Design Concepts For Clarence Dock

New ideas for

new dock

A collection of Solutions for a NEW AND different approach By LEEDS MET UNIVERSITY Landscape MA students

Foreword

Contents

The needs of people living in cities are influenced by factors such as ethnicity, gender, age, interests and personal circumstances. Green Places are central to fulfilling such needs and the role of green infrastructure and of ecosystem services in creating sustainable cities is now widely acknowledged and being applied to urban settings across the world.

Clarence Dock on the south bank of the River Aire in Leeds was re-developed as a high density mix of apartments, offices, shops and restaurants adjacent to the Royal Armouries Museum towards the end of the twentieth century. In many ways the result has been an impressive new district in the city but also an area dominated by the grey infrastructure of roads and pavements with little attention given to the natural environment. Recently in recessionary times the commercial aspects of the area have struggled with a resulting lack of human activity. Many of the units and associated public realm have now been purchased by a developer called Allied London who specialise in urban regeneration and at present are developing proposals to enhance the area.

The Dock was called ‘New Dock’ when it was built in 1843 and it is appropriate to use that name again to signal what should be a period of positive change. This booklet provides ideas for change. It is produced by Postgraduate Landscape Architecture students at Leeds Metropolitan University and illustrates New Ideas for New Dock, planning and design ideas that respond to the diverse needs of city communities and to the environment as a whole.

New Dock, New life..................................... Page 01-22

Chris Royffe.

Course Leader PGDip/MA Landscape Architecture and Design Leeds Metropolitan University

Mark Huxtable, MALAD

Culture Dock.................................................Page 25-44 Peter Gowans, MALAD

Breathing life into Leeds New Dock........... Page 47-54 Jeremy Lord, PGDIP

Playful City...................................................Page 57-140 James Settle and Rosie Cockcroft PGDIP

New Dock.................................................. Page 143-148 Billy Nga, MALAD

NEW DOCK NEW LIFE Living spaces for city dwellers

Mark Huxtable MALAD

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INTRODUCTION Since its foundation, Leeds South Bank city centre has orientated itself Historically the canal was the main artery for industry. Although this has provided the towards industry and commerce. area with much character, it still remains As a result it has become a a largely hard and functional landscape, successful hub for these activities. dedicated to its main purpose, that of However, due to the decline of serving industry. industry and the reduced need New Dock for businesses to be based in city New dock was renamed Clarence Dock in centres, the uses of our urban the late 90’s when it was redeveloped. The centres are changing. sites uses changed from industrial to retail, In order for our city centres to continue their success, they will need to become places where people are attracted not just for work and shopping, but as recreational and residential destinations.

Map: (Allied London)

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business and residential.

The initial change of use of New dock as a high end retail destination was largely unsuccessful, mainly due to the proximity of both the city centre and the Crown point retail centre.

Aims and objectives According to Allied London, of all uses, the residential was most successful.

Therefore, the focus of this project should lead towards developing New Dock as a destination that will catalyse, enhance and promote city centre living in the following ways: • Improve the livability of the area in order to retain existing residents attract new ones to New Dock.

• Enhance green infrastructure along the riverside corridor and within the city centre • Improve green and blue recreational assets to create a destination for other residential • Enable active lifestyles for residents to encourage healthy living • Retain and enhance any existing recreational activities in the area, including enabling activities like the armouries, fishing, canal side walks, water sports, boating

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Area plan Design statement The overarching concept is to provide quality recreation and living space which will encourage healthy, active, outdoor lifestyles by promoting activity through access to existing and creating new blue and green facilities. Creating a new, exciting and vibrant destination where people can live, work, relax and play together is key to the concept. The concept connects New dock back to the canal, greens the canal corridor, enables activities and

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provides much needed city centre living spaces.

Spatial hierarchy is defined by creating spaces with more activity towards the centre of the development with less active or quieter spaces towards the edges.

3 The Barge Cafe

The spaces are divided up into the following categories:

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4 Green heart

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5 Open air pool 7 Central square

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The Island

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8 West Entrance

North Entrance

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1. The Island Design intent The canal corridor in the city centre has little in the way of green along it. The island, though visually central in the canal and in clear view, is seldom visited and difficult to access. Therefore, this concept aims to build on maintaining and enhancing this areas qualities as a quiet, contemplative spot for fishing and recreation. It

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also aims to introduce a much needed injection of green along the canal corridor. By creating a pathway around the island edge it opens up access to the whole island and creates a raised edge where people can sit. Trees will make up the main bulk of planting on a raised grass mound suitable for relaxing.

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2. NORTH ENTRANCE Design intent The current entrance is hard, dull and uninviting.

This concept aims to create a welcoming and inviting entrance to draw people into the site.

Trees soften the hard lines of the building; benches and a mown grass edge provide a place to sit and a mixed wildflower and grass meadow

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will give vibrant colour in summer with seed head interest in winter. The wildflowers will be sewn with a large number of red poppies to commemorate those killed in armed conflicts, and serve as a poignant reminder.

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3. Barge CAFE Design intent Currently the outside seating area for the museum’s cafe does not encourage people to use it. The space is dull, hard and uninviting. This proposal aims to restore an old barge and use it as a floating outside seating area for the cafe

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where people can relax and enjoy a drink or meal while floating on the water. Sail shades provide shelter from the elements.

A ring of boxes around the edges are planted with flowering perennials and grasses provide year round interest and greening of the space.

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4. GREEN HEART Design intent The current space is a wide open dockyard encased with cold, hard surfaces.

This proposal makes use of the central building as a focal point. It’s use changes to a restaurant upstairs and a cafe/bar downstairs. A pathway is defined through the route and the rest of the area

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is covered with grass and trees to create a central space where people can sit and enjoy a drink, meal or sit and watch the activities in the square or the swimming area. This will provide a green heart to the development which will help to soften its hard image and provide a place to relax.

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5. OPEN AIR POOL Design intent Although well set up for them, this site is currently under used by canal boats. Possible reasons could be lack of privacy due to being overlooked or the bridge creating an obstacle to movement.

