#SaveTheRill: What We have Lost bricking up one of London's most iconic Water Features

A month ago, it was reported that the Water Rill at MORE London was being bricked up. Designed by Townsend Landscape Architects, the 260m long water feature that connected London Bridge Station with City Hall has quietly flowed for over 15 years.

As The Rill was being bricked up, debate arose over the health and safety implications with increasing phone use in the area that is apparently causing a higher risk of injury.

Image via The Londonist

Now, a month on, one can really feel a sense of loss as you walk through the space: a lack of sensory pleasure of hearing water flow; seeing the light reflecting off the stream; and even the opportunity to touch it/walk in it (popular with kids in the Summer).

We as Humans are inherently drawn to nature and natural processes (biophilia) and The Rill was an extremely successful precedent to biophilic urbanism and place-making, transforming and activating an otherwise linear route, whilst also acting as a subtle aid to way-finding.

Bricking up The Rill hinders the positive biophilic experience of the hundreds of people who work in the area and those that pass through daily, which can include stress relief, improvements in productivity and a greater sense of wellbeing.

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Health and Safety concerns must be taken seriously, but how can we as designers respond creatively to address these issues?

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For sure, there is potentially a [small] risk of tripping, you may accidentally step into it, the floor may be slippery because of it, but our brains are made to overcome such physical and spatial challenges; and as a result are positively stimulated.

It is a real shame that The Rill has been bricked up so hastily without wider consultation, which leaves me with several ponderings:

Is bricking up The Rill the best design solution? or the easiest/cheapest one?

Is it possible to 'safely' design IN risk that is challenging, delightful and stimulating?

How can we encourage users to be more aware of/engaged in their urban surroundings - rather than distracted on digital devices?

What do you think?

The project has yet to receive planning permission, please let Southwark Council know your thoughts here!