Horatio’s Garden

Timber pavilion for a charity providing gardens in NHS spinal injury centres. The design won the prestigious Gold Medal and Best in Show at the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Location Sheffield

Client Horatio’s Garden

Architect Mcmullan Studio, Harris Bugg Studio

Status Complete (2023)

GIA 4m²

Feature

Key features

Demountable timber structural frame

The structure is an internally exposed timber reciprocal frame with a circle of interlocking beams requiring no central support, designed to be demountable and reusable.

Suspended RC slabs

The pavilion is supported off a suspended reinforced concrete slab and screw pile foundations.

Central circular skylight

Providing both natural light and views, the circular skylight sits at the centre of the interlocking beams.

Natural materials

Natural materials have been prioritised for sustainable construction, including sheep wool insulation and formaldehyde-free plywood.

“We focused on using natural, sustainable structural materials where possible and simple construction detailing to maximise the potential for reuse. The superstructure is a full timber frame with a reciprocal solid timber framed roof which is expressed internally. The pod is able to be lifted in one piece to be placed in the next Horatio’s Garden project in Sheffield so will be 100% reused.”

Grace Waterman, Senior Structural Engineer, Heyne Tillett Steel