A modern reinterpretation of the Roman horti perched on the Methodist Hall’s vacant pavilions. The rooftop garden demonstrates the sustainable growing of plants and the sustainable growth of the city by reconsidering the value of existing territories.

The 'Unshading Canopy': a system of vacuum formed veils designed to collect rainwater for plant irrigation transforms the Methodist Hall’s uninhabited pavilions into sustainable and habitable ecologies. The veils are oriented to allow maximum sunlight to reach the flowers.

The symbiotic garden’s pocket spaces and circulatory routes, supported by optimised steel beams and arches, hover over the existing listed building. The environmental and physical footprint of the garden is deliberately small to minimise its impact on its surroundings.

Through many iterations, the orangery’s design has evolved to become more structurally and environmentally efficient. The orangery is warmed in winter by exhaust heat from the Methodist Hall’s air handling units and is cooled in summer by natural ventilation.

The rooftop garden is accessed through the Methodist Hall’s existing passageways; the original architecture of the church is entirely preserved. The symbiote seeks to redirect public interest to overlooked architectures and contemporary issues surrounding climate change and urban growth.

The structural strategy of the building draws inspiration from a barbell: the double overhanging beam system is supported by a large central truss.