Westminster students took part in a Greening the Campus competition held by the School of Architecture + Cities to redesign the public realm in front of the University’s Marylebone Campus. This competition was organised as part of Westminster City Council’s Greening Westminster Fund to improve sustainability in the area.
The competition invited students from Westminster’s School of Architecture + Cities to redesign the public realm in front of the Marylebone Campus to increase biodiversity, comfort and sustainability. This was kickstarted by Westminster colleagues Maria Kramer and Julian Williams, who secured £50,000 in funding from Westminster City Council’s Greening Westminster Fund to support the project and implement the designs.
Students and colleagues collaborated to envision a sociable and lively space for dwelling, learning, resting and finding inspiration. A final design was developed by combining ideas from the two winning teams within an overarching concept inspired by the global nature of the University and its commitment to celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion. This includes a Bench of Global Inclusivity, The Hug seating area and a planting strategy that highlights the origins of both native and exotic species, while providing opportunities for learning.
Students outside Marylebone Campus
The competition formed part of a Live Project, where Westminster students collaborate with real industry clients to meet a brief as part of their assessment. This Live Project is being delivered in collaboration with the University’s Estates Team and DB Landscape Architects, providing the students with a real-life insight into careers in the built environment.
About the project Kevin Wong, team lead for one of the winning teams, said: “Our team brought together interior architecture and architecture students with member of staff, creating a valuable opportunity to learn from one another. The design transforms an ordinary stretch of pavement into an eye-catching seating setting that brings new energy to the campus through its unusual shape and form, while carefully considering materials, accessibility, and inclusivity to create a welcoming space for people to pause, gather and interact.”
Senior Lecturer in Architecture Maria Kramer said: “This Live Project is a fantastic opportunity for students and staff to directly shape their environment, developing a sense of agency and empowerment while collaborating with external partners. We were delighted to have more than 20 students and staff participate in the design competition that Julian and I organised, demonstrating the valuable opportunities available beyond the curriculum. We also hope to involve students and staff in building some of the benches, so that the project is not only co-designed but also partially co-constructed. Watch this space!
“Special thanks to Jules Attanayake and Alessandra Foderaro for all their support.”
Jules Attanayake from the University of Westminster Fundraising and Development Team said: “We were delighted to be granted an award of £50,000 from the Greening Westminster Team at Westminster Council in 2025, for our Greening the Campus project. This project entails greening the facade of our university building at 35 Marylebone Road and improving biodiversity. Improvements will include raised planters and redesigning the existing underwhelming planting scheme and walkways, transforming the harsh urban environment into a safer, greener space for all that use it. This includes our university community and all members of the public who use this part of the public realm. This is one of many projects that the university is working on supported by Westminster City Council, and we look forward to continuing building our strategic relationship with the council in the years ahead.”
Students working together on the Live Project
This project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Live Projects at the University of Westminster form a key ambition of Zone29, the University’s new home for careers and enterprise due to open in Spring 2026. Zone29 provides students and graduates with access to work-related programmes, opportunities and experiences.
Find out more about Architecture, Interiors and Urban Design courses at the University of Westminster.
If you would like to be involved in future Live Projects, please contact Maria Kramer.
