UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS LANDSCAPE

Sectors : Learning

Client : University of Leeds

DLA’s Landscape & Urban Design team have been working with the University of Leeds for over 10 years, supporting a number of successful new build and refurbishment projects, together with wider public realm improvements.

The Landscape team were appointed by the University of Leeds to develop and oversee the implementation of a scheme for refurbishment of one of the primary external spaces on campus, Beech Grove Plaza. The space is contained within a number of buildings with significant architectural heritage and therefore the design had to take into account the setting of the listed buildings, whilst creating a new contemporary and unifying space at the heart of the campus.

Existing level changes across the site presented challenges to the creation of a fully accessible environment whilst maintaining a flexible space.

Furthermore, the team have developed a unique design for a ninth floor roof terrace contained within the School of Medicine Medical building. The science of plants, with a particular focus on the organic patterns of cell arrangement in plant tissue and the graphical diagrams of chemical structures, provides a strong concept behind the proposals.

These unique patterns create a strong geometry across the terrace. The design is focused on the creation of a wildlife garden and provides varied habitats with a palette of native shrubs, herbaceous plants and medicinal herbs.