NEWS
London Festival of Architecture opens voting for the Falcon Road competition
The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) and Wandsworth Council recently launched a design competition inviting proposals for permanent public realm improvements to the area underneath Battersea’s Falcon Road Bridge. The goal for designers was to create an artistic intervention which improves the public realm, wayfinding and celebrates the local area’s character.
Gustafson Porter + Bowman collaborated with Flanagan Lawrence, Social Place, Expedition, Arup, Light Follows Behaviour, Mo Almedia and Mark & Theo Chaudoir to submit the ‘River of Words’ proposal. This is currently one of 7 shortlisted concepts that has progressed to the final stage of the competition!
The landscape concept has been influenced by the former Falcon River which flowed through the site near the location of the current underpass. The flowing forms are reminiscent not only of the river but reflect the pedestrian flows to the station and underpass. The proposal suggests appropriating Falcon Terrace as a public plaza framed with flowering trees and benches.
For the northern side of Falcon Road, we proposed to paint flowing lines of blue hues that recall the Falcon River. These lines flow throughout the public space marking the entrance and accentuating the newly clad tunnel with its changing light.
Space House officially launches
The iconic refurbishment of Grade II listed Space House has officially opened this month! It delivers one of the most impressive next-generation office spaces, dedicated to low-carbon use and sustainable design.
Bronze winner of the World Architecture News Future Projects Award (Commercial category), the ambitious retrofit involves the transformation of the tower, the Kingsway block and surrounding area into a contemporary, flexible and publicly accessible square supporting shops, cafes and outdoor seating terraces.
Donncha O’Shea, Partner and lead landscape designer of Space House says “Inspired by the iconic architecture, the Space House landscape grows from the site geometry, with seating and planting that can be experienced in all directions. It provides a valuable dwell space between Holborn and Covent Garden for the public visiting this exemplary retrofit office space.”
Site Tour Eiffel wins gold in the Global Future Design Awards 2024
“OnE Site Tour Eiffel” has recently won gold for the 2024 Global Future Design Award under the public landscape architecture category!
We have been working with the City of Paris and Spl PariSeine on ‘OnE’; our concept for Site Tour Eiffel for five years. During March this year, we completed the first phase which was a renovation of the landscape around the Fontaine de Varsovie, as showcased in these pictures. The site is now being restored following the Olympics hosted this summer and should be reopened to the public in Spring 2025.
The GFD Award is one of the world’s most prestigious awards for architecture, interior, and product design. It has annually been hosted and organised by Architecture Press Release (APR), a leading body of architecture press globally.
Mary Bowman gives an exclusive Marina One tour as part WAF 2024
This month, Mary Bowman was back in Singapore for the World Architecture Festival 2024 and gave a guided tour of Marina One with Henry Steed from ICN Design International. The Green Heart in the centre of this mixed-use development by Ingenhoven Architects was looking gorgeously lush after 7 years!
Mary Bowman along with Henry Steed, Zhengxu Zhou and Professor Md. Rafiq Azam were also the jurors for the landscape category at the World Architecture Festival 2024.
Congratulations to LAY-OUT Planning Consultants on their winning project 'Regeneration of Vitality - Shenzhen Guanlan Riverside Plaza' in the Landscape of the Year category!
Taikoo Place officially opens
Last week, Gustafson Porter + Bowman was in Hong Kong for the official opening of Taikoo Place on the 8th of November. More news coming soon!
Biodiversity at Taikoo Place, Hong Kong
Taikoo Square is a planting focused space in a strategic location between the mountains and the sea. Inspired by Hong Kong’s Feng Shui Woodlands, it aims to re-introduce the lush native vegetation of Hong Kong into its’ urban fabric. In Taikoo Square, vegetation acts as a natural veil that subdivides the square, allowing glimpses into the different spaces in a theatrical sequence of opening and reveal.
Sandy Duggie and Urbis, our local landscape architect collaborator, helped us understand the nature of Hong Kong and its unique ecology. Our desire for biodiverse planting led them to introduce us to the local Feng Shui Woodlands. These woodlands are remnants of the primary forest that once covered most of Hong Kong. Today, only 116 of these woodlands remain, mainly in rural villages in the New Territories which are hotspots of biodiversity. As a team, we agreed that the re-introduction of Feng Shui trees to the centre of Hong Kong would be good for biodiversity and thus good for people.
We worked with the lighting designers Speirs Major to minimize disturbance to wildlife. We are hoping that these approaches will be taken up by other designers and clients in Hong Kong, with more designers using native and biodiverse Hong Kong vegetation and more clients banning pesticides for the benefit of wildlife.
