Rosie Cockcroft
2
A
passionate designer seeking a year out placement for the next academic year. I am excited by the opportunity to further develop my skills and to experience a diverse range of project types with a variety of scales and characters. I strongly believe that landscape architects have a responsibility to produce meaningful designs that have a dramatic effect on both places and people. High quality landscape design can stimulate and encourage economic growth, create job opportunities, strengthen communities, improve quality of life, enhance people’s health both physically and mentally, encourage biodiversity, minimise carbon emissions, reduce chances of flooding and strengthen local identity. As a designer I enjoy working through a research informed design process to produce solutions that enhance the genius loci of a place and maximise potential. During my time at Leeds Metropolitan University I have worked at a variety of scales both in urban and rural environments, all of which have given me the opportunity to develop my skills as a designer.
Rosie Cockcroft Landscape Architecture Leeds Metropolitan University rosiecockcroft@hotmail.com My blog containing personal reflections on events, places and lectures related to landscape architecture: http://rosiepdp.tumblr.com/
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Contents 4-13
“Leeds Alive� Specialist Design Project, Year 3
12-13
Construction and Specification Project, Southwater Sqaure, Year 3
16-17
Design and Build Project, Year 3
18-19
Design and Community Project with Beckfoot School, Bingley, Year 3
20-21
Copenhagen and Malmo Study Trip, Year 3
22-23
Critical Study, Year 3
24-25
Landscape Character Assessment, Year 2
26
Masterplan for The Rosebowl, Leeds, Year 2
27
Strategic Masterplan for Kirkstall, Leeds, Year 2
28-29
Rural Strategic Masterplanning, Year 2
30-31
Edible Planting Design, Harehills, Leeds, Year 2
4
Cycle, jog, walk or skate along Green Street, cutting through the organic, aquatic and island zones.
Bring your skateboard, BMX or rollerblades to the Urban Forest, or practice your Parkour on the training terrain.
A proposal for a city park on a brownfield site south of the River Aire, around the Tetley’s Brewery. As part of my survey and analysis process I studied the ecological value of the area and was surprised by the variety of existing flora and fauna in this urbanised area. I studied the Leeds City Council’s Biodiversity and Waterfront Development Framework and chose to respond to this through my design.
“Leeds Alive” Specialist Design Project
Discover the amazing amount of wildlife that can live in urban areas; spot kingfishers, herons, otters or bright blue damselflies.
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After writing my Critical Study on “The Role of Landscape Architecture in Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing� I was inspired to concentrate on this throughout my design process. I have purposely designed to provide pleasant distraction from the stresses of busy urban life, through encouraging wildlife, providing a a range of social situations and using planting and hard materials that stimulate the senses.
A huge area dedicated to natural play where children can discover a range of exciting trails and obstacles that will help development both physically and mentally.
6
Biodiversity Education Alongside the River Aire to encourage existing wildlife
Fitness Trail Links with waterfront path to attract cyclists and joggers into the park
Social Space Close proximity to Briggate city centre would allow easy access for day and night time events
Relaxing Sculpture Gardens Easy access from businesses around the Calls for a relaxing lunch break
Commercial Office and retail with contemporary internal courtyard spaces
Urban Woodland and Urban Play An exciting playground for all ages with alternative sports, close to Clarence Dock where related retail could be introduced
N
Residential Prime position for links to city centre and green spaces
Natural Play Area will be shaded by buildings to south in summer months to protect young children from skin damage
“Leeds Alive� Specialist Design Project
7
Potential Green Corridors for the Future
Main Pedestrian and Cycle Links to City Centre
8
LS1
Native Plants
Every species planted is native to the LS1 postcode area of Leeds, maximising chances for wildlife, as well as educating people about their local species and strengthening genius loci.
“Leeds Alive� Specialist Design Project
Detailed planting plan of one section of “Leeds Alive�. The chosen plants aim to enrich the surprisingly rich range of existing species, as well as being a positive response to mental health and wellbeing, through using plants that stimulate the senses, provide year round interest and give people a sense of control through creating areas of different characters so people can choose where they would like to spend time.
