Rain, rain, go away...
Our gardens and open spaces highlight our connection to the weather, which in the current climate is ever-changing. At Tonkin Liu our work has always been inspired by organic forms as well as the use of biomimicry to abstract principles from natural structures. This ‘wet’ summer we are experiencing highlights the importance of our connection with nature, and the environment surrounding us.
Rain Baskets | Grosvenor Square
During the day the floating rain baskets that collect water for reuse provide a space sheltered from the sun and rain for people to meet before entering the Square. Local traffic continues to move around the Square, but the corners are extended to bring beautiful planting beyond the existing boundary.
At night, the floating rain baskets are illuminated to provide a comfortable and safe environment for the public to enjoy on warm summer evenings. This lighting will be subtle to limit light pollution for surrounding properties. This lighting could extend into the Square allowing its use to be extended into the early evening during the winter months.
Sun Rain Rooms | Islington
The perimeter walls of the rear courtyard support a plywood roof, curved in plan and section to allow maximum light into a patio garden. Rainwater gathered at the top of the townhouse falls through a pipe, following the roof’s curving leading edge to a spout over a long rainwater harvesting tank. The tank floods the patio at the push of a button, transforming it into a reflecting pool. The roof’s thin 110mm structural shell is an insulated stressed-skin, joined by round coffered skylights that echo the wave pattern of raindrops landing in the pool. It is a good place to be on a bad day.
Rain Bow Gate | Burnley
Burnley was the first place in the UK to record its rainfall. Pivotal to its industrial past, the rain filled the rivers, the rivers powered the first mills, the moist air kept the cotton supple for weaving. After the decline of the mills, the Burnley region developed into a centre for precision engineering and advanced manufacturing.
The bow of a rainbow is the most simple and dynamic natural geometry, structurally efficient due to its curvature. After the rain comes the rainbow, a fitting symbol for optimism, regeneration and learning.
The realisation that deluge and drought extremes may well become the norm emphasises the importance of sustainable building, along with creating projects that complement their surrounding environment. With the unpredictability of our current climate, we believe that an alignment with nature will play an essential role in the future of architectural design.