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Streatham Green, London
- Client: IN Streatham, London Borough of Lambeth
- Awards: [TBC]
- Scope: Design and technical delivery, completed.
- Team: Outerspace
14 Trees Planted
Our Principle
760 m² Social/Play Space
1,700 m² Total Site Area
From Neglected Space to a Garden of Community Connection
Once an unsafe cut-through, Streatham Green is now a vibrant communal garden, space shaped by those who use it. For six months, we worked with the community to co-create a welcoming green space, prioritising women, children, older residents and those with limited mobility.
Through our Design through Dialogue process, we listened to local voices often ignored. Rather than imposing a brief, we invited residents to help us shape a better one. Stories, needs and dreams were translated into a vision for a park built on safety, connection and joy.
Design Response: A Place to Pause and Connect
We transformed the Green from a place to pass through into one to pause, meet and belong. Sculpting the focal point to evoke an amphitheatre, we created a stage for community life to unfold.
An accessible path improves inclusive access for all, while layered zones encourage rest, play and interaction. Planting, lighting and flexible seating bring colour and comfort. Biodiverse interventions, floral textures and dappled light integrate nature throughout. Quiet nooks, playful areas and accessible pathways welcome everyone, from eight to eighty.
For all involved, Streatham Green has become a symbol of trust. A place where women feel safe, children can roam and generations meet. A space that belongs to all.
“This one felt personal. Designing for community is what I love. Doing it here? That’s the cherry on top!”
Charlotta Tomlinson
Outerspace project lead
Learnings & Pride Points
Charlotte, our project lead with roots in the area, said: “This one felt personal. Designing for community is what I love. Doing it here? That’s the cherry on top!”
When costs rose, the client stood firmly behind the vision and together, we saw it through. Initial scepticism at the project’s outset gave way to celebration at the groundbreaking ceremony, with locals expressing deep pride and confidence in Streatham Green’s future.
The Fight to Flourish
This is what’s possible when we design with, not for, communities. This is how we flourish.
Highlights
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Turning a cut-through into a social landscape
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Community-led vision and design
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Safety, biodiversity and play in balance
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From avoidance to invitation
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Shared ownership, shared pride