Heath Spotted Orchid Arrowhead
+ 25.4
+ 25.8 Amphibious Bistort
Tufted Hair Grass
+ 24.8
Wild Cherry
+ 25.88 + 25.4
+ 25.85 Wavy Hair Grass
d
c
Water Violet
26.0
e
Ramsons
Bilberry
Bluebells
+ 25.8
Hawthorn Rowan
+ 25.8
+ 25.9
Brittle Bladder Fern
Wavy Hair Grass
Water Violet
+ 25.6
Dogwood Silver Birch
Yellow Flag
Brittle Bladder Fern Ox-eye Daisy Snowdrop
+ 25.4
Rowan
b
Tufted Hair Grass
Harebell Field Forget-Me-Not
Ivy Leaved Crowfoot
+ 25.6
Water Violet
+ 26.0
Elder Harebell
Bramble Early Purple Orchid
Bramble
Fitness Station: Pull Up Bars
Reed Canary Grass Poppies
+ 25.88
Field Forget-Me-Not Harebell
Tufted Hair Grass
Field Forget-Me-Not
Bluebells
Goat Willow
+ 25.4
Ramsons Elder
Wild Strawberry
Bilberry
26.0
Wavy Hair Grass Dogwood
+ 24.8
Elder Pedunculate Oak
Amphibious Bistort
Fitness Station: Stepping Exercise
26.2 Bilberry
+ 24.8 Goat Willow
Arrowhead
+ 26.4
+ 25.4
Wild Strawberry
Amphibious Bistort
Harebell Field Forget-Me-Not
Yellow Flag
Broad Buckler Fern
+ 25.6 Ivy Leaved Crowfoot
Water Violet
Ivy Leaved Crowfoot
Arrowhead
+ 25.4
+ 26.5
Yellow Flag
+ 25.6 Ivy Leaved Crowfoot
+ 25.6 + 25.4
+ 25.9 + 26.0
Bulrush
+ 25.6
Yellow Flag
Arrowhead
N Scale 1:100
a
+ 25.6 Ivy Leaved Crowfoot
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10
Latin Name
Common Name
Betula Pendula
Silver Birch
Shrubs, Bulbs and Perennials
Trees
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Eventual Height
Eventual Spread
Pot Size/ Plant Type
Spacing
Flowering Period/ Aesthetic Features
20000
10000
Standards 10 litre
4000
Catkins April to May
5000
6000
10 litre
Standards 10 litre
As specified Fragrant white flowers on plan May to June. Produces red berries in autumn.
Prunus avium
Wild Cherry
30000
75000
6000
Quercus robur
Pedunculate Oak
25000
25000
Salix caprea
Goat Willow
10000
8000
Extra Heavy Standard 50 litre
As specified Catkins January to on plan March
Sambucus nigra
Elder
6000
6000
Standard light 3 litre
As specified White flower June on plan to July. Black fruit follows.
Sorbus aucuparia
Rowan
15000
8000
Standard 10 litre
Allium ursinum
Ramsons (Wild Garlic)
600
500
Bulb
Campanula rotundifolia
Harebell
400
400
Plug
Cornus sanguinea
Dogwood
1500
800
2 litre
Cystopteris fragilis
Brittle Bladder Fern
350
Notes
Thorny stems. May need pruning yearly.
White blossom in spring. Deep red fruits and dark green leaves that turn red-yellow in autumn.
Heavy As specified Green flower, May to Standard, on plan June Bare Rooted
As specified Small white flowers on plan late spring. Redorange fruits autumn. 300
1000
White flowers April to June Blue flowers in Summer.
Will provide bold drifts of seasonal colour.
Bright red stems in winter and bright red leaves in the autumn.
