Completed in November 2002, Jubilee Park lies on top of underground Station, Canary Wharf - essentially a roof garden. This park was designed with the intention of bringing a small oasis of rest, refreshment and intense nature, nestled between high-rise buildings which lodge and is built on two different levels.
The central feature of the garden is a raised serpentine water channel with rough stone walls, this cascading water feature is manufactured by Corotherm, constructed from a lightweight GRP former fabricated around a polystyrene block. The moulded former allows the fountain jets and the pipework to simply access the dry-site pump house which is on the main podium slab. This feature incorporates structural engineering considerations for load-bearing capacity and lightweight materials to reduce overall weight. The following figures show the central water feature form plan view and up close.
The series of raised pools are formed in rough cut Belgium Blue Limestone laid in a random course. The water from the pools is pumped into the top pool of each group of cascades down to the lowest pool in the run, before weir over, down the return pipework and into the plant-room.
The plant-room is a large self-contained facility incorporated into the below-ground retail structure. A large holding tank stores water while the feature is turned off and is used to facilitate the UV filter treatment while the feature is operational.
The water features have been designed to have a modern, timeless, visually appealing element of the park which responds to the sites constraints and opportunities.
The following figure explores the Belgium Blue Limestone, how its been laid and the bush hammer which is used to create a rough, pitted or dotted texture on stone surfaces.
The planting, completed in 2002, features climbers and tall grass species and over 200 Metasequoia trees which have been planted in irrigated containers. By 2004 some of the trees appeared to be suffering from stress, likely to be because of the harsh microclimate, and were perhaps the wrong choice tree species because they leave the space shaded, nevertheless, many of the trees seem to be doing well. The following figures show these huge trees during early spring and high-rise buildings which border the site.
Overall the park acts as green lung within dense urban centre of Canary Wharf, designed with grass mounding for sunbathers, along with interesting lighting features and twisting water feature, creating a central 'spine'.
In my opinion the park has some interesting aspects including the central water feature and fountains, yet it remains to be a predominantly dynamic landscape, with commuters passing through the space year-round, though there are some static elements including grass mounds to enjoy the sun in warmer months. The cladding of the water feature doesn't necessarily fit the aesthetic of the urban landscape it lies within, surrounded by high-rises which dominate the space, especially in winter months when the Metasequoia drop their needles.
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