Hammersmith School Parklet for Safety and Community

Client

Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Location

Sectors

Products & Services

Project overview

Meristem Design helped to bring greenery, colour, biodiversity and additional seating to a Jaques Prevert, a school in Hammersmith. The scheme was proposed by Hammersmith Council as a solution to improving child safety and the school commute experience. We collaborated with the council to design a large-scale, vibrant parklet to align with their goals, producing both social and environmental benefits for the school and surrounding community.

Goal

The Hammersmith School is situated on a street characterized by heavy traffic, both from the school commute and everyday local vehicles. As the school pathway had no formal barriers or railings separating it from the road, the council was concerned for the safety of children and parents during their commute. Additionally, the school lacked community space and greenery. This parklet project aimed to address these issues by creating a safer, more welcoming, and visually engaging exterior for the primary school, providing both protection and a sense of community for students and families.

Scope

This large-scale parklet solution was located on the stretch of pavement leading up to the school gates. The parklet measured 19m x 2m and was made up of custom planter and street furniture components including:

4no 1500 x 500mm benches
4no 800 x 500 x 600mm planters in RAL 4010
17no 1000 x 500 x 800mm planters in RAL 6004
4no 1200 x 500 x 800m planters in RAL 6034

Solutions

The project aimed to improve safety outside the school for both parents and students and create a greener, more vibrant community space to be enjoyed during pick up and drop off times. The parklet was designed and fabricated to address safety concerns and boost the green factor of the surrounding area.

Size, Structure and Placement

The parklet was specifically designed at a large scale to cover the full stretch of the pavement extension to ensure the approach to the school gates had accessibility, greenery and safety factors.

Vibrant Colour Choices

Bold colours were selected to create a more colourful and inviting approach to the school gates and brighten up the street.

Specialised Planting

The planting scheme was designed to be sensory to meet the interests of the school children, to add visual interest and promote cleaner

Seating Integration

Custom benches were incorporated into the parklet design to provide comfortable resting spaces for parents and children, encouraging social interaction and extended use of the area.

Impact

The parklet transformed the school frontage into a safer, greener, and more inviting space, benefiting both the school community and the local neighbourhood. It successfully addressed safety concerns, enhanced social interaction, and improved the environmental quality of the street.

Improved Safety

The parklet created a clear barrier between the pavement and the road, providing a protected route for students and parents during pick-up and drop-off times.

Enhanced Community Engagement

Integrated seating encouraged parents, children, and local residents to gather, promoting social interaction and a stronger sense of community.

Vibrant and Welcoming Environment

Bold colours and sensory planting brightened the street, making the approach to the school more inviting and enjoyable for students and visitors.

Environmental and Biodiversity Benefits

The introduction of greenery increased local biodiversity, supported pollinators and improved the overall aesthetic and ecological quality of the area.