Cosmetic research facility of Herb and mushroom production, part of AgGrow Food Territories.

Treherbert has been searching for opportunities that can regenerate the area. The industrial sector of Treherbert had been lost over the decades and had led to the population leaving the beautiful Valley town. AgGrow Food Territories recognised this issue and proposed a food belt system along the contour where the Welcome to our Woods Agroforestry is being proposed. The system consists of three main sites each with a clear role and remit that all rely on each other but can become independent when needed:

1. Production – Herbtopia 2. Consumption – Rhondda Food Hub 3. Waste management – Wastescapes With this system, AgGrow Food Territories tackles the economic inactivity, engaging the community in the processed of growing, producing and researching, assists in healing the industrial landscape, reducing flooding, increase biodiversity and improve well-being of the people of Treherbert by encouraging growing, socialising, and good eating. As part of the agGrow food territories, Herbtopia mainly focuses on creating a new identity in Treherbert, solving issues in relation to the topography, regenerating the ecosystem of the abandoned wildlife corridor and introduces native plants that resolves flooding.

Herbtopia aims to reterritorialize the abandoned wildlife corridor with the town, creating an access routes reconnecting streets and parks, making the community feel comfortable in walking there. The corridor also exists as the main frame into the site where most of the herbal growing production occurs. Herbtopia is a cosmetic research facility for mushroom and herb cultivation allowing the community of Treherbert to experience all senses in foraging walking into multiple stages of growth from the wildlife corridor. The frame leading to a staircase, foundations that match the contour and framing the beauty of Treherbert’s peripheral Valley. The stairs split Herbtopia into two territories: 1. An indoor-outdoor experiential community gathering space where leisurely activities happen which includes the growing production (flower picking/exhibition/tasting mushrooms cooked in essential oils/aromatherapy). This also includes a boutique where they can try the skin/healthcare products created from the herbs foraged (Left-hand side). 2. The research facility where they produce all the herbs/mushrooms and cosmetic products. The circulation space is an atrium that includes a skylight allowing daylight in the building.

The office spaces are connected to the growing space as a way to see the framework/vision of the project (Right-hand side). Whilst separate, the top floor connects both the production space to the community space with a steel structure holding an controlled form of growing production ending the concept of framing. This then leads to the double height factory that holds pop-up markets with a balcony allowing trust and reliability as the community is involved visually on how the cosmetics are produced.