Will provide bold drifts of seasonal colour. In April, cut back the stems to within two or three buds from the base
2 litre
“Leeds Alive� Specialist Design Project
Shrubs, Bulbs and Perennials
11 Latin Name
Common Name
Eventual Height
Dactylorhiza maculata
Heath Spotted Orchid
500
Deschampsia caespitosa
Tufted Hair Grass
1500
Deschampsia flexuosa
Wavy Hair Grass
Dryopteris dilatata
Pot Size/ Plant Type
Spacing
Flowering Period/ Aesthetic Features
Notes
Seeds
Evenly distributed along line.
Late May to August
Sow seeds in Autumn
1200
2 litre
Purple in Summer Blue-green foliage all seasons
Silver June to August
600
300
3 litre
400
Broad Buckler Fern
1000
1200
2 litre
300
Endymion nonscriptus
Bluebell
500
100
Bulb
100
Blue flower in Spring months
Fragaria vesca
Wild Strawberry
500
500
1.5 litre
300
Evergreen. White flowers April to July followed by red fruit throughout Summer
Galanthus nivalis
Snowdrop
150
80
Bulb
500
White flowers January to March
Leucanthemum vulgare
Oxeye Daisy
100
500
Seeds
Distributed evenly over designated area.
White flower Spring to Summer, green foliage all year round
Myosotis arvensis
Field Forget-me-not
300
500
Seeds
Distributed evenly over designated area.
Pretty, delicate blue flowers May until late Autumn.
Papaver rhoeas
Poppy
900
300
Seeds
Evenly distributed along line.
June to August
1000
2000
3 litre
500
Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass
Eventual Spread
Purple flower early Summer
Brown in Summer
Will provide bold drifts of seasonal colour.
Will provide bold drifts of seasonal colour.
Plant March to May. Ensure bold shape of drift stays defined by controlling spread.
Aquatic
Shrubs, Bulbs and Perennials
12
Latin Name
Common Name
Eventual Height
Orchis mascula
Early Purple Orchid
Rubus fructosus
Bramble
3000
Vaccinium myrtillus
Bilberry
Iris pseudacorus
Eventual Spread
Pot Size/ Plant Type
Spacing
Seeds
Evenly distributed along line.
2500
5000mm diameter Bare Root
1000
300
1000
3 litre
500
Evergreen plant, pink flowers May - June. Blue/black berries in Summer
Yellow Flag
1500
400
Bulb
200
Bright yellow flowers June to July
Plant in water up to 100mm deep.
Hottania palustris
Water Violet
200
1000
Plug
200
Pink flowers May to June
Good oxygenator. Plant in water 100 - 600mm deep
Persicaria amphibia
Amphibious Bistort
750
Plug
200
Pink flowers JulySeptember
Plant in water up to 1000mm deep
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Arrowhead
450
Plug
150
White flowers June September
Plant in water 50 300mm deep
Ranunculus hederaceus
Ivy-leafed crowfoot
100
Plug
150
Tiny white flowers June Good oxygenator. Plant - September in water up to 100mm deep
Typha lalifolia
Bulrush
Plug
300
Cream flowers in summer. Brown spike in autumn and winter
500
2500
300
600
Flowering Period/ Aesthetic Features
Notes
Purple flowers in May
Sow seeds in Autumn
Plant in water 300 400mm deep
“Leeds Alive� Specialist Design Project
Construction of Aquatic Edges Adjacent to Shopfront Paving
Stanton Moor Sandstone
Paved area is cambered: Fall of 1:80 allows water to drain into aquatic zone.
Mortar Bed Sand To Create Level Compacted Ground
Hardcore
d
To Rainwater Harvesting Tank
Gradient retains growing medium
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From Rainwater Harvesting Tank
Aquatic Light
Retaining Wall
Island
Retaining Wall
e
Rainwater Harvesting System
The water level within the aquatic zones is crucial to the survival of the plants that live there, and therefore crucial to Leeds Alive looking rich with lush greenery and wildlife. This is a major factor in improving the mental health and wellbeing of the users of the park and therefore needs to be carefully monitored. When the water level becomes too high, water feeds out through overflow pipes and is transferred to the underground storage tank. When the water level drops, this water can then be pumped to the surface to maintain the optimum level of water for the aquatic flora. In the rare occasion that the tank was to become full, there will be a storm water outlet into the River Aire.
a
b
G
Aquatic Planting Under Decking
All plants are suitable for being slightly submerged under water. Plant at 250mm centres offset as shown on plan. Plants become more distributed as they are further out into water. Keep plants watered and in shade until planted. Do not allow to dry out.