This proposal aims to create a clean, active environment which promotes healthy living by enabling people to exercise in the pool on their doorstep. The lines of the design are hard and angular in dialogue with its man made surroundings.

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Excess heat generated from the proposed server building is used to warm the water at one end, while dirty water at the other end is pumped into a reed bed system around the server building to clean it.

The clean cold water is then used to cool the servers; once warmed, it is pumped back into the pool. The swimming area is comprised of a larger deep pool and smaller shallow pool. A floating wooden deck provides a platform for relaxing, play and access.

Tiered triangles at the entrance filled with grasses and flowering perennials give the space a green splash.

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6. CANAL PARK Design intent This site has huge potential in terms of providing the city centre with a valuable and iconic recreational asset. It is currently under used as the Jousting arena whose prison-like wall acts as a permanent barrier, cutting off the development from a key connection to the canal.

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The canal edge provides the development with its Southern entrance. It also reconnects it with the canal and opens up opportunities for recreation and interaction with the canal. Pontoons allow raised access to the canal for fishing and viewing.

Also steps lead down to the waters edge and a floating pontoon for river boats to moor up to.

The canal park will provide a new venue to stage the Leeds waterfront festival.

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7. CENTRAL SQUARE Design intent The current site is cold, hard and uninviting.

There is little reason to stay.

This proposal aims to create an active central square. It’s central grass slope will provide an audience viewing platform for activities such as summer plays, battle reenactments, weapon fighting demonstrations and movie showings.

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A splash pad provides a fun place for kids to play and also becomes part of a grander gateway to the museum which aims to create water interest as the eye is drawn along the hard edge of the central slope towards the entrance. The water can also be turned off and the area used as hard events space if needed.

A curving avenue of trees creates a green link to the canal park and the green heart and softens the hard edges of the buildings.

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8. WEST ENTRANCE Design intent

green connections through to the canal.

Currently, the West Entrance provides little clue to what lies behind it. It is hard and uninviting.

To the left, a raised bed of flowering perennials and grasses provide year round interest and colour. To the right, the hard surface is grassed over and trees soften the edges of the buildings.

This proposal aims to create an inviting green gateway which will entice people in and lead them through the heart of the development, becoming the first point of contact in a series of logical

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9. NORTHWEST ENTRANCE Design intent The Northwest entrance is a quieter place than the rest. It’s main users would be residents getting access to their flats. It has lower traffic and lower usage than most of the other entrances. It is also next to a very busy main road.

The main aim of this proposal is to create a screen of trees to mask out noise and pollution

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from the busy road. Obstructive railings have been removed and a raised planter bed has been added to provide seating.

The use of this space is not intended to change.

Being on the periphery, it should retain it’s current place in the spatial hierarchy by not introducing additional activity.

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CULTURE DOCK A STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT ART AND GREENING INTO THE COMMUNITY

Peter Gowans MALAD

Culture Dock Culture Dock

Key Concepts Biodiversity Connectivity

A StratEgy to implement Art and Greening into the community The overall concept behind the following proposal is the idea of creating a sense of place and meaning for a landscape. Doing this evolves the landscape into a area of unique quality, this will benefit the existing users of the site as well as attracting new visitors to improve sites popularity and appeal. This will be done by using key concepts to focus on specific areas to deliver the the intended result.

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Playful landscape Medieval theme Enhancing Art and culture

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Culture Wharf The museums presence on the site brings in an element of history and culture, a feature which is limited throughout Leeds, progressing this cultural quality could be done with the implementation of art groups displaying work throughout the site, this will allow the site to be directly involved with art and media festivals and drives a increase in the association for a 'culture wharf' title. Also the presence of sculptures and other artwork throughout the site will reflect the medieval theme.

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Materials Hardwood

Concrete

Steel surface

Themed dock The connection between the site and the museum has been lost and there is a now a contrast between the two, the hard landscape has become uninviting and unplayful to the younger audience. In an attempt to engage the younger visitors of the site which are generally drawn in by the presence of the Armouries museum, a suggestion for a continuing theme throughout the site would to reflect the character of the Armouries by using a medieval theme in the landscape itself. The aim of the theme will generate a definitive appearance unique in character and materials so the landscape its self has an identity that people can associate the site with. This will lead to a more attractive engaging environment for all who choose to visit and will also draw people into the rest of the site and remain their instead of continuing there day some place else.

Implementation of this concept range form the fundamentals such as materials used throughout or the use of interactive features such as play equipment, bridges, Art work etc.

These elements can be more dynamic or even unique, for example in this case a themed sculpture is represented by a horse, a animal which already has a direct relationship with the museum and reflects the proposed theme.

Themed sculptures (horses and soldier)

Draw bridge, a feature to allow access to or from the top of fearn island

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New Dock park Small interventions of green will provide needed space for the visitors and provides more habitat for wildlife.

Opening up unused units to art groups and other pop up businesses will help increase the population of the site and allow the association of the site as a place of Creation and cultural interest.

New tree species Green 'dock' wall Connecting bridges either end of island Tunnels and play features Hard, weathered materials Themed Sculptural artwork Using unused units with art groups

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Ariel view example of connection with site using the riverside

Waterside connections As the site stands now the riverside is currently not inviting and is primarily used as a route to pass through. With no space to linger or stay users have developed the habit of walking directly through the site spending little or no time to enjoy the landscape. The river itself among other elements such as the roads have become a barrier for pedestrian connection to the site.

The proposal of opening up the riverside up along the Aire river towards the city centre and train station, this will not only improve connection to the New Dock site but also the whole community surrounding the river too, it will improve connectivity to all the areas down towards the new dock area creating a new route of travel and generate new relationships with surround existing community pockets.

