'The hanging gardens of Basingstoke'—the popular name for an office building in the town of Basingstoke—known previously as Gateway House, before being renamed Mountbatten House, demonstrates proclivities towards a contemporary understanding of sustainable design while following in the tradition of a certain British modernism. Designed in 1973 by Arup Associates and garden designer James Russell, the colloquial name aptly brings forth the abundance of landscaping—a pre-eminent feature of the scheme. A growing concern in the 70s with the restoration of the environment through a dialogic architecture and the inculcation of 'wellness' culture in office buildings resulted in an architectural morphology for Mountbatten House, where six cascading levels of office space boasted lush roof gardens and terraces, breaking away from the monotony of typical office environments and offering office goers lush views of the verdant landscape.

Originally designated by the UK government as a 'London overspill' area, the new town of Basingstoke was planned to enhance the lives of those moving out of the metropolis. To this end, the office building designed by Arup, with architect Peter Foggo at the helm, aimed to be a modern workplace for the paper-making company Wiggins Teape. As there are calls for decentring London from the economic development of the country, improving infrastructure in towns such as Basingstoke gains relevance today. The currently Grade II listed heritage building, which offers over 19,515 sq.m. of multi-let office and amenity space, has recently undergone a retrofit and regeneration exercise, carried out through the collaboration of four British architecture studios—Twelve Architects and Studio Knight Stokoe who executed a design by Grant Associates and Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. While planning approval was obtained by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and landscaping designed by Grant Associates, Twelve Architects executed stages 4 through 6 of the design and Studio Knight Stokoe completed the amended landscaping.

The intention for the restoration project, now called Plant, was "to blend nature, wellbeing and the workplace seamlessly," as the official release states. "The building design’s prescience in creating contact with, and access to, nature within all the office spaces on all levels created a legacy that even now appears forward thinking," Ian Taylor, partner at the London, Bath and Manchester-based Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios notes. Elaborating on the studio's design, he continues, "Our work focused on preserving the unique character of [Peter Foggo’s] original design while creating a framework that balances function with environmental responsibility."

As is clear from the minimalist architecture, the gardens by Russell were main pivots for the project in the 1970s and are the focus of the restoration today. The project emphasises improving access to the terraces and landscaping design with new access points introduced on all storeys, ensuring current occupants can better use and enjoy the greenery. Russell's original design was hinged on thematic colours, with gardens categorised by different hues. A wisteria terrace, a vine terrace and rose vines creeping up the deadpan facade showed inspiration from Japanese sensibilities. A garden dedicated to herbs and a pond stocked with coloured carp enlivened the levels, with the mix of these bringing an English sensibility of contained wilderness. Trees marched along the edges of the site, now mature. For the rejuvenation of the gardens, extensive research into the project’s archives and Russell’s handwritten planting lists was carried out by the design team to adapt the landscaping to be climate-resilient and regenerative.

The team specifically catered to existing species that were better suited to the temperate climate and allowed biodiversity to thrive by encouraging pollinators and foragers to survive. Species that were more exotic and ill-suited to the conditions were removed. The result was that over 22,500 new plants were introduced, along with 86 new trees. As the official release notes, "The renewed planting design draws inspiration from the original design vision for the gardens; to be informal, elaborate, romantic, overflowing and tumbling." Keith French, director at Grant Associates, elaborates on the scheme by saying, "By prioritising nature, wellbeing and sustainability, as a team we’ve created an environment that reflects the changing needs of the modern workplace while staying true to the building and garden’s pioneering spirit."

While the garden displays an English aesthetic of wilderness, the architectural design is subdued, featuring a grid of concrete cruciform pillars and a neat coffer-slab structure. While the use of steel, bronzed aluminium and glass for the facade design could be comparable to Mies van der Rohe's clean style, the stepped morphology itself brings to mind the design ethics of Moshe Safdie's Habitat 67. Designed during a growing concern towards climate change and fossil fuel scarcity, the original building employs elements like overhangs to reduce the need for air conditioning. For the restoration, the idea was to preserve the distinct architectural character of the original building while opening it up and ensuring climate adaptation and longevity for future generations. To open the space to the public, the entrance to the office architecture was expanded with a refurbished reception area designed by Page Architects. The insertion of a new helical staircase further enhances the arrival experience. The idea of openness is further enhanced through double-height spaces that create connections between floors and let in natural light. This also ensures stronger visual connections to the verdant refurbished gardens.

Speaking about the project and reiterating how it creates a comfortable work environment through the more taxing work of retrofit, Martin Knight, director at Studio Knight Stokoe, states in the official release, "Plant in Basingstoke is redefining what a workspace can be...This project goes beyond preserving history or creating office space. It's about shaping a place that positively impacts people and the environment." The introduction of additional perks, such as a cafe, gym, shower and changing rooms, secure cycle storage and a multipurpose function space, were also planned to accommodate the needs of the current occupants. The cafe is additionally accessible to everyone, creating a public space within a private enterprise.

Apart from the interventions planned to create an open environment for residents, vital improvements to the structure included upgrading the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to enhance the building’s efficiency, in line with specifications for an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM certification that the designers have applied for. Echoing Knight, Robert Shannon, associate director at Twelve Architects & Masterplanners, states in the release, “With sustainability at its core and a pending BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification, Plant sets new standards for the future of office design. It has been a privilege to work with such an outstanding team and a client who is truly passionate about delivering remarkable buildings.”

In deference to Foggo’s distinct design, the team also worked on removing any later suspended ceilings and finishes to reveal the original structural forms. The curtain walls were refurbished, keeping in mind thermal performance and longevity. Within the outdoor landscaping, the hardscaping was improved and a pond on Level 2 was refurbished. In line with the overall ethos of the project, the open and green spaces introduce new seating areas for ‘relaxation, socialisation and quiet reflection’. With a particular focus on the details of the original, only upgrading and refurbishing spaces with the eye to preserve the British modernist architecture of Plant, the restoration project introduces spaces that come alive with the landscape. Expansive halls and nooks for relaxation connect to the greenery that binds the structure together, becoming a comfortable space to work and exemplifying a regional hub for growth.

Project Details

Name: Plant Basingstoke
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Client: Mactaggart Family & Partners
Architects:
Architect (RIBA 4+): Twelve Architects and Masterplanners
Architect (RIBA 0-3, 5+ CMT): Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Landscape architect (RIBA 5+): Studio Knight Stokoe
Landscape architect (RIBA 0-4, 5+ CMT): Grant Associates
Collaborators:
Developer: Longstock Capital
Structural engineer: Whitby Wood
Civil engineer: Whitby Wood
M&E consultant: Skelly & Couch         
Façade Consultant: Montrésor Partnership
Façade Sub-contractor: Structura
Quantity surveyor: Circle Development
Project manager: Circle Development
Principal designer: CField Construction
Main contractor: CField Construction
Area:
Site area: 14,415 sq m
Internal area: 19,515 sq m
Year of Completion: 2024