Oxford North

Oxford North Ventures LP, Oxford, England | 2021-

Oxford North is a new employment-led district for Oxford. Conceived as a creative innovation and science centre over three sites, Gustafson Porter + Bowman is leading the landscape design of the central area with its mix of research and laboratory buildings and commercial units.

The central landscape provides Oxford North with its most important public amenity space, for communal leisure, play and well-being. The central green is formed of a sequence of character areas that provide a range of flexible open spaces for people and diversly planted habitats for wildlife. An events field connects to a town square, allowing larger events to take place. This is framed by a community orchard with wildflower meadows and informal play facilities. A Mediterranean garden on free-draining substrates along the northern edge of the space trials plant adaptability for a changing climate.

South of the events field, a shared bike and pedestrian route links into strategic bike routes from east and west. A stepped grass amphitheatre to the south of the shared path encourages picnics and informal gathering. It faces a pond that is part of a Sustainable Urban Drainage system that captures rain water run-off from roof and paving surfaces. Planted with emergent aquatics, it forms a picturesque backdrop to the amphitheatre seating. In combination with temporary staging, it could form the backdrop to events. A woodland edge planted with native woodland trees and shrubs with a woodland playground along the space’s southern edge completes the scenery.