Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

50m

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL SHORT TERM (2012)

MEDIUM TERM (2016)

ZONE 2 Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

100m

PROGRAMME PROPOSAL LONG TERM (2021)

ZONE 3 Vehicular access

SOFT HARD

24 hour access public open space

Programme change: existing building

Programme change: new construction Road removal Fence - no public access Fence - limited public access

Land use key Institutional (culture, government...) Mixed use + ofﬁce Mixed use + residential Commercial (retail) Commercial (ofﬁce) Transport Leisure/Other

50m

SITE PROJECT

WATERLOO BRIDGE: SITE ISSUES

SITE PROJECT

WATERLOO BRIDGE: VIEWS AND SITE CONNECTIONS

SITE PROJECT

WATERLOO BRIDGE: PROGRAMME PROPOSAL

SITE PROJECT

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL OPEN SPACE AND SURFACE PROPOSAL BY PHASE

SHORT TERM (2012)

MEDIUM TERM (2016)

LONG TERM (2021)

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

PAVING SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS

Pedestrian Improvement Strategy Paving material plays an important role in their usage to create a balanced and unified

environment that incorporates the existing architecture and landmarks. Currently the pedestrian pavement is highly homogenous in colour and texture and lacks maintenance, thus our proposal is to incorporate different patterns and type of paving to distinguish between paths, for example the segregated cycling lanes, pedestrian crossings but also to create signage for visitors.

Examples of potential paving patterns and types

1. The first proposal is to include distinctive paving in terms of colours and shapes to highlight pedestrian crossings and the cycling lanes to raise awareness and emphasize changes in land use. 2. Keeping the appearance of hard paving surfaces but changing them to more sustainable permeable paving surfaces in order to reduce rain water run-off and prevent flooding or puddles forming. This will enable us to transform our urban environment into one that will fuse together with the natural environment 3. The second proposal is to incorporate a trail, which would include distinctive paving material to enable a walking trail that leads tourists and visitors to Londonʼs unique collection of museums, churches, parks, piers and other significant historic sites or simply popular destinations and areas.

Simple ground markers, signs or small monuments can be designed and incorporated to provide background knowledge and explaining the area, site, building or landmark, but also include details of distances between locations.

a. This should enhance the legibility of the city and thus improve walkability and thus our carbon footprints in terms of transport usage. It will also inform people about distances allowing them to judge distances and location more accurately.

Potential paving trail route and destinations, for example, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, Cleopatraʼs Needle or Buckingham Palace. 42

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

Predicted Pedestrian Flow Directions on the Victoria Embankment

Predicted Pedestrian Concentration Profile of the Victoria Embankment

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY

Pedestrian movement Short-term proposal

= To be removed/re-modelled

In our aim to establish an extensive network of good quality public spaces for people and create an overall balance for and between city users we shall prioritize pedestrians in the area and reduce barriers to easy movement. In order to accommodate existing pedestrians and encourage further users the streetscape shall be enhanced through reducing lanes in order to reduce pedestrian crossing also enhance routes for walking and bring more adequate space for pedestrians.

distances. This will

In the short term the project shall also improve the general streetscape and improve pedestrian flow by: •

Improving width of pedestrian footways along the Embankment to enable smoother pedestrian

•

Removal of street clutter including unnecessary railings, signboards or posts that act as barriers to

•

flows, but also allow space for development of various amenities and programs along the Embankment smooth pedestrian flow and improve legibility

Improving the provision of comfortable and clean street furniture. Street furniture should be incorporated and maintained to a high standard with a simple and consistent design, but also placed carefully to avoid creating barriers

Upgrading paving materials so that they create a balancing and unifying environment with the

existing distinctive architecture and prime landmarks, enhancing the character and legibility of the area. Different patterns and types of paving will be incorporated to distinguish between different path uses and to distinguish pedestrian crossings or cyclist paths.

A simplification

of the

streetscape, as shown in the case of the area at the Westminster Bankside tube exit

Long-term proposal

Our long-term proposal envisions the full

pedestrianisation of the Victoria Embankment, giving full priority to pedestrians to create a safe, attractive, pollution free public space and route that is highly more accessible to all. Certain smaller intersecting roads that have low use will also be pedestrianized in order to link the area together more effectively.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

VEHICULAR MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY

= To be removed/re-modelled

Vehicular Movement The Victoria Embankment is very busy and crowded during certain hours for both pedestrians and vehicles, especially with traffic flowing in both directions to Blackfriars and Westminster. The plan

de-emphasizing auto-mobility and auto accessibility, instead emphasizing public space and prioritizing pedestrians. involves

Short-term proposal 1. The first proposal is to reduce the number of lanes down to two wide lanes, which would require vehicles entering London to find alternative routes and encourage users to find alternative forms of transportation, but still allow public buses access the Victoria Embankment. a. This reduction in traffic lanes allows opportunities to enhance pedestrian and cycle routes and maximise new public spaces in the area.

b. This pedestrian and cyclist zone would reduce vehicle dominance by restricting or prohibiting vehicle movement.

second proposal involves restricting the access of private tour buses to the Victoria Embankment and prohibiting parking along the Embankment.

