Digital Orchard

DIGITAL ORCHARD: The Chiltern area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) is one of the most visited and inhabited protected landscapes in Europe resulting in considerable pressure on natural eco-systems. The AONB Management Plan identifies the special qualities in the landscape, including, natural scenic beauty, wildlife, peace, remoteness, and accessibility. The rolling landscape is fed by chalk streams that flow in valleys to the River Thames. Poor land management has undermined many of the streams. The site is close to the Misbourne, one of the worst affected due to increased demand for water and tunnelling for the HS2 High Speed Rail link from London to Birmingham. The client seeks a relocation from basement studios in London to the countryside, to invigorate his post-production team. Using the peaceful backdrop of rolling hills and wooded valleys, he seeks to transform the everyday environment for his tech workers, and, in return, to restore part of the damaged eco-system. The site surroundings consist of paddocks bordering ancient woodland, where the previous equestrian use has also damaged the biodiversity and landscape character. By clearing away the sprawling equestrian paraphernalia, it is possible to restore a more appropriate landscape pattern and recreate a natural ecosystem. The proposal emerges from a marriage of landscape and architecture, blending landscape restoration and appropriate building form, demonstrating they can coexist and sustain each other. The architecture takes reference from storytelling in the post-production industry and ancient Celtic symbol to bring landscape into the function of the building. The wave like form is symbolic of a mythological healing force and a meandering river. The architecture has a sense of flow, of unfolding, linking the process of film making/storytelling with the open sweeping landscape. Rather than changing the basic landscape character of the site's paddock, the proposed scheme will enhance and improve it, drawing distinctive landscape character elements of the surrounding rural landscape and the AONB into the site. The main courtyard encourages landscape to permeate the building. The landscape masterplan creates habitats, such as meadow, woodland fringe, cherry orchard that interpenetrate the floor plan; the cloistered walkway acts as circulation spine connecting offices with indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. The proposals are informed by nature, engineering, and post-production industry requirements. The proposal is an opportunity to enhance the human impact on the environment; that reconnects people with nature and nature with people. The architecture and landscape are inseparable; and the landscape leads.