Gustafson Porter + Bowman and Urbis look forward to the thriving of Taikoo Place, being looked after with consistency, knowledge, skill and genuine love and care. It is hoped that this landscape masterplan will contribute to the health and well-being of residents and visitors alike by encouraging social interaction and allowing people to reconnect with nature.
Kathryn Gustafson lectures for Valencia Architecture Week
For Valencia Architecture Week 2024, Kathryn Gustafson lectured on ‘Landscape Architecture and Cross Connections’. She participated with Arturo Sanz Martínez, Miguel del Rey Aynat, Marina Sender in the ‘City and Nature’ round table discussion moderated by Marisa Santamaría.
The conference focused on landscape architecture and expanded on the design process behind our projects Parque Central Valencia, Taikoo Place, Hong Kong, Diana: Princess of Wales, London among others using the below guidelines:
Humanity: Perception of space
Art: Social perception
Environment: Evolving spaces
Engineering: Adapting to new realities
“We all mix, we all work together as different people. So, if you can do art, you can do environment. Is it humanity? Is it ecology? There aren’t many disciplines that are like [landscape architecture], you are always cross disciplining”, says Kathryn.
Kathryn also gave a tour earlier that day of the first phase of Parque Central Valencia completed by Gustafson Porter + Bowman in 2019.
Insect Garden Opening at Stratford Cross
Mary Bowman attended the official opening of the Insect Garden at Stratford Cross. Gustafson Porter + Bowman welcomes this exciting educational installation by Tom Massey within our wider landscape masterplan! The Insect Garden was awarded the Silver-gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2023.
The installation was carried out in collaboration with The Royal Entomological Society who is devoted to the understanding and development of insect science.
You can find out more about the garden and the insect science education programmes it will support via the RES’ website.
Talks of continuing Parque Central Valencia
Kathryn Gustafson meets the Mayor of Valencia with talks on continuing the Parque Central Valencia Project a decade later.
Two Taikoo Place has won the 2024 ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence
We are proud to announce that Two Taikoo Place was recently awarded the 2024 ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence. Designed with sustainability at its core, this project was built to the highest standards, targeting LEED Platinum ratings as advised by Swire Properties’ sustainable development team.
Despite Hong Kong’s proximity to the natural world, the city has few high-quality green spaces which can temper the frenetic environment of the city. Taikoo Place aims to change that – more than just a commercial hub, it is an inclusive open space designed to promote biodiversity and raise public awareness of Hong Kong’s heritage of Fung Shui woodlands.
From small intimate places around water to gather with friends and colleagues, to larger open areas suitable for events such as jazz concerts and outdoor markets, Taikoo Place offers something for everyone.
The Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony takes place at Trocadero Gardens
Gustafson Porter + Bowman wishes Team GB the best of luck at the Paris Olympics 2024!
The athletes will arrive at the Trocadero Gardens in front of the Eiffel Tower for the official opening ceremony. The area around the Fountain of Varsovie which we completed in March this year has been transformed for the games.
We look forward to completing the landscape vision for our Project One Site Tour Eiffel after the games this Autumn.
We wish the City of Paris all the best in hosting what promises to be a spectacular and memorable Olympics. Let the 2024 Olympics begin!
Gustafson Porter + Bowman participates in Open City Accelerate’s mentoring programme
This spring, Gustafson Porter + Bowman had the privilege of hosting and mentoring two students from the Open City Accelerate programme, organized by Open City Education.
During their time in the studio, the students participated in mini workshops, skills training sessions, design reviews and ultimately delivered a full mock landscape proposal based on a local community space. To conclude their design, the students constructed a scale model of their site design using different materials and tools.
This was an immensely rewarding experience for all involved. We are pleased to report that one of the students returned for work experience and will be pursuing a future in Landscape Architecture!
Open City Accelerate is a year-long programme designed to provide students the opportunity to explore what a potential career in the built environment industry would look like through creative workshops, practice mentoring, and continuous support. This year's theme, "Rituals of the City," has been a focal point throughout the programme.
Last week, Open City Accelerate opened its 2024 Summer Exhibition which showcased work from all the participating students from the workshops and mentoring scheme. Click below for more details.
Our Projects feature alongside NLA’s Public London: Activating the City 2024 Publication
We are thrilled to announce that our projects Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Rathbone Square and Stratford Cross (International Quarter London) have been featured alongside ‘Public London: Activating the City 2024’ recently published by New London Architecture (NLA).
The Public London publication celebrates the 20th anniversary of the London Festival of Architecture and showcases selected London Projects from the last two decades that explore what constitutes a successful and democratic public realm today, the role of co‑creation and partnerships, and how we can ensure that places are fit‑for‑purpose in the long term.
