Design workshop 02 - 20.03.2025

Summary

Canvas hosted the second public/user consultation session alongside North Herts District Council and Groundwork East at the Hitchin Rugby Club. The aim of the session was to present the second design iteration, based on the feedback provided from the first consultation session. It was agreed that the next design iteration be a combination of the initial design and the second design iteration.

In attendance were 20+ members of the public, including skateboarders, BMXers and family and friends of Ben regarding the memorial aspect for the project.

Design discussed:

Discussion

Design explanation by Canvas:

• The bowl has been redesigned to be 6-8ft depth

• The bowl is taking up a lot more footprint at the expense of the area for the rest of the park

• The mini-ramp remains as-is

• The street/park area is a little tight. It was recognised during design stage that a clover-esque shape may reduce footprint or maximise the space more.

• The seating area shown is above budget, but shown for discussion purposes

• The overall footprint is slightly over, but can be reduced to budget without much change to the amount of features.

General discussion:

• Reduce the extent of the 8’ element of the bowl.

• Keep manny pad but perhaps have it at a height that can be used as a ledge. See Dean Lane Slab for reference.

• Symmetry for the A-frame feature preferred, regarding the Hubba ledges.

• Canvas mentioned that to make the bowl larger/deeper will require footprint reduction overall to maintain budget. Canvas’ recently completed Botley Bowl was shown as an example of blended transitions to create a bowl that offers lots of lines within a footprint that can stay modest. However, for the requirements for KGV, a more traditional bowl is preferred, with deeper transitions.

• No overhang on ledges – attendants found overhung ledge-coping to be off-putting.

• The flat bar needs to be centrally located, so that it can be approached from both sides.

• Users like a waterfall in the bowl.

• Consider the possibility of future floodlighting; install ducting for installation of floodlights as phase 2.

• Bringing down the footprint by losing street features: The ledge and manny pad can be amalgamated into a single feature, like that at the Slab at Dean Lane, Bristol.

• Ideally, the construction will take place during the rugby offseason, to minimise disruption.

• Users still like the idea of a deep bowl, but a shallow end is also important.

• The bowl needs to be practical and conventional to make sure the lines work; keep experimentation to the street section.

• Ben’s memorial to be fully visible. Discussion of the location centred around the rear of the raised vert-wall or the side of the mini-ramp. Canvas showed options for a steel cut-out design of the provided artwork. This can have a plate behind the cut-out to create colour variation. Canvas has approached fabricators and have conducted research.

Design revisions to be considered

• The bowl needs to be 5ft minimum at the shallow end. Agreed to look into a 1.5ft waterfall into one bowl, creating 6.5ft area, with an extension of 1.5ft, creating an 8ft area.

• Keep the bowl a simple shape to prevent overcomplication of lines.

• Keep the level change from the initial design, near to the roof-top element

• Bowl needs to remain closed, since there is no other closed bowl nearby.

• Remove ledge and manny pad, amalgamate these into one feature (using Slab as reference).

• Locate the flat bar in a central position so it can be approached from both sides.

• Ducting incorporated at construction phase to be considered, for any future installation of floodlighting.

• Ensure orientation of wallride/vert wall is such that Ben’s memorial is fully visible to passers’ by.

• Flush coping on ledges – no overhang.