Russell Square: Heritage Meets Discreet Accessibility

Russell Square: Heritage Meets Discreet Accessibility

Russell Square, one of London’s most iconic green spaces, was developed in the early 19th century by the 5th Duke of Bedford. He commissioned James Burton to design the surrounding neoclassical houses and Humphry Repton to create the gardens, making it the largest square in London at the time, set within the Duke’s extensive Bloomsbury landholdings.

The gardens, featuring a prominent horseshoe-shaped walk lined with lime trees, were lovingly restored to their original layout in 2002. Today, Russell Square is a vibrant public space, complete with beautifully maintained gardens, a café, and borders on notable institutions such as the University of London and the grand Russell Hotel.

Preserving the historic character of the square was paramount when installing a new disabled access platform lift. With the majority of surrounding properties being Grade II listed, the challenge was to create a solution that was practical yet exceptionally discreet.

Lyfthaus rose to the occasion, adapting the street-level balustrade into a fully interlocked gate. The lift is so seamlessly integrated that pedestrians barely notice it when lowered. This kind of sensitive, heritage-focused accessibility solution is a hallmark of the Lyfthaus team, showing that modern convenience and historical preservation can coexist beautifully.

Russell Square now stands as a perfect example of how historic spaces can be made fully accessible without compromising their architectural integrity.