Shortlisted landscape designs announced for UK's first Garden City of the 21st Century
An international design competition to determine who will design the first Garden City of the 21st century has been whittled down to five, with Ebbsfleet to become the largest of 10 "Healthy New Towns" being developed in the UK.
The competition was launched by the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and the NHS in March to find the best creative and inspiring ideas, which will be used to shape the landscape of the new Garden City.
The competition features two stages and is managed by The Landscape Institute. The first stage of the competition invited entries from landscape professionals, or teams including landscape professionals, with multidisciplinary teams incorporating artists and engineers particularly encouraged.
Competition organisers wanted to “challenge landscape professionals and students to collaborate with other built environment professions, artists, and place-makers and propose design ideas for what can be achieved in a truly modern healthy city”.
"The range of ideas and approaches we have received and the shortlist is outstanding," said Kevin McKeogh, director of the Ebbsfleet Healthy New Town Programme and member of the judging panel. "I look forward to the competition moving on to its next phase”.
Below are the five entrants the panel of ten judges chose to go through to the second stage of the competition, as well as a description of their plans in their own words:
The Chalk Walk
Additive Urbanism, a landscape design studio led by Matthew Halsall CMLI. In collaboration with Ryan Szyani, architectural installation designer.
The Chalk Walk seeks to build on the success of recent guided walking tours in Ebbsfleet, and the appetite for exploration and learning about nature. A circular walking route would be created, orientated around the site’s monolithic man-made chalk landscape features; punctuated by a series of vertical gardens built into the chalk.
Expert advice has been sought from local ecological groups, Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, to create a series of nature interventions that combine to form an educational wildlife trail - The Chalk Walk. This would be implemented prior to the main development, employing a series of devices connecting new and existing communities to one another, in order to greatly improve access to nature and provide a healthy alternative to travelling by car.
Ebbsfleet Sublime LDA Design in collaboration with Architecture 00 and Vivid Economics.
Places are more important to well-being than objects. This was the outcome of a recent study by Surrey University. Ebbsfleet should celebrate the deep human desire for authenticity and connection with place and people that underpins wellbeing. Our proposal fundamentally reorients planning and delivery processes away from land, infrastructure, and buildings to place, landscape and wellbeing.
The Ebbsfleet Sublime is imagined as a beautiful, carefully curated experiential landscape which accommodates productive land, play, workspace, recreation. It draws out the sublimity of nature from the Ebbsfleet landscape and adopts the painterly techniques of Turner, Gainsborough, and Lambert to create a heightened sense of wellbeing. At the heart of the Ebbsfleet Sublime is a calculated and determined effort to overcome the pre-eminent challenge of delivering a new Garden City at scale and pace by leading with the landscape.
Everyday Adventure
Huskisson Brown Associates working with Claire Powell Chartered Physiotherapist.
Everyday Adventure focuses on creating a framework of accessible, active and sociable green routes that connect communities, destinations and population groups and promote walking and physical activity as the preferred choice for everyday journeys and experiences. Fundamentally, the routes will be designed to inspire active living and physical activity for all ages and abilities and create uplifting places that engender a feeling of safety, belonging and happiness.
The area’s local context and unique cultural and industrial heritage will be celebrated through the creation of links to the wider landscape and urban fabric as well as contextual detailed design measures. Everyday Adventure will bring community groups together and provide cross-generational health and well-being outcomes associated with increased physical activity, social interaction and being outdoors.
H.A.L.O Bradley Murphy Design in collaboration with JTP, Peter Brett Associates and Sebastien Boyesen
HALO delivers healthy infrastructure to the doorstep. It provides accessible, attractive and inspirational places that motivate citizens to engage in physical activity as a natural part of their daily lives. It comprises four key interventions that overlay Ebbsfleet like a web. They connect people to place and to each other, addressing the fragmentation of landscape and habitats, limitations of access and restricted sources of healthy food.
The model is built around five healthy lifestyle principles: equality of access; connection with nature; engagement with food production; access to people and; the importance of physical activity. These interventions respond to local context through a range of typological treatments, that are reflective of local landscape character, building a richness of experience that is unique to Ebbsfleet.
Swanscombe Gorge Park By Chris Blandford Associates in association with Buro Happold and Proctor & Matthews
Welcome to Swanscombe Gorge Park, a dramatic and hidden wooded ravine at the heart of Ebbsfleet Garden City. The aims are to: reconnect the landscape and communities; regenerate and repair the existing natural landscape; rejuvenate the site with cultural and recreational activities and to re-use local materials.
Their inspirations include: the geological story of chalk; in particular, the spectacular fossils of fish skeletons associated with its marine formation. The legacy of the area’s chalk quarrying heritage: the unique landform of Craylands Gorge cut into the chalk bedrock to provide a tramway between Eastern Quarry and the cement works on Swanscombe Peninsula; the tramway’s tunnels cut into the white chalk spines symbolising portals or gateways to another place, realm or time; and the local folklore associated with ‘deneholes’ (Medieval chalk extraction pits with narrow shafts opening out into chambers often used to conceal people and illicit goods).