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Waterside connections New tree species Wild flower planting Soften hard edges of river side Provide space for native water plant species Hedge planting to replace existing fences Serpentine walkway to break direct routes Opened up waterside for close water interaction Hard, weathered materials Sculptural artwork

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Fearn island sculptural park The dock currently has very little green space or plant-life, so the removal of some hard landscape and the introduction of a greener landscape instantly softens the overall character of the site, developing a more inviting space for congregation. Creating a green roof surface also adds another interesting topical feature to the landscape enabling the raising of related information on important subjects such as global ecological concerns.

Green roof New tree species Wild flower and grasses planting Connecting bridges either end of island Board walk overlooking weir Hard, weathered materials Sculptural artwork

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Fearn island sculptural park The fearn island is a potential space to further expand the proposed themes, creating a unique space in which to escape the existing walking route environment. The island itself will have connection either end as well as the existing knights Way bridge connecting the middle. The island will offer an array of sculptural and conceptual artworks to captivate and amuse the visitors of the site as well as a gift shop and cafe structure to provide them with refreshments and souvenirs.

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Fearn island In context The location of the cafe and gift shop structure is situated overlooking the weir an impressive and interesting feature in the landscape, and with the element of the board walk platform overhanging the side, visitors experience a intimate experience the feature weirs power.

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Fearn island In context Green roof New tree species wild flower and grasses planting Connecting bridges either end of island Island feature and floating bar Board walk overlooking weir Hard, weathered materials Sculptural artwork

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Breathing Life INTO LEEDS NEW DOCK USING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO LINK RESIDENTS WITH WATER

Jeremy Lord PGDIP

Introduction

Clarence Dock, situated along the Southern bank of the River Aire has recently undergone a multimillion pound face lift but lacks any sense of identity or cohesion. This design seeks to create a new identity for ‘New Dock’ using green infrastructure to link residents and users back to the water which surrounds them, driven by three principles of Identity, Art and Food. Rivers of vegetation will leak from the dock, inspiring the growth of trees and other ornamental planting and introduce areas of recreation and opportunities for urban food production in public areas. Splashes in key meeting places reinforce the sense that the water has inspired the regeneration and further strengthen the identity of New Dock.

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Identity

The current Clarence Dock site is a stylish, well designed development but lacks an overall identity or links back to the water which surrounds it. Rivers of vegetation will link together the water in the dock, sweeping over the paved areas and back into the river Aire beyond. This concept will be further strengthened by three large, structural splashes in Armouries Square, the Riverside Park and the entrance to the site by the Royal Armouries. Visually these will unite the area whilst strengthening the notion that the water is flooding the site with vegetation.

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Art

While providing a focus in the major gathering points on the site, the splashes add a sculptural aspect to reinforce the notion of a cultural quarter in Leeds. Three imposing structures created from a mesh structure covered with trailing plants give the impression that the green is raining down on the site as well as flowing at ground level. With walls of green they will offer a refuge for quite reflection, with wooden, tactile seating to listen to the wind rustling through leaves while catching glimpses of the outside. The rivers of vegetation also add a sculptural aspect to the site almost making an art installation of the whole site.

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Food

Urban food production will be carried out at a local level as more of an experiment rather than a scale which could sustain the population of New Dock. The primary areas for food growth will be along the Eastern sides of the dock, accessed from the decking at water level. These will include herb planting initially to create edible walls, which could be extended to vegetables if the residents buy into the notion. Initially the project would need to be part funded by the council but as it grows could work as a cooperative for those interested in using the site to produce food. The water in the dock could also be used as an urban fish farm, growing trout or carp. Again this would need input from the council but could be run as a project site in the short term. As food growing expands through the site the ‘splashes’ could be taken over for producing tomatoes, vegetables and salad plants grown vertically up the meshes.

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Riverside Park

R i v e r

A i r e

The old tilt yard will be opened up to create a new, multi purpose Riverside Park which will strengthen the connection with the River Aire and the New Dock site. Linked by green spaces into the site on one side, a wavy deck close to the water level echoes those seen in the larger dock area and continues the link to the river A glass barrier protects visitors from the water itself but allows uninterrupted views from the wooden block seating. The centre piece of the park is a 3/4 splash structure with raised stage for formal events and outdoor performances. Mounding radiating away from the stage will offer informal seating opportunities. The rest of the park will be a more relaxed planting style with open spaces for recreational and formal activities.

Armouries Square

The largest of the sculptural splashes forms a focal point of the Armouries Square, which is connected to both the Riverside Park and the New Dock by rivers of vegetation snaking across the existing paved areas. Two entrances into the ‘splash’ offer a way into what will provide a slightly sheltered area from the wind channelled between the buildings. A low level still pond, surrounded by wooden seating offer a rare opportunity to sit and reflect, surrounded by vegetation. Ripples in the paving around the splash further accentuate the idea that the green spaces have been dripped onto the site and provide informal seating and play opportunities.

New Dock

The smaller New Dock will seek to once again connect visitors with the water with the continuation of the wavy, water level decking and block seating. The edible wall also continues along the sunnier side of the dock which initially will support herbs and salad plants which office workers can use at lunch times and residents any time. Steps at the end of the dock make the most of the view down the site while provide a dramatic decent to water level. Under water nets could support an urban fish farm.

Leeds Dock

Retained as a ‘working’ end to the dock, the boat births will be retained with a recreational water front along Eastern side. This area is the entrance to the whole site and as such must set the scene for the concept. The low level deck will connect visitors directly with the water, echoing both the shapes created in the water and the vegetation running along the dockside above. Block seating offers a place to sit and take in the views down the dock, designed to be used by larger numbers and in particular office workers at a busy lunch time, the seating caters for single and multi person spaces.

The first of the large, sculptural splashes sits at the highest point with seating inside and entrances providing fleeting glances of the dock and the river beyond.

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View across Armouries Square looking East

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View looking East across the Riverside Park

View towards Southern end of New Dock

View looking West across the Riverside Park

View across to the Eastern side of New Dock 52

View across Armouries Square looking East

Planting Palette

A simple planting palette will be used across the site, in larger swathes for a greater impact and to give greater protection from passers by and the wind being channelled through the buildings. Japanese Cherry trees will line the dock on both sides, offering a splash of colour with the blossom in autumn with clumps of silver birch along the green connections to indicate a more relaxed planting style.

