Delivering Pedestrian-Friendly Green Spaces: Parklets and Planters for Oxford
Client
Oxford City Council
Location
Sectors
Products & Services
Project overview
Market Street, Oxford, has undergone a green transformation through a collaboration between Meristem Design, Urban Movement, and Oxford City Council. This initiative revitalised the area to support the historic Covered Market and enhance the urban public realm.
Goal
To create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space that attracts visitors, supports local businesses, and integrates nature into the city centre.
Scope
Bespoke planters, benches and deckless parklets with the integration of greenery, trees and community seating.
Challenges
Revitalising the previously grey, underutilised area presented challenges such as balancing historical context with modern green design and supporting the area’s diverse uses, including pedestrian flow, events, and relaxation.
Solutions
To address these challenges, Meristem Design implemented:
Bespoke Green Installations
Custom planters and benches infused the area with biophilic design elements
Flexible Layout
Parklets and public seating enhanced usability for pedestrians and cyclists while maintaining flexibility for events
Environmental Sustainability
Planting schemes supported biodiversity and improved air quality
Cohesive Design
Collaborative planning ensured harmony with Oxford’s historic architecture and branding
Impact
By integrating nature into Market Street, the project achieved:
Improved Public Spaces
The area now offers a welcoming green oasis for relaxation and community interaction
Economic Boost
Increased foot traffic supports local businesses and the historic Covered Market
Enhanced Wellbeing
Visitors and residents benefit from reduced stress and a more vibrant urban environment
Historical Preservation
The revitalised space respects Oxford’s heritage while embracing modern sustainability principles
Featured products & services
Parklets & Street Furniture
Parklets and street furniture help transform our streets from car dominated environments to community hubs. Providing space for people to sit and relax, parklets enhance the aesthetics of streetscapes and help connect people with nature.
Planters
Combining functionality with a style that fits any aesthetic, each planter is crafted with care to suit your location and enhance the space. Helping to add greenery to both indoor and outdoor areas, planters create welcoming spaces that benefit people, businesses and the environment.
Design
We specialise in designing beautiful, sustainable urban greening solutions and products that bring nature into public, commercial and residential spaces. From concept to final design, we work closely with clients to ensure that every element is crafted to meet their unique needs, aesthetic preferences, and sustainability goals.
Fabrication
We provide high-quality, in-house fabrication services tailored to the needs of urban greening projects. Composed of skilled welders and carpenters, our fabrication team brings each project from concept to completion using precision and exceptional craftsmanship.
Get in touch
If you like what you've seen in our case study and want to learn more about how this could work in your setting, please get in touch.
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