As highlighted in the publication, “The public realm is the lifeblood of the city — an open and common ground where the everyday plays out. Core to its success is its democratic nature, which builds on co-creation and representative designs that allow everyone to feel free to be themselves.”
“The biggest challenge and most important role of landscape architecture, is to heal the broken connection between people and nature.” Creating those connections is at the very core of every project we design.
Click to read the Public London publication and our projects under the ‘Project Directory’
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain’s 20th anniversary
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park.
The Memorial has since attracted millions of visitors, won a series of international awards and become one of London’s most visited attractions, well-loved by families and children who enjoy the interaction with water.
Gustafson Porter + Bowman were early adopters of digital design and CNC cutting techniques which were used to bring the complex patterns and interactive character of the water feature design to life. This allowed us to push the boundaries of landscape architecture and deliver a design that expresses the concept of ‘Reaching out – letting in’.
The intricate design was only made possible through collaborating with an experienced team which included computer modelling specialists, consultant engineers, construction professionals and expert stone masons.
Loes Koopmans participates at Listen, Liberate, Elevate
When our Landscape Architect, Loes Koopmans was asked 'What 3 things do you think need to change in our industry to enable you to take over leadership, and what would you like the senior panellists to consider doing NOW to facilitate your future?', she responded with 3 questions as part of the Listen Liberate, Elevate PechaKucha discussion:
How are you combating the declining recognition for our disciplines?
Do you believe the existing planning system effectively facilitates regional and national development efforts to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change?
Given the critical importance of addressing these issues, should Chartered bodies alone be responsible for raising awareness and ensuring the development of skilled workers in our discipline across all educational levels not just at the University level?
Issues raised by Loes in her PechaKucha presentation included :
Water scarcity in the UK
Use of open space in urban areas is too pressurised
UK’s land management and relationship planning
Reliance put on individuals to solve problems rather than regional strategies and policies
The education sink of qualified students leaving the UK
Lack of awareness for landscape environments in lower education
Listen, Liberate Elevate held by The Equilibrium Network provided a platform for young professionals to connect with established leaders and discuss what they need to thrive in the industry and become leaders of tomorrow.
Kathryn Gustafson speaks at the ‘Healthy Cities’ Public Debate
Last week, Kathryn Gustafson participated in the ‘Healthy Cities’ Public Debate held in Madrid where the panellists discussed the essential role of design and city leadership in adopting nature-centric and public health policies.
Kathryn believes the real problem hindering urban growth is that “there's not enough dialogue between designers and the city.” It is imperative for policy makers to solve urban problems with designers, instead of bringing them in as an after-thought.
“Designers you know, they understand your brain. You need them in your policy making, not after”.
To watch Kathryn speaking more on this debate, follow the link below.
Urbidermis interviews Kathryn Gustafson
Earlier this month, Kathryn Gustafson was interviewed by Urbidermis to talk about how the relationship between spaces and people “is not only functional but also emotional”.
Urbidermis has said “talking with Kathryn is understanding first-hand how it feels to make a place yours. To appropriate it. The way she explains each project and talks about the places is simply the living example of that connection.”
Kathryn says, “the goal [for any Project] is that your landscape becomes part of people’s lives”.
The Barcelona based company Urbidermis has built a reputation for innovation in urban furniture. To read the interview with Kathryn in full, follow the link below.
Kathryn Gustafson at Art Basel
In March, our founding partner Kathryn Gustafson joined a panel at Art Basel that discussed the importance of sustainability, biodiversity, and the community in shaping public spaces for civic life. “One of the greatest challenges as a designer is really understanding where you are. How do you make spaces that are for all sorts of different people?” The answer lies in the notion of ‘placemaking’ which for Kathryn is about having a deep understanding of the place you are designing for, “it’s different colours, materials, space relationships between people”. “We always do a lot of historical research before we actually start designing” she adds.
To watch this fascinating talk and hear Kathryn talk more on sustainability, placemaking and biodiversity head over to our Linkedin page
Photography © Hervè Piraud
Site Tour Eiffel - Completion of first phase around the Fontaine de Varsovie
We have been working with the City of Paris and Spl PariSeine on ‘OnE’; our concept for Site Tour Eiffel for five years. In March 2024 we completed the first phase which was a renovation of the landscape around the Fontaine de Varsovie.
The renovation works have included the reinforcement of the two sloped lawns either side of the fountain with limestone benches, the resurfacing of paths, newly planted terraces with trimmed hedges and cherry trees along with the replacement of lighting masts with LED sources.
The site, which will be a key feature in the Olympics this year, is now closed in preparation for the games. We look forward to it re-opening in July and seeing members of the public from all over the world enjoy its enhanced features.
