沃特福德游行

沃特福德游行
Watford Parade

BDP:

沃特福德市中心最近完成了一项雄心勃勃的公共领域计划。沃特福德区议会和赫特福德郡议会的430万英镑计划已将游行区转变为一个重要的城市空间，具有灵活性和容量，可容纳各种户外活动，并在白天和晚上吸引各种各样的游客。BDP于2011年通过竞争性招标获得任命，并与一支综合性跨学科团队共同完成该项目，团队成员包括景观设计师、城市设计师、可持续发展专家、工程、运动规划师和照明设计师。该计划是该镇更广泛的再生总体规划的一部分，包括计划改善该镇的铁路连接和购物设施。
An ambitious public realm scheme has recently been completed in Watford Town Centre. The £4.3m scheme for Watford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council has transformed the area known as The Parade into a key civic space with the flexibility and capacity to accommodate a variety of outdoor events, and attract a wide range of visitors throughout the day and evening. BDP was appointed in 2011 after a competitive tender and have tackled the project with an integrated, interdisciplinary team encompassing landscape architects, urban designers, sustainability specialists, engineering, movement planners and lighting designers. The scheme is part of a wider masterplan for regeneration in the town including planned improvements to rail links and shopping provision in the town.

Watford Parade

15000平方米的场地是沃特福德市中心的关键位置，因为它靠近许多重要的文化目的地，包括：；宫殿和斗兽场剧院、图书馆、休闲中心、西赫茨学院和市政厅。它在更大的市中心和这个“文化区”之间提供了重要的联系。该遗址也是一个大型历史池塘的所在地，这个池塘已经存在了100多年，是该镇标志性特征的一部分。该场地为设计团队带来了许多挑战，包括对该区域主要由夜生活、空置零售单元、低质量公共领域、过度的街道杂乱和具有挑战性的运动问题的看法，包括流通的物理障碍以及行人、自行车手和车辆之间的冲突。此外，这座历史悠久的池塘状况不佳，水质差，过滤系统过时，参与的机会很少。
The 15,000m2 site is a key location within Watford town centre due to its close proximity to a number of important cultural destinations including; The Palace and Colosseum Theatres, the Library, The Leisure Centre, West Herts College and the Town Hall. It provides an essential link between the wider town centre and this ‘cultural quarter.’ The site is also home to a large historic pond that has been in place for over 100 years and is an iconic part of the town’s identity. The site presented a number of challenges for the design team including perceptions of the area being dominated by nightlife, vacant retail units, poor quality public realm, excessive street clutter and challenging movement issues including physical barriers to circulation and conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. In addition the historic pond had fallen into a poor condition with bad water quality, an outdated filtration system and little opportunity for engagement.

该项目回应了当地居民和企业的反馈，他们希望看到该地区变得更具吸引力，帮助将购物者、家庭和企业带到该地区。BDP与主要利益相关者进行了广泛协商，并让公众充分参与设计过程，超过500名公众成员参与了活动并参与设计。此外，BDP还以WordPress网站的形式开发了一个在线咨询工具，让公众了解计划的发展情况，并允许不断发表评论。已接待12 500多人次。
The project responded to feedback from local residents and businesses who wanted to see the area become more attractive, helping to bring shoppers, families and businesses to the area. BDP carried out extensive consultation with key stakeholders and fully involved the public in the design process with over 500 members of the public attending events and inputting in the design. In addition BDP developed an online consultation tool in the form of a WordPress site to keep the public abreast of the schemes development and allow ongoing comment. This has received over 12,500 visits.

根据咨询结果，制定了现场的一套原则目标，包括：；更加家庭友好，在文化区和城镇中心之间建立更紧密的联系，为公共领域的质量设定基准，并在城镇顶部创建一个充满活力、多样化和独特的区域。此外，一项关键计划的目标是改善游行中的自行车和行人流动。人们的愿望是，该地区将成为自治区内活动、文化和遗产的刺激焦点。
Following on from consultation a set of principle aims for the site were developed which included; being more family friendly, creating a stronger connection between the cultural quarter and the town centre, setting a benchmark for the quality of the public realm and creating a vibrant, diverse and distinctive area at the top of the town. In addition a key scheme objective was to improve cycling and pedestrian movement within The Parade. The aspiration was that the area would act as a stimulating focal point for events, culture and heritage within the borough.

运动设计原则是以整体的方式制定的，考虑了多个因素，包括使用场地的不同群体、咨询结果以及运动规划顾问“城市流”开展的公共领域运动促进研究的建议。为了提高通行能力，设计方案从游行队伍中移除了一条车辆通道、停车和装货区以及一条规定的自行车道。这使得创造了一个新的多用途无车空间，行人和骑自行车的人可以舒适、安全地驾驶。共享区的宽度至少为5米，完全没有街道设施，街道设施已被仔细重新定位，以尽量减少混乱。
Movement design principles were developed in a holistic way taking into consideration multiple factors including the different groups that use the site, consultation findings and the recommendations of a Public Realm Movement Enabling Study carried out by movement planning consultants Urban Flow. In order to improve movement the design solution has removed a vehicular access road, parking and loading bays and a defined cycle route from The Parade. This has enabled the creation of a new mixed use car free space that can be navigated comfortably and safely by pedestrians and cyclists. The shared zone is a minimum of 5m wide and is completely clear of street furniture, which has been carefully re positioned to minimise clutter.

