The vision for the site was conceived and generated by the stronghold nature that has grown on the site and the important role the site has built in supporting local ecosystems. This rich organic world contrasts heavily with the former industrial and environmentally destructive role of the site, demonstrating the resilience of the natural world. The vision therefore, is firstly to respect the unquestionable strength of the feral environment and wildlife within the site. To then support and reinforce this by establishing it as a unique green enclave within its undeniably human dominated surroundings. Human influence is through interaction and enjoyment only, encouraging local habitats to adapt, grow and bloom. Round About the Garden strives to minimise all impact on the natural environment, in its detailed design, construction and ongoing maintenance and life cycle.
The proposal is dominated by large zones of landscaping, in addition to existing areas of established woodland, creating a green lung for the area. Indigenous planting will eventually prosper into mature woodland, capable of sustaining a complex ecology system by encouraging existing wildlife to thrive and new ecosystems to establish. These areas of woodland will have varied characters throughout the site dependent on factors such as topography, proximity to water and solar orientation. Contrasting overgrown and wild areas with more formal areas of both new planting and existing woodland, it will create a lush sanctuary alongside the cascading waters that flow through the site.
Round About the Garden is conceived as a place of discovery, play and intrigue. A network of paths at ground level and elevated within the treetops afford a chance to explore the wooded areas saturating the site. The snaking footpaths inadvertently guide pedestrians from one place to other; with surprises beyond every tree and above each canopy. It will be a unique experience for each visitor, defined by individual impulse and distraction. Openings in the woodland yearn to be discovered by those who choose to explore, with a series of towers peppered through these areas inviting people inside. Round About the Garden will be an inclusive place, with all paths linking back to a public transport system, including new tram stops and Meadowhall Interchange. They also interconnect into the underground car parks on the site, cycle routes and the waterway footpaths, giving access to all.
A series of towers, woven into the landscape at strategic points are conceived; some peeping through the treetops whilst others sit comfortably sheltered by surrounding leaves, hidden by the flourishing woodland. The new towers echo the iconic presence and status of the cooling towers, redesigned to fit in with the natural environment. The towers collectively are physically linked spaces following the topography of the landscape, with common architectural features and form. However each tower will be unique, with an individually defined function interpreted differently by the visitor; a looking tower, a chance for respite, a captured view over the treetops, a climbing frame, gallery space…. The towers are a crucial element of the site and must be detailed individually as a design competition project. This will have involvement from the local community encouraged at all stages, giving a great sense of local pride in these architectural gems.
Being such an historically integral element of the towers, water is an important element of the scheme with a constant presence throughout the site. Used to enhance the sculptural form of the cooling towers, to guide visitors, support and enhance local ecosystems and also to enable trade and servicing of the towers. Water also acts as a soothing presence throughout the site, calming the mind and drowning out the din of the motorway. Spiralling pipes filled with falling water cascades around the towers to generate hydro electricity reflecting past usage of the cooling towers, making part of the energy generation process once more.
The cooling towers are recognised as local and national icons and as such the site maintains and embraces their imposing presence from the west. Whilst the proposal is to radically alter their physical form with a cut through the eastern edges of the towers. In doing so, the inner workings and function is exposed to visitors of the site, conveying their immense scale and undeniable power. Visitors will be tempted and encouraged to enter the towers, and will be elevated into the clouds, experiencing performance workshops, art and exhibition spaces for local artists, conferences and workshops, botanical gardens and viewing platforms at the very top.
Round About the Garden will be a green haven in an urban context and will provide a great opportunity for development. By cutting the cooling towers into a more dynamic and exposed form they can afford a variety of accommodation whilst ensuring the site continues to be enveloped by nature. The height of the towers affords a high density of development and alongside other strategically placed buildings will allow the site to be economically and socially sustainable. The discreet location of new workshop buildings, along with their associated underground parking ensures that a strong sense of ‘garden’ is maintained throughout the site. The excellent movement links surrounding the site are exploited, with an emphasis on sustainable forms of transport, to ensure that new roads are not introduced at a detriment to the more important vision of nature.
We reached the Final 15 with this entry, and from what we could gather gained a lot of the publics support for this scheme when it was presented at Sheffield's Meadowhall.
