Borough Yards will become a new cultural destination that reflects the work/play balance of modern London
– Trevor Morriss, principal at SPPARC

Construction work has now begun on the £300m (US$393m, €336m) renovation of Borough Yards in London – a series of Victorian-era railway arches that sit near to the River Thames, Tate Modern art gallery and world-famous foodie haunt Borough Market.

Due for completion in 2020, Borough Yards will feature five mixed-use buildings that will house a workspace, retail units, gallery, restaurants, cinema and creative spaces.

The brick-built railway viaducts will be opened up for pedestrian lanes to allow for ease of passageway. Architects SPPARC said: “SPPARC’s design weaves together historic fabric with contemporary architecture and new public spaces to open up the site to its Bankside context and bring new pedestrian permeability and amenities to the area.

“The arches will be opened up and transformed to create raw-brick cathedral-like spaces for a new retail environment, cultural spaces and gallery.”

Featuring glass frontage against an industrial, scaled structure, the area between each arch will be recessed to allow each Victorian span to sit in full view.

In addition, the project will see the reconstruction of the former wine-tasting venue Vinopolis and neighbouring sites that sit before the pedestrian paths linking the Tate Modern with Borough Market, London Bridge railway station and the Renzo Piano-designed skyscraper the Shard.

"Borough Yards will become a new cultural destination that reflects the work/play balance of modern London," said Trevor Morriss, principal at SPPARC.

"Located next to the historic Borough Market, the development of new streets, cultural galleries and flexible workspace will be a lively addition to the area, which currently lacks any fashion led retail space."