Long Rake Spar

Long Rake Spar Company required an expansion of the building facilities for mineral handling for the ongoing operation of their site within the Peak District National Park. Working with David Sutherland Architects of Buxton our role was to consider the Landscape and Visual Impact of the proposed development on the National Park. We assessed a number of public viewpoints and proposed a series of mitigation measures to reduce the impact of the proposed development to acceptable levels. We also provided a long term woodland and landscape management plan which considers the ongoing threat of Chalara Ash Dieback.

Location:

Matlock, Derbyshire, UK

Type:

Industrial

Area:

19 hectares

Value:

£0.5m

Client:

Long Rake Spar Company Ltd

New Era Square

Weddles are the Landscape Consultants on the new landmark development in Sheffield, the prestigious New Era Square, linking the commercial areas of London Road and Bramall Lane. The project, which has received significant inward investment from China, is set to create more than 200 new jobs once construction has been completed in 2019.

A robust high quality landscape has been designed which stems from Chinese design, but remain sensitive to Sheffield vernacular.

“As a local MP I believe that the New Era Development is an outstanding chance to move our city forward and build on our strong business relationship with China.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg

Location:

Sheffield, UK

Type:

Mixed Use

Area:

1000 sqm

Value:

£65M

Client:

New Era Development (UK) Ltd

Bosigran Climbers Club

As many of the Weddles staff are avid climbers, we were delighted to be approached to put forward a proposal to improve the Bosigran Climbers hut in Penzance.  We produced a robust design that sat well into the World Heritage landscape above Bosigran Crag. It complements the beautiful granite Count House building. This is the only climbing hut in Cornwall, but its situation is perfect for climbing on the North Coast.

Location:

Penzance, UK

Type:

Estate

Area:

500 sqm

Value:

£200,000

Client:

Climbers Trust

Delta Hospital Ming Courtyard

Weddles produced 4 high quality unique courtyard designs for one of our longest running Chinese clients, Delta Hospital in Shanghai.  We produced a ‘Pan Asia’ Garden, ‘Zen’ Garden, ‘Freestyle’ Garden, and ‘Ming’ Garden.

The client selected the ‘Ming’ design as pictured. This design is based on a simplified form ‘Ming Style’ Suzhou Gardens. It consists of most key classic garden elements, such as pavilion, lily pond, stone hill, waterfall, etc, which can be found in the Private Scholar Humble Administrators Garden and Liu Garden. The arrangement of all garden elements are carefully considered to ensure high quality views from surrounding vistas. This garden would be a good example of how to transfer the ‘spirit’ of traditional Classic Suzhou Garden into modern design.

Location:

Shanghai, China

Type:

Hospital Courtyard

Area:

900 sqm

Value:

£1M

Client:

Delta Hospital

Niushou Buddist Mountain

Weddles have been one of three landscape consultants designing the extensive international tourism destination, known as Niushou Buddhist Mountain. This mega-project is set on the culturally important mountainsides above Nanjing city.

Integration of the proposals with existing terrain and landscape while protecting and enhancing the visual character of the mountains was key.

The design respects site character, local culture and Buddhist philosophy.

Location:

Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Type:

Eco-tourism Masterplan

Value:

400M

Area:

23ha

Client:

Nanjing Niushou Mountain Cultural Tourism Development Co. Ltd.

Kaifeng Design Expo

The painting ‘Ascending the river at Qingming Festival’ is used as the fundamental concept. The landmark building on site will house the 3D animated version of this painting, previously displayed at the 2010 world expo, and is expected to draw in huge crowds to the city. Our concept will help local people easily read the cultural meaning of the landscape design. Consequently, this could result in enhancing the cultural value of the scheme, and highlighting the character of Song Dynasty culture which is ‘High Quality and Elegance’.

The concepts of ‘ecological design ‘and ‘design for health’ are also integrated into the landscape. The scheme is aimed as to be a best practice example of roof gardens and spaces for people of all ages.

Central to the design is the large ‘River’ sculpture located along south-east boundary, within pedestrian walk along main roads. It is 160m in length and varies from 6m to 9m. The concept of this giant landscape feature is to abstracti the shape of the river from the painting ‘Ascending the river at Qingming Festival’, and raise it into the air and then turn it vertical to facing the street.

The ‘river’ is supported by steel lighting columns, and arranged in a de-constructing format to create interesting visual rhythm . The water wave lines are pre-curved steel column sections installed on site. The sculpture has been carefully designed to avoid blocking views to the top end retail shops.

Location:

Kaifeng, China

Type:

Mixed Use

Area:

3.3ha

Value:

£30M

Client:

Private

Yangtze River Science Centre

Yangtze estuary science and technology museum, built in Baoshan District of Shanghai. It is set within the Yangtze River estuary and Taiwan Wetland Park, and adjacent to the Wusong riverside area. The development reflects the completion of the Yangtze Estuary.

The design demonstrates the local water systems, waterways, biological & ecological characteristics as well as the ecological evolution of technology and the human intervention.

The overall design has three core, ecological themes:

1. Building a grass roof, creating a fusion of architecture and surroundings, with significant ecological effect.
2. Interplay between ecological green walls and hard mirrored walls, creating visually interesting effect, while widening the depth of field from the limited space.
3. The Landscape design includes dramatic moving water, where it combines pools and fountains with dramatic wooden platforms.

The result is a modern, ecological, high-tech landscape.

Location:

Shanghai, China

Type:

Commercial

Area:

0.6ha

Value:

£5M

Client:

Shanghai Baoshan District, Science and Technology Committee

Projects

Sheshan 21 Hills

The 21 Hills Social Housing development includes 10 development blocks. 8 blocks are are for social housing and the 2 are dramatic public green parks, located above underground commercial buildings.

The proposed scheme by Architect Mr D Eberle is an exemplary example of a Social Housing project in Shanghai. The symbolic ‘Tree’ element with it’s freely spreading branches defines the landscape system and the pedestrian area as a linkage to connect individual buildings within the housing blocks.

The requirement was for low cost, but at a high quality design. The overall scheme is designed uses low cost and low maintenance materials to reduce both initial and long term costs where possible. Design specifications and construction techniques for hardwork areas incorporate elements which will reduce maintenance, including simple construction techniques to also reduce costs.

The planting design will incorporate a mix of low cost and low maintenance elements. This includes meadow planting where appropriate for the area to reduce maintenance requirements. Whips will be planted to ensure initial costs are reduced. Plants species are specified where possible for Shanghai Sheshan area locality to ensure maintenance requirements are reduced.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) is central to the design, though a series of natural style features, where water is collected, stored and filtered, as well as providing habitat for wildlife. Water can then be cleanly
and efficiently be expelled in nearby natural water courses or stored for landscape watering.

Location:

Shanghai, China

Type:

Residential

Area:

106ha

Value:

£30M

Client:

Shanghai City

Tong’qian & Lafite

Our design intention is to create a landscape for this mixed use development can be enjoyed rather than simply admired. In keeping with the architecture, the landscape is designed in the French classical style, echoing the Lafite viticulture.   To attract potential buyers, the landscape is of very high quality, visually exciting and designed to suit their lifestyle and status. The central square and the gardens along the axis will also be formal and geometric.

Location:

Shandong, China

Type:

Mixed Use

Area:

7ha

Value:

£25M

Client:

Shandong Apollo Properties Co. Ltd.