## Hollaway Studio: The Glasshouse Garden Pavilion – A Design Story
The glasshouse garden pavilion, a testament to collaboration and a vision for sustainable living, was conceived as a circular structure designed to provide a space for horticultural training and rehabilitation at HMP Downview prison in Surrey, England. This initiative, born from a deep connection with the prison’s women’s prison and a desire to create a more inclusive and supportive environment, was a complex undertaking.
The pavilion’s design was a carefully orchestrated blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal. The central structure, a circular expanse of glazed screens, provided a focal point, drawing the viewer in and offering a sense of openness and tranquility. The pavilion was meticulously constructed, utilizing a mottled recycled acrylic exterior that subtly incorporated the garden’s planting palette. This understated design, while seemingly simple, was strategically placed to enhance the garden’s visual appeal and provide a comfortable and inviting space for contemplation.
The pavilion’s circular form was the key to its success. The structure was designed to function as a canopy for group activities, or a closed-off area for relaxation and introspection. The screens, meticulously crafted from recycled acrylic, were strategically placed to maximize privacy while subtly interacting with the light, creating a sense of intimacy and beauty. The use of a mottled recycled acrylic exterior, while seemingly simple, provided a visually striking and effective way to integrate the garden’s flora and fauna into the design.
The building’s circular design, with its no hierarchy of spaces and no front or back, was a deliberate choice to create a sense of openness and accessibility. The screens, made from a mixture of recycled acrylic and a subtly coloured recycled plastic, offered a unique and engaging visual element. The pavilion’s slim floating roof, designed to prevent climbing on top, provided a gentle and comfortable transition from the concrete landscape to the verdant garden.
The pavilion’s design was a result of a deep understanding of the prison’s needs and the dedication of its women’s prison staff. The building was conceived as a space for social interaction, relaxation, and a connection to the natural world. The walls were lined with pivoting screens, which could be opened up to create a more intimate and personalized environment. This allowed users to move around the space freely and to discover a variety of perspectives and experiences.
The pavilion’s exterior was a striking contrast to the interior, offering a sense of elegance and simplicity. The glazed screens provided a sense of privacy without seclusion, while the recycled acrylic exterior incorporated the garden’s planting palette, adding a touch of natural beauty to the otherwise sterile environment. The building’s slim floating roof ensured that the pavilion remained relatively low to the ground, minimizing the risk of climbing on top.
The design of the pavilion was a testament to the collaborative spirit of the HMP Downview prison and the commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women. The circular structure was a bold statement, a visual representation of the prison’s dedication to providing a welcoming and nurturing space for its residents. The pavilion’s success was a result of a carefully considered design, a commitment to sustainability, and a deep understanding of the needs and desires of its women’s prison staff.
Architecture firm Hollaway Studio has designed a circular garden pavilion surrounded by pivoting screens to provide a space for horticultural training and rehabilitation at HMP Downview prison in Surrey, England.
The pavilion originally formed part of a garden developed in collaboration with designer Jo Thompson for social enterprise The Glasshouse at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Glasshouse Garden was awarded a Gold Medal at the event in recognition of its design, which aligns with The Glasshouse’s mission to provide horticultural training, employment and resettlement support to women leaving prison.
Hollaway Studio designed the pavilion as the garden’s centrepiece, which was relocated in its entirety after the Chelsea Flower Show to HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Sutton.
The structure is used for teaching and group meetings aimed at inspiring women to engage with the garden and discover how horticulture builds confidence and skills.
In line with this idea, Hollaway Studio designed a building with no hierarchy of spaces, no front or back, no thresholds and no handles or locks.
The final outcome was informed by Victorian glasshouses, where women would parade, socialise or care for plants in a relaxed garden setting.
Its circular form provides different views of the garden as users move around the space, while continuous gravel flooring connects the pavilion directly with the surrounding landscaping.
The building is lined with pivoting screens that can be opened up so the structure functions like a canopy for group activities, or closed down to create a more intimate environment for relaxation and contemplation.
The screens are made using a mottled recycled acrylic that is subtly coloured to complement the garden’s planting palette, helping the structure to integrate more fully into the scheme.
”We wanted to create a building that is elegant, subtle and lightweight, yet robust enough to be fit for life in the prison,” Hollaway Studio managing partner Alex Richards told Dezeen.
“The coloured acrylic screens provide privacy without seclusion and playfully interact with the light to offer a moment of beauty in an otherwise stark environment.”
The building’s slim floating roof was designed to prevent people from climbing on top of it – one of several constraints dictated by its setting within the prison grounds.
The green sedum roof surrounding a central skylight light helps to reduce and manage rainwater whilst adding to the garden’s biodiversity. Water runoff is directed towards downpipes that are integrated into the structure to ensure a clean, clutter-free aesthetic.
Hollaway Studio was established in 2009 by Guy Hollaway and has offices in London and Kent, England.
The studio has previously completed the world’s first multi-storey skatepark in Kent and a studio for a photographer featuring a concrete pyramid that holds X-ray equipment.
Architecture firm Hollaway Studio has designed a circular garden pavilion surrounded by pivoting screens to provide a space for horticultural training and rehabilitation at HMP Downview prison in Surrey, England.
The pavilion originally formed part of a garden developed in collaboration with designer Jo Thompson for social enterprise The Glasshouse at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Glasshouse Garden was awarded a Gold Medal at the event in recognition of its design, which aligns with The Glasshouse’s mission to provide horticultural training, employment and resettlement support to women leaving prison.
Hollaway Studio designed the pavilion as the garden’s centrepiece, which was relocated in its entirety after the Chelsea Flower Show to HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Sutton.
The structure is used for teaching and group meetings aimed at inspiring women to engage with the garden and discover how horticulture builds confidence and skills.
In line with this idea, Hollaway Studio designed a building with no hierarchy of spaces, no front or back, no thresholds and no handles or locks.
The final outcome was informed by Victorian glasshouses, where women would parade, socialise or care for plants in a relaxed garden setting.
Its circular form provides different views of the garden as users move around the space, while continuous gravel flooring connects the pavilion directly with the surrounding landscaping.
The building is lined with pivoting screens that can be opened up so the structure functions like a canopy for group activities, or closed down to create a more intimate environment for relaxation and contemplation.
The screens are made using a mottled recycled acrylic that is subtly coloured to complement the garden’s planting palette, helping the structure to integrate more fully into the scheme.
“We wanted to create a building that is elegant, subtle and lightweight, yet robust enough to be fit for life in the prison,” Hollaway Studio managing partner Alex Richards told Dezeen.
“The coloured acrylic screens provide privacy without seclusion and playfully interact with the light to offer a moment of beauty in an otherwise stark environment.”
The building’s slim floating roof was designed to prevent people from climbing on top of it – one of several constraints dictated by its setting within the prison grounds.
The green sedum roof surrounding a central skylight light helps to reduce and manage rainwater whilst adding to the garden’s biodiversity. Water runoff is directed towards downpipes that are integrated into the structure to ensure a clean, clutter-free aesthetic.
Hollaway Studio was established in 2009 by Guy Hollaway and has offices in London and Kent, England.
The studio has previously completed the world’s first multi-storey skatepark in Kent and a studio for a photographer featuring a concrete pyramid that holds X-ray equipment.
