Samuel Morley’s Burton upon Trent project is a water sensitive urban design proposal that turns brewery wastewater into public infrastructure.
The masterplan uses the town’s brewing context as more than history. It proposes a new public building and landscape system where treated wastewater supports swimming, bathing, recreation, biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Project focus
The strongest idea is the link between water management and public life. Instead of hiding infrastructure away, the proposal makes water treatment, bathing and landscape part of the civic experience.
Design ideas to notice
- Brewery wastewater becomes the starting point for public pools and bathing.
- The public building gives the environmental system a visible civic centre.
- Landscape and planting support biodiversity, shade and everyday use.
- The project turns sustainability into a public amenity, not just a technical claim.
Portfolio lesson from this project
Water projects need clear diagrams. A practice reader should quickly understand where the water comes from, how it is treated, where people enter the story and what the landscape does beyond looking green.
Showcase a water-led design project
If your project uses water, landscape, ecology or infrastructure as the main design driver, make the system legible.
- Show the source and flow of water.
- Explain the public benefit, not just the environmental principle.
- Use sections and diagrams to connect infrastructure with everyday use.
Next step
Explore more project work in the Architecture Social Projects directory, or submit your own project for the showcase.
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