Client: Queens Green CanopyArchitect: Heatherwick StudioLocation: London, UK
Date: 2022-06-02 00:00:00 +0000 UTCTags: Steel, Digital Design, Parametric Design, CNC
Tree of Trees
Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the “Tree of Trees” is one part of a national community campaign to plant more trees and inspire the next generation of tree planters, led by the Queen’s Green Canopy.
The tree stands 21 metres high, made of reclaimed surplus steel. 350 British grown saplings rest in spun aluminium pots set along its 80 branches.
After the Jubilee, the saplings will be taken to a nursery in Cambridgeshire and cared for until the planting season begins in October. They include nine native species so that the right tree can be planted in the right place. Each one will then be gifted to community groups across the UK, celebrating their work and helping to green our cities and renew the countryside.
A million trees have already been planted through the Queens Green Canopy, nurturing a legacy to honour Her Majesty the Queen.
Thomas Heatherwick said:
“The Tree of Trees is here to highlight an incredible community campaign that’s already planted more than a million saplings and celebrate a moment of national togetherness. We all know we need more trees and nature in Britain’s towns and cities. Our job as designers and all the other people who make and manage cities is to apply our creative energy and imagination to the task of making that happen.”
Format worked with Heatherwick Studio at the commencement of the project to refine the geometry in line with fabrication requirements. Holding this central geometry definition we were then able to generate global geometry for review by Heatherwick Studio, centreline models for engineering and fabrication files for the geometrically-complex connections between trunk and branches. It is these connections that create the twisting form. Additionally, Format were responsible for the full technical engineering design of the pot-holders, branches and branch-to-trunk connections. Engineering of the trunk, trunk connections and foundations were by Smith and Wallwork Engineers
Project Team
| - Client: | Queens Green Canopy |
| - Designer: | Heatherwick Studio |
| - Project Manager: | Heatherwick Studio |
| - Fabricator: | Millimetre |
| - Engineers: | Format Engineers & Smith and Wallwork |
Photo Credits
01&02: © Raquel Diniz
03: © Tom Jamieson
04&05: © Glasshopper
Project Video
Video © Heatherwick Studio