The materials used in scheme have been carefully considered with emphasis on high quality natural materials including wood and Limestone and granite paving.

池塘的设计是方案成功的一个重要因素，之前曾作为行人移动的屏障，很少提供互动机会。目的是激活池塘边缘，改善水质和生态价值，吸引游客。BDP与当地图书馆合作，对池塘遗产进行了研究，发现池塘的一端曾经有一个倾斜的入口，牛在被带到市场之前可以在那里清洗。这已反映在设计响应中，在池塘的一端创建了阶梯式通道，以再次允许直接交互。
The design of the pond is an important element in the schemes success, having previously acted as a barrier to pedestrian movement and offering little opportunity for interaction. The aim was to activate the edges of the pond and improve the water quality and ecological value, creating a draw for visitors. BDP worked with the local library and researched the pond heritage finding that one end of the pond used to have a sloped entrance where cattle would be washed before being taken to market. This has been reflected in the design response with stepped access to the water created at one end of the pond to once again allow direct interaction.

此外，在池塘历史上首次引入了一座桥梁，以开放空间中的欲望线，改善池塘北部的步幅，并大大增加游客的兴奋因素。在计划的早期和整个过程中，都咨询了生态学家，以确保对现有野生动物进行敏感的处理。池塘里的水全部排干，以便翻修。改进了池塘的形状和大小，并安装了一个新的自愈合膨润土衬里。最先进的过滤系统和喷泉已经到位；池塘种植得到改善，并在靠近水域边缘的地方修建了装饰区和室外餐厅。在工程期间，水生专家Aquajoy在场外小心地移除并照料了300多条鱼。它们现在已经回到了水中，当地的鸭子和家禽也很快在新的环境中重新定居。
In addition, for the first time in the ponds history a bridge has been introduced to open up desire lines through the space, improve footfall to the north of the pond and greatly increase the excitement factor for visitors. Ecologists were consulted early on and throughout the scheme to ensure sensitive treatment of the existing wildlife. The pond was completely drained down to allow renovation. The shape and size of the pond were improved and a new self healing Bentonite clay liner installed. A state of the art filtration system and fountains have been put in place; pond planting improved and decked areas and outdoor dining created adjacent to the waters edge. Over 300 fish were carefully removed and looked after off site by aquatic specialists Aquajoy during the works. These have now been returned to the water and local ducks and fowl have also quickly re inhabited their new environment.

该项目还引入了可容纳2000人的活动空间，为大型活动设计了集成电源和照明。这一新的活动空间与醒目的黑白铺路和凸起的草地座位区具有强烈的一致性。这在市中心创造了一个引人注目的个人户外活动目的地。该方案还包括在现有成熟树木下的新凸起木材甲板上提供一个较小的非正式活动空间。这个非正式的舞台为街头表演和即兴表演创造了一个场所。整个游行的街道照明已经升级，并辅之以令人兴奋的特色照明方案，该方案在夜间改变空间，吸引人们在晚上前往该地区。这包括一个照明过桥、照明喷泉、条状照明强调座椅和3个12米高的特色立柱，以及24个投影仪，在夜间活动空间营造出大胆的水色效果。
The project also introduces striking 2000 person capacity event space with integrated power and lighting designed for large events. This new event space has a strong identity with bold black and white paving and raised grass seating areas. This creates a striking and individual outdoor event destination in the town centre. The scheme also includes a smaller informal event space on a new raised timber deck under existing mature trees. This informal stage creates a place for busking and impromptu break out performances. Street lighting throughout The Parade has been upgraded and complemented with an exciting feature lighting scheme which transforms the space at night attracting people to the area during the evenings. This includes an illuminated bridge crossing, lit fountains, strip lighting accenting seating and 3 striking 12m high feature columns with 24 projectors that create a bold watery effect over the event space at night.

今年在新空间举办了一项激动人心的活动计划，包括：；由80名当地社区舞者参加的大型舞蹈、英国运动员参加的大型家庭运动日、户外电影放映、T台表演、排灯节游行和滑冰。这些改进为该镇带来了重要的文化、物质、经济和社会方面的改善，并为实现理事会关于家庭友好型城镇中心的愿景作出了重大贡献。自2013年7月以来，游行队伍中的八个空置单元已经被填满，该地区的观众人数正在增加。沃特福德区议会已经聘请了一名新的市中心经理，并将于2014年9月在游行旁新建一个40个摊位的市场。该计划于2014年7月由Mary Portas正式启动。
There is an exciting events programme taking place in the new spaces this year including; The Big Dance featuring 80 local community dancers, Big Family Sports Day with England athletes, Outdoor Cinema screenings, catwalk shows, Diwali on the Parade and ice skating. The enhancements have delivered key cultural, physical, economic and social improvements to the town and made a major contribution to achieving the Council’s vision of a family friendly town centre. Eight vacant units on The Parade have already been filled since July 2013 and the area is seeing increased footfall. Watford Borough Council have employed a new town centre manager and are launching a new 40 stall market adjacent to The Parade in September 2014. The scheme was officially opened by Mary Portas in July 2014.

Project Name: Watford Parade
Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Landscape Architects: BDP
Client: Watford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council
Construction cost: £4.3m
Year Completed: 2014