Ludgate Hill currently refers to the neighborhood adjacent to the London Stock Exchange and St Paul’s Cathedral. Being a site where the ruins of the ancient Roman Wall still stands, throughout the colonial era a gate once stood in its place. Demolished in 1760, the historical importance of the site in the planning of London and the numerous rivers channeled underground throughout the victorian era has been lost to all but texts and adventurers.

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In the hypothetical event that the city block where the Old Ludgate was located had succummed to fire, the City of London is looking to replace the condemned block with a park and pumping station to ensure future water reserves are avaliable when threatened by fire in the future. In the event, the Roman wall had become exposed and must be integrated into the site which provides access to the stock exchange from the Thames Link metro station.

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Reconstructing the former pieces of the wall, a sheet of water flows vertically creating a transparent barrier. At times, penetrations allow visitors to pass through the wall untouched. This process creates the New Ludgate, where visitors are greeted on the other side by an iconic building that highlights London’s rich hydrologic history.

The building bursts forward as acrylic dowles adorn the forward facing facades. Within is a subterranean musuem housing a reconstructed victorian era waterpump that services the outside water system. Complete with exhibition room and main gallery hall, the building also houses a modern waterworks, where visitors have the opportunity to engage with modern utility services and systems.