An upgrade for central Bath - a World Heritage city

A vibrant meeting point has been created for the the centre of Bath, a World Heritage City with an annual footfall of 24 million people, by landscape architects Macgregor Smith in a public realm upgrade.

The practice says the transformation of the main square at SouthGate and Brunel Square offers, “meaningful, engaging areas of public realm which encourage people to dwell in a new series of green, vibrant external spaces.”

Circular seating is arranged around bespoke bronze planters that are modular, and allow the space to be transformed for large crowds, while lawned mounds reference the ‘combes’ characteristic of the local area. Image credit - Macgregor Smith.

Working with the Holburne Museum and local primary schools, Macgregor Smith has created a sculpture entitled ‘

‘A-Z of what Bath means to me,’ with handcrafted bronze script and a lantern at its heart. After dark, these words are projected into the surrounding buildings and floorscape.

Espalier apple trees have been trained around a handmade bronze framework, creating a circle of apples, referencing the traditional apple orchards of Somerset and the circus and crescent architecture of Bath. Image credit - Macgregor Smith.

The design and arrangement of furniture is also for public safety, providing a duck and cover refuge that negates the need for bollard lines and barriers typically used at tourist attractions.

SouthGate’s planting palette changes throughout the year; in summer it echoes an English country garden, with eye-catching and vivid colours, perennials and edibles. Pollinator plants for bees, hoverflies and other insects are present over an extended season.

The sculpture is called “The A-Z of what Bath means to me.” Image credit - Macgregor Smith.

As SouthGate hosts events throughout the year and runs a full festival programme, Macgregor Smith has created a flexible space for both events and everyday use.

“This public realm scheme,” says Macgregor Smith, “celebrates the local area’s unique landscapes and heritage and will bring about enhanced green spaces, bespoke seating elements and imaginative planting and artwork to enliven the centre’s outdoor spaces.”

Twenty-four million people live in or visit Bath each year.