Vauxhall Pleasure Passage

The redevelopment and investment into Battersea Power Station and the new Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Embassy District is an opportunity to reconsider the urban fabric -- characterized as hostile for pedestrians and cyclists, and congested for vehicles due to the area previously being designated for industrial use. Existing residents in the surrounding housing estates can expect their new neighbors to be earning at least three times their yearly income.

This has created a serious issue of lack of affordable housing and therefore a potential lack of diversity. As such, we have moved Covent Garden Market to facilitate a major new housing initiative. In turn, this opens accessibility from adjacent neighborhoods to the archway walk and Thames waterfront.

Continuing on the tradition of Vauxhall’s pleasure Gardens where ‘persons of all ranks’ came together to perambulate the park and enjoy the local art and entertainment, the Vauxhall Pleasure Passages are always open and easily accessible to everyone in the area.

The ‘Vauxhall Pleasure Passages’ are a series of new pedestrian routes which feature some of South London’s most valued cultural and civic venues. Extending from the Southbank at Jubilee Gardens, one proposed route allows pedestrians to meander through Vauxhall’s parks with the option to cross the Thames to St. George’s Square on the north bank or, through Embassy Gardens all the way to Battersea park. Encounters along the way include Lambeth Palace, Fentiman’s Pier - a new ferry stop that connects to the Tate Britain; the New Hirst Gallery; Battersea power station and the New Covent Garden People’s market. Partnering with Network Rail and local artists we have the opportunity to create a path along the newly activated high street running parallel to the arches. The refurbished arches will either be opened and integrated into the transportation network or leased to local shops and business.

Vauxhall station on Paradise Plaza, which lies adjacent to the original Pleasure Garden is the place at which all Pleasure Passages meet. For this reason, it is perhaps he most important civic place in the new plan.