FOLAR
Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading

A Celebration of Brian Clouston’s Career in Landscape Architecture

A Celebration of Brian Clouston’s Career in Landscape Architecture

A celebration of Brian Clouston’s Career in Landscape Architecture

Landscape architect Brian Clouston OBE, past president of the Landscape Institute, established a landscape practice in the 1960s that became multi-disciplinary and operated internationally. By the 1990s it was one of the leading practices in the UK and employed more people than any other in Europe. FOLAR wanted to learn more about Brian Clouston, what he did, how he attracted so many young talented staff and what type of projects they worked on. FOLAR also wanted to know what they went on to do on leaving BCP. So we invited lots of former staff to tell their stories at an event in September 2023, with Brian Clouston as the star. Brian continues to think about the role and contribution that landscape architects can make to society and to world affairs and in an interview, and he chose this opportunity to discuss his current big vision for Africa. We recorded this event and two interviews with Brian Clouston, as a contribution to the oral history of the profession of landscape architecture.

Recordings

Section One: Introduction; Early days and the formation of the practice; Reclamation; Garden Festivals; Work in the Middle East, Work in Asia and Australia; Urban renewal and Rural infrastructure; Business Parks

Section Two: Legacy Practices and practice, discussion

Section Three: Brian Clouston’s future vision

At the close of the final recording (10), Linda Clouston pays a moving tribute to her husband. (@ c 26:29)

These sessions were chaired by Annie Coombs FLI who was Managing Director of BCP Asia and Tim Gale PPLI who was a Director of BCP.

James Brian Clouston 3 Feb 1935 - 14 May 2026 obituary - please click here

Brian Clouston c1956 Credit: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

It is impossible to reflect on the life and works of Brian Clouston separate from the many people he worked alongside. There was such a range of projects and opportunities in all the different offices, cities and countries around the world. So we invited many of his former colleagues to share with us their thoughts as part of this record. This collaborative account of Brian Clouston reveals a remarkable person.


8. Business Parks

About This Video

Robert Holden on Aztec West (Bristol) and Capability Green (Luton). A time when the car was dominant and the campus had to hide the car parks, inspiring an early use of lakes. Clients had long term interest (eg pension funds) with a need to maintain the site value for 40 to 50 years. Master planning also for the long term, with landscape architects appointed before engineers and architects, and early appointment of landscape management teams (contract or direct labour). Tony Edwards on the evolution of business parks, including Green Park, Reading; started with BCP but Tony has been involved for 37 years and remodelled and adapted the park as the stages developed, as well as undertaking other tasks such as road infrastructure work. Fosters were appointed at one point as master planners alongside the landscape architects/planners. This park also saw the start of Design Panels to appoint other professionals and continued to evolve into a much larger operation; now a 4 or 5th generation park, including a sports centre, retail centre, café, crèche, housing and a new station, and has won numerous awards. Flood storage lakes have been re-engineered to meet changing requirements.

About this series of talks

Landscape architect Brian Clouston OBE, past president of the Landscape Institute, established a landscape practice in the 1960s that became multi-disciplinary and operated internationally. By the 1990s it was one of the leading practices in the UK and employed more people than any other in Europe. FOLAR wanted to learn more about Brian Clouston, what he did, how he attracted so many young talented staff and what type of projects they worked on. FOLAR also wanted to know what they went on to do on leaving BCP. So we invited lots of former staff to tell their stories at an event in September 2023, with Brian Clouston as the star. Brian continues to think about the role and contribution that landscape architects can make to society and to world affairs and in an interview, and he chose this opportunity to discuss his current big vision for Africa. We recorded this event and two interviews with Brian Clouston, as a contribution to the oral history of the profession of landscape architecture.

  • Section One: Introduction; Early days and the formation of the practice; Reclamation; Garden Festivals; Work in the Middle East, Work in Asia and Australia; Urban renewal and Rural infrastructure; Business Parks

  • Section Two: Legacy Practices and practice, discussion.

  • Section Three: Brian Clouston’s future vision.

These sessions were chaired by Annie Coombs FLI who was Managing Director of BCP Asia and Tim Gale PPLI who was a Director of BCP.