david altrath documents the jungle suspended inside london's barbican conservatory

"David Altrath's photographs reveal the Barbican Conservatory not merely as a greenhouse, but as a spatial paradox within a rigid Brutalist framework, showcasing over 1,500 plant species."

"The heavy geometry of the Barbican's stepped terraces serves as a scaffold for growth, with plants cascading over balustrades and roots anchoring into shallow beds, creating a seamless integration of nature and architecture."

"Daylight enters the conservatory through the glazed roof, producing shifting pockets of shadow and brightness that enhance the layered depth of the space, creating an intimate and immersive experience."

David Altrath's photographic series presents the Barbican Conservatory as a unique ecosystem within a brutalist structure. The conservatory, designed in 1982, houses over 1,500 plant species within a framework of concrete, steel, and glass. Altrath captures the interplay between the heavy architecture and the lush vegetation, illustrating how plants thrive in this environment. Daylight creates dynamic shadows and highlights, enhancing the immersive experience. The conservatory functions as a microclimate, offering intimate pathways and layered views that contrast with the urban landscape outside.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine