Nature Inspired Innovation Campus

The site is located in Stroud, England which is a small, busy industrialised town. It is seen in and around Stroud that industry is being forcefully blocked from the views of the public. This is creating a very hostile feeling from the public towards industry. I want to make sure that my proposal removed this gap and invites the public to view and enjoy industry in an open manner.

You can also see how the greenhouse acts as an urban filter from the canal path by removing the main road from view which can reduce the general views which are normally perceived as negative. Being that the plants form the epicentre of the building, I want to make sure that there is no gap between work and nature. The building design will allow for a natural flow through the various spaces enabling each invention created by the employees to progress and develop from idea to final product.

The mycorrhizal network is an integral part of the life of every plant. The constant communication between plants through nutrients and signals allows for plants to be kept healthy, alive and stay on their journey of growth. I want to bring this concept into my design. Communication is pivotal to designing and creating new products and inventions. I will allow for strong circulation and easy transmission of ideas through walkways that connect each aspect of the space together much like the mycorrhizal network does with vast forests. The walkways and corridors suggest the importance of circulation because they allow for a constant flow of communication between each design and research sector. Every space is connected with adjoining rooms and these walkways to make sure that no one space is isolated.

Our world desperately needs new, innovative, and sustainable designs, and this will be a space just for that. It will also encourage the public to start thinking about how to benefit their community and the planet for years to come.