ONE STATION Hill is open to the public following works to rejuvenate the town centre.
A new public realm creating a “front door” to Reading and linking the mainline station with the town centre has opened as part of the £850 million redevelopment of Station Hill.
The project delivered by Lincoln MGT, the joint venture with MGT Investment Management.
Covering around two acres, the landscape and public realm of Station Hill run from Friar Street in the south to the main entrance of Reading station in the north.
It traverses a site which previously contained Friars Walk shopping centre, a car park, bus depot, and office buildings dating from the 1970s.
The area incorporates a new pedestrian bridge link over Garrard Street and offers seating areas set within planting where members of the public can meet and relax.
Developers say the new site gives visitors a “significantly improved” welcome to the town on arrival from the station, with a pocket park providing an attractive solution to the four-metre level change between the station underpass and Station Hill.
The connection from the station through to Friar Street and the town centre is step free, ensuring all-inclusive access for users.
The design of the public realm has been undertaken by leading landscape architects LDA Design, who worked closely with Arcadis on the Placemaking vision for Station Hill.
They explained that the design for the public realm has been inspired by its location between the two rivers on which Reading stands – the Thames and the Kennett—which were fundamental to the establishment and growth of Reading.
They took cues from the forms and terminology associated with rivers—currents, eddies, banks and boulders—the landscape is laid out to respond to the movement of people (currents), create active frontage (eddies) at the edge of the buildings (banks) and provide areas to sit and dwell (boulders).
A main square has been created adjacent to ONE Station Hill with a new best-in-class 275,000 sq ft office building. This square will be a major destination where people can meet and relax, acting as focal point for pedestrians and helping to drive footfall between the station and the town centre.
Pathways flow around the central area of the square showcase the ‘Seed’ sculpture and a playful water fountain feature.
The central seating edge is the largest continuous terrazzo seat in Europe, providing definition and function to the central space.
Seating has also been incorporated along the pathways which converge as they meet the new pedestrian link bridge to the south, with planting and trees continuing along the full length of Friars Walk.
A stepped pocket park has also been created across the station forecourt to the north, close to the main reception of ONE Station Hill, incorporating terraced planting and seating areas as well as new sculptures and murals.
Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Reading’s standing as a major economic player – both in the region and nationally – compels it to have a gateway to the town which is befitting of that reputation.
“I’m pleased to say that has now become a reality with the opening of this hugely impressive public space between Reading Station and Station Hill, which is now effectively the town’s new front door.
She explained: “The creation of an attractive green space and accompanying public square, complete with seating, sculptures and artwork, will likely quickly become a destination in its own right, and the level access from the Station towards both Friar Street and the Town Centre will be of huge benefit.”
“It’s fair to say the wider Station Hill project has been some years in the making and I’m certain residents will have wondered what the final completed project would look like. I hope they will agree it’s now a hugely impressive public space which further cements Reading’s reputation as a great place to live, work and visit.”
Cannon Ivers, Director, LDA Design, said: “Station Hill creates a striking, contemporary gateway and celebrates the rich history of Reading.
“From the arrival at the station and across a new pedestrian bridge linking to the high street, the landscape and public realm welcomes people from all walks of life to Station Hill.
“Nature is in abundance with biodiverse planting and trees, while seating areas will create spaces for people to dwell and admire the public art and enjoy the playful water feature.
“Inspired by the ‘Rivers of Reading’, the public realm provides space for life to unfold for the growing community.”
