We were engaged by the lead contractor to undertake varied soft and hard landscaping and tree planting before, during and after 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Defining the landscape
In hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2022 the city of Birmingham defined the opportunity to deliver a residential development containing the Athletes Village to leave a lasting legacy beyond the games.
It was intended that the Athletes Village act as a catalyst for sustainable design and regeneration of the wider Perry Barr neighbourhood, a ripple effect to the wider area and provide an exemplar residential neighbourhood defined through enhanced public transport connections, infrastructure and connectivity improvements and green and blue infrastructure techniques which inform and connect to the wider area.
Masterplan
A landscape masterplan was drawn up to deliver radical improvements to the current connectivity programme with emphasis in providing enhanced walking, cycling, transport and green transport links with the creation of dynamic high-quality public realm plazas and streetscapes which incorporate trees and other natural features central to the transformation of the site and a regenerated Perry Barr.
The plan outlined sustainable principles and the vernacular and cultural heritage of the site whilst striving to provide a distinctive, contemporary scheme with a strong sense of place, which is legible and accessible to all users. Elements of biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable drainage schemes “SuDS” are showcased as exemplar sustainable features.
Podium Gardens
The seven podium gardens have been designed to provide linear private patios with separated articulated seating areas for communal use within the gardens.
Each garden has loose layered planting effect with hedges, ornamental grasses and perennials not intended to be manicured but to provide a naturalistic atmosphere. Several intimate pockets have been designed to represent private meeting areas within the gardens.
Communal Terraces
Alongside these strongly defined areas there are multiple podium gardens associated with individual plots as well as an allocation of communal terrace spaces provided amongst the higher-level roofs on each of the building plots apart from the mews and townhouse area.
The areas are further defined by seating areas framed by medium size hedging with small ornamental trees and shade structure components where appropriate.
