Live Project 2012


Showing the structure linking the existing garden centre to the site taking over the neighbouring car park. The structure marks the first significant development on the site and announces the garden centres presence onto the street.

Bamboo (donated to the garden centre) was used to clad the structure and provide the required shading for the plants it houses.

The gabions provided the foundation to the structure - being unable to dig foundations - along with providing the display surface for the plants for sale. They were made from the security mesh (taken down from between the two sites) and infilled with scrap materials from on site (tarmac, bricks, timber). They also provide a positive habitat for insects etc.

A lack of public presence was a real issue for the garden centre and was addressed through providing a visually striking structure that is visible from the street.

Drawing describing where all the reclaimed materials were sourced from. The only material costs were for the fixings - £158.

The team (with mentor Jon Sampson) on site.










The structure was designed through a process of building scale models and testing on site.


The Shade House,
Hulme, Manchester
This structure was created as part of the 6th Year live project for the Hulme Community Garden Centre. It provides a shaded shelter for a plants sales area and creates a link to the garden centers new extension. It was designed and constructed by a group of 11 students in 6 weeks. The structure is constructed entirely from reclaimed materials and so had a construction cost of just £160.
For more info see: