The Hothouse, London
Cake Industries
Located at IQL Stratford in East London, the Hothouse is a vitrine encapsulating plants that it will be possible to grow in the UK if temperatures continue to increase as forecast. Pomegranates, lemons, date palms, avocados – a beautiful and terrifying mix.
The Hothouse was the landmark pavilion for London Design Festival 2020. Cake Industries were the main contractor, fabricator and detailed structural designer for this project, and collaborated closely with the design team to realise the project in a short time frame.
Fabricated from galvanised steel CHS sections, rolled to create the form, and ballasted to prevent the need for intrusive foundations. The galvanised sections provided a highly durable surface that enabled the elements to be protected as well as easily reused with the galvanised surface also providing a decorative finish.
Architect: Studio Weave
Horticultural designer: Tom Massey
Planting team: Hortus Loci
Structural Engineer: Arup
Client: Lendlease
Subcontract work by JJ Carter (fabric roof), Artura Engineering (tensile fabric design), Joseph Ash (galvanizing), Amorim (cork), JMR (section benders).
Photographs © Ed Reeve