RHS Water Aid 2024
Cake Industries were commissioned to carry out the fabrication & structural engineering of a feature pavilion for the Wateraid show garden in the main avenue at Chelsea Flower Show 2024. The WaterAid garden explores the challenges presented by an ever-changing climate with the pavilion’s funnel-like form harvesting rainwater, providing shade and sustaining planting on the canopy above.
For the WaterAid Main Avenue Show Garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2024 we worked on transforming the artist’s vision into reality through elegant, material-efficient design. Crafted from recyclable weathering steel and rebar, the pavilion was engineered to be exceptionally lean, minimising resource use while maximising presence. Its canopy integrates function and form, harvesting rainwater, providing shade, and supporting planting. Designed for relocation with virtually zero wastage, the structure embodies sustainable thinking. By uniting engineering and fabrication under one roof, we resolved design challenges pragmatically—realising a bold architectural statement with enduring environmental responsibility.
The structure is fabricated from recyclable weathering-steel and reinforcing bar, which are widely available materials, allowing potential for replication. In line with the idea of conserving and protecting our natural resources, the pavilion is engineered to be very ‘lean’ in its use of material, with 2mm sheet steel on a lightweight steel frame supported by four circular hollow section columns.
Given the narrow window for installation and intended relocation, the structure was designed in four modules that can be separated from the columns and each other for transport. Screw pile foundations were installed to support the four columns and the canopy fixed together on the ground before lifting into position as one.
Team
- Supported by: Project Giving Back
- Plants by: Hortus Loci
- Pavilion design: Cake Industries & Mule Studio
Other metalwork by
- Design: Tom Masey and Studio Weave
- Structural engineering: Cake Engineering
- Fabrication: Cake Industries
Awards
- RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Gold Medal- Wateraid Show Garden 2024
