Moonlight Garden

Writtle University College, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex

Amplify sensory experiences by adapting natural phenomena that the moon impacts on.

The project ‘Moonlight garden’ is a project for a virtual client commissioning a garden design that encompasses the full range of “Life style” to promote a type of garden that stimulate senses of users experiencing the garden and journey through the spaces in the garden. “Moonlight” is a theme of this project, and understanding natural phenomena, temporality, exterior design, and plant knowledge are required to this garden design project.
The whole process for the commissioned garden design would drive proposals for garden architecture, building
facades and the connections between interior and exterior spaces.

The design site for the moonlight garde project is one of Strutt gardens at Writtle University College, and the
student residential halls: Harvey and Strutt hall, surround the design site.

Concept

Moon causes many changes to humans in terms of mood and sensory.

People could feel a little anxious and emotional change, and hearing becomes more sensitive when the moon comes out at the night. Moreover, the moon causes natural phenomena such as tidal movement, gravity, and eclipse. Thus, the overall concept for the moonlight garden project encompasses natural phenomena themselves that influence the human's sensory experience to create tranquil spaces, adapting the moon descended to the earth from the sky to the earth.

Concept of building

Art gallery building design

As the project is commissioned by a virtual client from an architecture firm, the building's purpose and design can be decided according to the project's concept. So, the moonlight garden project sets the client as an art gallery, and the concept for the garden is a space where an extension of an exhibition of an art gallery in the forms of a semi-private garden and public spaces invites gallery visitors and the public at the same time.

Design development

The design development follow adapting natural form and shapes from the natural phenomena such as tidal movement, waves, distortion of

gravity, which the moon influences. The space for the project will be divided into two areas: semi-private garden which is placed with one of art gallery's entrance, and public garden where anyone passing by the moonlight garden and art gallery can access to.