University of Portsmouth

Located at the crossroad between the city and the university, the University of Portsmouth’s new complex will act as a front door for the university, bringing together two separate faculties. Each area of the site has been designed to draw out individual identities, create a sense of place and deliver a unique landscape. The project has been approved by Portsmouth City Council (2022).

Key design principles:

• Closely aligned to the architecture of the new building with a seamless transition between internal and external spaces

• Use of local Purbeck stone to fit with surroundings

• Use of simple motifs creating unity with other local landscapes, including nearby Victorian park

• Creation of civic spaces matching the tone of the building and acting as a contrast to the soft park areas

• Inclusion of soft spaces to attract people to the park for socialising and relaxation

• Focus on softening the boundaries between the Victoria building site and Victoria Park, via floral and biodiverse perimeter planting and new paved links from the site to the park

• Use of native and biodiverse planting, including planting within the building to the park and town rooms and at rooftop level