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Landscape architects Oobe team up with London 2012 mastermind for new project

London-based landscape architects Oobe have announced that they are to carry out a three-year commission on behalf of Cranfield University in Bedfordshire which will see them pairing up with the horticultural mastermind behind the London 2012 Olympic Park.

The architects, who have their headquarters in Newcastle, fended off competition from 20 other landscape architecture practices to help deliver the university’s Landscape Strategy, which forms a key plank of its campus-wide masterplan.

To assist with the work, OOBE have incorporated Dr Nigel Dunnett, who played a key role in the landscaping around the Olympic Park for the games four years ago, as part of its project team.

Oobe’s Director, Oliver Smith, commented that the project with Cranfield University was a testament to the practice’s strategy of partnering with industry-leaders such as Dr Dunnett.

He said: “Our innovative approach, complemented by the outstanding input from Dr Nigel Dunnett, proves that our collaboration with the very best in the industry is one that will serve us well as we seek to grow in the UK and further afield.

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of delivering ambitious, inclusive and eye catching landscape proposals for the university which has conducted a lot of research into water management. For this reason, innovative use of SuDS [sustainable drainage system] is a given as the masterplan develops.”

Dr Dunnett commented that he was excited to be invited to work with such a ‘young’ and ‘energetic’ team on the project.

Oobe was founded in 2010 by Oliver and Mike Goodall, and has now grown to encompass a team of 12 across its Newcastle and London offices, working on projects across the globe in far-flung locations such as the UAE, Australia and China.