Description
The main Duke of York Square comprises a new publicly accessible, but privately owned, space bound to the north by King's Road and to the south by an existing private running track and sports ground laid out in front of the imposing Palladian Royal Military Asylum building. The western edge to the square is defined by a Grade II* listed former Chapel, refurbished to provide retail space, and the existing Queripel building, providing retail and office uses. A new commercial building has been constructed to the east of the square, to form the boundary along this edge, and a transparent glass, timber and steel framed cafe has been located as a focus for the square towards the south-east corner.
A simple grid of Yorkstone paving based on the modules of the buildings has been overlaid across the entire square. Tapering lines of Pietra Serena stone cut diagonally across the space directing movement patterns towards the link space between the square and the retail court. These lines of stone rise and fall in elevation to form strips of paving, low walls for seating, or 'bollards' to direct service vehicles. The low walls have integral litter bins and recessed lighting, plus timber seats and backrests. One of the stone walls is aligned at an opposing angle to the others, and the cross formed by this geometry provides a more intimate, south facing seating arrangement looking out across the running track.
Three clusters of fountain jets, set into the paving have been located within the square. Two directly adjacent to seating areas and one as a feature to lead the eye towards the retail court link space. The fountains are uplit by LED lights to reinforce the effect of the water at night. Additional clusters of LED lights are 'sprinkled' throughout the space, while transparent light columns provide an overall background light source to augment the accent lighting.
Simple metal railings have been installed around the northern edge of the running track to define the public and private spaces while maintaining important visual connections between them. The railings have been designed to pivot to allow pedestrian access between the two spaces when events are held on the sports ground.
Existing trees have been retained and incorporated into paved areas with generous square beds of ivy, planted beneath each tree. The beds have a stainless steel edge, atop which, has been fixed a blue timber frame at a later date. Additional planting consists of semi-mature pin oaks to reinforce the existing tree cover and several squares of clipped box hedging located to the rear of the café.
Art work designed to make reference to the site's history has been incorporated across the square. A stone engraved map of King's road from 1720 has been set into the paving, with replicas of the coins used as toll money scattered to the edges; and a series of historical images of the site are reproduced in glass floor boxes that glow at night.
To the south east of Duke of York Square a new space has been created which runs between the left wing of the Military Asylum building and the new retail court beyond. The retail court is an intimate, hard paved space created around a long glass, single story retail pavilion. Timber benches can be moved into and out of the courtyard surrounding the pavilion as required.
Two new links have been created between King's Road and the retail court. A covered walkway, created under an existing building, links through to the corner of Sloane Square and another open narrow pedestrian street creates a link in between the existing buildings that front onto King's Road and the new commercial block to the east of Duke of York Square. A sculpture of two child figures playing makes reference to the 19th century pupils from the Royal Military Asylum, and is located at the entrance to the second of these link spaces.
