New Lanark roof garden
2008
Viridarium
Photographs by Allan Pollock-Morris are taken from a current exhibition
called 'Close' which is on at Edinburgh Botanic Garden until January 2009
Location: on top of a grade A listed mill building
New Lanark is a world conservation site
Douglas Coltart of Viridarium, an award-winning garden designer and landscape
architect, was chosen to design the New Lanark roof garden. From the first
moment he saw the roof-space, which extends to around 900 square metres,
Douglas recognised that this commission presented a unique challenge and
a wonderful opportunity. He began by sketching out rough proposals and
ideas about how the garden could be developed, and these were gradually
refined in discussion with New Lanark Conservation Trust. Should the design
be rectilinear, reflecting the austere classical architecture of the historic
buildings? Or could the circular form of a water-wheel provide a motif
for the lay-out of the garden? What should be the balance between hard
and soft landscaping? How could it be planned so as to provide interest
and texture all year round? How would it follow in New Lanark's long tradition
of gardens and landscapes, and reflect Robert Owen's inspirational ideas
about the relationship between environment and healthy, happy communities?
In the event, the design went through a number of phases before being
finalised. Some of these changes were dictated by planning and Listed
Buildings constraints. Care had to be taken to ensure that the garden
would not present any risk to the original fabric of the historic A-Listed
mill building, so careful weight and loading calculations were undertaken.
It must be safe for visitors of all ages. Most importantly, it was agreed
that the garden should not be visible from ground-level, with, for example,
no plants or pergolas above the level of the parapet. Therefore the garden
can only be seen from high levels. It is a garden in the sky.
The final design selected can best be appreciated from the viewing platform.
Its pattern of gentle curves and swirls, reflect both the course of the
river far below, and the turning arc of the great water-wheels which once
powered the cotton-mills. Seating areas have been integrated, where visitors
can enjoy a few moments contemplating the tapestry of plants and shrubs,
enjoying the sight of the light reflecting on the water, the sounds of
insects, birds and perhaps children's voices, breathing in the fragrance
of the plants which perfumes the air, and pondering on the quotations
from Robert Owen's writings which are incorporated into the design. The
sandstone paving was chosen to complement the colour-tones and textures
of New Lanark's beautiful historic buildings, which were built from local
sandstone, quarried nearby in the Clyde gorge.
New Lanark roof garden images / information from Viridarium 191108
Viridarium
21 Deacons Place
Girvan
Ayrshire
Scotland KA26 9BZ
Tel: 01465 811118
www.viridarium.co.uk
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Comments / photos for the New Lanark Roof Garden Scotland page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk
New Lanark Garden : page
- adrian welch / isabelle lomholt