Highgrove Gardens is delighted to announce the opening of the new Highgrove Shop at the Coronation Pavilion. The architectural design embraces a charmingly rustic and classical colonnade style, featuring a cloister or verandah with open oak columns as a trellis for climbing plants. The ambition was to create a building that embodies the spirit of a characterful garden structure rather than a conventional 'building'. This way, it harmoniously complements the Orchard Room and maintains a seamless connection with the Carpet Garden and surrounding trees.
The interior continues the theme of classical elegance, evident in the meticulous attention to detail seen in the cornice and windows. Their geometry is thoughtfully arranged around the Golden Section, a natural proportion found in various elements of nature such as petals, spirals, and the Fibonacci sequence.
The shop itself is a magnificent timber-framed structure, with walls insulated using eco-friendly wood-fibre insulation made from waste materials from the wood-processing industry. The external cladding is crafted from authentic English oak waney-edged boarding. The foundation of the walls is adorned with a Cotswold stone plinth and two layers of Cornish Delabole slate, creating a harmonious transition between the limestone and oak materials.
The oak exterior will gracefully weather to a beautiful silver-grey hue as time passes, adding to the building's unique charm. It is worth mentioning that the larger oak sections may undergo some twisting and cracking, and initially, there might be brown tannin leaching onto the stone plinth. However, this natural process should be fine, as the building will develop a weathered patina over time, gradually diminishing any initial unsightly appearance.
One of the building's prominent features is the exquisite finials, which were explicitly requested by His Majesty. These finials were expertly crafted using oak sourced from the Duchy of Cornwall woodlands in Herefordshire, further accentuating the building's connection to nature and classical aesthetics.
Numerous final ideas were considered, such as shapes inspired by urns, lions, obelisks, and acorns. Ultimately, His Majesty selected the acorn shape, which perfectly complements the English Oak-dominated materials used on the building's exterior and interior flooring.
The structure boasts excellent insulation, and to ensure comfortable conditions, the cloister and climbing plants have been strategically placed to shade the south-facing doors. This measure prevents overheating during the summer while allowing the low winter sun to permeate the building, providing beneficial passive solar gain.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed on the roof for energy efficiency. It is anticipated that these panels will generate surplus electricity during the summer, and even in the winter, they will partially power the building. To supplement heating during colder months, underfloor heating and an air-source heat pump will be utilized. Thanks to this combination of renewable electricity and high-level insulation, the building achieves an energy A-rating and is near zero-carbon during its use. The hope is that heating will rarely be necessary and operate at a low temperature, barely noticeable underfoot.
The shop's counter features a new solid oak top, while the rest of the cabinetry comes from recycled materials sourced from the previous temporary shop, which was housed in a marquee. Additionally, the cladding boards on the counter's face have been repurposed from recycled scaffolding boards.
Visit the Highgrove Shop at the Coronation Pavilion after your garden tour or event, where you'll find an extensive collection of artisan products and beautiful home and garden ware. Inspired by the gardens and His Majesty's interests, our ranges include unique and unusual items that showcase traditional and artisan crafts from around the UK, including pieces that have been designed exclusively for Highgrove.
The sale of Highgrove Products, Garden Tours and Events support and enable the life and work of The King’s Foundation.
