Landscape

Libya: University Campuses

Brief

Keppie Landscape was invited to collaborate with the architectural teams to produce a landscape masterplan for each of the eight university campuses in Libya, and thereafter detailed designs.  The project incorporates the regeneration and expansion of several existing universities and the development of several new large scale university campuses.

Response

Each landscape design was required to take into account the climatic and topographical conditions and the constraints of each site.  This required numerous site visits by the landscape team.  Each campus produced unique design responses which complemented the architecture and sat well within the wider context.

The most obvious constraints are the lack of soil and more importantly the extreme dryness of the land.  We addressed this by strategically concentrating our resources in the core areas, at entrances, main plazas and courtyards.  At the edges of the site we took inspiration from the farming methods used across Libya and the marks made on the landscape.  Subtle ridges formed to hold water during rare rainfall and the distinctive hue of recently ploughed soil.  In shaping the sites we retained all exposed rock and boulders for re-use.  Amongst these we used the native desert plants in swathes to reinforce the patterns that were carried through stronger and stronger into the heart of each campus.  This xeriscape not only helps to set the campus into the landscape, it wisely limits the long term resources needed for its maintenance.

Outcome

Each campus was designed with a hierarchy of public spaces.  These spaces are orientated to maximise shade and to encourage outdoor use.  The subtle understated outside and the intense concentrated interior courtyards are a reflection of the religious and social context within which these designs exist.  The courtyards have granite tiles and mosaic lined water features to create the feeling of cooling through sound and movement.

Team