Basildon Town Centre
Project details
Overview
Basildon holds a unique history as one of the UK’s first New Towns, with many listed architectural buildings and artworks still existing on site. The main aim of the lighting strategy was to create a holistic approach to lighting across the town centre, while also celebrating the many characters and activities that happen in each zone.
Short film
Before & After
Design process
LFB were on site in July and October to undertake a detailed site analysis. In addition to technical light measurements and photographs, we documented the change of activity from morning until late night and used numerous methods of transport to arrive to the site. We discovered that, while footfall during the day is notable, especially on a sunny day, after dark the area becomes intimidating and suffers from poor pedestrian connections and a shuttered shop atmosphere with few businesses operating in the evening. Incremental development over time has also created a series of unique areas that together form the overall town centre.
This in depth exploration led to unique suggestions, many of which were confirmed in a separate safety and security audit undertaken by the council. Alongside this, sketches and reference images were used to create a base for future design interventions to be developed and a number of immediate actions that could be executed by consulting with local businesses and clubs.
Space Transformed
Click image to see the expanded view.