These will be surrounded by large swathes of low level ornamental grasses such as Ribbon Grass and Fountain Grass which will sway and move in the wind strengthening the notion of water movement.

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PLAYFUL CITY STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES TO CREATE A PLAYFUL AND BIODIVERSE CITY

James Settle and Rosie Cockcroft PGDIP

New Dock, Leeds: The Playful City New Dock - Ideas A set of strataegies and ideas created by James Settle and Rosie Cockcroft Post Graduate diplomea Landscape Architecture

You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.

Walt Disney

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concept

“Biodiversity provides us with many of the things that sustain our lives. Protecting our species and their habitats also improves our quality of life and our standard of living” Natural England

One word that comes to mind to anyone who has visited or lived in the former Clarence Dock area of Leeds is “GREY” The area suffers from both a lack of connectivity to the city centre and the lack of green infrastructure.

The New Dock Development by Allied London should include interesting and innovative Greenspaces in which to complement this harsh grey environment.

Through the use of cutting edge planting techniques along with more conventional city centre greening, it is possible to create both an economically viable and pleasant place in which to live, work and visit.

Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Trees, Reed Beds, Greenwalls, Wildflowers and Urban Community Farming are all viable ways to add a unique selling point to New Dock. Some of which can add a return on investment through commercial Hydroponic and Aquaponic farming.

Wildflowers, Greenwalls and Reed beds will encourage an increase in biodiversity, including Bees, Butterflies and small birds.

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A Sketch by Grant Menzies - “My Big Thesis Research Book” This sketch is illustrative of the present character and function of Clarence Dock.

Current residents in the area appear to spend very little, if any, time relaxing, playing and socialising in the area of Clarence Dock instead, travelling straight to and from work with very little interaction with the surrounding 61

landscape or the community. This collection of ideas aims to address these issues to transform the public space within New Dock and it’s surrounding spaces, with the intention of creating a vibrant and exciting new destination for Leeds and the North of England.

- Aldo van Eyck

Allied London Allied London has a total commitment to energy efficient and ecologically sound applications in all areas -- a key consideration for all new commercial premises. To this end the company is pioneering the concept of ‘total sustainable development’.

This involves a holistic approach to urban development projects ensuring that sustainable best practice is taken into account at every stage and incorporated into every aspect of a scheme.

In recognition of this commitment Allied London has received wide ranging awards and plaudits from the property development, architecture and engineering communities and its recent buildings have achieved the much coveted BREEAM ‘Excellent’ ratings -- considered to be the very highest standards in sustainable design. Allied London’s Spinningfields’ development is unique in having two landmark buildings recognised as achieving ‘BREEAM Excellent’ ratings.

Allied London’s ‘total sustainable development’ is centred around the regeneration of major city centre brownfield sites to create a viable commercial and social community whilst balancing environmental, social and economic factors to enhance the locality and at the same time minimise global impacts.

Clear government guidance favours the sort of inner-city, brownfield development that regenerates the urban landscape, and a great deal of Allied London’s energy is focused on these locations.

In the company’s relatively short existence Allied London has quickly become acknowledged as a market leader, setting new world standards in city centre regeneration. In London, Bracknell, Manchester and Glasgow Allied London has been responsible for transforming depressed and tired areas into vibrant and attractive new destinations. In both preserving the best and replacing the worst, Allied London is breathing new life into spaces, creating new uses, new environments and new communities.

(Allied London 2012) 63

Sustainability Economy No one can deny that their main aim when redeveloping an area is to maximise the profits, however we should be looking at creating an area that is not about more but enough. The key to the success of the New Dock development is to price at an affordable price that is in keeping with the area. This is Leeds not London.

Society Society is a big part of the success of the project, without people the development will fail. How can New Dock attract ‘people’ This report will look into ways this can be achieved whilst maximising the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the dock.

Environment The environment supplies everything we own, eat and use on a daily basis, without the environment we would not have anything. The environment should not to be seen as a tick box, it must be an integral part of designs through the use of Trees, planting and water management.

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What are the highlights of Clarence Dock?

Who could use New Dock?

City Centre Workers, Students and Shoppers

Families and Schools from Richmond Hill

Families and Schools from Armley

Characterful Houseboats

Working Lock System

Families and Schools from Holbeck 65

Major Cycle Way

Impressive Dock

Fascinating History

Riverside Location

Connection With the Water

Families and Schools from Hunslet 66

current character of clarence dock

Stong L i n e a r L i n e s 67

baron alleyways

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What is missing?

A Playful City A key problem within Clarence Dock is that the people who use the space do not interact with the landscape around them.

Playful Leeds is a group that has been set up in response to the lack of play opportunities in Leeds city centre. The fact that this group exists highlights that residents of Leeds care about their public spaces and would be happy to see spaces that welcome a playful approach to landscape design in their city, for both children and adults.

The theme of the 2012 London Festival of Architecture this year was “The Playful City�. Clarence Dock currently has little opportunity for play and very few features within the designed landscape that have been creatively designed in a playful way, enhancing the experience of the space.

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Biodiversity There is also a deprivation of green space within this area of Leeds and consequently, opportunities for biodiversity.

It is striking just how much hard, man made materials dominate the landscape in this riverside location where wildlife should be abundant.

Water management The riverside location means that flooding is a major issue. A high proportion of hard, impermeable surfaces also means that surface run off is incredibly high, resulting in an increase in the amount of water entering the River Aire quickly and directly. If the amount of green space from tree and plant cover was increased, this would in turn increase interception and water storage and absorption from plants, slowing the flow of water back into the river during heavy periods of rain. Another method of reducing surface run off would be by implementing sustainable urban drainage systems which involve storing and slowly draining water that is collected on the land.

