Originating from the ‘pure plate’ structure occurring in natural structures such as sea urchins, and based on a hexagonal geometry, the Spaceplates Greenhouse is being used for the first time this term by horticultural staff and students at City of Bristol College’s South Bristol Skills Academy in Hengrove Park, Bristol. Designed by N55, with Architect, Anne Romme, the project is constructed using an innovative building system based on aluminum and polycarbonate and accommodates work, growing and teaching space. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Pure plate structures combine compression and tension forces working within the cladding materials, and therefore need no primary supportive structure. The pure plate structure is also an elegant way of creating doubly-curved forms. Unlike the triangulated lattice structures that are frequently used in much contemporary architecture, in ‘pure plate’ structure the structural system and the cladding is one and the same thing. The geometrical and structural characteristics allow for extremely economical and simple building systems at any scale from small units to larger spans.
The Spaceplates Greenhouse project was commissioned by City of Bristol College and curated by public art consultancy Ginkgo Projects. Groundworks were supplied by Bristol-based Kore Construction.
Architects: N55 + Anne Romme Location: Hengrove Park, Bristol, United Kingdom Client: City of Bristol College Curator: Ginkgo Projects Ltd Date of Completion: August 2012
