Heelis – National Trust Headquarters

• Location:

  Swindon UK

• Site Area:

  1.6 Hectares

• Client:

  The National Trust
  Kier Ventures

• Architects:

  Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

• Engineers:

  Adams Kara Taylor

• Collaborators:

  Max Fordham & Partners;
  Terence O’Rourke Environmental Planners

• Project value:

  £20 million

The design objective was to create a very simple and functional landscape based around the themes of regeneration and practicality, providing people with usable and enjoyable spaces.

The scheme is unified through the use of geometric blocks of planting, along with a limited palette of paving materials, fencing benches and lighting. Within this framework, the landscape becomes a sequence of distinct areas associated with each elevation of the new building.

The dominant character of the landscape is derived from the bold, dense planting of birch and other pioneer vegetation that echo the original natural state of the land alongside the nearby rail lines and waste grounds. Hornbeam and oak enclose the northern boundary of the property, and geometric beds of lavender and alliums extend from the building into the outdoor spaces, merging the architecture into the landscape.