Introducing ‘Digital Orchard’: Where Tech Meets Landscape Harmony
Atelier Architecture & Design proudly presents ‘Digital Orchard’, a tech industry seeking symbiotic relationship with landscape. Digital Orchard is an innovative design concept for post-production facility in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB). The area is known as Europe’s largest natural park consisting of unique woodland, downland, and chalk stream habitats within 30 miles of London. The programme will re-establish the natural ecosystem which has been compromised by poor land management and create an enviable working environment.
Thanks to this project, the client’s post-production team will move from a basement studio in London to a peaceful backdrop of ancient woodland, improving creative staff performance and wellbeing.
The site consists of paddocks bordering ancient woodland. Close by is the River Misbourne, one of the chalk streams affected by tunnelling from the HS2 High Speed Rail link from London to Birmingham. Clearing the sprawling paraphernalia of the previous equestrian use and the ecological repair of the landscape are key to gaining planning consent in this Green Belt location. The client aspires to restore and enhance rural qualities of green belt openness, including the ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and orchards.
The concept seeks to merge architecture and landscape with the needs of post-production in a sustainable way, reinforcing the client’s vision and providing a catalyst for business transformation. The architecture takes references from storytelling in the post-production industry and from ancient Celtic symbols to bring landscape into the function of the building.
The emerging form has a sense of flow, as it unfolds it implies a link between the process of film making with the sweeping landscape. The ancient-entwined lemniscate symbol represents infinity and the flow of all things, it tells a myth of healing the land while the 21C post-production industry weaves a story into social consciousness. The concept blurs the boundary between architecture and landscape, creating a cloister along the building edge and forming a sweeping curve to embrace the courtyard.
Rather than changing the basic landscape character of the site’s paddocks and woodland fringe, the proposed scheme will enhance and improve it, drawing distinctive elements of the surrounding rural landscape into the site. The cloister softens the building edge and brings the inhabitants in touch with the distinctive habitat of the courtyard. Green corridors connect the court on one side with the ancient woodland on the other. The dark cellular spaces of the theatres and edit suites stand in contrast to the permeable flow of spaces through the building and landscape.
The masterplan creates themed habitats, such as wildflower meadows, woodland fringe, shade gardens, apple, and cherry orchards that penetrate the floor plan, infusing the courtyard and buildings. The cloistered walkway connects offices with indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. Rainwater is recycled for irrigating and maintaining the different landscape lairs.
Landscape and architecture reinforce each other enhancing the location’s natural ecology and drawing out its potential as a creative workplace. Through landscape led architecture, engineering, and design this masterplan creates a building in a living landscape, reconnecting people with nature and nature with people.
About Atelier Architecture
At Atelier Architecture + Design,They believe in the power of harmonious coexistence between architecture and nature. Their commitment to sustainable design, underpinned by Their unique Pioneer Nature Method, allows them to craft spaces that not only meet their clients’ needs but also enhance the natural environment. Experience architectural excellence with them as they transform your vision into a reality, creating sustainable spaces that stand as testaments to innovative design and environmental respect. Readers are encouraged to visit site: Atelier Architecture & Design, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
