Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

Trees and the Public Realm (Draft) Appendix B - 19
10 Moderation Knightsbridge
Urban character and trees
The Knightsbridge area, the portion of Westminster West of Belgravia and south of Hyde Park is an
architecturally mixed area, in which trees play an extremely important role.
The area can be subdivided into three portions; ‘Albertopolis’, to the west of Exhibition Road, an area of
terraces and squares to the centre of the area, and an area of larger Victorian mansion blocks to the east.
The westernmost portion is dominated by the Royal Albert Hall, and contains several other large institutional
uses as well as a number of mansion blocks adjacent to the hall. Building in this area is largely in red brick,
and of large scale. This section is framed by Queens Gate and Exhibition Road, both of which broad streets
feature terraces of mid nineteenth century houses, mostly stucco, rising to four floors plus attic.
These two framing roads are both well planted – Queens Gate particularly so. Large mature Planes are
appropriately scaled for this broad street of large houses. There is a variety to the architecture within the
consistency of materials and scale which is enhanced by the large trees framing views of individual properties.
The central section is formed of a network of eight garden squares, their associated mews and connecting
streets. Housing in this area, while still of terraced form, tends to the smaller, particularly to the east of the
area. Buildings are lower, plots are smaller and streets are narrower, creating a sense of intimacy, rather than
grandeur. Terraces in this area are of stucco, half stucco or Portland Stone.
The garden squares including Trevor, Montpelier, Rutland Gate, Ennismore and Princes Gardens, all contain a
large number of mature trees, and with the sometimes narrow streets this creates an intimate, shady
character. The tall trees largely obscure views across the squares, effectively creating a pattern of streets with
one built and one planted side.
The east of the area, formed of Albert Gate and Knightsbridge Green Conservation Areas, consists mainly of
large scale red brick mansion block and hotel buildings, with some commercial premises. This area is almost
entirely devoid of street trees, but nonetheless benefits from the proximity of the park.
Of critical importance to the character of the area is the relationship with Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens.
Glimpsed up north/south routes, through gaps between buildings and over the top of smaller buildings, this
green setting forms a constant backdrop to this part of Westminster.of old-established Mayfair, and Pimlico on
reclaimed riverside marshland south of Smith Square and Victoria.
Photos
Stucco and half stucco houses surround a garden square
containing tall mature trees, and a border of smaller shrubs. The
visibility of the architecture, and its contrast with the squares is to
be preserved.
Princes Gardens (sourced from Google Street View).