North Place

 This was my entry for the LDA bursary competition. My focus in response to the brief was having a site community focused and looking at it in terms of a social space with something that gives back to the community. This is a community garden and orchard, in response to the cost-of-living crisis this is a place with food and support in an accessible place in Cheltenham. The design considers the impact of climate change, North Place is currently a site filled with asphalt, planting trees and shrubs will help to offset the CO2 emitted by the site. 

Plum, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Walnut, Hazel, Juniper, Peaches, Elderflower, Sloes for the main orchard. With other edible shrubs dotted throughout the site for aroma and for people to take. There are private facilities for people working on the site and blue card holders. Planters of seasonal vegetables can be found in the east side of the site.

An open area of land on the west side is open for functional use and the public to relax in. At the north point of the car park there is a lock up for storing equipment with loos attached.

The design layout is inspired by the organic landscape of the rolling Cotswold hills, the semi-circular areas inspired by the church spires that sit at the church over the road; the trees follow the lines that branch out from the semi circles. These act as hub areas with view of the site and seating.

When asked how this would be funded, I have proposed that a few of Cheltenham's 4,000 millionaires would be interested in helping offset climate change at a local level.

    I considered the impact a change like this would make, it would help offset emissions produced by the current site, it would help the thermal comfort of the area and become a place for animals to habit.

For future competitions I will start earlier, emailing the entry in at 11:30pm is a bit stressful. There are things I wished did differently, but it was a fun exercise in turning over a design in a short space of time.