SOUTH BANK CENTRAL

Macfarlane + Associates have unveiled the green metamorphosis of South Bank Central’s atrium passageway. The exciting revitalised space promotes a new biophilic public realm that will promote a positive post-COVID working urban environment that will attract commercial activity, increase mental health of workers, and help reduce the effects of climate change.

Located near Blackfriars Bridge, South Bank Central’s passageway serves as a key route to the River Thames.

The passageway is well detailed, but has little to no vegetation to create a hospitable and healthy environment curated a biophilic design to connect the workers to the natural environment and sought to convert unused paving spaces, spare building facades, and five 8-meter columns to green infrastructure to add value, reduce air pollution, and reduce the urban heat island effect.

South Bank Central is a key precedent on how conventional hard public realm spaces can be easily converted to serve a post-COVID working world and combat the ongoing climate crisis.