City Hall appoints world-leading design talent to regenerate Oxford Street
Hawkins\Brown and East will lead the design and support the delivery of the transformation of London’s most famous shopping street.
Hawkins\Brown will prepare a Whole Street Concept Design for the full length of Oxford Street, from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road. We draw on our expertise and learnings from notable projects, including Here East and the transformation of Smithfield in the City of London into a world-class 24-hour cultural destination.
London-based architecture and landscape practice East will lead the design of the first phase of the Oxford Street Transformation Programme between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. Both teams were drawn from the Mayor’s Architecture and Urbanism Framework, which works to support the Mayor of London’s mission to create a better, greener, and more sustainable London for all.
Oxford Street is one of the UK’s most important thoroughfares, with half a million visitors every day. However, the heavy footfall is matched with heavy traffic, leading to poor air quality, a high number of accidents, and lower levels of customer spending compared to neighbouring streets.
Following the overwhelmingly positive response from Londoners supporting the idea of pedestrianising Oxford Street, the Mayor is moving ahead quickly to supercharge regeneration in the area, creating a safer, more comfortable, greener public space.
We love Oxford Street and feel immensely privileged to be a part of its transformation. With the Mayor's ambitions coinciding with the changing face of retail, the stage is set for the next act in Oxford Street's famous story. That's a very, very exciting prospect!
We will be supported by ASPECT Studios, Urban Movement, Micheal Grubb Studio and Authentic Futures in producing the Whole Street Concept Design.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, added, “These outstanding design teams bring a wealth of experience on world-renowned projects, from New York’s Times Square and Sydney’s Darling Square to the Bond Street revamp and Here East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. They have the creativity and expertise needed to reimagine one of London’s most iconic high streets and help deliver the Mayor’s bold and ambitious Oxford Street Transformation Programme. We can’t wait to work with them on this fast-paced project, creating a world-class destination for shopping and dining that truly competes on the world stage.”
