Public realm design of an urban village in the beating heart of the historic Jewellery Quarter
This site is in the very heart of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. The 1.6 ha urban block spanning from Regents Place to Graham Street has historical significance, not only for its central location within the industrial centre of the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area but also as the former home to James Watt.
Fira designed the public realm and landscape as part of the planning submission for this prestigious scheme. It is a mixed use development creating over 300 new homes and 100,000 sq ft of commercial space, set within a high quality public realm.
The site is flanked by listed buildings and lies with a Conservation Area. A new public space is created at its heart with ground floor uses spilling out to animate the public realm, and a new pedestrian route re-establishing much needed permeability to the city block. Careful selection of materials is in keeping with the design code for the Jewellery Quarter. The focus has been to create an urban community village within the city, and the design of the public realm forms the backdrop to support the day-to-day lives of the residents, workers and visitors.
