A Seascape Story
This project explores how landscape-based interventions can reconnect a place to its natural and cultural roots. Set in Whitehaven, a coastal town in Cumbria, the design responds to a place once known for its important harbour and thriving mining industry. Today, Whitehaven faces decline — its relationship with the sea, once central to its identity, has shifted from opportunity to boundary.
Through a series of small-scale interventions, the project seeks to renew Whitehaven’s connection to the sea. The design operates across multiple layers of the landscape — from sustainable drainage strategies and ecological restoration to enhancing human experience. These elements aim to restore both environmental function and public engagement. Local folklore is subtly woven into the landscape, adding a narrative layer that connects the interventions and reflects the town’s identity.
My interest in this project lies in the ability of landscape architecture to bring together the many layers of a place — ecological, cultural, and experiential — and propose interventions that strengthen their connections. I believe thoughtful design can create synergy between these layers, offering benefits that are greater than the sum of their parts.
