Cantay House, Oxford

ASA Landscape Architects was appointed by Elwood Fund Management to refurbish and reinstate the external environment of Cantay House, Oxford; creating a landscape that responds to the surrounding architectural character.

Cantay House has long been a familiar presence on Park End Street, marking the gateway into Oxford’s city centre.

Before refurbishment, the courtyard was hard, underused and visually disconnected from the building’s character. The new proposal transforms this space into welcoming outdoor rooms, alongside an extended terrace that offers views and breakout space; echoing the site’s history while supporting a contemporary workplace and new retail activity along Park End Street.

Situated within the Oxford City & University Central Conservation Area, the project demanded sensitivity to context. ASA’s landscape design reintroduces warmth, craft and greenery into the heart of Cantay House, reinforcing its presence within the conservation streetscape.

Our role involved shaping the landscape vision for both the courtyard and terrace; retaining and enhancing the building’s character through references to existing textures, tonal palettes and crafted details. The design establishes a cohesive relationship between old and new, embedding landscape value at the core of the scheme. These external spaces offer flexibility for social use, provide moments of respite for occupants and help uplift the building’s commercial and social appeal.

The landscape also supports the project’s ambition to achieve BREEAM Excellent, with thoughtful material choices, long-term performance in mind and enhancements that elevate the everyday user experience.

At ASA, we design places with purpose—landscapes grounded in their context, generous to the people who use them and responsive to their heritage.

Our work on Cantay House reflects our ethos: respecting heritage, enhancing identity, and delivering meaningful outdoor spaces that improve daily life.