Whiting recently completed a unique installation of a public space only ten minutes’ drive from our headquarters in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. The 1,900 m² scheme was the former Bromsgrove Market Hall site, located on St. John’s Street in the town centre.
Designed by ONE Creative Environments on behalf of North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration and Bromsgrove District Council we worked alongside Kelbec Civil Engineers on the construction of the project. The Bird Box has since provided a valuable community area for Bromsgrove residents incorporating a stage, creative seating and open areas facilitating social distancing.
The Client’s requirement was to provide a space for “pop up” and mobile businesses, presenting opportunities and support for start ups, local entrepreneurs and small retail outlets short on internal space to serve customers while adhering to current Covid 19 directives.
Focusing very much on sustainability and innovation, The Bird Box initiative offered a unique set of challenges and involved the re-use and recycling of many of the existing materials already on site. The existing concrete platform was broken up to fill the gabion baskets and also utilised to back fill below the seating area. The installation of vertical artificial grass on the seating cubes and creation of large planters from metal crates incorporating two types of brick, also proved challenging.
Acer campestre, Tilia cordata and one prunus were planted to provide shade, interest and to assist in the absorption of carbon dioxide. Being good urban street trees they are tolerant of most soil types and thrive in a town centre environment so were selected for their suitability. Several bamboo were also installed to act as a shield from some of the surrounding buildings.
The Bird Box, named after a feature carved into many of the existing Bromsgrove shopfronts, has provided both our local community and local businesses with an innovative, fun and functional space and Whiting are very proud to have been involved in this special project.
