Battersea Square
Location: Battersea, London
The demands of traffic had long since turned Battersea's ancient market square into a road junction. With the area derelict since the 1970's, Jack Warshaw conceived and guided the reconstruction of surviving early nineteenth century buildings and the formation of a new piazza by road closures. Residents and businesses were consulted on proposals that included encouraging restaurants and cafes to spill into the square, a new fountain, stone paving, lighting and the planting of trees which form a shady canopy in summer.
This project has become renowned for local authority sponsorship of the emergent public realm, regenerating the whole area with a piazza that is truly enjoyable to be in. The scheme went on to win a Civic Trust Commendation and was featured in the Vision of Europe Exhibition, Bologna, which went on to tour the world. The Conservation Area has a new heart and the surrounding area is once again Battersea Village. The methods used - and the results - are still being studied as a model for regenerating historic places.
