The vision for Canada Water Masterplan is to create a vibrant, inclusive, mixed-use urban centre. Place-making is at the heart of the Masterplan vision, with a public realm that brings together a network of carefully considered, locally distinct public squares, parks and streets, each with a distinct character, use and identity. The robust and high quality public realm will strengthen connections to existing neighbourhoods, and promote an urban environment where the quality of life and the quality of the environment are integral. The spaces will be animated places that people will enjoy, want to spend time and feel safe in.
With an emphasis on health, wellbeing, sports and play, Canada Water will become a distinctive destination that makes a lasting contribution to the people who live, work and visit the area.
Nature and the ecology of existing surrounding green and blue spaces are important assets to draw into the public realm proposals. The public realm has been designed to bring us closer together to each other and with nature, helping to create a sociable and sustainable place.
Improve Connectivity:
The key for creating a successful public realm is providing a movement network with a highly interconnected, legible and 'people friendly' open spaces. Accessibility and permeability is encouraged by linking the existing routes and the wider network.
Reflect Canada Water's qualities and distinctive character:
The public realm plays a key role in defining the 'image' of the new Masterplan. The public space influences the perception of the area and affects desires to live, work and visit these places. The design is aimed to reinforce the existing identity of Canada Water and invest in quality of design and materials to create a distinct and positive character.
Health and well-being (social interaction):
A healthy public realm creates healthy communities (socially, environmentally and economically). The design considers the strong relationship between quality of life and access to open spaces. In particular the public realm is designed to encourage opportunities to walk, cycle and use public transport in a friendly and safe environment.
Be simple, consistent and high quality:
The public realm requires high quality components, materials and design to create a simple and unifying element of the development.
Proposals will respond to the character of the area to create and reinforce hierarchy, a sense of place and legibility through the development.
Be active and multi-purpose and provide amenity:
A vibrant public realm is not just the result of quality design, but the way in which a place encourages and creates opportunities for activity. The buildings and the public realm will work together to provide a variety of uses and spaces where people can interact and engage with the public realm in a variety of ways.
Be Accessible and inclusive:
Movement through the public realm should be easy, pleasurable and intuitive for everyone. Street and spaces are designed to be inclusive.
The aim is to create safe and accessible environments for all members of the community and visitors, where everyone can participate equally and independently in everyday activities.