25 June 2019

Urban Green Space Runner-up: Sovereign Square, Leeds City Council and re-form landscape architecture

Leeds city centre, the core of one of the North’s most prominent cities, lacks any major green space. In fact, it currently has tree cover that is only 25% of the European city average. Leeds City Council’s Sovereign Square project seeks to rectify this by bringing nature back into the heart of the urban centre.

The square’s new green layout, which was designed for the city council by re-form landscape architecture, includes fifty new mature trees planted around a large central lawn. Prone to flooding, the square also incorporates a 35m long rain garden to sustainably manage surface water. A wide variety of seating is also now available throughout the public space.

A water channel once ran through the site from the adjacent River Aire to power Leeds’ 18th century mills. The artist Mel Chantry, alongside designers Fountain Workshop, has created a plaza that attempts to capture this history. Constructed of a stepped plinth of stone, the plaza has water bubbling up through cracks before flowing down a rill towards the river.

The primary surface material is Yorkshire hard gritstone that is prevalent across West Yorkshire. It was chosen for its predominantly buff colour. The stone was quarried less than 10 miles away from the site, meeting the council’s ambition to support local businesses and limit the environmental impact of transportation.

The walls, rill and fountain plaza were formed from dense black granite, a reference to the dark grey limestone at the source of the River Aire and a complement to the buff Yorkstone. FSC-certified Iroko hardwood and cast bronze were used for stand alone seats and edges, which were manufactured by another Yorkshire company, Bramhall 1840.

Sovereign Square is making a positive contribution to the quality of public life in Leeds City Centre.

Submitted by: Andrew Price, Director, re-form landscape architecture on behalf of Jane Walne, Head of Projects and Programmes, Leeds City Council

Landscape architect: re-form landscape architecture
Contractor: Eurovia
Soft landscape contractor: Gavin Jones North
Project Manager: NPS (Leeds) Limited

Fountain designer: Fountain Workshop
Artist: Mel Chantry
Street furniture Hess + Bramhall 1840
Stone supplier Hardscape
Tree nursery Ebben
Image credit: Simon Vine

You can visit the Street Design Awards website for further details about the competition.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum + + Pension
Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£30,377 per annum, full time equivalent / equal to £15.74 per hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Urban Design Intern

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Assistant Urban Design InternFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - Safeguarding Team

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - ASC Centralised Safeguarding TeamFixed Term, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner