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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Christchurch Botanic Gardens in New Zealand by Patterson AssociatesAugust 11th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Patterson Associates The Christchurch Botanic Gardens lie within a 21ha loop of the Avon River and is the cities most visited public space. The newly developed centre is regarded as one of the most significant new build projects since the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake and extends the garden’s ability to undertake research, conservation and run educational activities as well as demonstrate the beauty, variety and complexity of the plant world.  Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates
 Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates The primary purpose of the architecture is to connect people and plants by housing people and fauna in a greenhouse conservatory environment. The building draws on the long tradition of garden glasshouse structures used as exhibition spaces. The layered form brings together the public facilities of a visitor’s centre with the Gardens functioning greenhouse and research facilities. It is conceived as a series of deep thresholds, the first layer is public spaces and includes visitor information desk, café and shop. This is orientated to draw people through its long gallery space as they walk the perimeter path of the gardens.  Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates The second layer is a semi-public space, a threshold where the garden staff, private functions, exhibition spaces and green house guided tours interact. This layer includes the greenhouse and shade-house, research laboratories, propagation rooms, library, exhibition and multi-purpose conference room. These specialised rooms, each with their own specific thermal and atmospheric conditions are housed as cell-like pods within the greenhouse structure.  Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates The third layer is for the garden staff and non-visible operational spaces hidden behind mirrored glazing. This operational area encloses a long service courtyard flanked by utility sheds serving the gardens.  Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates The building’s crystalline glass form has been developed from a modular commercial greenhouse system. The building plays with transparency, mirrored reflection and the layering of fritted glass to display the workings of a botanic garden while subtly providing staff-only areas.  Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates The glass ceilings and skylights form a varied, leafy-like canopy shedding dappled light to the interior. This is supported on an economical structure modified where the roof module is manipulated with an invented fold to form a unified wall, floor and ceiling geometry.  Image Courtesy © Patterson Associates
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Tags: Christchurch, New Zealand Categories: Garden, public spaces |
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