Kings Walk Refresh Complete
Work to improve and refresh the Kings Walk area of Winchester has been completed. Before and after photographs show how the works have helped transform this part of the city centre into a vibrant and more attractive space for residents, shoppers, commuters and visitors where they can meet and relax.
The upgrade includes integrating the Nutshell theatre with the Kings Walk Arcade, improving the appearance of the façade and entrance along Silver Hill and enhancing existing open spaces.
In addition to creating a courtyard area – the ‘Courtyard Garden’ – with seating shared between Kings Walk traders and the Nutshell theatre, the improvement work also included:
- Improved and consistent signage and wayfinding throughout Kings Walk;
- New illuminated shop signage and improvements to the lighting;
- New planters and planting around the Middle Brook Street and Silver Hill entrances as well as in the new courtyard area;
- Repainting of brickwork and replacement of doors to the rear entrances of shops.
The thinking behind the improvement works comes from a collaborative design team including Studio Multi (architects), to-studio (landscape architects), Light Follows Behaviour (lighting designers) and Tim George (graphic designer) – has been to introduce a new visual identity to the area.
The early improvement works at Kings Walk have been carried out in advance of wider-ranging proposals for Central Winchester Regeneration which Winchester City Council is delivering with its development partner, Jigsaw Consortium.
Cllr Martin Tod, Leader of Winchester City Council, said:
“It’s fantastic to see the early improvement works completed for Kings Walk. Studio Multi's work has been transformational, creating a vibrant and attractive space for the businesses and visitors to the building and surrounding area. We're committed to regenerating this part of the city and supporting the independent businesses based in Kings Walk. Studio Multi's design has helped us do both.”
Neil Wyatt – owner of The South Downs Social café in Kings Walk said:
“We've always seen the potential of this area of town - all it needed was a bit of love. All the Kings Walk businesses have worked hard to help the area grow and improve in their own way, while the painting, planting and place-making from Winchester City Council and Studio Multi has really helped bring everything together. The area has been transformed over the past year or two and is now a vibrant, thriving part of the city centre. We can’t wait to celebrate the new Kings Walk at this weekend’s Festival!”
Nicola Rutt, Director of Studio Multi, said:
“This project has sought to transform the previously tired and uninviting open spaces of Kings Walk by creating a more vibrant and animated focus for traders, shoppers, and visitors to Winchester. “The Arcade has a mix of independent, creative businesses and our design approach recognises the importance of enhancing the environment of Kings Walk in the same spirit.”
Kings Walk is home to an eclectic mix of thriving independent shops, cafés and businesses including Bellacrafts, Design Junction, Open House Deli, Polka Dot Piercing, The South Downs Social, The Well Worn, Handmade Studio, The Nutshell, Winchester Pilates and Sunflowers Emporium. The newly revitalised space is the backdrop to the first Kings Walk Festival which takes place on Saturday 30 September, 10am-5pm. For more information about Kings Walk and what it has to offer, please visit the website and follow its Instagram channel.