Crossrail Place, a striking seven-storey structure designed by Foster + Partners, has opened to the public today, promising to offer visitors a glimpse of the station of the future.
Crossrail Place, on the North Dock of Canary Wharf, will eventually accommodate the concourses, platforms and ticket halls for the Estate’s new Crossrail station, which is due to open in 2018.
Until then the public can enjoy the retail and leisure aspect of the Canary Wharf Group delivered development, which is already fully-let and includes restaurants, fitness facilities and an Everyman Cinema.
Many of the stellar occupiers have selected Canary Wharf as the location for their first outlets in east London, but there are also a number of independent retailers and smaller chains that will add variety to the destination.
The top level features a new public space in the form of an exotic roof garden (pictured), designed by landscape architects Gillespies, which echoes Foster’s maritime inspired design evoking the area’s rich heritage.
Many of the plants in the landscaped roof garden originate from countries with trading links to the West India Docks Company, whose wares were once unloaded on the site where Crossrail Place now stands.
Discussing the roof garden, Stephen Richards of Gillespies said: “The opportunity to create such a large garden in what will become a new destination for London was both a privilege and a challenge.
“The design of the garden responds to the architectural language of the roof in the creation of a unique and sheltered planting environment.
“It will offer visitors a totally new vantage point from which to look out across the water and the surrounding area.”
Today’s opening represents the first public realm project delivered as part of the Crossrail network. Commenting on the achievement Sir George Iacobescu CBE, Chairman and CEO of Canary Wharf Group said: “The opening of Crossrail Place is a defining moment for Canary Wharf – the area is constantly evolving providing a diverse range of options, addressing the increasing demand for social and leisure facilities.
“This is only the beginning of an extraordinary development. With the arrival of Crossrail and the recent launch of Canary Wharf Residential, we will be able to offer our local residents on the Estate and nearby a vibrant, social, cultural and sustainable community in which people aspire to live, work and relax”.
The shops and restaurants at Crossrail Place will open in phases with the first ten opening their doors today. The roof garden is open from dawn to dusk and, in a move that is likely to be welcomed by the public, booking will not be required.
