Architecture company awarded masterplanning honour

Paradise has been named Masterplanning project of the year at the AJ Architecture Awards 2022.

Working with developers MEPC, the masterplan project was a major reworking of a complex urban site in Birmingham 's civic core. By reconnecting existing public squares with a new pedestrianised route, it delivers on Birmingham 's ambition to be a car free, walkable and cyclable city.

With a new business, residential and leisure quarter, the project compliments the adjacent Grade I and Grade II-listed buildings and has helped to attract new global businesses into the city.

Judges praised the high-quality transformation of the public realm and commented how the scheme worked hard with the change of levels, linking two important areas of Birmingham together while introducing a new permeability.

One commented that: “It makes you want to meander through and it is not a destination in itself but creates breakout spaces off routes. ”

Another said: “It manages a lot of moving parts well - to be congratulated, given there 's not the same level of control possible as in a building. It was The connecting-up that Birmingham needed. ”

Partner Dav Bansal (pictured) who led the design commented: “We 've worked closely with an ambitious client in MEPC to deliver an integral part of Birmingham 's transformation from motor city to a walkable and cyclable destination.

It 's a real privilege for the scheme to be recognised as AJ Masterplan of the Year and the vision for this major reworking of a complex site in Birmingham 's historic and civic core has only just begun. This is a truly exciting journey for the city. ”