I was brought in as project manager to turn a simple University rooftop space for students into an inspiring area that would encourage them to connect to nature in the city, as well as learn to grow and harvest their own produce. My role was to draw up the concept and colour design for the rooftop, as well as carry out the physical installation.

The outer perimeter of the space was already membrane and wood-chipped, with bug hotels and birdfeeders to encourage wildlife but we knew there was more we could do to optimise this space for both growing purposes and to encourage biodiversity. We added in a fully-irrigated growing system which included new corrugated vegetable beds, fruit and herbs grown in whiskey barrels and Italian planters. To take it one step further we also installed an outdoor mushroom growing area and a composting zone. The result was an aesthetically pleasing space that students would want to to visit to learn more about growing, with a fully functional set-up for them to get their hands dirty in between seminars and lectures, aiding their mental health and providing stress-relief through nature connection in the process.