Author: Karl

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The Return of…

www.forestbathingpod.com

Pop over to see the PopUP Forest

A PopUP Forest will appear between 10.30 – 4pm on Saturday 21 September 2019 as part of the International Weekend of Wellbeing in Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre offering the chance to experience the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku or Forest Bathing.

“We are trying to recreate the tranquillity of a forest for the busy urban environment” explains Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, “Each day it seems that there are more reports and studies to show how being close to nature and being in trees and woodlands in particular is good for own wellbeing. This is a chance to immerse in a forest, take a breath and gather thoughts for the day ahead.”

The PopUP Forest has been designed by Liverpool based BCA Landscape and is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Urban GreenUP project. BCA Landscape Director Andy Thomson commented, “We have taken our inspiration from the Japanese Forest Bathing ideas. The PopUP Forest reminds us that being in nature is good for us on many levels.” The specially selected trees are supplied by local nursey JA Jones & Sons of Southport, and the bathing pod built by the Royal Court Theatre set-building team.

Urban GreenUP is a five-year programme that aims to plant more trees, create green walls and habitats for pollinators. The programme is part of an international collaboration led by Cartif in Spain, with the City Council leading the local partnership with The Mersey Forest and the University of Liverpool. Planning has just been granted for a green wall at St. John’s Centre adjacent to Royal Court Theatre.

Liverpool City Council comment “The Urban GreenUP project is showing the value and benefit of greening our city centre. The PopUP Forest is an opportunity to explore some of the health benefits and also start the conversations about how we green our cities to improve health and make us resilient to climate change too.”

Pop down to see the forest bathing pod

 

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RIBA National Award

The iconic Wirral Met College on Wirral Waters has won a national architecture award only two months after winning a regional Royal Institute of British Architecture award (RIBA).

The 38,000 sq ft college campus, developed by Peel for the College, is located on the Birkenhead dockland at Wirral Waters, was designed by architect Glenn Howells Architects, with landscape architects, BCA Landscape and masterplanner Parkinson Inc.

“One of the most successful aspects of the building is the way it works within an excellent landscape scheme. The setting of the dockside has been fully exploited, yet this is not a normal UK design response. The absence of barriers to water was noticeable and combined with the lack of perimeter fencing the landscape is allowed to act as an outside space that people want to be in – not an enclosed car park. It was this final aspect that persuaded the judges that this could indeed be worthy of an award – the building and its landscape can act as a blueprint for an excellent minimum standard for future phases.” RIBA Judges comments.

Richard Mawdsley, Director of Development at Wirral Waters added, “It’s satisfying to receive recognition for our strategy, which has always been focused on placemaking. We want to create a sustainable place with a long term future, that has a real sense of social value, benefiting local people, developing skills for local people in the area.”

Discover more about the Wirral Metropolitan project here

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Waterloo Goods Gateway

Realised in etched concrete with blasts of bright orange paint, the Waterloo Goods artwork stretches the entire length of Great Howard Street Bridge; creating a striking welcome to the city of Liverpool for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

The artwork takes its name from the Waterloo Goods line, the now defunct train line which ran below the bridge, a once key artery for the city as it carried goods from the thriving docks to the wider country.

Giant parrots sit side-by-side with local landmarks such as the Mersey Tunnel ventilation shafts and a 1950’s sugar silo – combining the exotic imports found at the dock with the architecture nearby, creating a unique and reverent homage to the cities dockland culture and spirit.

Designed by BCA Landscape and Smiling Wolf for Liverpool City Council and implemented on site with Amey, Graham Construction and stone/concrete specialist Hardscape’

Find out more about the project here

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Welcome to Madagascar

“We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing”.

– George Bernard Shaw

There’s so much to discover in our brand new PLAY! space at Chester Zoo. Climb like a lemur and uncover the tree-top hideaways in the Lost Forest, crawl across the scramble nets like an aye-aye and play in the sandy beach like a ploughshare tortoise! (Animal impressions encouraged.) Make a BIG splash in the dry river bed or play hide and seek in the Madagascan grasses. There’s even chance to explore the Madagascar field station and find challenge boxes with a few wildlife surprises to discover.

Having fun is no trivial pursuit. Most of us think of adult play as respite or indulgence, but having fun is no trivial pursuit. In fact, it’s crucial to our mental health and happiness. The project expands the variety and type of play offer that was previously in the zoo and encourages higher forms of imaginary and creative social play within a series of exciting and flexible spaces.

Through creative innovation and careful design consideration it combines and balances all the latest thinking and research in the realms of the psychology of play and communication friendly spaces, with the needs of the zoo and its staff and a fascinating and playful exploration of the wonderful island of Madagascar.

Find out more about the project here

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LI Awards Winner

We are delighted to announce The Rotunda Community Campus in Kirkdale, Liverpool has won the Design Category [for a small scale development] in the 2016 National Landscape Institute Awards.

A big well done and thankyou to everyone who has been part of making this wonderful project a reality, including all the volunteers, funders and project team.

The Judges said:

“This is a garden with a heart and soul and is not just an outdoor room but an outdoor house with a kitchen, living room, larder and playroom.”

Landscape Institute – Design Award Winner 2016 – Case Study

Find out more about the project here

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D&Ad 2018

BCAL have scooped a coveted award in the global design industry ‘oscars’.

A collaborative design work with our friends at Liverpool design agency, Smiling Wolf, ‘The Voyage’ has been recognised as a winner in the 2018 D&AD Awards.

The D&AD (Design and Art Directors) is a professional organisation which represents the global advertising, design and digital industries. Its annual awards are the ultimate creative accolade, with winners presented with an iconic pencil trophy, considered by many, to be the pinnacle of their professional achievement.

Within the awards category of Spatial Design / Design for Public Spaces, D&AD judges selected ‘The Voyage’ to receive a wood pencil award; which represents ‘creative excellence’ in advertising and design for the year.

Commissioned by Liverpool City Council to commemorate the centenary of the city’s Grade-II listed Cunard Building, The Voyage is the centrepiece of an urban landscape scheme that celebrates the golden age of transatlantic travel, which helped shape the city’s culture.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: 

“I’m delighted that Smiling Wolf and BCA Landscape have been recognised internationally for the brilliant design work they delivered to mark the centenary of one of Liverpool’s greatest buildings.

I receive visitors from cities all over the world and the impression they have of Liverpool is formed by the experience of arriving at the Cunard Building – and they are always stunned by its beauty. 

The design has certainly added to that impression and it’s always a thrill to know a Liverpool company has enhanced the appeal of our World Heritage site in this way.”

Find out more about the project here