Master Plan

BUCKINGHAM SQUARE
HARTFORD, CT
June 17, 2015

BUCKINGHAM SQUARE IS A 19TH CENTURY URBAN ENSEMBLE WHOSE

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND TOWNHOUSES ARE IMPORTANT
EXAMPLES OF THE ITALIANATE, HIGH VICTORIAN AND RICHARDSONIAN
STYLES. THE DISTRICT IS SITUATED IN ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC
SECTIONS OF HARTFORD, AND PRESERVES A MOMENT OF THE CITYS
19TH CENTURY URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
MAIN AND BUCKINGHAM STREETS WERE LAID OUT IN THE ORIGINAL
SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN; A MAP OF 1640 SHOWS A NUMBER OF
HOUSES IN THE AREA, WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF THE LITTLE
(OR PARK) RIVER. IT WAS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THESE TWO
HIGHWAYS THAT IN 1670 A DISSENTING GROUP FROM THE FIRST
CHURCH PUT UP A MEETINGHOUSE; UNTIL 1827, THEIR
MEETINGHOUSE STOOD IN THE CENTER OF THE PRESENT BUCKINGHAM
STREET AND EXTENDED OUT INTO MAIN STREET. WHEN THE PRESENT
CHURCH BUILDING WAS ERECTED ON A SITE FURTHER SOUTH, THE OLD
SITE WAS LAID OUT AS A PARK. THIS PARK NOW KNOWN AS
BUCKINGHAM SQUARE, WAS APPPROVED BY TOWN MEETING IN 1830.
BUCKINGHAM STREET WAS NAMED AFTER JOSEPH BUCKINGHAM,
TREASURER OF THE COLONY, AND SON OF THE SECOND PASTOR OF THE
SECOND CHURCH.

BUCKINGHAM SQUARE MILESTONES

1640RESIDENCES
1670-1827 2ND MEETING HOUSE
1827STREET NAMED FOR JOSEPH
BUCKINGHAM, TREASURER OF THE
COLONY
1830PARK LAID OUT
1863TOWNHOUSES BUILT-JAMES COLT
LIVED HERE
1930BENCHES REMOVED BECAUSE THE
PARK HAD BECOME A LOAFING SPOT
FOR UNDESIRABLES
1977AREA BECAME A NATIONAL REGISTER
HISTORIC DISTRICT

BUCKINGHAM SQUARE IS UNIQUE IN HARTFORD: A 19TH CENTURY

URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETE WITH PRIVATE HOUSES AND
COMMERICAL BLOCKS. WITHIN ITS BORDERS ARE REVEALED THE TASTES
OF THREE PAST GENERATIONS, WHILE SURROUNDING IT ARE ACTIVE
CONTEMPORARY INSTITUTIONS.

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

BUCKINGHAM SQUARE

HARTFORD, CT

PHOTOS

BUCKINGHAM SQUARE

HARTFORD, CT

Paver Bands

Granite Bench

(2) SPOT LIGHTS ON

BUILDING WALL
PEDESTALS WITH
INTERPRETIVE PLAQUES
BITUMINOUS PAVEMENT
4' HIGH DECORATIVE
CONCRETE WALL
PAVER BANDS

FUTURE PUBLIC
ART

E
MAIN STR

ET

WHITMAN COURT

MULCH

PRUNE & FERTILIZE

EXISTING TREES
GROUNDCOVER
MURAL OR TRELLIS ON
BUILDING
ORNAMENTAL FENCE
GRANITE SEATWALL
PAVER BANDS

REFURBISH ORNAMENTAL FENCE/GATES

CONCRETE PAVEMENT

BUCKINGHAM STREET

REMOVE TREE

BRICK PILLARS (3)

REFURBISH HISTORIC
FENCE ALONG ROAD

TRASH RECEPTACLE

SIGN: "WELCOME
TO BUCKINGHAM
SQUARE"

EVERGREEN HEDGE
CONCRETE PAVEMENT
LAWN

Master Plan

Creating Meaningful
Outdoor Spaces
Landscape Architecture

Buckingham Square

60

60

1" = 20'
JUNE 2015

120