Noel Kingsberry and Piet Oudolf

Noel Kingsberry is a British garden designer known for promoting naturalistic planting in gardens and has written books on this matter such as 'the new perennial garden' (1996) as well as about 'green architecture'. He also has a blog and does courses on planting design. He has collaborated with Piet Oudolf for a long time and some of their gardens are pictured above. Perennials are more sustainable and require less maintenance as they grow back year upon year.

Sketches for Sustech Design

 

Quick sketch ideas for Blackfriar’s project

 

Ideas for details for my Blackfriar's Design

Box style edible garden for roof of creative workshop buildings to provide a green space for creative workers to go to and get a break from their work - something hugely important in this day and age of computer screens. The community edible gardens can provide a place for non-awkward or forced socialisation (as they will be doing something active) and so can relax into meeting each other - another thing lacking in today's society.

Curved seating would be suited to any changes in slop in the main public realm area (especially in the area facing the setting sun over the river).

A modern concept for a vegetated city centre. The contrast between modern architecture and planting is very modern and in my opinion the future of sustainable cities. Gloucester city centre is in major need for more vegetation to improve the physical health of the area (biodiversity, air cleaning etc) as well as for the mental health of Gloucester's population (who are likely losing their connection to nature).

Like much of the rest of Britain, effective bicycle paths are in urgent need to protect cyclists and pedestrians from collisions. Emphasis should be placed on this over the size of roads - leading by example for other city centres under-going regeneration in the UK. I also think that the grass planting between the road and bike path is effective and soft.

More curved benches to continue this soft and flowing theme. The curved back supports cater for the older generation who may struggle to sit comfortably on a bench without a back support.

An optical illusion sculpture, again curved in theme, displays the luscious greenery in this park - something similar could be used in the park areas of my design to create the illusion of the urban city being more natural.

A larger scale edible garden - would be perfect for a larger roof.

Another successful example of a bike path running alongside the road - an essential for any sustainable city centre!

Another curved sculpture idea which would also work in my design's garden area. Public art could add to the creative culture theme and be made by local artists and rotated or put up overnight to add the element of surprise to Gloucester's population. This would not only display the talent of artists in Gloucester but also give them an opportunity to get their name out to potential buyers or journalists, bringing further tourism to the area (e.g. like Banksy in Bristol).
 

Ideas for Water Features for Blackfriar's Project

Fountains in Rome are dotted around the city for people to fill their water bottles up from. This could form an potential sustainable initiative for Gloucester.

Tying in with Gloucester's docks and the river, a water feature in the main public realm space will draw people in, creating a relaxed vibe throughout the day and evening (especially if tied in with good lighting).

The use of lighting is interesting in this fountain however I prefer the mood which running water (such as a waterfall) creates as a pose to jet fountains (although jets can create an opportunity for fun on a hot summers day - yet these are few and far between in Gloucester).

Another example of water taps in Rome.

This water fountain in Paris catches the eye with its strategic framing placement. I especially enjoy the way it loops the water, making it highly dynamic and potentially more sustainable than other water fountains.

Combining a water feature with a piece of art would work well in Gloucester, especially when consider the brief which specifies that it wants a creative, cultural hub. Perhaps a fountain feature in the form of something to do with Gloucester's past could be effective to tie into the historic ruins found around the Blackfriar's area.

 

Jacques Wirtz - L’Hoist, Business garden

The images above show the plan and finished design of a business garden in Brussels. It has a surface area of 22100m2 and was designed in 1990. The curved hedging trees accentuate the slope which travels down to the car park and business centre itself and down further to a lake. It provides an extremely green environment for the business' staff to work in from the moment they park their car. Other planting including grasses which soften the high maintenance, pruned hedging, as well as yew trees to lead the area into a surrounding forest.

Jacques Wirtz (1924-2018) was a Belgian landscape architect who is often recognised for his use of evergreen shrubs clipped into the form of clouds. His sons joined his practice which, on its website, states;

"In this world filled with stress it is important to have as much public and private greenery as possible."

"Though each garden is different and there’s not a typical Wirtz garden, you will always recognize them. We work with big movements, making big gestures in small and large gardens. Gardens need to express a strong character."

 

Initial SOC Analysis Overlays for Blackfriars Area

Construction Detail Practice

 

Drawings and sections for Lightmoor Plan

 

Adriaan Geuze and West 8 - Miami Beach Soundscape Park

Adriaan Geuze joined with Edzo Bindels to create West 8 - an international urban design and landscape architecture firm. They focus on contemporary culture, urban identity, and engineered design all in the context of the site's location. The park pictured above (Miami Beach Soundscape Park) utilises its inner-city space with meandering white paths mimicking the white of the tree trunks and the pergolas (hand fabricated, painted aluminum structures) with the beautiful, tropical bougainvillea vines. The canopy trees create an enclosed feel to the park which gives relief from the busy city to walkers-by. The park is also well-lit, creating a safe space for people to enjoy at night when attending the audio-visual feature the park has which creates a space for people to sit, view and listen to performances in the park. I personally find the maze of paths interesting, especially the way the paths range in width and length in an organic form style, creating a stunning pattern for viewers in the multistory buildings surrounding it.

Car-parking Inspiration for King's Quarter Project

By planting vegetation around the outskirts of the car parking multi-story blocks, it detracts from the monotonous grey which dominates almost all city centres. The sunlight reaches the edges of the building meaning the only maintenance needed is the trimming and watering of plants, something which would certainly make a car-park warden's job more exciting!
 

Inspiration for King's Quarter design

 Chester City Centre Design:

A pretty plain, open area proposed for Chester, with focus on the building design/architecture.

The paving in this part of Chester compliments the colours of the buildings and leads you towards the statement buildings.

Birmingham Proposed Jewelry Quarter Design:

This has a European feel to it, as if it was designed for a hotter climate where shops and restaurants open way into the night. I find the fairy lights create a calm atmosphere which compliments the vegetation. The mixed use of paving adds another dimension to the area.

Barcelona City Centre Design:

The use of vegetation here is extremely effective. It creates a burst of colour in a sea of cement greys and beiges.

Amsterdam City Design:This urban park area near the river is a decent size open space where visitors can sit. It could also be used by skateboarders, and also children to play around. The vegetation creates shade spots for people to sit under on a particularly hot day, however there is also room in the sun for sunbathers or picnickers. The marque could double as a music stand for performers to stand under.

This is a park in the centre of Amsterdam. The mounds could be used by skateboarders or bmx bikers however I am unsure how much fun they would be to children just wanting to play.

Christopher Bradley-hole

This design, designed for a private client by Bradey-Hole Schoenaich Landscape is based in Newick Village, UK, and was completed in 2008. The contrasting colours of the grasses and wildflowers lift the area which is laid out using Bradley-hole's renowned geometric style. The interwoven paths create a maze-like landscape, holding visitors up to enjoy the landscape for longer and get lost in it. The image with the table and chairs displays how the landscape has a wild yet serene feel to it, which could be enjoyed with friends or family on a summer evening.