RIVERS with Duncan Paybody, Director of Landscape, Studio Egret West

BPT X RIBA Bristol & Bath Midweek Monthly Talk

May 6th

River

A talk exploring the importance of rivers and their potential to drive environmental and regeneration-led change.

Duncan Paybody, Director of Landscape, Studio Egret West

How Rivers Anchor Regeneration and Resilience

In this session, Duncan Paybody explores the transformative power of urban waterways, shifting the perspective of rivers from overlooked infrastructure to the primary drivers of environmental and social change.
Using Studio Egret West’s recent work in Manchester as a blueprint, Duncan will unpack how a "river-first" approach creates a sense of rootedness and local authenticity that is often missing from modern masterplanning. The discussion will navigate through two landmark projects along the same city watercourse:

Mayfield Park: Examining the lessons learned from Manchester’s first new city-center park in 100 years, where the uncovering of the River Medlock acted as the catalyst for a world-class public realm.

Holt Town: Looking ahead at a massive regeneration site where the river serves as the connective tissue, proving that watercourses can lead the way in large-scale urban evolution.

Attendees will gain insights into how rivers can be leveraged to enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate risks, and build a lasting "sense of place" that resonates with the local community.

Studio Egret West (SEW) designs urban regeneration projects with strong river and landscape connections, notable for reviving waterways like the River Medlock in Manchester's Mayfield Park (de-culverting for wildscape) and creating waterfront living at Bath Riverside, and the Sweetwater development bordering London's Lee Navigation Canal. Their approach integrates buildings with nature, focusing on biodiversity, community, and context, turning industrial sites into vibrant public spaces and new homes.

Duncan is Director of Landscape at Studio Egret West, leads a team of landscape architects dedicated to integrating nature into urban projects. With extensive experience in large-scale urbanism and detailed landscape design, he was the design lead for the award-winning Mayfield Park in Manchester. He also specialises in modernist refurbishments, including the landscape renewal of Balfron Tower and Hayes Park Central. Duncan shares his expertise through guest lectures at leading universities and talks for The Landscape Institute, covering topics like regenerative design, embodied carbon and sustainable materials.

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