Union Square is a temporary public space in Wood Wharf. Designed to generate footfall, create interest, and introduce biodiversity, greening, and wellness initiatives.

Canary Wharf has transformed from a post-industrial, commercially focused financial hub into a mixed-use neighbourhood. While 1990s redevelopment focussed on buildings and commercial space, in recent years priorities have shifted to residential communities and the creation of accessible green spaces, creating a welcoming destination for residents, workers, and visitors alike.

Wood Wharf, a 23-acre mixed-use masterplan, is central to this evolution, integrating homes, offices, retail, and public spaces for its 3,500-person community. This includes a vital ‘green spine’, a series of transformative landscape projects across Canary Wharf that extends from our award-winning Eden Dock down to Wood Wharf.

In the centre of the masterplan lies Union Square, a temporary public space designed to serve the growing population. Measuring 120m long, the square unlocks a previously inaccessible section of the wider green spine. Union Square serves as a vital access point for surrounding residential buildings, creating new pedestrian routes and improving neighbourhood connectivity by forming a thoroughfare that opens access between the eastern residential buildings and new amenities, including a primary school, GP, aparthotel, and the western residential, office, and retail areas.

Union Square’s design transforms a construction plot into an innovative, biophilic urban oasis. The inherent challenges of designing a high-quality, temporary public space within an active construction zone were overcome by employing a modular, adaptable design philosophy, ensuring both immediate functionality and long-term flexibility.

The design features a highly adaptable, multi-use central area for diverse seasonal events. Incidental amenity spaces, nestled within integrated planting schemes, provide zones for relaxation, play, and social interaction.

Dual-purpose deep planting subtly obscures adjacent construction hoarding while providing informal play areas.

In total, Union Square provides over 170 linear meters of external seating, encouraging visitors to linger and enjoy the space. Retail integration was achieved through flexible spill-out gardens with generous, accessible seating. This installation aimed to generate footfall, create interest, and introduce biodiversity, greening, and wellness initiatives within the Wood Wharf Masterplan for the next 10 years.