The five shortlisted companies will now have received a second stage brief for the latter half of the competition which tasks them with composing designs for one of the lakes within the city. The winner will be announced at the LI (Landscape Institute) Annual Conference on 6 September 2018.
Ebbsfleet NHS The Landscape Institute
International competition launched for UK’s first Garden City of the 21st Century
David Stalker: Garden city must adopt physical activity strategy
![The competition features two stages and is managed by The Landscape Institute / The Landscape Institute The competition features two stages and is managed by The Landscape Institute / The Landscape Institute](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/THUMB27784_246799.jpg)
![The new resort will be constructed in Magna, one of the five regions within the Neom giga-project / Equinox Hotels The new resort will be constructed in Magna, one of the five regions within the Neom giga-project / Equinox Hotels](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353630_62059_888960.jpg)
Equinox Hotels to launch futuristic wellbeing resort in Neom's luxury coastal region
![La Maviglia is owned by Ultimate Collection, a Swiss-based development company / La Maviglia La Maviglia is owned by Ultimate Collection, a Swiss-based development company / La Maviglia](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353614_883337_602129.jpg)
La Maviglia resort and medi-spa launching in Puglia in 2027, designed by Oppenheim Architecture
![<i>Vogue</i> will be updating the Global Spa Guide on an annual basis / Mark Anthony Fox <i>Vogue</i> will be updating the Global Spa Guide on an annual basis / Mark Anthony Fox](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353474_302327_308310.jpg)
Vogue launches first Global Spa Guide – picks 100 of the world’s best spas
![Okinawa has some of the highest life expectancy rates in the world / Halekulani Okinawa Okinawa has some of the highest life expectancy rates in the world / Halekulani Okinawa](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353441_374127_63861.jpg)
Japan's first Blue Zones longevity retreat to launch at Halekulani Okinawa
![Staff at Women's Gym have been trained in female health / Total Fitness Staff at Women's Gym have been trained in female health / Total Fitness](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353401_651305_938584.jpg)
Total Fitness to launch purpose-built Women’s Gym
![Ameyalli is set to become a Ameyalli is set to become a](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353383_853999_207904.jpg)
Deepak Chopra-backed wellness resort Ameyalli to open among historic Utah hot springs
![Life Time Group Holdings develops residences as well as country clubs / Life Time Group Holdings Life Time Group Holdings develops residences as well as country clubs / Life Time Group Holdings](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353320_853183_276818.jpg)
Life Time Group Holdings does US$40 million sale and leaseback deal to fund growth
![The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Maraey will feature 58 villas, designed to offer privacy and impressive vistas of the ocean and surrounding Atlantic Forest ecosystem / Marriott The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Maraey will feature 58 villas, designed to offer privacy and impressive vistas of the ocean and surrounding Atlantic Forest ecosystem / Marriott](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353273_404980_331768.jpg)
Ritz-Carlton Reserve to land in South America with tropical retreat in Rio de Janeiro
![The new Banyan Tree destination will open on a 750-acre property on Rockwell Island which is located 48 nautical miles east of Miami / Recent Spaces The new Banyan Tree destination will open on a 750-acre property on Rockwell Island which is located 48 nautical miles east of Miami / Recent Spaces](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353319_508894_607269.jpg)
Banyan Tree to debut in Caribbean with Oppenheim-designed island retreat
![The new hotel will mark Mandarin Oriental’s second site in London, with a third property due to open in 2028 / Mandarin Oriental The new hotel will mark Mandarin Oriental’s second site in London, with a third property due to open in 2028 / Mandarin Oriental](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353312_250269_555179.jpg)
Mandarin Oriental’s new London hotel and urban spa retreat opening 3 June
![Focused on thermal experiences and wet areas, the publication was sponsored by Accor and Hilton / Shutterstock/PH888 Focused on thermal experiences and wet areas, the publication was sponsored by Accor and Hilton / Shutterstock/PH888](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353303_579850_639654.jpg)
GWI unveils latest edition of Hydrothermal Spa & Wellness Development Standards to elevate industry practices
![With Hyperia, Merlin Entertainments has invested in the tallest, fastest coaster in the UK / Merlin Entertainments With Hyperia, Merlin Entertainments has invested in the tallest, fastest coaster in the UK / Merlin Entertainments](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353291_520886_805831.jpg)
Merlin unveils record-breaking Hyperia coaster at Thorpe Park
![Inspired by the Sonoran Desert, the project is a public-private partnership between Pima County and the Erman brothers’ hospitality development company, Infinite Concepts / Shutterstock/Brent Coulter Inspired by the Sonoran Desert, the project is a public-private partnership between Pima County and the Erman brothers’ hospitality development company, Infinite Concepts / Shutterstock/Brent Coulter](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353272_852222_343038.jpg)
Connection, creativity and nature inspire Arizona’s upcoming desert wellness sanctuary Align
![Established operators like SHA Wellness are making substantial investments in wellness real estate – the group’s upcoming Emirates outpost will feature a large real estate component with 150 residences and 120 suites / SHA Wellness Established operators like SHA Wellness are making substantial investments in wellness real estate – the group’s upcoming Emirates outpost will feature a large real estate component with 150 residences and 120 suites / SHA Wellness](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353237_656636_774240.jpg)
