Coronation Square, Leyton
- Client: Taylor Wimpey
- Scope + Status: Residential public realm technical design & delivery, completed.
110 Trees Planted
Our Principles
3,100 m² Social/Play Space
750 New Homes
A new chapter in Leyton’s regeneration
Outerspace helped Coronation Square to become an oasis of connection and community in the heart of East London. A high-density scheme with limited space, it came with familiar urban challenges: privacy pressure, lack of green and low sense of belonging.
Brought in post-planning, we translated our given brief into something altogether more humanising, softening the scheme and transforming the entire estate.
Design Response:
Softening the stark, inspiring connection
The scheme we inherited was largely lacking in soft landscaping, with a large play feature of the type more typically found in an urban park than a communal garden. In response, we reimagined the space with layered interventions, replacing the single grand gesture in the given plan with many organic opportunities for play throughout the environment. This shift allowed an altogether more inclusive series of landscapes.
Our design balanced connection and calm. We made pathways intuitive and safe, especially for women and girls. Shifts in elevation created thresholds between quiet and social zones, with planted nooks and shaded seating to transform hard courtyards into places to pause and gather.
Soft landscaping anchors the scheme, with pollinator planting, seasonal texture and native species working together to manage water, boost biodiversity and elevate beauty. In the public realm, we also applied many of the same ‘garden room’ principles, softening spaces wherever possible, introducing sensorial planting and water play, while supporting ecological habitats.
“I got huge pride in hearing our clients excitement for our design proposals which were based on creating a lush green space. I remember him calling them the “Hanging Gardens of Leyton”!
Bethan Thomas
Designed through dialogue
From concept to delivery, we engaged closely with planners and partners. This wasn’t about ticking boxes; it was about trust, empathy and shared vision.
Community Outcomes:
A place that feels like home
Coronation Square is now a space people want to be in, not rush through. Residents meet, children play, and the piazza pulses with a sense of community. One delighted client described it as “The Hanging Gardens of Leyton”!
The fight to flourish
City living can be green, social and serene. At Coronation Square, we set a new standard where urban residents can flourish.
Learnings & pride points
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Softened density through greenery and play
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Created intuitive, inclusive circulation
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Fostered belonging through human-scale design
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Delivered value under budgetary pressure
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Marked completion with joyful community celebration