LDA Design

LDA Design Bursary Challenge 2025/26 The Great Reclamation

📢It’s the 2025-26 #LDADesign #Bursary Challenge for students studying in the UK and this time we want you to imagine a world that is past peak car and what this might mean for our oversized roads and redundant car parks. Deadline 20.02.26 🕛 ticking Details here: www.lda-design.co.uk/kindling/new...

Scotland’s building of the year? A public garden in Aberdeen Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens wins the 2025 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award

A joyous start to the day with the news that Union Terrace Gardens in #Aberdeen has won the the Royal Incorporation of #Architects in Scotland Andrew Doolan Best Building in #Scotland Award. It's the first time a public space project has scooped the prize. How wonderful is that! shorturl.at/bbyAZ

A montage of a Welsh dragon and a blue city hall clock.

A big day for #LDADesign as we launch our new start-up studio in #Cardiff – our ninth studio in the UK. Exciting times. Looking forward to settling into the city after many years of working in #Wales and building some great partnerships. www.lda-design.co.uk/kindling/new...

We did it! #LDADesign & #millimetre won the #Dezeen Bespoke #Design of the Year award for our collaboration on the 'Sculptural seating on #Strand'. Very happy. Head to #DezeenAwards for all of this year's winners. And head to #StrandAldwych to check out our beautifully designed and crafted seating.

Frazer Osment is speaking at the TCPA annual conference on the Purpose of Planning, 27 November 2025

This Thursday is the #TCPA annual conference with the theme of the Purpose of Planning. #LDADesign’s chair, Frazer Osment, is a keynote speaker. Frazer will discuss how #Planning – with the right leadership and vision – is an incredible enabler and the surest way to deliver the #outcomes we need.

Lecture: The Leeds School of Architecture - Open Lecture Series - Lecture 4: Cannon Ivers of LDA Design - 13 November 5.30-7.00pm

On Thursday, #LDADesign director Cannon Ivers, author of ‘Staging Urban Landscapes’, will be giving a lecture on this topic, including the award-winning #StrandAldwych, as part of the Leeds Beckett University’s School of #Architecture Open Lecture Series. Don't miss out.📌 Broadcasting Place, B506

A colourful illustration of two people looking at a paper with the headline 'World Town Planning Day'. They are surrounded by plans on a table.

Tomorrow (8 Nov) is #WorldTownPlanningDay #WTPD25. We’ve been thinking about the purpose of #planning. Take a look at our article with the #QualityofLifeFoundation in The Planner shorturl.at/AigT3 which argues for big picture thinking that puts health and wellbeing at the heart of change. #LDADesign

Sketch of people on a bridge looking out over a thriving wetland landscape.

One of the UK’s largest #carbon capture initiatives – the Cory Decarbonisation Project – has been granted development consent. This industry-leading project will help Cory to #decarbonise their waste management processes, capturing 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Great project to be part of. #DCO

Aerial view of a mangrove restoration project

A person carries verdant green seedlings in a basket shoulder high through a nursery.

Announcing our investment in #carbonremoval with #Klimate. A key part of our #climateactionplan which sits alongside our continued efforts to reduce our overall emissions. Our portfolio with Klimate is committed to #reforestation #agroforestry and artisanal #biochar projects globally. www.klimate.co

A visualisation of a wetland landscape with a populated boardwalk and hub.

A visualisation of a new reservoir settled into the flat and expansive Fens landscape.

We’ve been working with #FeredayPollard #AnglianWater #CambridgeWater and others to progress plans for a new #reservoir in the Fens that will help to meet future #water supply needs. The vision will create a destination where water, people & #nature come together. Have your say fensreservoir.co.uk

Riverside – kvart za stanovanje krojen po meri svih Novosađana Iskustvo stečeno na velikim transformacijama obala i javnih prostora u Londonu biće prevedeno u toplije, pristupačnije okruženje, usmereno na porodični i komšijski život. Aleksandar Group pokrenuo je...

Find out more about our work with #Howells architects to better connect Novi Sad in Serbia to the River Danube, opening up access to make the river part of the everyday. Interview with #LDADesign director, Benjamin Walker: shorturl.at/g3ZeI #placemaking #bettercity

We're in the 2025 Regenerative Architecture Index

We've made it on to the #RegenerativeArchitectureIndex - a good list to join. Useful to be able to examine - and share - our work under the lens of: Being a good #ancestor; Co-evolving with #nature and Creating a just space for people. #RAI25 #regenerative #LDADesign www.regenerativearchitecture.org

A warmly lit and well-planted urban square with people dotted about sitting or walking

A warmly lit and well-planted urban square with people dotted about sitting or walking

A warmly lit and well-planted urban square with people dotted about sitting or walking

Fantastic photos by Mike Massaro of the lighting for Beresford Square in Woolwich by #MichaelGrubbStudio. Great work that ensures our design for the square transitions beautifully from day into evening and a reminder of the vital contribution lighting makes to public space. #ldadesign #landscape

Visualisation of a busy, richly planted urban space.

Visualisation of a busy, richly planted urban space.

Visualisation of a busy, richly planted urban space.

A bright new chapter for Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens. Plans getting underway to transform this central city space making it greener and more family friendly. As #LDADesign's John Simpson says, "A place that the people of #Manchester can be proud of once more." Full story here: shorturl.at/uejWe

Three people presenting, standing in front of screen saying, "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." Martin Luther King Jr

An aerial visualisation for a new hillside park dotted with spaces designed to bring people together

A visualisation of people walking up a path in a new hillside park past pod-like spaces

A light, airy circular space with people standing, sitting, walking and chatting.

