Gillespies unveils new public realm at Westgate Oxford

Gillespies has delivered a high-quality public realm for Westgate Oxford, a major retail-led mixed-use development in the heart of Oxford City Centre. Westgate Oxford comprises a department store, over 100 retail units, 30 restaurants and cafes, as well as a roof terrace and a series of new public spaces.

Gillespies worked alongside lead masterplanner BDP and a team of four architectural practices, including Glenn Howell and Allies and Morrison, in the delivery of Westgate Oxford, which opened to the public earlier this year.

The public realm consists of a framework of open and covered streets, arcades and public spaces that operate as a single coherent entity, linking the four individual urban blocks, and sensitively stitching the contemporary development into Oxford’s historic city fabric.

The public realm re-establishes the urban grain and permeability of this part of Oxford through significantly improved east to west links between Castle Quarter and nearby West End, as well as introducing a new pedestrian footpath along the Castle Mill Stream. To ensure the quality of the historic urban streetscape continues into Westgate, attractive and durable paving finishes, street furniture, signage, lighting, and planting were selected.

A publicly accessible roof terrace, with planting by Gillespies, offers a variety of cafes and restaurants, as well as uninterrupted views across the City.