To read more about the project CLICK HERE
Neil Porter opens the York Design Awards
Earlier this month, our founding partner Neil Porter launched the York Design Awards with a talk dedicated to how our practice creates memorable, sustainable, vibrant and award-winning public spaces. Using examples of our work such as Old Market Square, New Ludgate, HM Treasury Courtyards and Chelsea Barracks he highlighted how it is the responsibility of every landscape architect to think beyond the design brief, understand the context of an area and leave valuable time for research. “We need to be inventive, open to new ideas and be an observer of past and contemporary cultures. Quality of thought, research and care goes into every proposal we make” he said.
Neil concluded his talk by addressing the importance of combating climate change and how this could be achieved: “reducing a cities heat island effect and providing SUD’s systems to manage storm water and space for plants that support wildlife” are just some examples evident in our Highgate Cemetery, Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek, York Central and Museum Street projects.
Celebrating International Women’s Day with Kathryn Gustafson
In celebration of International Women’s Day we shine the spotlight on our very own doyenne of Landscape Architecture, Kathryn Gustafson, who has been busy lecturing at two prominent universities in New Zealand.
In an insightful discussion, ‘Crossing Connections and Breaking Boundaries’, she explored how Landscape Architecture transcends conventional professional boundaries, serving as a pivotal force when designing and building amid environmental concerns. By integrating principles of ecology, urban planning, architecture, art, engineering and design, landscape architects are able create what she sees as “resilient and vibrant environments”.
Andy Hamilton, president of GDSNZ said of her lecture: “Kathryn Gustafson kicked off her New Zealand tour with an utterly inspiring and profound presentation of her work. She personally gave me a great deal of optimism for the role Landscape Architecture can play in navigating a future of climatic and ecological uncertainty”.
In addition, Kathryn led two masterclasses, one dedicated to planting (illustrating the journey from conceptualization to implementation), and the other on the history, environmental impact and concept of our studio’s design for Site Tour Eiffel. Xanthe White, Fellow GDSNZ, Principal XWD Studio said: “Kathryn Gustafson is both a master of imagination and actualization…it is a gift to have been given the opportunity to listen to one of the greatest designers of this generation. Mindblowing!”
City of London approves £200m Gresham Street office makeover
The plans for 65 Gresham Street were lodged with City planners in autumn 2022 and will see the existing eight-storey block extended to 12 storeys with the original building given a wholesale makeover.
The chairman of the City’s planning committee, Shravan Joshi, said: “The 65 Gresham Street proposals represent an exemplary retrofit scheme that will provide benefits for everyone. Future office tenants and their employees will enjoy a well-connected, high-quality office space, whilst local resident and visitor journeys through the Square Mile will be enhanced by the public realm improvements and new retail.”
The scheme is led by architects Squire and Partners for JP Morgan Asset Management with GP+B responsible for the design of the public realm at ground level, a series of roof terraces and a green roof.
Others working on the project include cost consultant Turner & Townsend Alinea, project manager Opera, structural engineer Buro Happold, services engineer Atelier 10 and facade engineer and facade engineer Murphy Facade Studio.
Developers announced for York Central
Homes England and Network Rail have selected McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as the preferred developer for their major brownfield scheme, York Central.
York Central is being brought forward by a partnership between Homes England, Network Rail, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. The scheme has the potential to significantly boost the local economy by creating up to 6,500 jobs and delivering over £1.1 billion of Gross Value Added to the economy of York per annum.
There are already £135m of infrastructure works underway to enable this major regional scheme to progress. These include over 3km of new roads, footpaths, cycleways and also include two new bridges over the East Coast Main Line.
The appointment of McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as a development partner is the latest milestone in delivering York Central, which will see a key piece of York city centre brought to life by transforming underutilised railway land into vibrant and distinctive residential neighbourhoods, cultural spaces, high quality public realm and a high-quality commercial quarter.
Oxford North’s central landscape, market square and children’s play area given green light
Our detailed designs for Oxford North’s new central park, landscaped areas including a wildflower meadow, woodland, pond and children’s play area along with the new public square located to the north of the Red Hall, have been resolved to be approved by Oxford City Council’s planning committee (Nov 2023).
Oxford North will deliver one million sq ft (92,903 sq m) of laboratory and workspaces, 480 new homes, hotel, nursery, cafes, bars, three public parks and infrastructure.
Oxford North Ventures, the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Cadillac Fairview and Stanhope, submitted the reserved matters application (RMA) for the central landscape to be delivered as part of phase 1a with the Red Hall cafe-bar, retail units, community space and first two lab buildings which will target practical completion in Q1 2025.
