Palpable excitement has hung in the air all week ahead of the launch of King Kong Park, a temporary pocket park designed by Node, commissioned to coincide with Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games and delivered by our clients, Cordia Blackswan on Great Hampton Row, Birmingham.
Node’s landscape team was thrilled to work on a project that will enhance people’s experience of the Games, and provide a fun and engaging space to gather, with opportunities to take part in activities and to watch live coverage of the events.
The focal point of the space – and the focus of a lot of media and public attention, is the return of King Kong, Birmingham’s beloved sculptural icon. Once of the Bull Ring, but missing since the 1970s, he’s back – and this time, he’s bigger… much bigger! 7m high to be exact.
Designing a pocket park around King Kong and his vast proportions was a unique brief, but the Node team found a way to balance giving him the space he needs (for the level of attention he will undoubtedly receive!), with providing areas of seating and a fun mix of sports-themed activities.
A core structural component of the design is greening the space, with trees in planters used to temporarily close the road and provide a boundary to seating areas. Bright painted surfaces and concrete barriers are used to define the zones, providing an engaging, attractive and reversible finish.
We are delighted with the results – and looking forward to gathering in the space over the course of the Games to cheer on the athletes, have a few games amongst ourselves… and of course, have a selfie with King Kong!
