The area under reconstruction was once part of central London, stretching from Tower Bridge to Battersea Power Station. However, industrialization has created a hole in this piece of urban fabric, according to Farrell; in addition, the area was cut off from the surrounding areas by the busy Nine Elms Lane road and railway viaduct. The master plan is designed to overcome this isolation, restore the severed ties with the city and breathe life here. Farrell's project, in particular, involves the restoration of 6 hectares of riverine area currently occupied by industrial structures: here, just 10 minutes' walk from Westminster, a new vibrant area should arise.
The Embassy Gardens quarter, projected by Farrell (from English "ambassadorial gardens"; Archi.ru wrote about the project of the US Embassy building, which became the catalyst for the development of the adjacent area), occupies a key place in the larger plan for the regeneration of the territory of 195 hectares, which includes the Vauxhall districts, Nine Elms and Battersea. Farrell's site will be occupied by housing (about 2 thousand new apartments), more than 500 thousand m2 of offices (with a maximum of 23 floors), leisure facilities, a hotel with 100 beds, 130 thousand m2 of retail space, as well as bars, restaurants, grocery store and others. Diverse public areas are combined with a series of private courtyards. The key to the success of his project - and the quarter will be visited by about 1,800 people every day (these are those who come on business or work in the American embassy) - Farrell calls multifunctionality and a high-quality social environment.
The master plan is designed to be implemented in two phases: for the first, which has already received detailed confirmation, Terry Farrell will join forces with several architectural firms, including Fielden Clegg Bradley, AHMM, FLACQ and the Camlin Lonsdale landscape bureau.
N. K.
