Woolwich Town Centre | London

Michael Grubb Studio collaborated with LDA Design and the Royal Borough of Greenwich to deliver a new public realm lighting scheme for the regeneration of Woolwich Town Centre. The lighting design for Woolwich public space brings new life and identity to the historic marketplace and civic heart of the town after dark.

The urban lighting design transforms the once dark, hard-edged square into a warm and welcoming public space that invites people to linger, gather, and enjoy the area well into the evening. The scheme complements LDA Design’s vision for a flexible civic square that adapts to year-round use, from daily market activity to community events and seasonal celebrations.

The approach balances civic pride with a sense of calm tranquillity. The lighting design highlights the new planting, terraced seating, and playful water feature while enhancing the surrounding architecture, including the Grade II listed Royal Arsenal Gatehouse. Soft, elegant illumination along key routes improves legibility and safety, ensuring the space feels open, secure, and inviting.

Lighting Design for Public Spaces Enhancing Civic Identity

Supporting Woolwich’s vibrant evening economy, the architectural lighting for this town centre combines functional, ambient, and accent layers to encourage activity and social interaction after dark. Subtle colour temperatures and carefully positioned lighting foster intimacy and connection, helping the community reclaim Beresford Square as a place to meet, relax, and celebrate. Outdoor lighting  scheme adds warmth and depth along Powis Street, creating a safe and comfortable environment throughout the town centre. Michael Grubb Studio always considers local habitats and ecology in the lighting design, especially in the public realm sector. The new scheme by LDA Design introduced softer landscape and ecological opportunity. Therefore, new lighting scheme for Woolwich Town Centre takes a more balanced, context-sensitive approach, reducing unnecessary light spill and supporting a healthier nocturnal environment.

Through this collaboration, Woolwich’s central square has been reimagined as a flexible and inclusive civic space and one that celebrates its heritage while embracing a bright and welcoming future through public realm lighting design that enhances the town’s identity and community life.