Landscape

Ouse Bridge, Bedford (Architect: Chris Wilkinson)

Landscape encompasses many aspects including open spaces, water, movement corridors, parks, squares, streets and street furniture. It is a fundamental design element of all urban projects.

The landscape structure should therefore be designed upfront to avoid landscaping becoming simply Space Left Over After Planning (SLOAP). It should also look to work with and value what is already there.

Parc de Bercy, Paris: Social housing of great quality where high quality modern buildings are complemented by parkland and allotments

Childrens play ground, Cockle Bay, Sydney

The landscaping strategy should consider:

• Quality of existing open space provision
• Public Access to open space
• Open space networks
• Wildlife and Ecology
• Topography
• Microclimate
• Management and maintenance of public realm
• Potential for urban forestry