Lyric Square wins design "Oscar"

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Top prize awarded in Civic Trust Awards 2006

Lyric Square fought off stiff competition to win a top prize for at the Civic Trust Awards 2006. Hammersmith's dramatic new open space, which has been popular with residents and visitors since it opened last spring, won the hard landscaping award - one of seven special categories which are judged by a panel of industry experts including architects and urban design specialists.

More than three hundred examples of public and private buildings, parks and regeneration schemes, were entered into this year's awards which claim to "celebrate the best quality development across the UK and to encourage everyone to raise their game." Other winners included a renovated ocean liner in Bristol, an old corn mill that had been converted into a children's library and a sustainable mixed-use development in Manchester.

The Civic Trust, in announcing the winning entries, described Lyric Square as "a space which allows light and vibrancy to spill out from the surrounding buildings."

The transformation of Lyric Square has been the council's most significant streetscape project in recent years. When it reopened in spring 2005 the urban square amazed visitors with its stunning water feature, and mix of Irish Blue limestone and black granite. Since then it has featured in TV programmes and adverts, as well as hosting the popular weekly Farmers' Market.

The council's Director of Environment, Nigel Pallace, said, "Councils are not always seen as leaders in design but Hammersmith and Fulham has raised the bar with Lyric Square and I hope that other London councils will be inspired by what we have achieved here. Winning this award is a real honour, and it's great that the hard work and commitment of officers and our partners has been recognised by such a prestigious body."

The scheme was funded primarily through developers' contributions as well as council and TfL sources and is a destination in itself as well as an interesting thoroughfare. The £1.7 million development was designed by Gross Max architects and the work was implemented by the council's in-house team of engineers and contractors.

April 3, 2006