naomi rosser landscape architecture portfolio
naomi rosser BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture Leeds Metropolitan University
urban green rural planning community back to front observational sketches critical study
programme
urban green Aire Valley City Park
The vision for this design is to embrace the River Aire, and strengthen its presence within Leeds city centre. This is achieved by re-channelling part of the river, creating a new tributary, which flows through the new city park. Vibrant and inspiring spaces have been crafted along its banks, allowing people to enjoy the river atmosphere in a green environment.
biodiversity
habitats
Creating variety of spaces, by alternating function, size and character, provide for a range of user needs and interests. The introduction of new habitats add to the existing array of wildlife and biodiversity along the River Aire corridor, giving city residents and visitors the chance to explore and learn from local and native fauna and flora, within an easy to reach setting. Aire Valley City Park rejuvenates this previously industrial site, by introducing life and colour to the south of the city centre, implementing a new, dynamic component to Leeds city life.
connectivity
A ir e V alle y C i t y P a r k zones
survey and analysis User Groups
Mapping
The Leeds Waterfront Strategy 2002 highlights the importance of biodiversity and waterfront development along the River Aire: • Water quality in urban areas of Leeds has improved significantly in recent years, therefore Improving habitat resources will help to maintain and increase in range or species for the present and future. • Leeds river and beck corridors provide an essential resource for wildlife and recreation • “An attractive waterfront can add significant value to a development” • The river provides linear open, recreational space for people living and working within the city centre • Important contribution for quality of life
Character Areas
Flood Zone
Central ShopFinancial and Business
Poorly Maintained Shopping and Leisure New Residential Development
Business Park
concept development
Factories and Industry (West)
SITE
Factories and Industry (East) Retail Park
The diagram below shows a breakdown of planting types along the River Aire banks closest to the site. Due to heavy development the existing planting is limited, therefore it would be of significant value to somehow increase the habitats, for the encouragement of wildlife, and to increase pleasant recreational areas along the river corridor.
visualising Leading straight from the existing residential development to the park, the Northern Promenade will be a bustling hub for both residents and workers. The ground floors of the buildings will become cafes, restaurants and retail facilities, opening out along the promenade. With it’s southern facing aspect, and views across the park, the promenade will provide a pleasant sun spot for leisure activities. Access across the park can be swift or leisurely with options of crossing the bride, or meandering through the terraced gardens.
n o r t h e r n promenade promenade northern
t e r r a c e d ggardens ardens terraced
turf amphitheatre
detailed design
wetland meadow
Colourful swathes of annuals and wetland planting creates a peaceful and naturalistic meadow environment. Seasonal change will produce varied displays throughout the year, enticing visitors to return and experience the changing landscape. Playful rolling hills create a characteristic feel, a place to relax and feel peaceful, protected from the hustle and bustle of city life. Raised walkways enhance the experience of the surrounding plants and habitats, allowing users to view the different habitats in close proximity, without disrupting the wildlife. Interactive display boards will provide people with a way to connect and engage with information about the new habitat which has been created, educating about native species and wildlife surround Leeds and along the Aire Valley.
construction detailing
Bench with LED Lighting Strip
Grass Mound Construction
Larch Board Walk Construction
Coir Matting and River Channel Construction
planting
The rationale behind the plant selection was influenced by the West Yorkshire Local Wildlife Site Selection Criteria, which included approved native, water vascular plants, which would be present in a natural flowing water habitat, in West Yorkshire. Plants from the list were chosen carefully, taking into account water depth needs for individual species, as well as aesthetic appeal. Plant selection also took local wildlife into consideration, in the hope that new plant habitats will provide for nesting birds, amphibians and insects, adding to the biodiversity of the park, as well as the Aire Valley. The planting plan has been carefully composed, ensuring wetland species are set within the right amount of water, and in view of visitors, who have the chance to learn about native wetland species.
rural planning
This contractors plan, shows plant centres and spacing. The plant sizes on the plan are not representative of the true sizes of transplants, whips or standard, however everything else is true to scale.
