Spanning over 7 hectares at the University of the West of England’s Frenchay Campus, this strategic landscape masterplan was developed as part of a major retrofit of the A–N academic buildings, led by AHR. As Project Director, Michael Cowdy led the public realm and landscape vision, shaping a bold and regenerative framework to support a more inclusive, biodiverse, and future-ready university environment.

The design reimagines the external realm as a network of vibrant, climate-adaptive, and multifunctional spaces that align with UWE’s Strategy 2030 and Biodiversity Action Plan. Rooted in regenerative systems thinking, the masterplan integrates the adaptive reuse of academic buildings with landscape-led design, water sensitivity, and ecological resilience.

At the core of the proposal—termed The Big Concept—is a suite of transformational interventions. These include the creation of a new mobility hub and entrance plaza, a revitalised High Street with active frontages, flexible café/event spaces, and restructured campus circulation to prioritise pedestrians and connect key destinations through a continuous ecological corridor.

The scheme delivers diverse landscape typologies—from biodiverse lawns and edible planting corridors to sensory courtyards, rain gardens, and outdoor study zones. These are designed to support both academic life and informal social activity throughout the year. Public realm spaces such as the Welcome Plaza, Urban Market, and Urban Green form the social and ecological heart of the campus—promoting wellbeing, enhancing accessibility, and embedding long-term climate performance.