This is Crossrail Place, a five storey development above the new Canary Wharf Crossrail station in Docklands. The station will open in December 2018 terminating at Paddington in the West and Abbey Wood in the East. The route will be fully open the following year taking passengers as far West as Reading stopping at Heathrow en route.
The 250m long station is surrounded by water from the West India Quay Dock and has been built 18m below water level whilst still allowing a navigable channel for boats within the dock.
The top level of the building has a roof garden open to the public.
The geographic location of Canary Wharf Crossrail station places the West India docks virtually on the Prime Meridian dividing the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The designers divided the garden into two with plants from the Eastern hemisphere on one side and plants from the Western hemisphere on the other.
The roof gar.den is designed to evoke a ship laden with unusual and exotic specimens from around the world.
Through the window you can see another system of transport, the Docklands Light Railway.
Lots of wonderful reflections as well as places to sit.
There were pianos in a couple of places which welcomed you to play. Fortunately this young man was an excellent pianist and I didn't have to listen to repeat versions of 'chopsticks'.
This piano was designed to incorprate as many different forms of London transport.
A number of shops and cafes have opened on the ground floor of the complex.
I couldn't resist popping in here for tea and cake.
Wow, The roof garden is great ... how interesting that it is located in exactly that spot and what a great way to show that. the artistic piano puts the public ones in our little town quite to shame (we're rather smaller of course)... they have already taken ours indoors in anticipation of the rainy season.
ReplyDeleteThe rooftop garden is amazing..
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic looking place, would love to give one of the pianos a go.
ReplyDeleteThe style of that roof is quite popular at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSo that's what modern urban architecture should look like! As an American...
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome-looking place!
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots of the station and surroundings.
ReplyDeleteWow! I love everything about this place. Particularly, I am glad to see architects including green space in their designs - we need to make room for nature even in our urban spaces. And it's open to the public. And the seating areas, encouraging people to mingle. And the pianos .... sorry, I did say I loved everything about it, right? Thanks so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteInteresting design!
ReplyDeleteThe architecture is interesting and the garden just brilliant. It sets a very high bar for stations subsequently built. Cake......I want some, now!
ReplyDeleteVery distinctive architecture. A landmark for sure.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous architecture!
ReplyDeleteMmm those cakes! Yum. Love the ceiling of the roof garden.
ReplyDeleteIt has become an interesting area with lots of modern architecture!
ReplyDeleteI really wish the powers that be payed as much attention to public transport in Melbourne as they do in London. Architecture is good as well!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Very interesting place. I like the rooftop garden and the many interesting architectural designs. Thanks for the tour! :-)
ReplyDeleteWow ~ what a fascinating development ~ and even good tea and cake ~ fun! Great photos ~
ReplyDelete(A Shutterbug Explores)
I love the roof garden! This would be a wonderful attraction.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic new development! I enjoyed your tour and wish I could have heard the pianist and then had a pastry!
ReplyDeleteSo many things to like. I'm not sure what that feature is in the first photo but it's so dramatic and interesting. It's amazing what has been done to the area and with such panache.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely need to check this out! They are already running some of the new crossrail trains on our section of the route. Very quiet and smooth.
ReplyDeleteWow what a beautiful complex . Fabulous engineering. I would love to see that.
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