Torver Common, Lake District National Park This project involved finding more ways in which to accommodate the needs of tourists visiting the Coniston Water area, and in particular Coniston Village, which has been under a lot of pressure, and has undergone unsustainable damage from mass visitors. A policy which proposes to develop an education and visitors centre on Tover Common, and the location of this centre was to be decided as part of this project. The master plan had to indicate site features to be retained, proposed land uses and activities to take place on Torver Common, and the broad disposition and type of new planting.
s ilvic u ltu r e
This plan shows the tree sizes after approximately twenty years, after trees have been successively thinned twice. By using a selection system, the final crop trees should look like a semi-natural woodland, unevenly spaced. The overall experience created is a light, semi-open woodland, perfect for recreational purposes.
playful landscapes
community Moor Allerton Hall Primary School
The project was to provide a design for a Key Stage 1 playground area, which included a woodland area adjacent to it. Eventually the school intend to implement the design as small pockets of funding become available. Community consultation was the starting point for the project, and as a group we arranged to meet the children, as well as parents and teachers. The children’s consultation day included an interactive activity, involving play equipment with no obvious use. We took not of the way they interacted, and created their own idea of fun with the apparatus. Insightful consultation with various groups, along with thorough research into play and learning design greatly assisted the design process, alongside practical considerations, such as lack of budget and safety. This lead to a thoroughly considered master plan.
sign
Individual De
group work
woodland walk
totem pole forest
outdoor classroom
The final design incorporate ideas and themes which were ongoing since the brief and consultation process. Individual ideas, from each group member, were presented to the client, from which a variety of elements were favoured and pointed out. This lead to a final design which united the strengths of the different proposals, and were adjusted to the wants and needs of the school, which had be highlighted during various meetings and consultations.
Conscious of the limited funding which Moor Allerton Hall Primary School have available, this design had to engage the initial strategy and provide a new playground which was interactive, playful and provide space for outdoor learning. With budget in mind, many of the materials are low costing, natural and recycled, yet still create an exciting environment. Some elements, such as the totem pole forest and bug hotels, could become part of school projects which pupils can help build and design.
The woodland area has been designed into a relatively low maintenance, yet exciting space, which can be used for both play and learning. Other zone includes the Fortress, which as been created from the existing raised planter, and now provides a raised area from which the tyre mound and amphitheatre-style seating descends from. The proposed Sand Pit area surrounding the current band stand, introduces an area suitable for den building, with branches, logs and boulders to climb on.
community and design exhibition
fortress and tyre mound
woodland area
model
back to front Pattern Book
Following on from a publication of the Back to Front manual, significant interest from housing associations, to create a ‘pattern book’ for growing food in various types of front gardens, has developed. The aim of the designs is to maximise food growing capacity, and provide various, and easy ways to grow produce. As a group a range of housing types were identified to work with, these included various popular housing types, from a range of decades, which were present around Leeds, and across the country. Research was undertaken as to how to produce high yielding, yet low maintenance planting designs, which then led on to the various designs for each housing type. The work was then collated into a book, designs as a guide for people interested in starting a vegetable/fruit garden, who may need inspiration as to how to make the most of the space they have available.
Pattern Book
There are many environmental benefits of having good quality city squares, ‘green’ public spaces can help to increase people’s understanding and appreciation of the outdoors, whilst at the same time providing relief from crowded, urbanised areas (PPS, Great Civic Space). For example, an article by The Daily Telegraph underlines the importance of trees within cities,
observational sketches
“London may look like a ‘green’ city but most of the street trees were planted by the Victorians and we need to think about the next generation…by 2050 eight out of ten people will live in cities, so we need to start planting trees now…” (Gray, 2012)
critical study To W h a t E x t e n t d o C i t y S q u a re s i n E u ro p e M e e t t h e N e e d s o f 21st Century People?
