bartlett architecture students construct movable garden in central london

bartlett architecture students construct movable garden in central london
photography © john sturrock

curated in collaboration with the bartlett school of architecture, a new urban community space has opened its doors at the heart of london’s ongoing king’s cross development. named the ‘skip garden’, the project comprises seven new structures, each individually designed to provide a variety of educational and entertainment spaces.

the welcome shelter, designed by charlie redman

the city-center development, which is run by global generation, was conceived to be movable — occupying different parts of the site as construction work progresses. the collaboration aims to add to the existing garden, while giving undergraduates hands-on experience of dealing with a real client and brief.

the entrance to the skip garden

with each design, the students sought to embrace sustainable construction techniques through the prevalent use of reclaimed materials — sash windows are used to create a greenhouse effect, while railway sleepers form toilet cubicles. the scheme includes various facilities that can be used by the public such as a kitchen, a dining area and multiple growing spaces, which incorporate london’s first large-scale reed bed water filtration scape.

(right) earthbag coolstore & office, designed by alessandro conning-rowland

‘we are delighted to have been able to work in partnership with the skip garden,’ commented julia king, from the bartlett’s BSc architecture. ‘full-scale making exposes students to real world challenges. building your own structure and then inhabiting it engages you with your work in a very visceral manner, and working with skip garden has allowed the students to do just that. to now see the structures in the final phase is both rewarding and exciting. we hope the skip garden continue to work with the local community, allowing opportunities, such as this to grow.’

the glass house, a vertical growing and dinning space designed by rachael taylor

‘when people think of skips they think of construction, building and dirt,’ continued jane riddiford, co-founder of global generation. ‘we thought less rubble and more rhubarb. we wanted to create a space that was both innovative, but served as a learning resource to the community. it has been a pleasure to work with the students at bartlett’s. watching their innovative structures go from prints and scale models, to real life has been a very exciting journey for us, and we very much look forward to welcoming the public to experience it for them self.’

the reclaimed windows are used to create a greenhouse effect

the skip garden is running a series of summer events, starting with its summer school, which will commence from july 22, 2015. the venue is also hosting a series of other activities, including twilight dining experiences, family gardening sessions and lunchtime talks.

the chicken coop, designed by valerie vyvial

the primary structure is bamboo joined by steel fixings