Standing at over 40ft tall, Maple tree towers over the foyer of one of Spinningfields premiere tower blocks. Hardman St is a 16 storey high rise building situated in the centre of Spinningfields- an area in Manchester developed in the 2000’s between Deansgate and the River Irwell by Allied London Properties. 

A statement sculptural piece dominating the reception area it immediately draws visitors into the space- not only to attract visitors from the moment they enter the premises but to visibly captivate and draw the eye upwards. 

The brief stipulated something that would create impact and with the vast size and sculptural beauty of the piece it certainly doesn’t disappoint.  

The environmental ethos behind the wooden structure was a huge part of the initial design and creation side. Materials were considered and once it was decided that a tree was the way forward it was only natural to incorporate a large proportion of wood. 

Constructed using cross laminated timber,which is a wood panel product made from gluing together layers of solid sawn timber, the ideology was to bring nature indoors, to help improve the atmosphere of the workplace and to help enhance people’s outlook resulting in everyone (particularly workers) feeling more comfortable in work resulting in them becoming more productive

Added design features were made using corten steel with bolted stainless fixings. The corten steel effect adds to the effect with an authentic rush iron finish.

With a vast height space to work with the architectural decorative piece is a vertical treat with great views from all floors of the building. 

Inspired by the life-cycle and growth of a tree the formation began to spring to life much in the same way as a seedling turns into a sapling and then into the more mature stage. A mature tree is also a similar height to the interior structure (both standing at over 40ft tall) 

Bringing the inspiration and spirit of nature into the tower block is essentially the economics of biophilia. Using this concept and introducing natural materials such as wood can help to meet the demand that is expected of large buildings to ensure that environments are more biophilic.