The resulting atrium was constructed from a “trellised latticework” of steel, standing tall at 17 meters high, 100 meters long, and 35 meters wide. Double walled and open on three sides, the atrium is veiled in a canopy of climbing plants, 100 different species in total. Wisteria, grapevine, pepper vine, and parthenocissus creep up the steel framework, contributing to shaping the structure, while a variety of others, among them honeysuckle, hardy kiwi, and pipe vines, were selected for their color, form, and scent. The plants are self-irrigating, with rainwater collected in an underground storage system to conserve water for dry spells. The nature of the atrium changes with the seasons—from blooming green draped with lilac wisteria in spring to burnished autumnal tones. All throughout, an interplay of light and shadow casts graphic patterns over the pale clay ground of the plaza, creating temporary and ever-shifting spaces amidst beech and yew hedgerows.
