Hodges Square

Landscaping and regenerating a 1960s housing estate

Butetown in Cardiff, S Wales is the subject of a comprehensive regeneration programme. Hodges Square is part of that programme and we produced these proposals for Cardiff City Council. It is a typical run-down 1960s housing estate consisting of flats, houses, a central parking court, play area, enclosed seating and scattered, overgrown vegetation. Hodges Square becomes a pedestrianised zone with only limited on street parking. Security, surveillance and wayfinding were key priorities in our brief and we paid particular attention to these aspects in our landscape design.

We specified flowering trees and also birch planting to add seasonal colour and variety to the area, especially around the play areas. Bold paving patterns and the retention of open vistas towards local landmarks help wayfinding. Ground floor residences and boundaries are protected by formal hedges and railings, and we have limited the provision of benches to avoid anti-social behaviour, in line with the results of public consultation.