Grant Associates is highly commended for HS2 station projects
Pioneering landscape architecture practice Grant Associates has received two ‘Highly Commended awards at the HS2 Inspiration, Design Engineering and Environment Awards.
All award submissions demonstrated an outstanding response to a HS2 brief, requirement or contract and covered areas such as stations, depots, control facilities, line of route structures and buildings, and associated landscapes.
Grant Associates’ work was recognised for the ‘People, Place and Time’ award category for its involvement in Old Oak Common Station and Birmingham Curzon Street Station. Grant Associates’ work on both the Calvert Depot and Washwood Heath Depot was also shortlisted in other award categories, from a total of 54 submissions
Birmingham Curzon Street Station - the HS2 project that Grant Associates collaborated on alongside WSP, Grimshaw, CJ Associates and Glenn Howells Architects - was recognised by award judges as “a placemaking proposal that activates the East side of Birmingham through an ambition to create integrated cross-city links.”
The heart of a major new transport interchange, Birmingham Curzon Street Station looks to improve connectivity and respond to the ambitions of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
A considered engagement process evolved the Hybrid-Bill stage proposal to promote an intrinsically inclusive design, while the public realm facilitates multi-modal transport interchanges. Additional entrances and a reduced station footprint creates a bigger urban realm, with squares, gardens and areas for wildlife and biodiversity around the station. The station square proposals will create a new station threshold and key gateway space for Birmingham.
Old Oak Common Station Public Realm - which Grant Associates has collaborated on alongside WSP, Wilkinson Eyre, Mima, David Bonnett Associates, Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation and Transport for London - is a new urban parkland above the largest station box in the UK. The design is the culmination of extensive collaboration to champion ‘Place’ against the backdrop of a major new transport hub fit for the 21st Century.
Both Old Oak Common Station and Birmingham Curzon Street Station urban realm schemes are great catalysts for urban regeneration of the surrounding area. The landscape proposals introduce urban ecology and nature as well as creating exciting new public spaces that celebrate destination, arrival and departure to be enjoyed by rail travellers, visitors and local communities alike.”
Judges commented that: “The narrative and design intent behind the submission was clear. Creating a significant new public park for Old Oak Common.”