14 This project really developed my ability to draw technical drawings and highlighted the importance of clarity and precision in the specification of construction. It also allowed me to see the degree of creativity that can be used even designing at such small scales.
Aquatic Species
Bulbs, Flowers and Shrubs
Tree
Initial or Symbol
Latin Name
Vehicular Paving
B
Marshalls GRA917 Flamed Granite flags 10mm mortar joints Mix of 300 x 300 x 75mm and 150 x 300 x 75mm Coarse Sand Bed 50mm Hardcore Sub-base 200mm Compacted Earth Below. Edging between paving and planting bed is the same stone in 150 x 90 x 90mm
Common Name
Pl
Platanus x acerfolia
London Plane
Quantity
Pot Size/ Plant type (litre)
30
Eventual Height (mm)
Eventual Spread (mm)
Spacing
Notes
(mm)
A
Allium giganteum
Ornamental Onion
34
350 Standard Bulbs
1800
150
Bu
Buxus sempervirens
Common Box
116
2
1000
1500
250
Ca
Japanese Sedge
62
2
300
350
300
Plantain Lily
36
2
550
1000
400
Lavender
47
1.5
600
450
200
Li
Carex oshimensis “Evergold” Hosta fortunei “Albopicta” Lavandula augustifolia “Mustead” Liriope muscari
Big Blue Lily-turf
32
1.5
400
450
300
Lu
Luzula nivea
Snowy Woodrush
19
2
600
450
T
Tulipa “Greuze”
Tulip
30
Bulbs
600
200
Alisma plantagoaquatica Iris pseudacorus
Water-Plantain
15
Plug/ Bare Root
600-900
250
Yellow Iris
30
Plug/ Bare Root
1500
250
Self seeds. Can be avoided by removing seed heads. Grows in depths of up to 400mm water. Very wet soil, grows in depths of up to 100mm water.
Hottania palustris
Water Violet
18
Plug/ Bare Root
800
250
Grows in depths of up to 600mm.
Ranunculus hederaceus
Ivy Leaved Crowfoot
29
Plug/ Bare Root
100
250
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Arrowhead
32
Bulbs/ Bare Root
450
300
250
Sparganium erectum
Branched Bur-reed
10
Plug/ Bare Root
300-1500
2000
250
Typha lalifolia
Bullrush
14
Plug/ Bare Root
2500
600
250
H La
1500
Clear stem up to 1.8m. Train in summer, prune in winter to strong geometric rectangular shape. 400 (approx) Divide plants September - November Once established clip back to 50cm high by 50cm wide. Prune twice a year in late spring and late summer. Once pruned apply top dressing of fertilizer without letting it touch the leaves or stems. In winter, comb through plant with fingers to remove dead leaves. Snip out dead leaves in summer. Divide August to March. Put slug pellets down when planted.
Cut off tired looking leaves and divide large clumps in spring. 350 Remove deteriorated foliage in autumn. Divide April - June. 200 (approx) Remove dead heads in late spring.
Growths in depths up to 400mm water or very wet soil.
Southwater Square Hard and Soft Detail
Pleached, standard Platanus x acerifolia
C
Clear stem up to 1.8m. Plant late autumn, give notice before delivery of trees and preparation of tree pits. Ensure tree is completely upright and orientated for optimum pleaching opportunity. Prune in winter to shape tree growth. Train in Summer. Staked below ground hold rootball in position by driving four timber anchors into the base of the tree pit and then fastening a rachet strap. If required, the system can be re-tensioned at a later date. Weave young lateral growth with that of neighbouring trees while they are still supple and adaptable. Annually prune back to a single bud once branch system is formed to retain strong form. Water well as soon as tree covered. Plant trees as soon as they arrive on site. Do not leave rootballs exposed as they will dry out and die. If waiting to be planted, wrap well with plastic to retain water content. 50mm depth of 80-120mm Japanese beige flat pebbles to top dress tree pit.
