Janet Jack at Alexandra Road Park

Renowned landscape architect Janet Jack designed Alexandra Road Park, an outstanding example of modernist landscaping in an urban environment.

Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate (2020) by Garden MuseumGarden Museum

Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate

The 1.7 hectare park sits within the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate designed by architect Neave Brown of Camden Architects’ Department. The Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate's unusual landscaping is an outstanding example of modernist design and the mid century approach to social inclusion.  Designed to produce a rich living environment, the park and gardens were integrated within the high density housing. The estate was Grade II* listed within 20 years of its construction and the whole site is studied by landscape and architectural students today. The site has been described as ‘the most significant landscape of its type in the UK’ and ‘a unique concept in the international context’ by Dr. Jan Woudstra, specialist in Landscape History and Theory at the University of Sheffield. 

Tap to explore

‘The whole surface of the site is treated as a sculpted landscape, which relies on strong geometric design, complex levels, very dense planting and a consistent approach to detailing. There is an unusual variety of open and closed, private and communal, sheltered spaces, designed to create intimacy, a sense of mystery, to encourage adventurous play or to evoke a sense of country in a dense urban setting.’ - Open House London, Architecture festival

Site Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Neave Brown had designed the layout for the site from 1968 which included the segmenting walls and walkways.

Janet Jack (1934 – 2016) was tasked with the planting and playground spaces.

During the 1950s Janet Jack studied with Neave Brown at the AA School of Architecture. Jack worked as a fully qualified architect for several years before training as a landscape architect. This enabled her to blend the skills together, creating a design that was very sympathetic with the architecture of the estate.

View of Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (1979/1985) by Janet JackGarden Museum

The park was completed in 1979. Planting areas were surround with additional barriers to help the plants become established and children used the playgrounds.

Walkway, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (1991/1993) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

In the 1990s the park fell into disrepair as the housing co-op who were managing the site could not afford to maintain its upkeep. Play equipment was removed and when Camden Council took back the site they closed areas off as health and safety hazards.

Wall in Playground Two, Alexandra Park Road, Camden, London (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

In 2010 local residents formed a partnership with Camden Council and by 2013 had won a funding bid to regenerate the park. The appointed designers, J & L Gibbons Landscape Architects and Erect Architecture, worked with local people and Janet Jack to restore and improve the park. By 2015 the redevelopment was finished and the park reopened.

This project included renovating all five play areas taking inspiration from Janet Jack’s original designs to create new spaces with modern materials.

Tree Levels and Location Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

The site was narrow and windy. To create sheltered spaces Jack used dense plantings of trees and shrubs to enhance the sunken and raised levels.

Jack's brief stated the park ‘had to be low maintenance’ and ‘plants had to suit poor conditions’. She planted for prosperity using resilient plants. Jack had learnt that hardy Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) was great for parks and she included it in her design.

Trees in Woodland Walk, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Janet Jack used trees with varying colours and texture as well as evergreen shrubs to provide interest all year round.

Planting Plan for Ainsworth Play Centre (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

The park was integrated with other important elements of the estate. A nursery and sunken five-a-side football pitch were built near Playground One.

Playground View, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (1991/1993) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Looking out across Playground One and the sunken five-a-side football pitch.

Open Space Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Playground One had slides and timber steps built into the slope. A tree was planted in the centre of the playground providing shade.

Playground One at Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (1979/1990) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Children enjoying Playground One soon after the park opened.

Wild Area with Crocus Bank, Alexandra Road Park, Camden (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Since the restoration this has become a wild area with seating over looking the football pitch.

Planting Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

In addition to the five playground areas, three grassy spaces were created: an amphitheatre or ‘bowl’, a central meadow and a raised green. The sheltered amphitheatre between Playground One and Playgrounds Two and Three is enclosed within a yew hedge.

The amphitheatre is planted with sun loving plants such as daffodils, marked Narcissi 'February Gold', on the north bank which faced south. The south side, which is overshadowed by the hedging, is now planted with snow drops which can thrive in more shady conditions.

Curved Path, Alexandra Road, Park, Camden, London (1991/1993) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

The amphitheatre's lawn and hedging seen c.1992.

Exterior of Flats in Winter, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (1991/1993) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Hedges surrounding the amphitheatre in winter, seen here c.1992.

Open Space Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Playground Two and Three are separated by a diagonal walkway with connecting steps and gaps in white walls. The enclosed spaces were both designed with swings and climbing frames.

Playgrounds Two and Three, Part of Alexandra Road Park, Camden (1979/1990) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Playground Two also included an unusual concrete climbing structure, on the right of the image, which echos the architecture around it.

Children on Climbing Frame (1979) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Children playing on the climbing frame in Playground Two in 1979, the year the park opened.

Tap to explore

Playground Two has become a flexible play space that could be used for different games such as tennis and football. The design is simple but resident Elizabeth Knowles reports that it has been a success with lots of residents using the space.

Playground 3, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Jack intended the walls in the park to support climbing plants such as ivy and have small beds on top, with grasses and other plants thriving. This element is echoed across the estate with planting boxes integrated with the walls of resident’s homes and balconies.

Playground Two, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Janet Jack's original plans had included flowers, fruits and herbs for residents to pick and eat. Since the regeneration rosemary, wild mint and strawberries have been added to the planter around the play areas.

Playground Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Playground Three had a large dome shaped climbing structure.

Plan for Playground Three.

Playground Three (2020) by Garden MuseumGarden Museum

The new play structure is inspired by Jack's designs.

Layout Plan for Alexandra Road Park (1968/1979) by Janet JackGarden Museum

The raised south facing green created a sunny spot for residents and visitors to enjoy. This contrasted with the meadow, in between Playgrounds Two and Three and this green, which was lower and had some trees. Jack included benches here and through out the site, often built into the wall.

Plan for raised green and Playgrounds Four and Five.

Playgrounds Four and Five had a mixture of swings, slides, sand pits and climbing structures.

There were also unusual geometric hiding hubbies, shown in the middle of this image.

Playgrounds Four and Five at Alexandra Road Park, London (1979/1990) by Janet JackGarden Museum

Playground Five shorty after opening. The playground now has similar wooden play structures designed for younger children with a soft surface rather than sand which can be hard to maintain.

View to the Meadow, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

The neglect of the park allowed trees across the site to become more established than they otherwise would have been.

Tree-Lined Walkway, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (1991/1993) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

Along one side of the playground Four and Five runs a woodland walk. Jack’s planting across the site was designed to encourage wildlife and this area particularly creates a natural environment which allows those walking through to briefly escape from London.

Woodwalk Walk, Alexandra Road Park, Camden, London (2019) by Elizabeth KnowlesGarden Museum

In 2016 Janet Jack passed away. Alexandra Road Park was one of her major projects and an excellent example of modernist landscaping in a high density estate. She followed its progress through challenges and changes.

‘I know she was delighted to see when the trees had matured how lovely these spaces worked. The woodland walk opening into a secluded place where people had privacy from the development; the fact it all turned out as she had hoped was very satisfying for her.’ - William Jack, Janet’s partner

Credits: Story

We would like to thank Elizabeth Knowles as well as William Jack for their support with this project.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions (listed below) who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
UK Gardens
From the smallest window box to the largest country estate
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favourites