The

a. This will enhance the environment in terms of pollution reduction but also aesthetically. b. In order to cater for the large amount of tour buses a parking project will be executed in the form of renewing the currently unused old

tram tunnel, which stretches from underneath Waterloo Bridge to Southampton Row just above Holborn tube station. A drop off stop will be provided in order to accommodate tourist accessibility to the Victoria Embankment

Current road layout

5-‐6 lanes and buses parked on outer lane

Proposed road layout

2 wide lanes

segregated cyclist lane

new activities/amenities

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

VEHICULAR MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY Street Side

Bank Side

Long-term proposal 1. The first proposal to fully

pedestrianize the Victoria

Embankment would further enrich the street environment, both improving the safety of users but also cyclists. a. Furthermore, rather than constructing new roads and highway lines that would reinforce our overdependence on

making existing roads more conducive to pedestrian use and multiple mode transport. motor vehicles, this project focuses on

Buildings

Pedestrian area

Tram line

Amenities & Programs Segregated Cyclist line

Wall

2. The second proposal is a circular

tram-line along the

Victoria Embankment, which would form part of the wider

BANK SIDE

Segregated cycling lane

London transport renewal and upgrading project will be implemented. a. In order to provide a sustainable, effective and cheap means of transport also successful for revitalising communities and encouraging hubs at stops and stations. b. The tram service should increase accessibility to the area, especially since its platform will be at street level and easily usable to those with walking problems and the elderly. - Tramline

PLAN VIEW

Tramline STREET SIDE

- Pedestrian space/bus stop/Pedestrian crossing space

- Trees/green space - Two-way cyclist lane

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

CYCLIST MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY Cyclist Movement Short-term & Long-term proposal In the current situation the cyclists share a lane with the general motor vehicles along the Victoria Embankment, with especially high cyclist volumes during rush hours it has resulted in adverse accidents especially at the Blackfriars Bridge. Thus our proposal is to form a segregated

cycling lane with integrated signage, in order to secure higher safety precautions for cyclists especially during rush hours and later during the night. This plan will further accommodate cyclists and legitimises their presence. The segregated cyclist lane will incorporate pedestrian crossings and pedestrian layby areas to prevent accidents and to allocate safe areas for pedestrians to wait when crossing. Layby areas will also incorporate cycle hire racks. The incorporated green spaces will enhance the streetscape, especially by providing shade and shelter.

BANK SIDE

PLAN VIEW

STREET SIDE - Bike hire racks - Tramline - Pedestrian space/bus stop/Pedestrian crossing space

- Trees/green space - Two-way cyclist lane - Direction of vehicular traffic

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

PRIVATE BUS PARKING REDEVELOPMENT OF THE UNUSED TRAMLINE INTO A PRIVATE BUS PARKING TO PREVENT BUSES PARKING ALONGSIDE THE VICTORIA EMBANKMENT BY PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE AREA. Under our short-term vision, private buses especially tourist buses will have restricted access to the Victoria Embankment, therefore it is critical to provide them with an alternative. A few yards up the Kingsway from Holborn tube station, tram network formed an essential & vital part of the transportation network, connecting the ʻNorth Sideʼ and ʻSouth Sideʼ tramway system. It was built from Theobaldʼs Road in the north to the Embankment underneath Waterloo Bridge to the South. Currently it is used as a storage area for various road construction materials. The dimensions of the tunnel are suitable for the provision and renovation of the tunnel into a bus parking, with the approach from the north near Theobaldʼs Road 5.2m in height, with a 10% gradient, and 6 meters wide. These dimensions will act the starting point and the basis for the

bus-parking project, it will be enlarged and renovated to enable buses to manoeuvre comfortably and allow drivers easy access to exit and enter the parking. The buses would enter and exit from the entrance at Theobaldʼs Road and a drop off

points would be scattered around London and in close proximity to the Victoria Embankment at the convenience of tourists.

Current state of the unused tramline 48

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

LEGIBILITY SIGNAGE

VISUAL CONNECTIONS

From the mind maps created by visitors to the embankment it was found that many people only knew where they had come from, and not where they could also get to with only a short walk. In order to rectify this we will be implementing signposts at regular intervals along the whole of the Victoria embankment clearly showing the way to major attractions, how far away they are and an approximate walking time to the destination. This should encourage people to walk along the embankment instead of using various methods of public transport, allowing them to discover what the Victoria embankment has to offer and other attractions that they may not have previously known about.

The Victoria Embankment possesses a privileged location with views to many important landmarks. In an effort to enhance the visual connection with the South Bank and the beautiful historical facades along the embankment, the solid walls along the embankment will be replaced by the wrought iron railings that were previously removed from the parks across the street. FUrthermore, two viewing platforms will be built at Westminster and Waterloo to alow tourists to enjoy the amazing vistas from an improved vantage point while keeping them off the busy vehicular intersections.

ART

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

ART BENCHES

PUBLIC ART IMPLEMENTATION

In conjunction with the walking art gallery and the public art initiative, and adding a more practical element to the Victoria Embankment, all public seating found along the river bank will themselves be individual art installations. Sculptures created by both local and well known artists will provide interactive seating for visitors, as well as interesting features to climb on and explore. In the same way as the walking art gallery, the individuality of each piece is intended to make visitors ask ʻwhatʼs next?ʼ and encourage them to continue along the embankment in order to find out.

In order to draw more visitors to the Victoria Embankment and encourage more people to walk the entire length we shall be implementing a public art initiative, the first element of which will be a ʻwalking art galleryʼ. ʻLight boxesʼ built into the railings along the river bank at regular intervals will then be filled with art works by local artists. Changing the art at different times of year to reflect either the seasons or events going on across London, e.g. the Olympics, would keep visitors coming back to see the different art works on display, and allow local schools, colleges, universities and residents to become involved with creating and choosing the art on display.