New Founders Garden, Prior Park College
NVB designed a new garden at Prior Park College in Bath to transform a space in the heart of the school to improve the health and well-being of the students and staff within the context of listed buildings and the World Heritage Site. The garden acts as a social space, for outdoor lessons or symposiums and in support of the adjacent well-being and sixth form centres. The landscape design needed to be sensitive to the Listed Building at the heart of the school. We used traditional materials and planting within a sinuous layout to actively encourage social interactions.
Three spaces are defined along one side for varied group sizes. Raised planting areas were carefully coordinated with benching and lighting to maximise the space for sitting and create a safe and welcoming space throughout the school year. NVB led the design team from concept to completion, including contract administration. This space is now a key area for students to socialise on a busy route in the school as well as being used outside of term time for events.