Decking
F
Decking, joists, joist hangers and wall plates all sustainably sourced, British Oak, untreated and planed all round . 10mm depth washer between wall and wall plate. 10mm diameter masonry rawl-bolts, with 5mm depth washer between bolt head and wall plate. Joists attached to wall plate using joist hangers. All fixings to be stainless steel to avoid rusting. Timber decking: 50mm thick, 200mm wide hardwood. 6mm spacing to allow drainage. 150mm x 150mm British Recycled Plastic posts at 2000mm centres embedded in earth, with concrete footing haunched up.
Section Through Site - Mapping Location of Details
A Scale 1:100
B
C D
E
F G
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16
Before After
Design and Build Project
My Working Model
17
As part of a group of ten students I contributed to the entire design process right through to the construction phase in an intense six week period. This allowed me to experience the difficulties and complications that can occur during the construction phase of a landscape design project. I chose this elective to extend my knowledge of basic construction techniques and planting and to help to gain an appreciation of the process that contractors have to go through when working from the drawings and specification of designers. My role within the group included collaborating ideas towards the plan, clearing the site, setting out, earthworks, building the path, fixing the planters with concrete and transplanting numerous trees and plants from elsewhere within the garden. Individually I completed a working model to aid the design process.
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An opportunity to experience the many benefits of participatory design working together with a year 10 graphics class at Beckfoot School in Bingley. Working as part of a group, the purpose of the project was to design an area of the playground that was to be built adjacent to a new school for the pupils. In order to produce a design that was meaningful to the community of Beckfoot School, we organised a number of classroom activities. First we explored the ways the pupils used the outdoor space prior to the move by asking them to map out the areas they like to spend time in and why, as well as changes they would like to see. Next, we wanted to understand styles and preferences of the pupils. We hung over 300 images on “washing lines� across the classroom and got them to stick red or green stickers on their least and most favourite images. This approach of getting the pupils actively involved helped them to become more open in raising their thoughts and ideas and led into useful discussions. All this feedback was analysed and used to inform our design, for example, some of the most frequent comments were that more seating was needed, they preferred areas with planting and contact with nature and a quiet, more relaxed space away from the areas used for sports at break times. These important opinions helped to form our brief.
Design and Community Project
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Our design was inspired by the concept of “Dominant Nature�; the power nature has over man made urban environments. The pupils loved this idea and explored how this could be represented in the landscape through drawings and discussions. This frequent contact with the client allowed us to produce a design that impressed both staff and pupils and that has the potential to be built in the near future.
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Copenhagen and Malmo Study Trip 2010
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A trip to Denmark and Sweden in October 2010 offered the opportunity to explore numerous parks, playgrounds, streetscapes, squares, skateparks, gardens and promenades. So much can be learnt from both Swedish and Danish landscapes and cultures, including their healthy lifestyles, attitudes to play and their knowledge of planting. This sheet presents a selection of sketches, paintings, collages and photographs from both Denmark and Sweden showing some of the most interesting places we visited, including C. Th. Sorensen’s Allotment Gardens in Naerum and Bo01 in Malmo.
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“THE ROLE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING” Writing my Critical Study has not only influenced the way that I think as a designer, but it has also inspired the concept that drove my design process for the “Leeds Alive” City Park project. After becoming fascinated by the relationship between design, nature and health, my challenge was to produce a design for the South Bank of Leeds which incorporated these three elements. My design brief was to address the busy, stressful character of urban life within the centre of Leeds by providing a healthy distraction, through using native plants that provide seasonal interest; by designing an urban oasis for wildlife to flourish and by encouraging an active lifestyle. These factors, together with the relaxing nature of “Leeds Alive” are inspired from the in depth research carried out during the process of my Critical Study. This included site visits to hospitals, schools and playgrounds; questionnaires to health professionals; studying journals, books and websites and contacting design professionals.
