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Ancient Market Place, Kingston
- Awards: Mayors 100 Great Spaces; Landscape Institute Award
- Client: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
- Scope + Status: Public realm design guide, Completed
28 Market Stalls
Our Principles
100 m² Social/Play Space
28 Million Annual Visitors
Ancient Market Place, Kingston:
Reviving a town’s spirit and soul
For centuries, the Ancient Market Place was Kingston’s civic heart. But over time, it lost its connection to modern town life, becoming underused and forgotten beyond the shopper, despite its historic significance.
Outerspace was invited to reimagine this iconic space for a new generation, not through nostalgia but by unlocking its cultural energy and weaving in a bold, contemporary layer that would celebrates past, present and future in equal measure.
Design response:
A framework for culture, commerce and community
We began with the town’s ancient bones, proud traders and riverside lanes. Working through our ‘Design through Dialogue’ process, we co-created a public realm guide with local traders, artists and institutions. More than a fixed plan, this was a living framework to support every need, all year round, including markets, festivals, performances and civic events.
Rather than freeze history, we turned the Market Place into a contemporary stage, informed by careful townscape analysis. We preserved key views and rhythms, while introducing adaptable infrastructure and nuanced gestures that serve multiple functions.
Community-powered design
Co-creating with traders was essential. Together, we reimagined market stalls as elegant structures that look great both in and out of use. Forgotten alleyways once used to carry goods up from the Thames were revived with creative wayfinding, art and lighting to become cultural corridors.
Paving, seating and furniture all further reflect Kingston’s creative identity through subtle collaborations with local artists and students.
“Absorbing the history in a way that celebrates the spirit of the past whilst adding in a twenty first century layer was my challenge. It’s a delicate balance to achieve, hopefully I got it right?”
Richard Broome
Legacy: A heritage space, reborn
Today, the square is alive, hosting seasonal events, night markets and performances. No longer a relic, the Ancient Market Place is a destination and civic anchor shaped by collaboration and care.
Today the Ancient Market Place boasts a proud past and promises a flourishing future for the town.
Pride Points
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Balancing cultural sensitivity with modern need
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Reviving alleys as story-rich pathways
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Co-designed with traders, artists and community
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Layering quiet confidence with bold imagination