Client:
University of Greenwich
Project details:
Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects and opened in 2014, the acclaimed University of Greenwich School of Design building accommodates up to 2,000 students studying Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Graphic Design and Film. Located in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building features a limestone exterior designed to complement its historic setting that includes the nearby Royal Naval College by Christopher Wren. The building façade is articulated with a series of recesses that extend through to form narrow courtyards that bring daylight into the internal areas at the heart of the building. A landscaped roof features 14 terraces and gardens, used not only as spaces where students and staff can relax, but also for planting areas used in the research of algae and aquaponics. Although the roof and courtyards are attractive integral features within the building they are somewhat bare, and under-used as a result. As part of our ongoing association with the University (Furnitubes and the University are close neighbours), we were pleased to donate several seating and planter products to the site to encourage the use of the outdoor spaces. In one of the internal courtyards eight Uniun modules (3 benches and 5 planters) have been used, with its characteristic trapezoidal geometry introducing some informality to the very linear space, and the planting bringing some welcome greenery. On one of the roof terraces a RailRoad bench offers the opportunity to sit down and enjoy the naturalistic surroundings of a wildflower meadow planting plot. Combining the bench with a planter - which weighs several hundred kilos when filled with soil and planted - allowed the products to be simply placed as a freestanding assembly, avoiding the need for any bolt-down fixings which can be problematic on flat roofs. Furnitubes is delighted to have sponsored the Greenwich University Landscape Architecture Summer Exhibition.
Visit the Furnitubes International website for more information on University of Greenwich, London