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a Sense of Community Inspired by the Leeds University Union’s approach to improve communication within communities, a simple method of encouraging people to become better neighbours is by handing out a pack that includes two tear off cards, one for each neighbour, for them to write a quick note to introduce themselves. The pack also includes a tea bag to encourage residents to have a conversation over a cup of tea. What could be even mre appropriate for residents of New Dock, however, would be a seed sharing scheme, where each neighbour would get a different type of seed for an edible crop and would be encouraged to swap some of these seeds with their neighbours for a different variety of seed. Not only is this a great way to encourage more social interaction between neighbours but it encourages people to try growing their own and become more self sufficient in the future.

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NEW DOCK

CORN EXCHANGE

TRAIN STATION

HOLBECK ECO VILLAGE

OUTDOOR MARKET

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New Dock – Masterplan

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New Dock – Masterplan This is the central hub of New Dock and thus needs to make a statement

This is area is perfect for a small city park, interesting landform would add inter

One of the gateways into New Dock must be prioritise soft landscaping through planting

The water village could be connected through a series of boardwalks to create a village feel with a 21st century feel.

Fearne Island should become a catalyst for New dock, it could take shape as an iconic building or even a small park.

The placement of a wildflower meadow, would reduce water run off and also increase the biodiversity of the area.

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Connectivity Free transport

free bus helps to connect people within leeds.

Bridging the gap

Bridging across the river would help connectivity.

Unusual ways of connecting people can create its own destination Interesting bridge designs can draw visitors in and become a focal point 77

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Built form

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wind pattern

Open landscape areas

Flood risk areas

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More Playful Public Realm

To Provide places where people slow down, engage and interact with the landscape around them.

These spaces should be enjoyed by people of all ages, with unique and quirky features that make people smile and remember the place for future visits. Adjacent independent cafes and restaurants, focused around the dock, will provide an exciting and lively atmosphere.

BUGA 05 Playground

by Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten 81

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A New City centre Park for Leeds Leeds City Park will be an accessible, green open space where people can come and relax and enjoy spending time away from busy city life. Strong, organic forms will compliment the harsh, geometric architecture of the Royal Armouries and surrounding area.

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colour

experience serious decline in numbers of pollinating insects

pollen rich environment strong, organic forms

movement

both native and non-native species

striking colour, texture and fragrance swales and water attenuation ponds

A central public space in the square in front of the Armories could be transformed into a playful, dynamic space with a maze -like network of paths and rills of water with exciting water jets and striking lighting to enliven the space in the winter evenings.

Poorly accessible roof space could be transformed into biodiverse plant and wildlife habitats using a combination of wildflower species to create green roofs. Additionally this would reduce surface run off from these roofs by half.

Systems of swales and water attenuation ponds will retain as much rain water within the landscape as possible, with the aim of reducing surface run off into the River Aire, as well as creating dynamic, playful and beautiful landscape features.

The new park will be designed with a wildlife focus, with the creation of swales and attenuation ponds enhancing habitat opportunities and biodiversity of the River Aire corridor. Planting choices will be selected in response to the serious decline in numbers of pollinating insects in the UK over the last century. All planting will be chosen to provide a pollen rich environment that offers striking colour, texture and fragrance throughout the year. Inspired by the success of the Olympic Park planting schemes designed by Nigel Dunnet from Sheffield University, both native and non-native species will be used to optimise flowering period and enhance the experience of colour, form and movement that was so popular during the Olympic Games.

Residential roof space could be utilized to create community food growing spaces and relaxing garden escapes with incredible views of the city.

wildlife focus

dynamic, playful and beautiful

A teen-focused space with skate and other sports facilities should be located on the downstream side of the park, being most accessible by the local residential communities (Richmond Hill, Hunslet etc) and student accommodation.

Natural play space to improve family visitor numbers to the area, benefitting local businesses - in particular - the Royal Armouries.

Interaction with the River Aire - areas of timber decking allow visitors to appear to float over the water, observing the river and it’s wildlife.

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Bees, Butterflies and Blooms “Get Britain Buzzing!”

Attention to detail

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Pollinating species are in huge decline across the UK, creating an enormous risk for our food security. By using the RHS “Perfect for Pollinators” planting palette throughout the public spaces of the New Dock area in a stylish and creative way, it will help to highlight the importance of encouraging pollinators to thrive in our cities. It will be of benefit on a local community food growing scale, as well as raising awareness and hopefully spreading the message across the country and beyond.

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Natural and recycled Materials

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Skilled contractors and joiners build beautifully playful landscape features using sustainably sourced timber

Simple, natural materials will enhance the feeling of escape from the city and be of great benefit to wildlife

Beautiful high quality natural play space would attract more young people to the area

Inspired by the “Future Nature� garden at Chelsea 2009, encouraging biodiversity should be a priority

Sculptural elements could enhance the experience through the park...

... These could be used to communicate the importance of biodiversity in cities 88

Wildlife friendly planting palette

Striking blue Cornflower - Centaurea cyanus

Pollinating insects will be drawn to wildflowers, attracting birds and a whole range of wildlife

Nectar rich Cosmos - Cosmos bipinnatus

Ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) are a happy, seasonal flower loved by wildlife

Fragrant Lavender - Lavavandula augustifolia

Aquatic plants, such as Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia), used in swales, ponds and rivers edge

Using a variety of forms, textures and plant heights within the planting palette provides interest throughout the year, using a mixture of both native and non-native annuals and perennials. This approach was incredibly successful in the creation of the Olympic Park as it provided a stunning display of pollen rich plants for a long period of time, as well as including more structural plants, such as grasses and shrubs to provide texture and form right into the winter months.

By providing a range of heights of plants and the succession of flower and leaf cover throughout the year, a wider variety of wildlife can be supported. This is crucial in the development of New Dock and the future development of Leeds to continue to improve the biodiversity of the River Aire corridor.

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Wildflowers Plant Lists

Winter

Jasminium nudiflora

Wildflower’s can look scruffy over the winter months if not properly designed.

