A circular timber framed structure, encircled by habitat boxes made of locally sourced organic materials, serves as an interpretation space with an upper viewing deck within a vibrant urban ecology park
Project Information
Category
Public / Educational
Location
London
Year
2020
Cost
Confidential
Client
The Land Trust
Architect
Ambient Studio
Located within the heart of Greenwich Ecology Park - an urban wildlife haven serving as a vibrant green space where the public, young and old can interact with the biodiversity on display - a timber-framed structure provides an interpretation space to replace a dated metal construction, unbefitting to it’s surrounding context.
The new interpretation space serves as a gathering place for small groups, predominantly from educational school visits, to inform visitors of the purpose, history and complexity of the ecology park, identifying the site’s arrangement and the variety of wildlife to be spotted. The new construction also includes an additional upper floor viewing deck where users can experience the park from a vantage point.
The circular form is defined by these two core functions - firstly, the necessity to draw attention to a central space on the ground floor, where a park ranger explains the park to a gathering of visitors, and secondly, the necessity to offer 360 panoramic views of the park from the upper deck.
The timber framed structure is modular in it’s design, where each module comprises an evolved asymettric a-frame defining a wider ground floor walk-way, sheltered by a narrower upper floor deck. The inside tapering frame draws in lights whilst framing sky views, whilst also allowing users to look down from above.
Externally, the structure is clad in habitat boxes assembled from locally sourced organic materials, of which the park has in abundance, this boosting biodiversity and hosting more than just human users. Internally however, the inside face of the habitat boes is lined with external grade plywood, screen printed with infographics and informative text, allowing users to familiarise themselves with the park, whilst sheltering from sun, wind or rain.
The exterior is perforated with peeping holes to encourage interactivity. More notably, two entrance openings help to draw visitors inside as the cut across the commonly used park walkways.
The pavilion is designed to aesthetically mimick the abundance of texture, depth, and colour, identified as a notable site characteristic. Habitat boxes are made up of locally sourced materials to encourage biodiversity, accomodating insects such as spiders, bees, butterflies, snails, woodlice and ladybirds.
A circular form draws attention centrally, where park rangers explain the parks purpose on the ground floor, whereas 360 degree panoramic views are afforded above.
Two key entrance openings are strategically placed to draw park users within as they circulate around park walk-ways.
Stairs are placed to the hidden side of the pavilion, so to create intrigue as to how users access the upper deck.