A
city square may only seem like a small part of the complex jigsaw which makes a city, but within the confusion of politics, economics and technology the square is one of the foundations which remains solid throughout. To some, the city may be epitomised by buildings; offices, museums, churches, shops, to name a few, but with a little encouragement those people may start to see between the blocks of hard form and realise that the spaces between the buildings are just as imperative, if not more so than the goings on indoors. It is the duty of councils, planners, designers and anyone else involved to value public spaces, whether it is a street, park or square, and continue to maintain and create spaces of a beneficial nature to both the city and its residents. Well designed, successful public spaces can boost the health of the surrounding community, socially, economically, visually and environmentally; some examples even have measurable economic benefits and have increased land value and led to buoyant private investments, often boosting the local economy.
City squares which are suitable for growing trees should embrace this asset, especially as trees and vegetation can help reduce air pollution in the city. But the benefits of city squares go well beyond quality design, good management schemes are imperative to the on-going success, through organised cultural activities such as public art and performances, spaces can help to enhance social interaction and strengthen the sense of community, developing improved levels of activity within squares (Healthy Places and Spaces, 2009). ‘User groups’ within a city are endless, from workers and residents, to tourists and visitors; the city has a diverse purpose for all, and it would only seem sensible to assume that these people also have a vast array of needs and desires. It may be complicated to recognise exactly what ‘the needs’ of people actually are, but in terms of public space, basic amenities are favourable to all. It is clear that some of Europe’s greatest central city squares have become renowned tourist attractions and symbols of a city’s unique identity, which is irreversible. However alongside a focus on tourists there also needs to be an equal if not higher focus on the local citizens who require additional smaller urban squares as the foundation of their communities and acting as a centre for urban life.
T
hroughout history the square has been one of the most significant elements within the designs of cities. From the first urban settlements of 3000BC in Ancient times, to the 21st century, squares have changed in both function and design, but the value of these urban spaces has remained high.
“If the city is the most important invention of mankind, then the market square is the most important invention of European city-making” (Lennard, 2002) City squares act as an extension of the surrounding community, a place where people exchange goods, a place to relax, pray, celebrate, dine, converse, the list is endless, but the fundamental reasons for the squares existence is built though the needs of its people. There is no straightforward way of defining what a city square is, especially as the diversity of our city spaces has progressed extensively over time. Yet, throughout the ages the presence of a square, civic space, plaza, piazza etc., has been characterised as a form which provides predominantly open space within the network of a city, typically built of harder materials, however the uses of this space are extremely variable.
“Today we designate as a ‘plaza’ (or ‘public square’) even the empty space which is formed when a building lot bordered by four streets remains unbuilt…from an artistic point of view a merely unbuilt piece of ground is not yet a city plaza” (Sitte, 1889, p. 170) The idea that a city square is defined by enclosure is not strictly true, every ‘square’ is unique in shape from fan shaped to oval, one side may be open to a river or otherwise, it is not the underlying shape which is the key to the activities which take place. Buildings around a square have often influenced the types of activity that takes place within it, from church squares, to market squares; some are one of a cluster of urban spaces, each with an individual use or function. One point that is agreed is that a square is made up of two things: form and use, both of these elements need to work seamlessly together to create an effective space. Christopher Alexander, when writing about positive and negative space said:
“Outdoor spaces which are merely left over between buildings will, in general, not be used” (1977, p. 518)
His theories suggest that spaces are negative when they are shapeless, while positive spaces are distinct and definite in shape and form, Alexander also stated that buildings need to relate to the surrounding landscape, if not the ground left behind will create negative space. In the case of city squares this, ‘positive’ space surrounded by buildings should be used to full potential, and good design is a way of ensuring this. In the typical modern city space is often sparse, and therefore extremely valuable, with city squares often having been in place for as long as the settlement was established. The original intentions for the use of these spaces may not be suitable as time progresses, so the square needs to develop and change at a similar speed to its people.
Alexander, C. Ishikawa, S. and Silverstein, M. (1977) A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 519-522, illus.