Vision & Concept, Landscape Architecture
Education & Research
The University of Portsmouth needed a landscape design strategy to support the development of its new building complex. Our core challenge was to improve connection and cohesion between two separate campus sites, while softening the heavy boundaries preventing access to public areas.
Within our design solution, we conceived each area of the site to draw out individual identities, create a sense of place and deliver a unique landscape. We aligned our work to the architecture of the new building, looking to build synergies between the green infrastructure of the city, the university and its users.
Through the use of simple motifs, our designs create unity with other local landscapes, including nearby Victoria Park. In particular, the use of local Purbeck stone helps to integrate the development with its surroundings, while newly created civic spaces match the tone of the new building. Our work also focuses on seamless transitions from inside to outside, with soft spaces designed to attract people to the park. We’ve also introduced native and biodiverse planting, including within the new building and at rooftop level. And through the use of floral perimeter planting and new paved links, we’ve softened the boundaries around the site, encouraging ease of movement and access.