“Action to improve health through the provision of high
quality green space is now more relevant than ever and must be started immediately. With an aging population in the UK, demands on the health service are rising (CABE 2009, p.4). However, the current financial climate in this country is making people look for cheaper alternatives. Improving and encouraging access to good quality green space across the country is a more feasible and cost effective method of preventing and treating mental illness than the expense of medication and highly qualified staff. If landscape architects, health professionals and local authorities can learn to work collaboratively there exists the potential to significantly improve the mental health and wellbeing of the population.”
“Clients can talk about the weather, the seasons - time of year, see the summer flowers/autumn leaves, touch soil, plant flowers/bulbs. Birds and insects also become a topic of interest and conversation.
“It can be seen as a type of Reality Orientation - reinforcing
the time of day and time of year - nature and the seasons. This has a very positive effect on mood and wellbeing. A change in facial expression can be quite dramatic when a client is moved from indoors to an outdoor environment.”
Rhona Clark - Enhanced Senior Occupational Therapist - Explaining the benefits nature can have on Alzheimer’s patients.
Critical Study
23
Photograph of Textural Surfaces used to stimulate senses Sensory Garden at All Saints Primary School, Cockermouth.
Sketch of wooden dragon at entrance to Sensory Garden at All Saints Primary School, Cockermouth.
Sketch of Traditional Cultivation Room, Rehabilitation Garden, Alnarp, Sweden.
Photograph of St Thomas' Hospital Gardens, London.
24
Character area plan (left) with sample of descriptions (above).
This group project involved a combination of desk study and field study to provide a landscape character assessment for an area surrounding the village of Thorner in Yorkshire. A wide range of factors were considered including physical aspects, such as geology, flora and fauna, soil types, topography etc, as well as human based influences, such as history, infrastructure, land use, aesthetics and views. As a result of this study, our group had to divide the landscape into character areas, based on an accumulation of these factors. Judgements were made to determine the value of each character area under the categories of ecology, history and visual. These values were aggregated to give an overall value for each character area, which could potentially be used to contribute towards the future planning of development.
Landscape Character Assessment
Results from field study showing variety of views around the area, similar to the process for an LVIA.
25
26
A proposal for a social square outside the new Leeds Met University Building, the Rosebowl. I produced a sketch design for the scheme, which was resolved in soft and hard detail. My design was inspired by the geometric layout of Millennium Square which is situated only approximately 500m from the site and has been represented using a combination of both soft and hard materials in a variety of types of environments for different social situations.
Masterplan for the Rosebowl, Leeds
27
A detailed urban design analysis informed a strategic vision for Kirkstall, Leeds. After analysing the area, as part of a group I produced a strategic vision to meet the needs of the area and to become a well known destination. The concept of the design proposal was healthy living and incorporated many facilities to encourage an active lifestyle. The proposal also suggested areas for allotments to use the productive alluvial soils around the River Aire and that Kirkstall could become a Cittaslow town which would give a relaxed character to the area and become a sustainable neighbourhood.
Strategic Masterplan for Kirkstall, Leeds
28
A masterplan for a new visitor centre at Torver Common, near Coniston in the Lake District. Following a study trip to the area, I was inspired by the local character and culture of the Lake District. The design celebrates Cumbrian heritage and respects the existing landscape, whilst providing a diverse, interesting visitor attraction. The design was developed on a variety of scales, from strategic masterplanning to detailed design.
Rural Strategic Masterplanning
29
30
Edible Planting Design, Harehills, Leeds
A very small scale garden design project with an emphasis on edible plants and recycled materials. With a budget of only ÂŁ100 it required careful selection of both soft and hard materials to create a manageable, attractive and productive front garden for the client. This six week project involved meeting and conversing with the client, working through the design process to provide a design that was presented in the local community centre in an open exhibition.
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Rosie Cockcroft Landscape Architecture Leeds Metropolitan University rosiecockcroft@hotmail.com My blog containing personal reflections on events, places and lectures related to landscape architecture: http://rosiepdp.tumblr.com/