WaterAid Garden

Studio Weave were commissioned in 2023 to collaborate with Tom Massey on the garden and pavilion design to demonstrate that water can be managed sustainably though creative and inventive design solutions. The pavilion harvests rainwater, also providing shade. Swales and landscape features slow and store water in the landscape, showcasing sustainable water management. Planting is adapted to seasonal wet and dry conditions. Hard surfaces including the open decking and the roof of the pavilion are permeable allowing water to pass through.

The pavilion is fabricated from recyclable weathering-steel, widely available allowing replication. It is engineered to be very lean, using a minimal amount of material. The steel deck is permeable, allowing water, plants and wildlife to move beneath. The timber seats and deck are made from wind felled trees. Reclaimed stone is used for stepping / seating.

The garden is full of recycled, repurposed and recyclable materials. The garden will use no virgin concrete at the show, instead utilising screw piles. The relocation plan means that almost zero wastage will be generated by the garden.

Alnus glutinosa 'Pyramidalis' emerge though the pavilion, showcasing the importance of plant selection; Alder wood hardens in water and can survive submerged. The roots have nodules that capture nitrogen improving soil fertility. They can also absorb toxic heavy metals from the ground, helping to restore waste industrial land. All plants are chosen to cope with varying access to water.

- - -