The new lighting scheme for Canada Dock Boardwalk in London needed to strike a careful balance between being welcoming for pedestrians while protecting the area’s important ecology and biodiversity.
Canada Dock Boardwalk in London’s Docklands connects Canada Water Tube station with the emerging mixed-use development around the Dock.
It forms part of British Land’s Canada Water Development, with the new ribbon-like boardwalk having been designed by architect Asif Khan.
The lighting for the boardwalk and surrounding seating area at Surrey Dock has been created by Speirs Major Light Architecture (SMLA), building on a lighting vision for the area first created in 2019.
The aim for the scheme is to create a stunning after-dark identity for the space but also to balance the need for a vibrant, safe and welcoming experience for pedestrians with protecting the wetlands reserve’s revived ecology.
The concept therefore centres on seasonal control of intensity and colour, supporting the local bat population, and the local biodiversity as a whole.
UNDULATING FORM
After dark, warm-white light integrated into the balustrade washes the boardwalk’s distinctive, red-stained timber, highlighting its undulating form, colour and materiality.
A soft, graduated wash of light on to the deck, guard rails and exterior fins has been carefully tuned and controlled so that pedestrians feel safe and secure, yet brightness and spill light are minimised, the practice has emphasised.
This helps boardwalk users to better see and connect with the newly restored wetlands while limiting the impact on local ecology. Low-key lighting integrated within the benches also facilitates moments to pause and enjoy the views across the water.
Careful detailing and customised louvres limit spill and avoid direct reflection of the light source in the water.
The fact the Docks area is a designated bat corridor meant that SMLA had to work closely with the site ecologist. The lighting concept, in turn, includes seasonal timed adjustments in intensity and colour temperature to support the local bat population.
REPAIRABLE LUMINAIRES
Using timber and other eco-friendly materials reflects the importance of sustainability within the project. SMLA chose to work with designer Asif Khan to detail the integration of individual, repairable luminaires, rather than an encapsulated linear fixture, in support of a circular economy approach.
The Southern Steps and Dock Walk areas provide spaces for people to gather and enjoy the site through various seating areas and benches near to the water.
High-level lighting was included within the planting areas to provide functional lighting for pedestrian routes, adding low-level and integrated lighting at a more human scale to create an inviting ambience.
Highlighting the colour and texture of the planting and providing soft focus around the seating areas and across the steps encourages social interaction and time to dwell and enjoy the serenity of the restored urban wetlands, SMLA has said.
PROJECT CREDITS
Client: British Land
Architect: Asif Khan
Lighting design: Speirs Major Light Architecture (Mark Major, Benz Roos, and Neville de Sa)
Photography (and image above): Luke Hayes/SMLA
This is an abridged version of the article that appears in the April edition of Lighting Journal. To read the full article, simply click on the page-turner to your right.
