I like the detailing of this building (the Caxton Building), but it’s a pity its primary street frontage is dominated by 20 metres of plant / servicing entrance at ground floor. (1/x)

The ‘rear’ of the building is a much better frontage - and includes the main entrance. It gives onto a new pedestrianised area at the centre of the new Buckingham Green development. (2/x)

This central space - an extension to Brewers Green - is nice, but has a slightly campus-like feel to it. (3/x)

The development is oriented to look inwards to drive value:

“[it] comprises three magnificently designed buildings, with an engaging public realm and pedestrianised area that will provide occupiers and visitors with an unrivalled business and lifestyle destination.” (4/x)

Although a million times better, this echoes other developments around Victoria which have private, internalised pedestrian streets. For example, Cathedral Walk and Sir Simon Milton Square. (5/x)

There are real problems with this tendency of high-value commercial developments to turn away from the streets that surround them. It worsens the quality of surrounding streets instead of reinforcing them. And it gradually leads to the privatisation of the public realm. (6/x)

We need to start seeing public streets as the real drivers of value, where fronting them is the obvious, commercial and natural thing to do. (7/7)