Benton Scott-Simmons is a Landscape Architecture consultancy set up in 2013 by Janet Benton and Laura Scott-Simmons. The practice is based in Partick, in the West End of Glasgow.
BSS are used to working from the very largest, regional scale to the most detailed, human scale. With additional experience in urban design we always approach the design of the external environment holistically, balancing environmental, social, economic and aesthetic goals.
We aim to be both creative and technically robust so that we can work with confidence from concept through to completion.
Although our own core business is landscape architecture, we also draw upon our network of independent regeneration and consultation specialists, environmental planners and ecologists, technical specialists and illustrators. We aim to work collaboratively, flexibly and productively – with clients, communities and co-consultants alike.
JOBS
looking for a new opportunity?If you are looking for a post and would like us to consider you for our team, please email us or send your CV to janet@bentonscottsimmons.com.
For an informal chat, call Laura or Janet on 0141 334 1641
SKILLS
and expertise
Strategies and studies
We work in many multidisciplinary teams on regeneration and urban design studies, spatial frameworks, design guides and public realm strategies. We enjoy working at a strategic level where the full spectrum of social, economic and political processes affecting the quality of environment are material. We are also interested in the process of sharing the resulting vision and ensuring there is the means to deliver it – even where persistent effort may be required over many years.
Assessment and evaluation
Landscape design
We design at different scales, developing landscape frameworks for new settlements, spatial strategies for neighbourhoods and detailed proposals for individual parks and squares. We aim to work holistically to satisfy planning, environmental and amenity objectives, while at the detailed level we aim to balance creativity and technical expertise to create public open space that is environmentally sustainable, inherently flexible and joyful to use.
Consultation and engagement
Implementation
We provide project coordination, specialist technical and management advice for the design development and construction phases of landscape projects. Our approach is informed by many years of taking our own design work from first concept sketches through to completion on site. We have extensive first-hand experience of implementing complex urban streetscape projects and an in-depth understanding of the critical factors that lead to successful delivery.
Infrastructure
PORTFOLIO
SELECTED PROJECTS
Chapelton of Elsick
Elsick Development Company
Chapelton will ultimately include up to 8,000 residential units and associated community, retail and commercial uses, configured as 7 connected neighbourhoods. Early landscape evaluation informed the initial charrette and BSS continued to provide landscape advice through the outline and detailed planning phases. We currently act as part of the master developer’s Design Review Team and provide ongoing landscape advice to the wider design team while also overseeing the implementation of landscape works for the first two phases of infrastructure.
We are currently also assisting with the development of a Community Wood on the outskirts of the developing town.
Vinicombe Street
Byres Road Improvement Group/Glasgow City Council
Phase 1 of the Byres Road Corners project focused on the conversion of Vinicombe Street into a new multipurpose public space. BSS developed the design according to a brief that evolved during community engagement, and have continued to work alongside Glasgow City Council engineers to take the scheme through to completion on site.
A Friends of Vinicombe Street community group is currently being assembled to help manage the space and establish a suitable events programme.
Grandhome Urban Expansion
Grandhome Trust
Grandhome was selected by the Scottish Government for their SSCI Charrette Series initiative and will ultimately be developed into a mixed use urban expansion with 7,500 residential units and related community, retail and commercial uses.
We have provided landscape architecture advice to the master plan team since the inception of the project, carrying out the LVIA and supporting both outline and Phase 1 detailed planning submissions. We are now the landscape architects for construction of the first phase of infrastructure.
Byres Road Corners Pilot
Byres Road Improvement Group
BSS led a pilot study for a public space strategy for Byres Road, a popular shopping street in the West End of Glasgow that was seen to lack space for community gatherings or events. The strategy considered history and culture, movement and traffic impacts, building uses and the re-use of underused structures, activities and the programming of spaces. During a series of community participation events led by Willie Miller and Nick Wright, a consensus was reached on an agreed concept, and a detailed design brief produced for a priority public realm improvement project.
CHORD
Argyll and Bute Council
BSS provided specialist project management support to the CHORD Programme Manager for a particularly complex streetscape scheme. Our role was predominantly site based, with a specific remit to facilitate the delivery of the project by working with both the design and contractor teams, improving communication, identifying priorities and refining the decision-making process in relation to design, technical and programming issues.
Brodick Signature Project
National Trust for Scotland
A strategic masterplan for Brodick Castle and Goatfell on Arran. The uniqueness of the natural and built heritage meant that extensive sensitivity mapping was required prior to opportunities being identified. Robust analysis combined with an extensive programme of engagement events – with client groups, other stakeholders and the community – led to a tested, comprehensive plan for the future of the estate.
Leven Town Centre Strategic Concept for Design Intervention
Fife Council
A multidisciplinary team assessed the potential to target resources to specific civic realm improvements that would enhance the resilience and vitality of Leven town centre. An analysis of physical and cultural opportunities and consultation with the community led to the identification of a series of prioritised, costed public realm improvement projects and recommendations for an accompanying programme of events and public activities.
Woonbook Leisure Complex, Incheon Island, South Korea
Lippo Incheon Development Company Ltd
Three projects were undertaken, providing urban design and landscape advice for a 150ha new city development on Incheon Island, South Korea. This included work on urban scale and hierarchy, landscape and movement strategies, building-to-open space relationships, environmental opportunities and sustainability. Design work was carried out for a broad range of spaces – wild areas and formal public parks, an ecologically sensitive tidal basin, urban squares of different sizes and types, and streets of different scales from boulevards to lanes and closes.
San Diego Hills Memorial Park, Jakarta, Indonesia
Lippo Development Company Ltd
This project included designs for Christian and Muslim burial areas within a 500Ha cemetery and public park near Jakarta. Concept work was taken through to detailed design; philosophical content was developed in collaboration with Glasgow University Department of Theology and Religious Studies.
ABOUT US
our people
Janet is a landscape architect with a particular interest in urban design. After working overseas early in her career she returned to Scotland where she has worked on master planning and regeneration projects, town studies, tourism projects, open space strategies, streetscape design and design guidance for buildings and the public realm. Most of her projects have involved working in multidisciplinary professional teams and have often included interactive public consultation. In the last 5 years, Janet has led the Landscape Architecture team on a number of settlement-scale master planning projects including a leisure-based new city on Incheon Island, South Korea, and two new, mixed-use settlements in Scotland, at Grandhome and Chapelton of Elsick.
Laura’s experience has been primarily in large scale landscape projects where she has developed particular expertise in design, project coordination, detailed technical design, procurement and implementation. Prior to the establishment of BSS Laura lead a team of landscape architects on two large hospital redevelopments, a combined Care in the Community facility and a specialist stand-alone mental health crisis unit. She has also built on her extensive past experience of delivering high profile streetscape projects by acting as a specialist advisor to local authority engineers. She is currently leading the BSS team delivering the infrastructure contract at Chapelton of Elsick, in Aberdeenshire.
CONTACT US
and find out more
Benton Scott-Simmons
Landscape Architects
Glasgow
Scotland
Janet Benton | 07960 156353
Laura Scott-Simmons | 07817 230963
General Office
mail@bentonscottsimmons.com
Recruitment
janet@bentonscottsimmons.com