The following presentation outlines the current use of the area some considerations regarding
the risks and problems arising by the use of the area.
The memorial square gardens is hidden away in central Kingston providing a resting space
for some and a space to enjoy the view for others.
It is an area of historic conservation.
The fact that the gardens are often empty is one of the key points we had to address.
This is a key space in the town considering it's use getting away from the busy market
and the high street.
We have collected our data in different ways through questionnaires, interviews and pedestrian
volume count for the graphic recording.
We purposely conducted our questionnaires at different time on different days throughout
the space of one week.
We also conducted a pedestrian volume count, so we actually stand there and try to understand
what was the flow of people.
One of the key demographic results we found was a surprising number of younger people
using the space, despite often appearing unused or inhabited by the older generations.
As should be obvious, any urban regeneration developments must be considered, within a
long term, cohesive, strategic framework.
The memorial garden does not have any lighting to speak of.
The red dots on this map represent lighting everywhere else.
Cars and delivery vehicles operate with impunity at the expense of pedestrian safety.
The big one actually is the removal of cars and cyclists, people find them a pain.
By removing the traffic and car parking outside the memorial gardens, pedestrians and cyclists
can feel safer in the area.
Opening the gate at the front of the gardens more often would create a more welcoming environment.
Keeping the centre fence optional would mean that should it need to be closed off, it can.
By replacing the metal bars with green walls and hanging baskets, people will subsequently
feel less enclosed and more included in the space.
One of our key ideas for promoting footfall to the area is connecting Eden Walk to the
gardens at the south western site as shown on the map.
This would give shoppers easier access from Market Place to Eden Street, while also promoting
the shops and using the walk, especially the ones in close proximity to the gardens.
We feel that through the provision of a unified, pedestrianised Kingston positive benefits
will be felt throughout the Kingston retail environment.
I really want to emphasise the heritage of Kingston.
Talk about the contribution it made to aviation in the past - part of the war that was part
of Kingston - take them to the site.
And as they grow it will make the space greener but there are some things we can do in the
short term, we could put some flower beds in for example.
There are many features of the new site that would encourage greater use by groups.
Appropriate lighting would limit the number of places crimes could be committed.
Opening up the front gate allows people easier exit and entrances, with a more welcoming
feel.
To improve the street furniture gives more people a reason to use the site even if it
is just to relax during a busy day's shopping.
Finally, events can be used to bring together different groups of people who have all arrived
to enjoy the same activity.
What we think would be really good is to display some artwork through the empty shop windows
in this area.
Make it a place where people actually want to go there and they choose to walk through
there rather than avoiding it.
This could incorporate the idea of "Made in Kingston" in which we are told about the art
from Kingston is promoted in that way.
And we can make it part of the Art of Movement Archway which is a new scheme from Kingston
First.
The group that looked at their particular brief, but also in the context of everything
else that was happening in the town and there weren't actually that many groups that did
that.
'Cos some of them mentioned the dimension of social description design but some of them
just did not touch on that at all.
Yes.
And some of them did not go into much detail, they just grabbed a bit, the concept and then
move on.
I think that was the nature of the project though, they were challenged possibly with
a much more diverse and more expansive area.
They tried to take it all on.
I think that is mainly, that is part of a brief issue, from our perspective.
On behalf of Kingston First, thank you very much for your hard work.
Us as a company, our whole job is to increase retail and the way town centres are moving.
You have to give them more than shops, you have to give them experiences, events and
a cultural diversity and we recognise as a company that there is a wealth of talent within
the university and we will work with you and continue to work with you on a number of projects.
So as a little thank you we have got you some vouchers courtesy of John Lewis and Waitrose,
so, if you would like to come up and I can present them to you.
Thank you very much.
Cheers.
Well, I enjoyed the real world challenge of it.
It's actually something that could potentially happen.
I know that presentations that were given in previous years have affected development
that has happened in Kingston and that was really exciting.
We all enjoyed doing the work and we all enjoyed going and doing the fieldwork and then going
away and researching and doing it as a group.
So I think the prize was a nice little bonus but we enjoyed the work anyway.