Wellness real estate market booming – forecast to reach $913bn by 2028, reports GWI
![The new facility represents Dior's fifth global spa and joins its portfolio of branded wellness destinations in France and Morocco / Dorchester Collection The new facility represents Dior's fifth global spa and joins its portfolio of branded wellness destinations in France and Morocco / Dorchester Collection](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353087_217202_51713.jpg)
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
![Europe's first Evian Spa has opened at The Hôtel Royal, a five-star hotel located at the Evian Resort on the shores of Lake Geneva / Grégoire Gardette Europe's first Evian Spa has opened at The Hôtel Royal, a five-star hotel located at the Evian Resort on the shores of Lake Geneva / Grégoire Gardette](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB353000_63020_184996.jpg)
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
![The Health Resort is situated around 180km from Shanghai West in a secluded nature haven with views of mountain ranges, lakes and lush hillside tea farms / Clinique La Prairie The Health Resort is situated around 180km from Shanghai West in a secluded nature haven with views of mountain ranges, lakes and lush hillside tea farms / Clinique La Prairie](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352978_189491_463426.jpg)
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
![GoCo Health Innovation City is already on-site / Copyright: Semrén + Månsson GoCo Health Innovation City is already on-site / Copyright: Semrén + Månsson](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352968_235299_235120.jpg)
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
![Four Seasons has promised wellness will be a central pillar at the upcoming resort / Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Four Seasons has promised wellness will be a central pillar at the upcoming resort / Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352928_173701_285534.jpg)
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
![Janu Tokyo is home to 4,000sq m of spa and wellness facilities designed to foster connection among guests / Aman Group Janu Tokyo is home to 4,000sq m of spa and wellness facilities designed to foster connection among guests / Aman Group](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352879_963687_24541.jpg)
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
![Terme Bjelovar will feature a combination of wellness and leisure facilities / Terme Bjelovar Terme Bjelovar will feature a combination of wellness and leisure facilities / Terme Bjelovar](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352828_439021_221899.jpg)
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
![A rendering of Santani, Jabal Shams / Santani Wellness Resorts/Omra Group A rendering of Santani, Jabal Shams / Santani Wellness Resorts/Omra Group](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352818_952381_796315.jpg)
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
![The sky high infinity pool / Kerzner International The sky high infinity pool / Kerzner International](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352790_952033_494258.jpg)
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
![Ritz-Carlton, Portland has been realised inside a 460ft crystalline tower created by GBD Architects / Ritz Carlton Hotels Ritz-Carlton, Portland has been realised inside a 460ft crystalline tower created by GBD Architects / Ritz Carlton Hotels](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352675_858615_747220.jpg)
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
![The Emory Hotel will feature a private members club called Surrenne / Maybourne/RSHP/Google The Emory Hotel will feature a private members club called Surrenne / Maybourne/RSHP/Google](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352640_564217_450366.png)
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
![Cunnamulla Hot Springs' programming is anchored by self-guided wellness experiences / Peninsula Hot Springs Cunnamulla Hot Springs' programming is anchored by self-guided wellness experiences / Peninsula Hot Springs](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352645_476299_726112.jpg)
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
![The programme has launched with 25 global pilot participants, with projects in 10 countries / Shutterstock/LightField Studios The programme has launched with 25 global pilot participants, with projects in 10 countries / Shutterstock/LightField Studios](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352639_655076_803947.jpg)
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
![The spa is complete with a 12,000sq ft Water Garden surrounded by lush tropical flora and fauna / Conrad Orlando The spa is complete with a 12,000sq ft Water Garden surrounded by lush tropical flora and fauna / Conrad Orlando](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352633_265705_625231.jpg)
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
![Studio A+ designed the hotel with a Zen-inspired orange glass pavilion suspended over water / Archi-translator Studio A+ designed the hotel with a Zen-inspired orange glass pavilion suspended over water / Archi-translator](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352629_690884_979904.jpg)
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
![The e-sports arena will have haptic seats and immersive screens / Populous The e-sports arena will have haptic seats and immersive screens / Populous](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/2024/THUMB352623_421727_382626.jpg)
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
The Isola delle Rose has a rich history and an enviable location. Matteo Thun knew he had to capitalise on both with the design of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Three years after Pegasus Capital bought Six Senses, how close is the private equity firm to realising its goals for its first spa and hospitality investment? Pegasus’ founder Craig Cogut tells us what’s been achieved and what comes next