A striking new addition to the Woolbeding National Trust site, the glasshouse features diamond-shaped panels that unfold like a stylised flower, providing natural ventilation for the plants within. The project also includes full infrastructure delivery and extensive landscaping to complement this architectural ‘jewel’.
Key Project Features
- A challenging project, akin to procuring a machine rather than a building
- 10 glass sepals, motorised to allow opening and closing
- Extensive landscaping works to replicate the Silk Roads
Core Five Added Value
- Extensive market research was required throughout Europe to determine a pool of potential subcontractors. Initial research during RIBA Stage 2 determined that the concept of a moving structure was achievable
- Delivered within budget
- Regular review and contribution to risk to ensure appropriate budgets were assigned
- We designed a bespoke procurement route, based on the concept of a “Primary Sub Contractor (PSC)” recognising that the most critical element of the project was design and construction of the glasshouse. This enabled use of a more local Main Contractor with lower overheads resulting in significant saving compared with using the specialist division of a Tier 1 Contractor. This illustrates our intellectual approach to Cost Management, developing appropriate solutions rather than just offering a standard solution
- A Pre Contract Services Agreement (PCSA) was entered into with the PSC during RIBA Stage 4. We ensured that this was exhaustive, identifying deliverables for each week of the PCSA