Spring

Delphinium decorum

Summer

Autumn

Papaver rhoeas

Eschscholzia californica

Sarcococca hookeriana var digyna Galanthus plicatus

Agrostemma githago

Ammi majus

Iris unguicularis var. angustifolia

Tripleurospermum inodorum

Rudbeckia hirta

Winter wildflower can be hard to maintain and generally when wildflowers are not at there best however using a mix of winter interest shrubs and small trees it is possible to create all year round interest within these areas 91

Linum lewisii This is when wildflowers start their yearly journey, the use of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and snowdrops, (Galanthus plicatus)

Wildflowers are in full during the summer months adding bursts of colour and lots of activity from insects and bees. The correct mixes of wildflowers are important as many of the areas in New dock are in Shade.

During the autumnal months the summer wildflowers will begin to make seed, many wildflowers create amazing seed pods, this should be seen by the community as an opportunity to harvest seeds for themselves.

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INTRODUCING WILDFLOWERS TO NEW DOCK

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Wildflowers Agrimony

Angelica,Wild

Avens,Water

Bird’s-foot Trefoil,

Bird’s-foot Trefoil,

Campion , White

Carrot, Wild

Cowslip

Crane’s Bill, Meadow

Daisy, Common

Daisy, Ox-eye

Forget-me-not, Field

Foxglove

Goat’s Beard

Harebell

Common

Iris, Yellow

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Greater

Knapweed, Common

Bluebell

Avens,Wood

Cat’s Ear

Knapweed, Greater

Bur Marigold,Trifid

Centaury, Common

Mallow, Common

Basil, Wild

Burnet, Salad

Chervil, Rough

Dame’s Violet

Hawkbit, Autumn

Mallow,Musk

Bedstraw, Hedge

Bedstraw, Ladies

Buttercup, Bulbous

Buttercup, Meadow

Chicory

Dandelion

Cinquefoil, Creeping

Evening Primrose,

Common

Hawkbit, Rough

Hedge-parsley,

Marjoram, Wild

Mayweed, Scentless

Upright

Bellfower, Clustered Bellflower, Nettleleaved

Campion, Bladder

Clary, Wild

Feverfew

Hemp-Agrimony

Meadowsweet

Campion, Red

Clover, Red

Figwort, Water

Hemp-Nettle, Common

Medick, Black

Betony

Campion Sea

Clover, White

Fleabane, Common

Houndstongue

Melilot, Yellow

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Floating Reed Beds Floating Reed Beds are a great way to liven up an old dock and give it a purpose within the landscape. Reed Beds have many different purposes, these include Waste water management, stabilisation of sediment, and introduction of wildlife habitats.

Due to the scale of the docks and from a health and safety perspective it would be unreasonable for these reed beds to take into consideration waste water. However floating reed beds can help drastically reduce the chances of algal bloom which can be costly to remove and also has an awful smell which could potentially detract visitors.

This area of Leeds has a definite lack of biodiversity, due to the amount of sterile materials used in construction, it is important that invertebrates and water fowl are allowed to re-establish in the area.

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Green walls New Dock has copious amounts of wall space, these spaces could be used as green walls. Green walls can simply be a way to insulate the home a little better but can also be used for growing a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit. What you can pick you can have.

Items which can not be reached will be consumed by the local wildlife.

CREATE LIVING WORKS OF ART

MARKETABLE GREEN FEATURE

SHIELD FROM RAIN, SUN AND THERMAL FLUCTUATIONS CUT ENERGY BILLS BY 20%

DAMPEN NOISE POLLUTION

MAKE YOUR WORLD GREENER REDUCE STRESS AND IMPROVE WELLBEING

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Trees

NEW DOCK WITH TREES, REED BEDS & GREENWALLS The power of just a few trees in the area really adds to the character of the area and complements the strong form of the buildings

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Educating People of The value of Trees These plaques at Kew Gardens, London, contain numerous interesting and thought stimulating facts regarding the importance of trees to both the human population and the planet as a whole.

New Dock could quickly and simply be transformed from grey to green by planting of trees across the area. If this was combined with interesting facts in the floorscape, street furniture or creative signage, people in the area would be prompted to consider the impact that trees have on the landscape.

According to the Woodland Trust, the UK is one of the least wooded nations in Europe. Only 12 per cent of the UK is woodland, compared to an average of 44 per cent in other parts of Europe.

With trees solving major concerns such as the heat island effect, reducing carbon emissions and reducing surface run off, planting many more trees in urban spaces is an absolute must.

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Perfect for Pollinators Tree Pollinating Seasons The character and function of New Dock can very much be determined by the species of trees used within the area. For example, will there be only one type of tree species used? Should the trees be evergreen or deciduous? What are the properties of these varieties? Which varieties provide spring, summer or autumn interest? Which trees are the most valuable for wildlife? With the revival of pollinating insects being a key aim within the New Dock development, it is crucial to choose a selection of trees within the planting palette that provide a good nectar source and wildlife value right through the year.

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Perfect for Pollinators - Tree Pollinating Seasons Acer campestre Native Field Maple

Cercis siliquastrum Judas Tree

Prunus domestica Edible Plum

Malus domestica Edible Apples

Inspiration from the Local Landscape

Salix caprea - Native Goat Willow (male form)

Spring

The Hollies, a botanical gardens within the Meanwood Valley Trail, is an inspirational and atmospheric area within beautiful woodland.

Key features are the small channels of water with exciting crossing points that really enhance the experience of the woodland trails.

The sound of the water creates a relaxing feel to the spaces, with the trickling of running water over rocks and silty sand, collecting in Sorbus acupariaNative Rowan

Sorbus aria Native Whitebeam

Ilex aquifolium Native Holly

Tilia henryana A Lime Tree

Tilia henryana A Lime Tree

Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree

Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree

The presence of water throughout the public space will also create a relaxing, exciting experience with dramatic fountains and colourful atmospheric lighting.

