Command of the Heights, Fort Amherst

The ambition for the ' Command of the Heights' project was to restore and enhance Fort Amherst, as a space of historic significance, with a strong vision for the future, and to create a long-term vision of sustainability.

The vision was to use the site's untold ' histories', as well as the traditions of its military heritage, to bring the landscapes of the Fort back into contemporary use, by stimulating the ongoing support of local communities and engaging people from all walks of life to help shape its future.

Our interpretation of this brief as a people-led, activity-based philosophy of landscape design, means the Fort and its landscapes can now be used, and appreciated by a much wider audience and the local community.

The longer-term vision is that on-going community involvement will be the catalyst for participation and a sustainable future for the site.

This project represents years of research, design, and creativity, not only by us, but by the team at Medway Council, and the Fort, and a wide creative team of designers, makers, performers, consultants and stakeholders; and not least the outstanding community groups we have worked with in Medway.
A rich program of consultation and creative engagement days from ' have your say' open consultation days, to focused workshops with schools, disability access groups, and the Kent Association for the Blind art project.

Their ideas are now embodied in the spaces, artworks, and interpretation across the Fort.

This project embodies MeiLoci's philosophy of combining Senses and Science, People and Places; and Heritage Conservation to inspire contemporary urban culture and storytelling through the landscape.

It balances the relationship between conserving the parks heritage assets for the future whilst meeting the needs of a diverse community who can now use and enjoy the site for enjoyment and education as well as recreation, health and wellbeing.