How can landscape projects be grown from bottom to top?

How do you develop the projects you want to work on? What are the issues and approaches that landscape professionals need to adopt to initiate new work?

The Edible Bus Stop generated community pride and column inches when it took shape in 2011, and became London’s first Pocket Park in 2014.

Its creative director Will Sandy talks through the considerations...

As landscape professionals our primary role is to deliver places for people. Conventionally that follows a client brief or tender process. Selfinitiated work, however, presents an alternative route; some might even say a less corporate one.

Having proactively identified a site, you are engaged from the project’s inception, simultaneously working with the client – be they a developer, the local community or an organisation. Ultimately, it’s about the mutual desire to create better spaces and places.

In self-initiated projects, landscape architects have to make the whole process more engaging – this ensures the project development is accessible to a wide and diverse audience. As such, successful projects are those that directly engage with the public. Sharing concepts at this critical early stage, the public are not only able to comment, respond and feel included with the process but, for landscape architects, they can quickly establish the project’s viability, address any immediatelyarising issues and move the scheme forward in a timely manner.

The landscape architect must adopt a multi-faceted approach. They initiate early connections, invite stakeholders into the project and ensure smooth timekeeping. A good memory for people and places will also enable the landscape architect to seamlessly join the dots.

The Edible Bus Stop – Stockwell – the first of Mayor of London’s Pocket Park scheme

© The Edible Bus Stop

Allowing stakeholders from outside the profession to comment on a design can bring fresh perspectives that lead to exciting outcomes. Never underestimate the knowledge within the team and project community – it will enhance the project’s intrinsic value and, by understanding what each party requires, the project can be delivered in a way that maximises its impact, influence and investment.

It may sound like a cliché, but the best concepts often emerge by chance or by learning from mistakes – something that is often overlooked (or even discouraged) in the standard project process, due to budgetary or time constraints. Furthermore, having a sense of playfulness in their design and approach helps to establish the landscape architect as an integral part of the project and not just an external consultant.

A clear understanding of the local authority’s objectives and the project’s context is just as important as community and stakeholder engagement. Gain support from local councillors and businesses – this will demonstrate a wider local investment and buy-in for the scheme.

Phase your project. Local authorities are more likely to sign off smaller amounts initially. This could begin with temporary solutions that help to inform permanent schemes; reducing up-front costs, while demonstrating the viability of a concept. It also provides further opportunity for project engagement and consultation, helping to reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation or concern regarding physical change within a space or neighbourhood.

Riot of Colour – RHS Hampton Court 2012

© The Edible Bus Stop

Of course, not all self-initiated projects come to fruition. So, treat these projects like a competition entry; decide how much time you are prepared to allocate to each project prior to the commitment of any funding. Financially, this is often easier for larger firms, but smaller firms often have the agility and understanding to lead self-initiated schemes.

When it comes to obtaining funding, landscape architects must act like an entrepreneur. Convey the idea, its feasibility and value, alongside the interest and support, in order to prove its worth.

Funding will likely come from a number of sources. This requires the landscape architect to take the initiative, fostering connections while demonstrating creative and commercial skills. Consider where the project is located and the potential to source funding from businesses or institutions based in the area. Investigate what other projects are already underway locally and the potential to complement these – and possible funding they could offer.

Reframing Spaces Caracas public presentation / project development - British Council - ongoing project

© The British Council

The Edible Bus Stop Studio started life through self-generated projects. The first project – and derivation of the studio name – being a community-led public realm project adjacent to a bus stop in Stockwell, South London. The team worked closely with local residents to safeguard one of the neighbourhood’s only green spaces, successfully negotiating with the local council and key stakeholders. In 2014 it became the Mayor of London’s first Pocket Park, transforming the space into a productive and active place for the community.

To this day it is actively used and maintained by those who live and work in the area. The scheme sparked a new way of developing projects, leading to further self-initiated schemes in both permanent and temporary settings, establishing a new proactive design-led approach to the traditional project process.

Elsewhere in London, further positive examples of self-initiated schemes include the Peckham Coal Line. A community-led project, it aims to better connect Peckham’s neighbourhoods via a linear park that will link Queens Road and Rye Lane, and Sayes Court – a significant landscape heritage site in Deptford with links to John Evelyn and the National Trust. Here, local residents have come together to safeguard the public space for future thinking around the importance of landscape in our cities.

Self-generated projects provide scope for dynamic collaboration between practices of different scales and styles. Drawing on the creativity, strengths and duality of one another, together they can enrich the project at key touch points and help to deliver successful schemes.

Grow:City – A Smarter City Competition Shortlist and People’s Choice Winner

© The Edible Bus Stop

We are heading towards a future in which our natural and built environment is increasingly influenced and shaped by technology. However, I strongly believe that the energy and determination at the core of humanoriented, self-generated projects will help our industry to stay fresh and connected to those it is serving.

If we lose contact with that crucial human element, we may continue to generate exciting and innovative ideas, but we won’t be creating the places that humankind needs in order to thrive. Without the people that live, work and play within our schemes, a place doesn’t work, isn’t sustainable and that’s the bottom line.

Will Sandy is a creative director of design practice The Edible Bus Stop Studio.