Reading Station Hill is a new mixed-use development that serves as both a gateway to the town and a vibrant destination for residents and businesses. Its strategic location benefits from the newly enhanced commuter access to London via the Elizabeth Line.
Positioned between the central train station to the north and the town centre with its existing shops and amenities to the south, the development sits on the former site of the disused Friars Walk shopping centre, the old bus station, and the British Railways Western Tower offices. At its heart lies a new public realm, offering a pleasant and seamless pedestrian link between these key areas.
Our team was responsible for the lighting design across all exterior public spaces, roof terraces, residential tower façades, entrance canopies, shared interior amenity areas, and the main lobby space at One Station Hill.
Arriving at Station Hill from the train station or taxi ranks below, visitors and residents approach via either a broad staircase or a sweeping sloped pathway that leads directly to One Station Hill, a new commercial tower and Reading’s tallest building. From there, the path continues through to the residential section of the development and onward into the town centre.
The lighting design for both the soft and hard landscaping of the public realm was developed in close collaboration with the landscape architects. Through subtle, layered illumination, we aimed to create a welcoming, enjoyable, and secure environment.
High-level projectors—discreetly positioned on building façades or integrated into elegant, multi-headed feature columns—provide ambient lighting. These are complemented by localised light sources integrated into benches, architectural details, artworks, and planting features.
Upon entering the triple-height reception lobby of One Station Hill, the immediate focal point is the lush, full-height living wall behind the reception desk.
Lighting a living wall presents unique challenges and can feel counterintuitive, but when done correctly, it brings the space vividly to life. The luminaires required to illuminate the wall are carefully concealed within the custom-designed feature lighting track.
The feature track system was developed in response to the architect’s desire to leave the concrete ceiling soffit exposed and untouched. As a result, recessed fixtures were ruled out early in the design process.
To achieve the necessary accent lighting for seating, circulation areas, and the living wall, a surface-mounted track and spotlight system was chosen. This system is integrated into a bespoke profile that also includes linear diffused lighting to highlight the flowing curves of the track’s frame, whilst at the same time providing additional uplift of ambient illumination for the lobby, along with housing emergency lighting, loudspeakers, and CCTV cameras.
The design of the feature track draws direct inspiration from Reading’s rich railway heritage. Its form echoes the interconnecting, branching paths of train tracks, continuing around the corner and disappearing into the lift lobby—bringing the spirit of the town’s rail legacy into the very fabric of the building.
Client: Lincoln MGT
Project Manager: Cast
Architect: Arcadis UK & Gensler
Landscape Architect: LDA Design
Building Services Engineer: Hoare Lea
Structural Engineer: Rambol
Main Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine
Electrical Contractor: Dornan
Photography: Andy Stagg
