Our team has delivered 14 design charrettes from Elgin to Greenock…
In addition to engagement as part of our regular design development process, Austin-Smith:Lord have led 14 design charrettes (most part-funded through the Scottish Government’s ‘Mainstreaming’ programme). This has armed us with a wealth of experience and allowed us to hone our techniques and refine our engagement methodology.
We have refined our techniques through reflective practice, adapting and adjusting them in response to specific requirements of the unique context of each local community relating the issues the age group, the numbers in attendance and the physical context of the Town itself. Our consultation techniques allow us to co-create a deliverable vision and action plan for regeneration in diverse communities.
You can view our Design Charrettes datasheet below, or by clicking here.
The commission and resultant report were delivered under significant time constraints, to a high standard, which also satisfied Scottish Government. (The report is available on both Council and Scottish Government websites). The skills employed throughout, from project plan design, initiation, pre event organisation, engagement with a range of interested parties to generate consensus on the vision by means of workshops and an on-site design studio, to report drafting, were all conducted in a collaborative, enthusiastic, and diplomatic manner.
David Duncan – Principal Planning Officer (Strategic Development), Moray Council
ASL and Graham Ross in particular performed extremely well on our Port Glasgow Charrette and Regeneration Masterplan. Their team of multi disciplinary professionals was first class and as a result we have a Masterplan Report that will become a working tool as we move forward with our priority projects.
Fiona Maguire – Physical Regeneration Service Manager, Riverside Inverclyde
One of the largest urban regeneration projects to be built outside London in the last 20 years
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- PICCADILLY PLACE MASTERPLAN + EXTERNAL WORKS
Piccadilly Place Masterplan + External Works
Piccadilly Place is one of the largest urban regeneration projects to be built outside London in the last 20 years. Austin-Smith:Lord has played a key role in delivering the scheme for Argent and The Carlyle Group by first developing the masterplan and then designing the largest office building on the site, 3 Piccadilly Place. The masterplan includes high quality public realm, a hotel, four office buildings, residential accommodation and retail spaces together with over four floors of underground parking. In the role of concept designers, Austin-Smith:Lord coordinated the work of six architects and artists within the overall scheme.
Designed in 2005, 3 Piccadilly Place was the first office building in the North West of England to achieve the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
Piccadilly Place is an area of public realm in which everyone can be proud. This stunning space is an impressive welcome to the UK’s second city for the millions of visitors that come through Piccadilly, while simultaneously offering a cool oasis of calm in the centre of it all. The red clay paver is reminiscent of many of Manchester’s historic mills and Victorian municipal buildings and forges an important link between the contemporary piazza and the city around it.
Clive Bartlam – Project Director, Argent
CLIENT: ARGENT ESTATES LTD/CARLYLE GROUP
COMPLETION: 2008
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: MASTERPLANNING, ARCHITECTURE
CONTRACTOR: CARILLION PLC
STRUCTURES: TIER CONSULTING
SERVICES: SHEPHERD ENGINEERING SERVICES
COST CONSULTANT: FAITHFUL + GOULD
AWARDS: 2008 PROPERTY WEEK NORTH WEST ‘COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR’
Urban Design and Landscape Strategy and Implementation Plan for the enhancement of the River Taff Corridor
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- RIVER TAFF, MERTHYR TYDFIL
River Taff, Merthyr Tydfil
Austin-Smith:Lord was commissioned by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to produce an Urban Design and Landscape Strategy and Implementation Plan for the enhancement of the River Taff Corridor. Merthyr Tydfil is situated on the River Taff, which separates retail activities in the east from commercial and residential uses to the west. In recent years, the development of Merthyr Tydfil town centre has largely affected its main asset and turned its back on the river, meaning that the River Taff is largely hidden from view.
The aim of the strategy was two-fold:
- To remove the perception of the River Taff Corridor as a barrier to movement, integrating the east and west of the town;
and
- To improve the physical environment of River Taff Corridor, and develop the river as an attraction on its own right.
