Coal Drops Yard
Year
2014-15 & 2021
When Argent LLP was developing Coal Drops Yard, a new, multi-level retail destination within its wider King’s Cross development, two factors were considered key to the project’s success: first, simple, direct access from the surrounding area and second, an intuitive layout design to encourage customer circulation and dwell.
Space Syntax’s involvement spanned two phases of the development process: the initial strategic design phase in 2015 when we worked alongside Heatherwick Studio and, following opening, a design optimisation phase in 2021 when Argent LLP reflected on the performance of the overall development project and produced new ideas to further enhance visitors experience, including greater connectivity with nearby Granary Square and Regent’s Canal.
As part of the initial design process, Space Syntax analysed the site in terms of its accessibility within its wider urban context, and then reviewed the proposed design concepts. Visitor flow modelling was undertaken to test design proposals and recommend preferred options.
Following the opening of Coal Drops Yard, Space Syntax was commissioned again in 2021 to study customer circulation patterns and, equipped with this knowledge, to model a series of minor design changes that, as a whole, could significantly open up sight lines to and through the project, to improve visitor experience and retail engagement.
Coal Drops Yard is a highly visited retail and entertainment environment, trading across multiple levels and providing a key commercial anchor in the wider King’s Cross development. The design optimisations identified in 2021 have improved on the success of the initial project, demonstrating the importance of long-term design stewardship focused on the end user.
