The Artist's Garden, a well-known public sculpture space located on the roof of Temple Station in central London, has been ordered to vacate its current site. Places for London, the commercial property arm of Transport for London, requested the move by October 1 to allow for a formal assessment of essential safety repairs needed on the terrace and station roof.
Since its opening five years ago, the garden has served as a free, open-access venue for contemporary sculpture. The charity behind the space, theCOLAB, manages the installations and reports that over 100,000 visitors access the site annually. Alice Walters, deputy director of theCOLAB, expressed concern that forcing the project to relocate could lead to the permanent loss of the initiative in its current form.
Westminster City Council maintains its support for the project and has confirmed it will work with all involved parties to identify a path forward. The site currently provides a rare, free space for immersive art in a high-density urban environment, a point highlighted by previous exhibitors like Lakwena Maciver and Lisa Vandy. These artists note that the project provides critical visibility for female creators and offers the public a quiet, accessible area for cultural engagement.
Representatives from Places for London stated that while they acknowledge the cultural value of the garden, the site requires immediate inspection for structural integrity. They confirmed that the area holds legal protection for public access and stated that they remain committed to maintaining the cultural character of the terrace. Discussions are underway to explore alternative locations nearby should a move prove necessary to facilitate the required repairs.