The implemented works have vastly improved the setting of the River Taff Corridor and have proved very popular with local residents. Moreover, this project is now widely regarded by the Town Partnership Committee and Regeneration Department as the most successful scheme within the town centre
Gavin Lewis – Physical Regeneration Manager, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
COMPLETION: 2010
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTOR: ENGLISH LANDSCAPES
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: CURTINS
SERVICES: LOCAL AUTHORITY LIGHTING
COST CONSULTANT: GLEEDS
An enhanced environment for the Town Hall, and a new convival urban space
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- COUNTESS STREET PUBLIC REALM, SALTCOATS
Countess Street Public Realm, Saltcoats
Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed in September 2015 by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council, after selection through a design competition, to prepare design proposals for Countess Street, Saltcoats in North Ayrshire.
The project is part of the Saltcoats Town Regeneration Plan, which is, in turn, part of the visionary masterplan for the five towns making up the Irvine Bay area. The public realm works also build upon the success of the initial phase of regeneration associated with the Town Hall and the refurbishment of the old station building on Vernon Street.
A new, improved public realm has been created on Countess Street, the strategic artery which links the town’s main railway station and local bus stops on Vernon Street with a key retail area on Dockhead Street plus the seafront beyond.
Improvements to the street create an enhanced environment for the Town Hall, a feature of Countess Street since the 1890’s, which was recently redeveloped into a vibrant new community and civic hub. The ongoing shop front improvement projects also add to the regeneration process.
The design includes a new convivial urban space which features high quality surfacing and lighting improvements, to encourage community and civic activity, support the increased footfall to the newly refurbished Town Hall and create an attractive setting for weddings and other events set within the revitalised building. The one-way vehicular traffic system has been retained and accommodates ceremonial vehicles arriving at the Town Hall, general service and refuse access. Pedestrian space, however, has been increased and the space is organised to avoid parking interfering with pedestrian movement.
This kind of public realm work brings genuine improvements and significant opportunities, as evidenced by the positive impact of work in both Kilwinning and Irvine. Irvine Bay continues to work with its partners to deliver a strong and lasting legacy of improved physical infrastructure for the five towns, along with job creation and increased business opportunities.
Patrick Wiggins – Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company
CLIENT: IRVINE BAY REGENERATION COMPANY
COMPLETION: 2018
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTORS: LAND ENGINEERING / RAINTON
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: lORD
STRUCTURES: HARLEY HADDOW
TRANSPORT CONSULTANT: TRANSPORT PLANNING LTD
COST CONSULTANT: NEILSON PARTNERSHIP
The project features the 9m high Trinity Mirror sculpture that reflects the stunning neo-Gothic Trinity Church and reveals inscriptions on an anamorphic projection around its base.
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- BRIDGEGATE PUBLIC REALM
Austin-Smith:Lord’s competition-winning design has completely rejuvenated the historic heart of this former New Town, with natural stone public realm, artworks and streetscape improvements being part of a wider £10m regeneration programme by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council.
The project features the 9m high Trinity Mirror sculpture that reflects the stunning neo-Gothic Trinity Church and reveals inscriptions on an anamorphic projection around its base. This artwork, coupled with a timeline, reveal aspects of the town’s long, interesting history and its identity developed in discussion with the townsfolk.
Austin-Smith:Lord worked closely with artists WAVE and lighting specialists dpa to incorporate public art and feature lighting into the redesign of Bridgegate.
Former Trinity Church bells, landform artworks and programmed feature lighting further enrich the experience and setting of the Bridgegate. The space is highly flexible and has immediately hosted farmers and Christmas markets, drawing people to the town centre.
I am delighted to see the successful completion of this outstanding project. Local people have been directly involved in the transformation, commenting on ideas and helping to shape the public art which is a central element of the refurbishment. Their involvement is core to the success of this regeneration project, which is about providing new opportunities for local people.
Margaret Burgess – MSP, on officially opening the project
CLIENT: IRVINE BAY REGENERATION COMPANY
SIZE: 3000M2
COMPLETION: 2013
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE, URBAN DESIGN, MASTERPLANNING
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTOR: LAND ENGINEERING
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
ENGINEERS: O’CONNOR SUTTON CRONIN
LIGHTING CONSULTANT: DPA LIGHTING
COST CONSULTANT: NEILSON PARTNERSHIP
AWARDS:
2014 BALI NATIONAL LANDSCAPE AWARD
2015 SCOTTISH PROPERTY AWARD; TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR