The Italian Terraces, formerly surrounded by the Palace and its 'wings' marked the entrance to the Park and the central Paxton pathway.

Restoration

The masterplanners intend to restore and recreate the essence of these spaces, the grandeur and scale of the formal gardens on the Italian Terraces.  Most significantly the Italian Terraces will be flanked by new greenhouses to the north and south.

The listed Italian Terraces structures would be sensitively repaired, with missing sections of balustrades and copings replaces in stone or cast stone.  Where elements are completely lost, such as the staircases, replacements would be to a new design allowing for the introduction of new functions such as ramps and slides, aiding both accessibility and enjoyment.

The Upper Terrace

The upper Italian Terrace will be transformed into a balcony to provide small scale spaces for quiet recreation, with views into the park.  It could also provide:

• Views over the Park
• a promenade area with views to both sides
• a clear shaped slope between the upper and lower levels.

The Lower Terrace

The lower Italian Terrace could provide a larger scale well serviced area for multifunctional piazza with:

• A permanent ground for art and horticultural installations
• opportunities for varied, short-term exhibitions
• the incorporation of sunken gardens
• space for recreation.

New sunken gardens

The new sunken gardens will be located between the former fountain basins which will provide ramps to access the Italian Terraces and lower landscapes beyond.  Ramps will provide much better disabled access, allowing movement between the upper and lower terraces.

The sunken gardens are a design feature which would re-introduce the horticultural interest without disrupting the scale of the terraces.  It is envisaged that the open spaces would be used as a site for semi-permanent garden installations and exhibitions of horticulture, in the tradition of Paxton’s horticultural fêtes.

The two new greenhouses would enclose and frame the terraces and the former Palace wings once did, containing multiple functions.

More details on the greenhouses

• South Greenhouse in Anerley Hill Edge
• North Greenhouse in the English landscape.