Zandra Rhodes-designed pocket park opens
by Alice Wright
Zandra Rhodes and Joe Swift at the Greenwood Theatre pocket park
Renowned fashion designer Zandra Rhodes has joined forces with garden designer Joe Swift to create an urban oasis in London Bridge.
The newly-launched pocket park at Greenwood Theatre on Weston Street has brought greenery and a burst of colour to the area, creating a new design landmark just moments from The Shard, Borough Market and Bermondsey Street.
The previously grey environment has been planted with “an eclectic and varied mix of plants, including some exotics to provide plenty of all year round interest, colour and scent,” Joe says, against a backdrop of Zandra Rhodes’ trademark shades of orange, pink and blue.
Zandra, who is based at the nearby Fashion and Textile Museum, said: “The Greenwood Theatre has been a large brick eyesore for many years, so when I was approached to work with Joe and enliven this space I jumped at the chance.
“I felt we needed the colour to spread ‘sunshine’ into the area, and the plants to make it a fabulous place to sit and linger in. It really is a lovely, exciting project.”
The garden not only improves the streetscape, but reduces flooding, provides seating, increases biodiversity and aims to make the theatre appeal to a much wider audience.
Greenwood Theatre is currently used by King’s College London for teaching, student productions, and event hire. It will overlook a major entrance to the redesigned London Bridge Station when opened.
The project was organised by Team London Bridge - the area’s Business Improvement District - and garden installation organisation Cityscapes, working with King’s College London, Network Rail and The Mayor’s Pocket Parks Programme. Joe and Zandra worked alongside the urban parks and gardens experts at Cityscapes to create the garden.