Landscape Institute awards for HTA

HTA's Stevenage Town Centre Gardens and Great Lines Heritage Park were both winners at yesterdays Landscape Institute annual awards.

Stevenage Town Centre Gardens  was winner of the Heritage & Conservation Award whilst Great Lines Heritage Park won the Local Landscape Planning Award and was also highly commended in the Heritage & Conservation category.

The judges said of the Great Lines Heritage Park 'A well researched and coherent vision, with a wide range of options for future us. This is an innovative response to an unsafe and inaccessible site, and is a project deserving of professional recognition'

And of the  Town centre Gardens ' A landmark project in terms of recognising the importance of post-war design. It is a sophisticated but modest approach that is faithful to the principles of the original design. The judges particularly liked the retro play area.’’

You can find a full write up on the event here

Images of the completed Town Centre Gardens Stevenage and Great Lines Heritage Park Chatham 

   

 

Take a seat

So I go all the way to Paris for a day and what do I want to talk about?...Chairs...

They’re not glamorous or especially stylish (although they are simple, perhaps even classic), but these green, metallic chairs in the Jardin des Tuileries left a lasting impression. 

Not for their design but because these robust, portable chairs were so popular. They gave people the freedom to sit wherever they chose, in whatever configuration they chose with as many friends or family as they chose. 

In three different styles, each with their own unique number, you could sit upright in a chair, with or without arms, or lounge in a more laidback seat and watch the world go by. 

Light enough to move but heavy enough not to lug one home as a souvenir so instead, all I could do was carry home the idea for my next suitable project!

Ali

We have mostly been reading

This week we have mostly been reading...

"Construction for Landscape Architecture" by  Robert Holden and Jamie Liversedge, and when I say reading I of course mean thumbing through looking at the pictures. Whilst thumbing my eyes were immediately drawn to the double page spread pictured here. As a lover of construction terminology, who has vowed to call his first born 'Spigot' or 'Nominal Chamfer' if it's a girl, these pages got me quite excited. 

Although it doesn't cover all  nails and screws it is certainly a good starting point for any fixings novice. I would like to have seen security and anti tamper fixing covered as this is often an area which causes confusion. 

When I write my book "Fixings: 1995 to 2015 the glory years" I will include security fixings and all other bases missed by this otherwise excellent book.  

Simeon

Green Flag raised for Stevenage

The prestigious Green Flag awarded to HTA's Town Centre Gardens in Stevenage was celebrated with a flag-raising by the Mayor of Stevenage, Cllr Carol Latif, on Friday 4 November.

This is the first time that the Town Centre Gardens has been recognised with Green Flag status.

Green Flags are the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. They are awarded annually to a variety of green spaces that are welcoming, healthy, safe, and secure, clean and well maintained, and sustainable, among other criteria.

Speaking at the flag-raising ceremony, Cllr Howard Burrell, Executive Member for Children and Young People, Culture, Sport and Leisure, said, “We’re extremely pleased to see the Green Flag being raised here at Fairlands and delighted that this year we’re celebrating two Green Flag Awards in Stevenage. Fairlands remains a popular and well-kept green space that plays host to many activities across the course of the year, and the Town Centre Gardens is already proving an important green space for residents and visitors to enjoy. Both parks are highly deserving of this important national accolade.”

Cllr John Gardner, Executive member for the Environment and Regeneration, said, “These two Green Flag awards show the high level of stewardship the Borough Council maintains for its valuable urban green spaces. They also reflect the excellent relationship we have with our partners Stevenage Leisure, Friends of the Town Centre Gardens and students from North Herts College who, along with our operational ground work team have made these awards possible through their dedicated work. Both Fairlands Valley Park and the Town Centre Gardens bring enjoyment and pleasure to thousands of Stevenage people and visitors throughout the year.”

De lovely De la Warr

Delicious? De-lovely? De-lectable? Divine? How do you say. De-Gorgeous? De-With it. De-Groovy!!

New look De la Warr park as the construction site opens to the public.

Crowds flock to Bexhill Next Wave opening

The early morning shoppers missed the rush!

Thousands of excited visitors flocked to our Next Wave project last weekend.

 

The grade II listed colonnade ebuilding opened its doors for the first time in over a year following its restoration and extension as part of HTA's 'Next Wave' seafront regeneration project.

The Colonnade now has an inside area for a large restaurant as well as seven kiosk units for retail in its wings.

A collective of arts-based businesses called 'Made by the Sea' has taken on the restaurant area until Christmas. After which, the new restaurant business will move in; this is in order to commence the fit out prior to opening in time for the summer season.

Doors opened early to deal with the enthusiastic stream of visitors, many of whom were in town to visit the De La Warr Pavilion's Warhol Is Here exhibition.

Rother District Council leader Cllr Carl Maynard said:  "It was hugely satisfying to see such a successful opening. Residents and visitors alike were making positive comments throughout the weekend.  We think this is the start of something very positive for Bexhill and things will continue to get better when the seafront is completely finished."

Josephine Doolan of Made by the Sea said: "The opening weekend surpassed our expectations. We are so grateful for all the support the people of Bexhill gave us and we look forward to seeing even more shoppers this weekend."

Made by the Sea is open every weekend from 11am to 4pm.

And many vistoirs took some time to walk along the Next Wave promenade and take in the views and enjoy the planting as the colours refelct the autumnal chill in the air.

With a bit of luck the new dancing fountains will be open next week!

HTA Shortlisted for Landscape Institute Awards

We are delighted to announce that HTA Landscape’s Great Lines Heritage Park has been shortlisted for an award in the Heritage & Conservation and the Local Landscape Planning categories and Stevenage Town Centre Gardens has been also shortlisted for the Heritage and conservation category for the Landscape Institute Awards2011. 

The award will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony at The Brewery in London on Thursday 17 November.

Good Luck HTA! 

Great Lines Hertage Park Shortlisted for two Landscape Institute Awards

Great Lines Hertage Park Shortlisted for two Landscape Institute Awards

Stevenage Town Centre Gardens shortlisted for a Landscape Institute Award

Stevenage Town Centre Gardens shortlisted for a Landscape Institute Award