Abbey Green
Abbey Green
London,
England
2009
Clients
Barking and Dagenham Council,
The Architects’ Journal,
Design for London
Abbey Green in Barking, East London, is a masterplan conceived as a living landscape - a series of distinct yet interconnected spaces that invite movement, reflection, and community life. The design stitches together multiple interventions, each rooted in activity, memory, and place.
A 250m exercise track loops through the green, animated by circuit training, school sports days, and moments of quiet exercise. Modest timber stations mark the route, offering physical engagement without disrupting the calm of the landscape.
On weekends, a vibrant market hosts local produce and crafts. An amphitheatre doubles as a court and event space. A tower and apiary support beekeeping and storage, promoting care and sustainability. A trail winds through wildflowers, leading to a café by the water—selling hive honey and fostering community. Above, an observation tower connects the site to its historic abbey.
