We are working across London to provide ambitious improvements to the network of public spaces, from the doorstep to the street, parks and landscapes.

Design for London has worked with partners to ensure that the public spaces that surround the new library/ residential building create a vibrant civic space at the centre of Barking.

The public spaces, designed by muf architecture/art, include a new town square conceived as two contrasting and interlocked spaces built in phases. The first phase comprises a hard landscaped, formal civic 'foreground' to Barking Town Hall and the new library by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris architects. This is coupled with the second phase due to open in Summer 2009; an urban arboretum of carefully selected trees that sits between the library and the new commercial development. The trees in the arboretum are selected for their literary associations, and spaces for play are integrated into the landscape.

The new town square received the 2008 European Prize for Urban Public Space, the first project in Britain to receive this prestigious accolade.

Design for London acted as design champion, assisted with consultant selection and briefing and conducted regular design reviews of the project. We also assisted with funding bids to ensure the delivery of phase one.