A new public water feature has been unveiled at Clarendon, Berkeley’s major new neighbourhood created in partnership with Haringey Council.
The Mayor of Haringey officially opened the water feature during a community arts event, with the help of pupils from Alexandra Palace Primary School who created their own origami artworks to float in the water.
The installation is complemented by a series of engravings designed by artist Rachel Champion, inspired by community memories of Clarendon Gasworks, which previously stood on the site.
Coinciding with the opening of the water feature, the partners celebrated the delivery of another 99 affordable homes at Clarendon, bringing the total to 392 affordable homes completed to date.
Berkeley’s vision for Clarendon is to create a thriving mix of uses for the public and residents to enjoy, whilst celebrating the area’s creative arts community.
Once complete, Clarendon will provide more than 1,800 new homes and 125,000 sqft of commercial space for established local retailers, cafés, bars, restaurants, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
To further improve access for local people, Berkeley is creating a new pedestrian route to Wood Green station, which will cut journey times and increase biodiversity around the site.
Brian Mckenzie, Divisional Managing Director, Berkeley said: “We are delighted to have been able to welcome The Mayor of Haringey and the local community to celebrate the opening of the new water feature at Clarendon, and to mark the milestone with a community arts festival for all to enjoy. The new engraved artwork by Rachael Champion embraces the site’s past and its meaning to the local community, which is an important way of recognising its heritage.
“Clarendon is fast becoming a flourishing new neighbourhood, with a mix of quality new homes, commercial and retail spaces for local businesses, as well as a new public park. We are very pleased to be able to celebrate our latest milestones with L&Q, The London Borough of Haringey and the local community.”
Rachael Champion said: “It’s an honour to commemorate the Hornsey Gas Holders which were for over a century a significant landmark in Haringey. I hope Remembering Giants will give visitors and residents a sense of the remarkable presence of these former industrial structures”.
This piece is the latest in a trio of public artworks by Rachael at Clarendon. Her first work, Course and Flow, commemorates the Moselle Brook, a hidden river that flows underneath the site, with a final piece, Boulders of Biodiversity, due to be installed early 2024.