Rowland Byass – Landscape Architect

Project: St George’s Churchyard

Completion Date: May 2007

Landscape proposals for the grounds of a nineteenth century former church, now converted into residential accommodation and a lecture theatre. The landscape scheme enables the churchyard’s role as a pedestrian hub for the surrounding academic district with clear through-routes. At the same time it creates more secluded spaces for lingering, where passers-by can sit and contemplate their surroundings.

The design creates a series of distinct zones around the central building: a wildlife garden to the west, with trees, shrubs and woodland flora amongst the tombstones; a pedestrian route through oversize pergola arches aligned with the building’s buttresses to the north; a large lawn to the east, and to the south, a contemplative garden enclosed with yew hedges. At its centre, a simple square fountain basin is surrounded by black and white pebble mosaic paving and polished concrete benches.