Aston University: one of the UK’s leading universities for students aspiring to succeed in business and the professions, where original research, enterprise and inspiring teaching deliver local and global impact
Client
Approach
Node were approached by Aston University to develop a design code and delivery plan for their Birmingham city centre campus. The campus had been subject to significant change over recent years, with a wide range of individual projects coming forward with limited relationship to one another, creating a lack of coherence.
Node undertook holistic analysis of the campus and its setting and considered public realm opportunities for better definition of identity to create an enhanced experience for all the campus’ users. The brief required us to respond to the challenges of the post-Covid environment, create greater levels of activity and entice more public usage of the campus through the provision of high quality routes and spaces that embrace the university’s city centre location.
Impact
Node undertook significant stakeholder engagement, allowing us to work collaboratively with the campus’ key user groups to define the design. The design code created a cohesive landscape structure with a series of hierarchical pedestrian routes and a sequence of landscape spaces gradually revealing themselves, providing diverse uses, events spaces, incorporating a range of temporary and permanent interventions.
Detailed design work for a number of sites around the campus was incorporated into the design code and a material and detailing strategy was identified that would ensure that future proposals could be clearly guided in a manner that conforms with the unique character of the campus.
