The Leeds School of Architecture Yearbook 2023

Overview
The Cities Alive Nature Based Design Studio (LA703) explores the character and
quality of city spaces and promotes radical approaches to green space planning
and design. The intention is to develop, in cities, design prototypes for green
infrastructure that are persuasive, innovative, sustainable, and will create
inspiring places to live in. Cities Alive Rethinking Green Infrastructure ARUP 2014
provides an introduction and design studio reader.
The Cities Alive Nature Based Design Studio develops proposals in ‘live’ situations
and current projects involving conceptual & strategic design as well as on more
immediate interventions. This year, following discussions with Bradford City
Council and their recent City of Culture 2025 status, we have based the studio in
Esholt to the north of Bradford. The Esholt proposals aim to be a sustainability
flagship for Bradford and Yorkshire Water, providing examples of how green
approaches can deliver lasting benefits for existing and future inhabitants and
contribute to alleviating the impact of climate change.
In recent year’s city policies on biodiversity, green infrastructure and green space
planning have been formulated particularly in relation to addressing the issues
associated with climate change. In cities around the world much attention has
been paid to the planning of green space and traditional design concepts are
being challenged in the 21st century in relation to both major development
projects and more locally based regeneration initiatives.
Green infrastructure is of course only one aspect of the planning and design
process relating to urban environments but does have an essential contribution
to make, particularly in respect of climate change and impacts on biodiversity. It
is therefore a key generator of city form and in particular of residential settings,
a standpoint that is taken in this design studio.
This studio forms a core part of both the MA and PGDip qualifications which are
both fully accredited by the Landscape Institute.
Students
2022/2023
Emily Bird
Rosemary Boby
Anna Chemmanam
Charlotte Dring
Jess Dwe
Sam Elliot
Jonny Escreet
Chloe Hadfield
Alihussein Jamaky
Amber Joynson
Kaveri Saseendra Kumar
Jordan Lister
Deeksha Manjunath
Rana Noushad
Adebusola Oyewole
Emilia Rentorp
Alana Silk
Elishia Squire
Thi Huong Trang Vu
Evie West
Alex Zelazek