King's Cross Gets New Street: King's Boulevard

M@
By M@ Last edited 157 months ago

Last Updated 28 September 2011

King's Cross Gets New Street: King's Boulevard
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The view from King's Cross.
The view from King's Cross.
A gentle curve.
A gentle curve.
White benches, resembling Cylon Basestars, line the route.
White benches, resembling Cylon Basestars, line the route.
A windows onto the construction site.
A windows onto the construction site.
One of numerous information panels describing the history of the area.
One of numerous information panels describing the history of the area.
The Granary Building looms ahead.
The Granary Building looms ahead.
Looking back to King's Cross and St Pancras.
Looking back to King's Cross and St Pancras.

London's newest street opened on Friday, to little fanfare. King's Boulevard runs from the German Gymnasium at the back of the station, through to Goods Way. Here, it meets a new bridge over the Regent's Canal that will soon convey thousands of students and staff into the new University of the Arts facilities fronted by the old Granary Building.

King's Boulevard is still very much a work in progress. Builders' hoardings line the entire route, and will do for the next few years while new commercial buildings and public spaces are constructed.

That's not to suggest the route is unpleasant. A gentle curve and slope, with no motor vehicles to dodge (yet), give the boulevard a promising potential, although much will depend on the quality of the buildings that will one day line the street. Curvy, white benches and newly planted plane trees work well with the light-gravelled footpath. The developer has also placed numerous information panels along the route, offering a brief history (and future) of these beguiling lands.

Further images and discussion can be found over on Skyscrapercities, and artist's impressions of future developments are available on the King's Cross Central pages. With thanks to Ben Myring.