Feilden Clegg Bradley’s new three storey apartments flank both sides of a central courtyard space providing an understated formality, the simple elevational form being punctuated by projecting glass wintergardens.
The response echoes the spirit of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Donatello, its form being an expression of both aesthetics and scientific discovery. It draws on advances in technology, the gene pool and genetic manipulation providing an intellectual basis for the work. The banding of a DNA chromatograph is expressed through blocks of aquatic planting within a reflecting pool. The planting appears below the water surface, creating the effect of a sunken garden, which is at its most visible when illuminated and viewed from above.
The pool is designed to be self sustaining using neither chemical nor mechanical filtration as a means of cleansing the water and restricting algal growth. Gravel beds are contained within stainless steel baskets through which the water is drawn, an algal film on the surface of the aggregate removing the nutrients that would otherwise encourage blanket weed and algae. These gravel beds act as staging for plants in effect producing a pool of variable depth.
Marginals are planted where the depth is at its shallowest while submergents occupy the spaces with no gravel. The plantings are limited to 2 species, water lilies whose leaves and blooms form rectangular blocks on the surface, and Pontaderia lanceolata an upright marginal plant which is planted en- mass so that when established it will form a series of aquatic hedgerows that run across the width of the pool.
The courtyard sits on a podium with parking beneath. Raised planters to either side of the pool complete the composition. The planting style is Mediterranean, cypresses, agaves and magnolia mixing with Cistus and Lavander.
