Canada Water reveals a new pedestrian boardwalk designed by Asif Khan.
British Land and AustralianSuper, the partners behind the Canada Water masterplan, introduce a new public architectural landmark designed by Asif Khan. The impressive 170-meter-long boardwalk takes inspiration from the history of the Surrey Docks, highlighting its significance in the timber trade during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Townshend Landscape Architect has designed a series of new stairs leading to the water’s edge, complemented by waterside seating and an educational dipping pond, transforming the area into a unique public space that encourages community engagement with the locality’s heritage and ecology.
This striking red timber structure allows visitors to navigate the dock by stepping from one timber plank to another, mirroring the experience of rafters who traversed floating deal planks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The boardwalk aims to improve connectivity within the town centre, offering a new way for visitors to enjoy nature while minimising environmental disturbance. It enables patrons to engage with nature and walk among various wildlife habitats. The elevated structure gracefully stretches across the dock's surface, providing unique vistas and a close-up nature experience.
Photography: Brendan Bell
Through the development of a range of islands and channels, Townshend, in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, has established a new shoreline composed of diverse habitats designed to enhance biodiversity. Three new wetland habitats, seven wetland islands, and over a kilometre of shallow edges have been created. Reed beds, flowering plants, and trees have been introduced to attract dragonflies, butterflies, kingfishers, and frogs, while also providing excellent nesting sites for ducks, swans, and other birds.
In the next decade, the 53-acre Canada Water masterplan will create a new district in central London, featuring approximately 1 million square feet of new retail, leisure, and educational amenities; up to 2 million square feet of workspace for 20,000 employees; between 2,000 and 4,000 new homes; as well as a 3.5-acre public park, a town square; the first new high street in London to be developed in 100 years; and a new leisure centre.
