Hothouse < Cake Industries

The Hothouse at IQL Stratford, East London, served as the landmark pavilion for London Design Festival 2020, exploring the impact of rising temperatures on UK flora. Encapsulating pomegranates, lemons, date palms, and avocados, it presents a striking blend of beauty and urgency.

Cake Industries acted as main contractor, fabricator, and structural designer, collaborating closely with the design team to deliver the project on a tight schedule. The Hothouse combines precision engineering, bold design, and environmental storytelling in a compelling, resilient installation.

The structure is fabricated from galvanised circular hollow steel sections, rolled to create the arched form and ballasted to prevent the need for intrusive foundations. A transparent membrane, fixed and stretched to the frame was CNC-cut from recyclable PVC material to provide the curved greenhouse with its outer skin.