Kevin McCloud and the Big Town Plan
Here are images of almost all of the design projects that form The Castleford Project: an urban renewal initiative in the forming coal-mining town in West Yorkshire.
A TV series on the design and delivery of these projects and the pleasure and pain of renewing a town will be broadcast by Channel 4 in the U.K. for four weeks from Monday, August 11 at 2100hrs. It is called Kevin McCloud and the Big Town Plan and produced by Talkback Thames.
According to an article in today's Times newspaper
the physical results are impressive. Talkback attracted serious talent. On the steering committees are leading lights such as Roger Zogolovitch, one of Britain’s most influential, design-led developers, and Peter Rogers, brother of Richard and the founding CEO of developers Stanhope. Architects included rising stars such as DSDHA and Hudson Architects, plus international luminaries including Martha Schwartz.
Here are two views of the new pedestrian bridge, designed by McDowell & Benedetti.
The new town square, designed by Hudson Architects:
A new pedestrian subway and public space to the south side of the town centre, designed by DSDHA with lighting artist Martin Richman.
The initiative features the renewal of three open spaces in housing neighborhoods across the town as public spaces and play areas.
Here is the new Playforest at Cutsyke, designed by Estell Warren Landscape Architecture and Allen Tod Architecture:
The new playground at The Green Ferry Fryston/Airedale, designed by Parklife:
A new public space at New Fryston on the site of former mining cottages by American landscape designer Martha Schwartz:
In addition to these physical transformations, the Project enabled the creation of a forward plan for the town's riverfront by architect Sarah Wigglesworth.
And a new master plan for a housing district known as Wilson Street, adjacent to the town centre by architects Allen Tod.
The design team was supported by Roger Zogolovitch, AZ Urban Studio and design writer Lee Mallett.
The public space strategy of the initiative was advised by Gehl Partners, Copenhagen.
