Dead Space

How can green space help a person resolve death?

“For me, my local parks are vital for my wellbeing. They are the place I go to escape, to decompress. When our children were young, we spent endless hours in all weathers enjoying the freedoms the park gave them to run and express themselves. When my wife died, I walked across many parks coming to terms and grieving.”

“I believe that parks do the same for much of our population...It shows that physical health, mental wellbeing and life satisfaction are all enhanced through access to and use of parks and green spaces.”

- Paul Farmer, CEO of mental health charity Mind

City Centre 1:50,000

This is Leicester’s core and consequently receives the largest volume of traffic. This is the city’s initial entrance and exit point and an introduction of green space could significantly improve it through a regeneration of landscape around existing buildings, inviting community interaction thus providing mental health benefits.

Parker drive lacks green space which results in a depressing atmosphere and exposure to high winds. Behind the site is an abandoned railway line which has been overgrown with vegetation, this space is difficult for the public to access.

Utilising North-South and East-West cross-circulation could allow local residents to access the rear landscape. An introduction of foliage to Parker Drive would improve the interaction and quality of space, and reduce the intensity of wind.