Drapers Field_rosa_barba

Drapers Field has a strategic role in the Olympic Legacy. This new park in East London is the first ‘Stiching the Fringe’ project integrating new developments within the Olympic Park vicinity to existing communities. Creating a ‘playful walk to school’ through Drapers Field to Chobham Academy was an important component of the layout, integrating the site into the adjacent public realm. KLA led a diverse team of consultants to achieve this, including architects, engineers, sports and play specialists.

The design focus of the project was to introduce children to sport through play; encouraging childhood activity using play and accessible wheeled sports. Historically, Drapers Field was primarily used for football but was greatly under-utilised by the local community. In addition to improved sport facilities, the innovative landscape encourages informal, play and other active uses including a cycling route which can also be used for cycle training. The refurbished pavilion is now a community hub and café with a strong physical relationship to the park. The corrugated landscape makes the whole landscape playable and supports cross generational play and sport. Made of grass and concrete, this corrugated surface stretches across the width of the space, punctuated by a ‘forest’ of pine trees.