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Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses

This project for the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses has transformed a dilapidated old potting shed replacing it with a new barn, kitchen and education spaces alongside a large walled herb garden, demonstration gardens, an orchard and two commercial-sized glasshouses.

The grass roots project for the local charity will future proof its work for generations to come, supporting its drop-in garden volunteering scheme and helping people to learn through growing year-round. The building will allow the charity to adapt and inhabit the new space using it for its nature-based education programme alongside events, courses and workshops aimed at children, families and schools.

Building on the practice’s own work at its home at Waterloo City Farm, the project takes its cues from the agricultural nature of the site, which contradicts its location and proximity to the centre of London. Focusing on themes of low-tech architecture, social impact and flexibility, the new building, which houses the main classroom space, is built from a robust and economical timber frame, much like Feilden Fowles’ own office and studio.

The project also saw the overhaul of the charity’s existing greenhouse space, which was built in 1981. Nine bays of this existing greenhouse were demolished to make way for a new insulated kitchen space which connects to the classroom, located to the east.

Location: South London
Building Type: Community, education
Time Scale: 2019 – 2022
Site area: 3,800 sqm
Building area: 160 sqm

Team

Client: Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
Structural engineer: Structure Workshop
Services engineer: OR Consulting Engineers
QS: Measur
Garden designer: Sprout Up
Photography: © Emily Marshall

Drawings

Development