This new city centre park could act as a model for future development within cities, which should aim to address key issues of water management and biodiversity enhancement.

Koelreuteria paniculata Golden Rain Tree

Autumn

Summer

Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locus/ False Acacia

pools and cascading over level changes. This effect can be created in an urban setting, acting as dynamic landscape features that can be both playful and functional in their design.

Channels, attenuation collection ponds and an increase in planting (SUDS systems) can retain water within the landscape, therefore reducing the amount of surface run off directly into the River Aire.

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Inspired by the playful landform and use of colour at BUGA 05 Playground in Munich, playful, undulating landform with strong organic forms and dynamic water jets and fountains.

A maze-like sequence of brightly coloured pathways could offer an exciting experience of discovery and fun. The grassy mounds could be left unmown in areas, encouraging wildlife, as well as being planted up with bulbs for seasonal burst of colour. Impressive, playful lighting could be incorporated throughout New Dock to create an exciting evening atmosphere.

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Sheffield Peace Gardens

Water Play, Sheffield

Water Play, Sheffield

Bradford Mirror Pool

More London

More London

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Attracting more Young Visitors

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Activities for Local communities

By providing a designated play space within close proximity to the Royal Armouries, families will have more of a reason to come and spend a whole day in New dock. These two facilities would compliment each other, increasing visitor numbers and ultimately spending in the area.

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Playful Interventions It is crucial to the future success of new dock to look at all potential users of the area.

Adjacent residential areas such as richmond hill, holbeck and Hunslet are easily accessible by foot or bike and have the potential to provide activities and facilities for teenagers and young people from these communities. These could include informal sports areas or areas for skating/ bmx. It is imperative that these areas are softened with creative use of green space to improve opportunities for wildlife along the River corridor.

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Creative, inspirational and playful artistic interventions within the landscape can breathe life into a space, improve interaction with the landscape and its users and most importantly - make people smile. Clever and thought provoking interventions should be encouraged throughout the area of New Dock and be continuously evolving for a truly dynamic experience.

Students from colleges and universities within Leeds could focus on the area as a study project, encouraging exciting creativity and community involvement.

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Uk Centre for Urban Agriculture

Uk Centre for Urban Agriculture

fEARN iSLAND

Leeds could be developed as the capital of Urban Agriculture in the United Kingdom by designing a landmark piece of architecture, (such as Lord Norman Foster’s “The Sage” in Gateshead) for Fearn Island to entice people into the Clarence Dock area. The building would be used to educate people about the importance of being far more self sufficient using food growing techniques and illustrating how easily people could produce their own food in their own homes, towns and cities. This would then lead people into New Dock to experience live examples of food growing in the city.

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UK URBAN AGRICULTURE CENTRE

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Utilising Roof space Food Growing

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By utilizing the roof space to create communal food growing spaces, stronger communities will form through improving communication and by providing spaces to relax and escape from the busy city below. They will also have the opportunity to become a precedent for being more self sufficient in the inner city, enjoying self-grown produce with help and guidance from the nearby UK Centre for Urban Agriculture.

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roof space - 18,267 m2 Hydro-culture is not a new technique

w • Babylonians to give Nebuchadnezzar's Hanging Gardens • Allied forces in the Second World War used the process to supply troops with year-round fruit and Vegetables • Hydoponics are more productive than traditional growing methods, due to less crop failiure and pests • Can be self sufficient using only by-product waste- Heat for Air conditioning and solar/wind for power generation •New York has enough spare flat roof space to meet the entire city's vegetable requirements from hydroponic greenhouses. (8.2 Million People)

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Community Urban Farms

Community Urban Farming

New dock is an excellent opportunity for Leeds to embrace the trend of growing your own vegetables

There are countless different fruit and vegetables that can be grown in New Dock, Below are just some examples.

Artichokes Asparagus Aubergines chillies and peppers Beans Beetroot Brassicas Broad beans Blueberries 127

Carrots Celery Chicory Courgettes and squash Cucumbers Currants Crops in pots Espalier apples Fruit trees

Grapevines Gooseberries Leeks Onions Garlic Peaches Peas Potatoes Pumpkins

How can Community Urban farming be brought into the New Dock Area, for many years people have forgotten about food, where it comes from, how it is grown and even what it looks like.

Many of the vegetables grown by the community could help serve the local cafe’s and restaurants within New Dock and in return they could pay to replenish the seeds and bulbs and even community led projects within the local area.

By introducing urban agriculture back to the forefront of peoples mind it may enable us to cut down emissions from transporting fruit and vegetable across the world, it also cuts down on the potential waste that the growing population produces and gives people a sense of achievement.

Raspberries Rhubarb Salad Spinach Chard and spinach Strawberries Sweetcorn Tomatoes

These urban farms can be placed on the roof space on floating allotments or even just simple window boxes. If people are shown what is possible within such a small space and potentially how productive these small farms can be, maybe people will give it a go themselves.

By giving space to local school children to experiment growing all kinds of things it may also bring more visitors to the area, the children will bring their parents to the farm to show off what they have achieved 128

hydroponics How can these techniques be brought to New Dock Leeds?

• Utilise current roof space • Introduction of fully Commercial Hydroponic Systems for increased revenue of what would be a dead space.

Since plants grown in a soil-free environment are essentially spoon fed and don't have to compete with others for nutrients or water, a significantly larger number of plants can be produced in a given space than if grown by traditional field methods in soil.

• Great use of Air-conditioning waste heat, and high in co2, beneficial for plants.

• USP Adds a different dimension to the area, brings interest from much further afield than just Leeds • We should feel morally obliged to address the current approaching food crisis.

• The Centre for UK Urban Agriculture can act as a catalyst to help residents and visitors to understand ways to grow your own vegetables without getting “dirty".

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The root systems aren't competing with each other for nourishment, more plants can be grown closer together, allowing for a denser plant population and greatly increased yields in a given space.

Trials conducted by Cornell University's Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Commercial-Scale Lettuce Production Prototype has achieved soil-free lettuce yields equivalent to 470 tons per acre. By comparison, typical production using traditional field agriculture is currently about 20 tons per acre.

