Haverfordwest is a picturesque Pembrokeshire town with plenty to offer, including an historic castle, gaol and priory. But with its historic heart nestled behind the tight knit built form, our client, Pembrokeshire County Council, reported that some locals don’t actually realise there’s a castle in the town.
It’s clear that people need to be pointed in the right direction.
Haverfordwest is undergoing some exciting redevelopment plans, focusing on two locations: the town centre straddling the River Cleddau – which will deliver investment into a new leisure and retail destination – and the historic focal point of Castle Square.
In the historic centre, plans are afoot to restore the town’s former historic highlights and make more of the town’s various attractions to draw in the visitors.
We are part of the landscape design team, spearheaded by Austin-Smith:Lord, which is tasked with devising proposals for new public realm within the main market square and how to how to improve routes up to the castle. Due to the town’s inherent topography, the numerous stepped routes present some obvious challenges for accessibility.
We’re putting our heads together to come up with proposals for strengthening routes up to the castle, to make them clearer, more inviting and user friendly. Our remit also encompasses improving the arrival experience of visitors from the train station into the town with the overall aim to improve navigation and orientation.
Hannah Southwell, Wayfinding and Graphic Designer.
We’ve carried out our initial audit and town analysis and are now devising a series of recommendations for improving visitor movement.
The tight knit street pattern will limit the wayfinding response: there simply isn’t the space to install large totem signs without cluttering the streets.
But we like a challenge.
Building upon initial ideas suggested by the client, we’re considering using floor inlays and wall panels to help with navigation, and also exploring the potential for a town trail.