Studio Woodroffe Papa proposed an urban vision for Procter Street, London – a multi-levelled public realm that proposes to transform underused basement space to redefine the area around Holborn tube station.
The scheme aligns with a wider ambition for Holborn: to improve its connection to the city, increase pedestrian connectivity and enhance the qualities of its surrounding streets. It allows for a safer exit off the station while creating an opportunity for adding social value. By creating a sheltered plaza, the area gains a space that can function all year round. It provides new facilities for community use and utilizes excess heat from the tube station to warm street furniture creating a public asset that is both functional and comfortable. In doing this we aim at transforming the idea of what a street can be: from a ‘road for cars’ into a ‘street for people’ where tourists, workers, and residents can meet.