Ebbw Vale Vertical Gardens: Green Chimneys & Elevated Allotments is a project that takes a former steelworks and transforms it into "...a "vertical" garden in time for the 2010 National Eisteddfod. The concept will see the 4m (13ft) deep bunker filled with elevated allotments, seed nurseries, and "green chimneys" using reclaimed steel. Architects Lianne Russ and Philip Henshaw have been chosen to complete the design."


:: image via RussHenshaw Design

Philip was kind enough to send me some text and photos. First, the existing site imagery shows some of the post-industrial remnant landscape.






:: image via RussHenshaw Design

The remaining information from the designers is interspersed with some of the imagery below in full. All images and text from RussHenshaw Design:

"The new Vertical Garden for Ebbw Vale is a contemporary reinterpretation of the town's powerful industrial history through the bold and dynamic elevation of nature, ecology and the definition of place. The key principles inherent throughout the scheme reflect those of the Works Masterplan and are firmly rooted in aspirations for community participation and 'low-tech' sustainability. In fact, inspiration for the scheme emerged from a tour of the Works Masterplan, where we were captivated by stories of the local school children's 'hand's-on' involvement with various aspects of the site. Consequently, our intentions are to further promote community interaction by making participation an overriding theme in the project.

The concept for the green chimneys and elevated allotments originate from the desire to question traditional perceptions of conventional park and garden design by providing routes for nature to grow vertically out of the basement. This objective, merged with the dramatic imagery of Ebbw Vales steel production heritage from the early 20th century, has led to the development of the iconic green chimneys and the mass of vertical allotments that appropriate the existing concrete columns. The verticality of the garden is also a direct response to the existing condition of the basement in the local urbanity. Instead of cloaking the basement with a green surface we believe it is imperative to maintain its original roughness and memory by ensuring that all green elements rise from the scarred foundations.

The main elements of the Vertical Gardens can be summarised as follows:

Green Wall - The green-wall creates a long tapered face that provides a flexible green canvas for plantation that can be adapted and designed to promote local events or simply bring the surface to life.

Ramped Path - The basement is accessed via a wide ramped path that gradually descends on a constant axis to the existing concrete floor. Rough steel plate landings in the ramp occur at specific intervals and provide niche seating areas that respond tectonically to the geometry of the existing concrete profile of the basement.

Seed Nurseries - The seed nurseries represent the first step of the growing cycle of the basement and are composed of long steel planters deeply set in the lush green wall where the seeds of future vertical crops are sewn. The scheme proposes that local primary schools would take ownership of the nurseries to promote respect for the public realm and provide children with a unique opportunity to experience and become educated on nature and its processes.

Vertical Allotments - The nurseries supply the vertical allotments that surround the existing concrete columns where tomatoes, courgettes, strawberries, cucumber, runner beans, broad beans and many other vegetables can be grown.

Timber Piers – To allow for drainage, the allotments sit on the retained gravel surface of the mechanical basement whilst the green chimneys are positioned on a higher level composed of locally sourced rough sawn timber piers.

Green Chimneys – The chimneys are high reaching lightweight reclaimed steel structures reminiscent of Ebbw Vale's industrial skyline and provide the framework for the vertical garden. The chimneys are autonomous multifunctional objects that integrate lighting and water collection, define sheltered seating areas and can even be used for branding and event signage.

As a whole, the vertical gardens respect Ebbw Vale's past whilst simultaneously reaching high into the town's sustainable future."

Look forward to seeing more pics and info from RussHenshaw as the project takes shape. More info on the competition can be found at the BBC.
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