With the current roof space at the New Dock site be approximately - 18267 m2 (4.5 acres) the possibility to produce anything up to 793 tons of Tomatoes or 2115 tons of Lettuce per annum would seem like a productive and profitable business solution to an area which would otherwise just be left untouched.

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aquaponics Aquaponics

is a very similar system

to Hydroponics, the nutrients however do not come from

synthetic nutrients but instead

from fish waste, fish food can be provided in the form of worms and larvae

The waste products of one biological system serve as nutrients for a second biological system

The integration of ďŹ sh and plants results in a polyculture that increases diversity and yields multiple products

Aquaponics is a working model of sustainable food production wherein plant and animal agriculture are integrated and recycling of nutrients and water filtration are linked

able project - wakefield Turning Cardboard to Caviar This innovative project within Wakefield seeks tp create a closed loop system that allows the decomosition of cardboard within a compost heap to provide worms to feed Sturgeon fish with will in turn prodiuce watse will be uptaken by the plants, this will produce lots of hydroponic vegetables but will also provide a comfortable home for the Sturgeons which will make Caviar which can then be sold for a healthy profit.

Aquaponics is an integrated aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponic (growing plants) system. Aquaponics does not use chemicals, requires only 10% of the water needed for field plant production and a fraction of the water used in traditional fish farming.

Water contaminated with fish waste is used as a nutrient source for growing plants. The plants feed off the fish waste and filter the water. The water is then recycled back into the fish tanks with a small amount of water added weekly to compensate for what is lost by evaporation and vegetable growth.

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Tranquil Spaces Rooftop Escapes

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Places of relaxation and quiet reflection for residents of new dock can also be provided within the roof space, with calming sounds and scents from running water and fragrant planting. Natural palettes of materials not only provide habitats for wildlife but also provide a contrast from the hard, inner city landscape.

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Amid all the Grey and dead areas of clarence dock, new dock should have places that are renovated to a human scale, places where people can safely walk and happily gather. Whether it’s like New York’s High Line, a old railway bed converted into an aerial walkway, such places not only encourage getting around on foot, but increase the areas use by creating communal space for people to enjoy.

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Parks and greenspaces are the “lungs of the city,” architect Frederic Law Olmsted famously said about New York’s Central Park. From the 500-year-old Giardino della Guastella in Milan to downtown Houston’s new Discovery Green, parks provide both a place for harried city residents to take a deep breath, relax, and connect with nature, and a cooling counter to the heat-island effect created by all that asphalt and concrete. (Not to mention a buffer against flooding.) Green space has even been shown to improve urbanites’ physical and mental health.

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The “Dinky Dales�

Through the introduction of a limestone pavement within the centre of New Dock it allows the users of the space a place in which to rest, read a book take note of where they are. Whilst the material which it is made from is hard because of its natural forms and its undulation it softens the area, the inclusion of pioneer species which can be found, in and around the area of Malham can also be of benefit to the local wildlife.

Bringing the Yorkshire Dales into the city.

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Iconic Architecture

Art & Sculpture

Water

People to explore

History

Activity

Bio-Diversity

Tradition

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recycling is the classic individual environmental act, but it’s not much good without someone to provide conveniently placed bins and reliable collection. The greenest city initiatives are going further than gathering cans and bottles, by adding electronics and food waste to the list of items recycled and composted, and by instituting larger-scale programs to recycle water for industrial use. someone has to make the first move, imagine leeds being at the forefront of recycling and it all started at new dock.

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Going green shouldn’t be all work and no play, and the new dock should celebrate their eco-friendly lifestyles with farmers’ markets full of tasty (and unusual) treats, bars and restaurants serving the best organic food with no transport costs, intriguing exhibits by ecologically minded artists, and music festivals that offer bike valet parking and solar-powered stages. by introducing these types of events into the new dock it can slowly build a reputation for being a fun exciting and green place to live.

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NEW DOCK

Billy Nga MALAD

Floating Microbe Island

This man-made floating wetlands is an effective water treatment to naturally convert and remove existing pollutions including excess nutrients through biological growth. These floating wetlands constructed to revive quality of the river devastated from industrial pollution.

Affordable, doable, non-chemical solution Ecological restoration tool Environmentally friendly with the sue of no checmicals or operational energy

Growing aquatic plants, serves as ornamental features, provides more greener llandscape, and softern the character of the site.

Wetlands Wildlife habitat additional plantings connecting greenery along the dock Educational Visists on water treatment

Floating green zone - little islands of floating vegetation 143

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accessable waterside

Waters edge Greenwall

F

The continuous greenwall transform a blank wall, bring life to an unattractive view, create an intimate living screen, or adorn a space. as a lush, vibrant artwork. By incorporating hundreds of species of plants it is possible to create living artwork.

surrounding the existing dock waterside walls with greenwall structurs create a softer, more appealing and relaxing environment to be in resulting in a space which can be used to relax and settle in.

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With the LED Lighting incorporates into the green wall gives eye-catching and simply a pleasure to look at decorative. The LED lighting also lights up the dock brings cheerful, fun and vibrant feels to the area.

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Feature Waterfall

The water flow creates a feature waterfall at the centre of the two water bodies, this provides a bold feature or statement element for the landscape adding a focus for the waterside and also a sensory element with the sound of the waters movement. Also providing a divide between the two water bodies allows the water to be controled and cleaned which will improve the watre quality and the potential interest in using the water for recreation should increase.

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Rejuvenated Courtyard

Grand Water fountain as a center piece of the Courtyard will open up its doors inviting everyone to enjoy the Armoury museum. The Museum can be reflected in the grand water mirror calmly sitting at the centre of the square.

The body of water, which is only a few centimetres deep, not only provides an alternative view of the surrounding buildings, but also welcomes the visitor to rest beside it on a nearby bench and enjoy its character or even walk in or play in it during those rare hot days.

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