Stratford Waterfront’s public realm delivers 1.5ha of landscape for East Bank, London's cultural district. With 2,000sqm of green space, stepped waterfront terraces, seating and free events.

The public realm at Stratford Waterfront delivers over 1.5 hectares of new landscape, including more than 2,000m2 of green space.

The existing bridges across the park presented an eight-metre level change at the boundary of the site. This prompted the creation of a new podium level, wrapping the cultural buildings and providing elevated views of the park.

Terraces step down from podium to ground level, creating opportunities for seating and planting, forming performance spaces, and orientating south-facing views over the Waterworks River and towards the wider park. New cafés and restaurants spill out onto this waterfront.

Stratford Waterfront is an important new piece of city that can be used by everyone, regardless of their background. The terraces provide opportunity to pause, play, and perform, and they have been brought to life through a year-round programme of free arts and educational events.

The site is proving to be an equally successful backdrop to contemporary dance festivals, classical concerts, impromptu fashion shoots, weekday lunch breaks, family days out, and long summer evenings with friends. It is a hard-working yet carefully considered landscape, which is able to improve access to culture, provide moments of quiet relaxation, and celebrate moments of collective joy.

“What distinguished the team was their ability to manage complexity without losing sight of the wider vision. They navigated phased delivery, technical challenges, and multiple stakeholder interests with professionalism and clarity, whilst maintaining a strong design focus throughout. The result is a public realm that feels welcoming, connected, and vibrant — a space that supports day-to-day activity while also creating a strong sense of place and identity across the wider East Bank development. The completed scheme has exceeded our expectations and is already proving highly successful with occupiers and the local community alike. It is a testament to the collaborative ethos, design quality, and commitment demonstrated by Allies and Morrison and LDA Design throughout the project.” - Graham Willson, Senior Development Manager, LLDC