OOBE expands into Birmingham with new Digbeth offices
Newcastle-based landscape architecture practice OOBE has opened new offices in Birmingham, marking a key step in its long-term growth in the Midlands, the firm says.
The new office, based on Bradford Street in Digbeth, is led by landscape architect Claire Hunt, whose background spans landscape architecture, horticulture, illustration and public realm design.
Claire joins OOBE after leading the landscape team at ADP Architecture and working across the UK and internationally – from horticultural work at Birmingham Botanical Gardens to lighting design in Mexico City.
“This is the city I love, and there’s so much potential here to create spaces that bring people together,” she said.
“Birmingham doesn’t always have easy access to nature, especially in the city centre, so our aim is to design landscapes that feel safe, welcoming and meaningful to everyone.
“I’ve worked in the world of architecture, horticulture and illustration, and those experiences have helped me see how design can work at every scale – from the details that make a space feel personal, to the wider patterns that define how a city moves and breathes. That mix of perspectives is what I want to bring to Birmingham.”
Her appointment comes at a time of exciting change for the city, with OOBE already involved in several high-profile local projects, including a leisure centre, New Garden Square (MODA) and Great Charles Street (MODA).
The firm also has offices in Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, working across multiple sectors including education, residential, leisure, and public realm.
Emma McNicholas, Director at OOBE, added: “We’ve had Birmingham in our sights for a while as part of OOBE’s five-year vision, but we didn’t want to grow just for the sake of it – it needed to feel right. When we met Claire, it did. She brings a mix of creativity, technical insight and genuine curiosity about people and place. She’s the kind of designer who listens first and then builds from there, which is exactly what OOBE is about.
“For us, opening in Birmingham isn’t just about expanding our footprint, it’s about building on that ethos of people and environment, and creating an office that becomes part of the city’s story. Claire brings such warmth and curiosity to her work, and I think that will set the tone for the kind of practice we want to be here: open, collaborative and rooted in the community.”
