GREENING CATHAYS NATURE WAITING ROOM

The Nature Waiting Room is one of two commissions Situated Studio and Analog Architecture won as part of Greening Cathays, an initiative by Creative Cardiff working in partnership with Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy’s Pharmabees project, funded with support from Cardiff City Council through the Shared Prosperity Fund.  The initiative aims to bring together communities by creating nature-rich urban environments which support biodiversity, re-energise public spaces through creativity and allow diverse residents to connect with the natural world, and with each other.

This commission sought to create an alternative open-air green waiting room on university-owned land adjacent to Cathays train station in Cardiff.  The station is the daily arrival point in the city for hundreds of commuters and students, with the footbridge providing a connection to the city centre for hundreds more pedestrians; yet the site currently provides a particularly unwelcoming experience for train users and people passing through on foot.  There is limited waiting space for passengers and, surrounded by high-rise civic and university buildings, flanked by alleyways and with tall security fencing on either side, the station is aesthetically unappealing with limited greenery or public realm enhancements.

Concept Idea - Immersed in Nature

Our creative vision for this placemaking commission is to transform this unattractive, grey, urban site, into a sanctuary space, where people can have the experience of being immersed in nature.

This project offers an opportunity to reactivate this dull public space to allow the diverse range of people who pass through every day, as well as users of the adjacent Abacws Building, to experience a connection with nature.

Our plan is to create a mini-urban oasis to re-energise the space. The ‘waiting room’ will offer a moment to immerse yourself in nature and benefit from that experience, as well as positively enhancing the public realm in this well-used part of the city.

• We propose a series of triangular planters creating a zig-zag edge along the pedestrian route. These can be planted with pollinator-friendly plants.

• The inside edges of the zig-zag will have seating so you can sit surrounded by plants.

• A vertical framework will make the installation more visible, provide support for climbing plants and frame the route to the station and proposed new Transport for Wales footbridge.

• A pattern painted on the pavement will help to define the waiting room space, whilst extending the footprint and impact of the installation without encroaching on access and maintenance space.

• A speaker playing the sounds of nature (bird song, bees buzzing, wind in trees…) will create an immersive, relaxing experience.

• A projection onto the floor surface with images of a flower meadow etc. will enliven the space on dark evenings.

This project was done through collaboration with Analog Architecture.