#FaithPark was a fantastic international #design competition and opportunity to create a new public park on the hillside south of Tirana in #Albania. And although we didn’t get the ‘yes’ we hoped for, we feel fortunate to have been finalists and proud of our team and of what we put forward.

visualisation of a biodiverse urban hedgehog habitat

visualisation of a biodiverse urban hedgehog habitat

visualisation of a biodiverse seating area and wildlife corridor

visualisation of a biodiverse urban habitat

So happy for #LDADesign's Chloe Wu who has won the #IFLA Europe 2025 Youth Competition (Conceptual Projects/Ideas) for her work, “Urban Living Library – Reclaiming the Hedgehog Habitat". Well done, Chloe. A worthy winner - layered, thoughtful, beautiful, inspiring #urbanwildlife #nature

Photo of a long curved bench after installation and trees - shortlisted dezeen awards 2025

A young child walks along the top edge of a long, curved bench holding hands with an adult

We did it! The sculptural seating on #Strand, designed by #LDADesign and fabricated by #millimetre, has been shortlisted for a @dezeen.com #design award! We're over the moon🎉 We made the shortlist of 79 projects from more than 4,300 entries from 89 countries👏 #Dezeen www.dezeen.com/awards/2025/...

International Concept Design Competition for a Masterplan - Faith Park, 11-12 October - 12 shortlisted proposals

Crunch time for the Faith Park international #design competition this weekend as all 12 shortlisted teams present their ideas publicly to an audience including the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Good luck, everyone. #LDADesign planifikimi.gov.al/index.php?id...

Nine portraits

Promotions at #LDADesign - the best of times. Well done ... Beth, Branwen, Cameron, Chuang, Huiyu, Jess, Lucca, Rhodri and Tanushri. We're delighted for you and thankful for all that you bring to our every days. #promotions #careermilestones

Painting of waves crashing onto a beach

If #planning in England is to regain its capacity to inspire, it needs a clear purpose argues #LDADesign chair Frazer Osment and Quality of Life Foundation's Matthew Morgan in a new article in #ThePlanner: shorturl.at/KkA53 "To build a ship ... teach people to long for the immensity of the sea".

A man gives a presentation in front of a large screen.

"A good city is like a good party ..." earns #LDADesign director Benjamin Walker a 'throw your hands in the air' moment when presenting in #Almaty #Kazakhstan. Ben discussed the need for authenticity in how we talk about placemaking and social city making. Thanks for the invite #SHAREarchitects.

LDA Design is an exhibitor at Future Energy Wales, 7-8 October. We are on Stand 8 - come and say hello.

We're looking forward to the #RenewablesUK Future Energy Wales next week. We're on Stand 8. Come say hello. #ldadesign #cleanenergy #onshorewind #offshorewind #solarenergy #solarpower #placemaking www.renewableuk.com/events/futur...

1/2 Shout-outs & Mentions in E11: @ldadesign.bsky.social @caro07.bsky.social @rshp.bsky.social @london.gov.uk @ldn-pressoffice.bsky.social @fosterandpartners.bsky.social @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social @theguardian.com @opencity-uk.bsky.social @buildingcentre.bsky.social

Rediseñar el espacio público para el contacto social y la adaptación climática.

📷 @ldadesign.bsky.social

Lower Thames Crossing: The road to consent | New Civil Engineer It gives a green light to a once-in-a-generation level of investment that should end up being a catalyst for the outer areas of London and beyond.

#NewCivilEngineer article about the Lower Thames Crossing with #LDADesign’s Andrew Kay, Fereday Pollard’s Clare Donnelly and Steve Roberts of Arcadis contributing. Read how a place-based approach is securing bigger #outcomes incl opportunities for new #landscapes by the Thames. shorturl.at/g3gNm

A young woman walking with a phone in her hand, while someone walks beside her in the opposite direction

Exciting news. The #London College of Fashion, University of the Arts at Stratford Waterfront/East Bank in #QEOP has been shortlisted for the #RIBA #StirlingPrize2025. Proud to be part of a team with Allies and Morrison, Buro Happold, G&T, Mace, UAL, LLDC, GLA and more. shorturl.at/lwEmv #LDADesign

Help us to shape the world for the better. We are looking for a landscape architect to join our Oxford studio.

#Job alert! #LDADesign’s #Oxford studio is looking for a #landscapearchitect with two to five years’ experience. Is this you? Details of this plus our other #opportunities here: www.lda-design.co.uk/join-us/oppo... Make good use of the light evenings to work on your application. Deadline 15th Sept.

Two adults working at a table on plans with the text: help us shape the world for the better

Two fantastic opportunities to join our #London studio. We are looking for an architectural assistant or newly qualified #architect and an #urbandesigner, both with around two to five years of experience. How you think matters most to us. #joinus #hiring #jobs ➡️ www.lda-design.co.uk/join-us/oppo...

Planning for both people and nature is not a contradiction As new legislation threatens to weaken habitat protections, Sophie Thompson asks what it would take to plan with respect for both people and the natural world

New article by #LDADesign's Sophie Thompson about how we need to #plan and #design for people and for #nature and avoid false dichotomies that do more harm than good. Time to have more respect for both. Supporting nature can't just be dismissed as 'woke'. #BDOnline www.bdonline.co.uk/opinion/plan...

International design competition for a masterplan for Faith Park - 12 shortlisted teams

Excited to be shortlisted for Faith Park, an international competition to create a serene new park south of #Tirana in central #Albania. A wonderful opportunity to make something very special. Looking forward to the next stage. Working with a great team too. Thank you #AKPT: www.planifikimi.gov.al