THE BRIEF
Contemporary outdoor seating and bespoke planters for the Thornton Building at Wellcome Genome Campus
As part of the renowned Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge, the Thornton Building was designed as a hub for innovation and collaboration, providing a high-quality working environment for leading scientific institutes, organisations, and industry experts.
The expansive external areas were carefully designed to create welcoming outdoor spaces that encourage relaxation, informal meetings, and social interaction for staff and visitors within a contemporary landscaped setting.
Langley Design worked closely with Kier Construction and Lanpro to design, manufacture and install bespoke Zintec and powder coated steel planters alongside a package of premium Accoya timber benches. The result is a practical yet visually refined solution that complements the building’s contemporary architecture while introducing warmth, texture, and greenery into the space.
WHAT WE DID
Adding warmth and elegance to outdoor spaces
To help create attractive and functional breakout areas, Langley Design supplied bespoke Zintec and powder coated steel planter systems complete with integrated seating manufactured using exceptionally durable Accoya timber..
More than 70 metres of custom-made 3mm Zintec and powder coated Malford Planters (MPL202) were produced to suit the spatial requirements of the Thornton Building development, helping to define seating zones while introducing natural planting into the hard landscaped environment. Designed for long-term durability and minimal maintenance, the planters were finished to complement the clean architectural lines of the scheme.
7 Langley Benches (LBN121 N/S) of varied shapes and sizes were seamlessly integrated within the planter arrangements. Crafted from Accoya with Galvanised powder coated legs in RAL7015, the benches provide a warm and welcoming contrast to the surrounding urban materials.
3 Langley Bench tops (LBN119 N/S) were installed on gabion baskets staged into the landscape at the rear of the building, offering a relaxed seating space with a view.
23 cube benches (LBN121 N/S), 450 mm x 450mm and 8 cube benches 950 mm x 950 mm contribute to flexible and usable seating arrangements at the rear of the building.
Selected for its exceptional stability, durability, and sustainability credentials, Accoya timber delivers outstanding performance in external environments while maintaining a premium aesthetic finish. Across all benches, the Galvanised Powder Coated steel legs were designed to complement the cladding panels on the building façade.
The combination of robust planter systems and elegant Accoya seating has created versatile outdoor spaces that support both wellbeing and collaboration, enhancing the overall character of the development.
THE RESULT
Flexible and Inviting Outdoor Spaces
Langley Design successfully delivered a bespoke external furniture package that significantly enhances both the usability and visual appeal of the Thornton Building’s outdoor areas.
The completed installation provides staff and visitors with comfortable spaces to sit, meet, and unwind throughout the day, fostering a stronger connection between the workplace and the surrounding landscape.
The addition of integrated planting softens the contemporary setting, introducing texture, colour, and seasonal interest throughout the scheme.
By combining bespoke planters with integrated Accoya timber seating, Langley Design has transformed the outdoor areas into attractive and practical destinations that support employee wellbeing while elevating the overall workplace experience.
This seamless blend of sleek industrial design and natural materials has transformed the outdoor spaces into functional, visually striking environment that encourages social interaction while supporting biodiversity across the site.
WHAT WE USED
Project products
Langley bench
lbn121 n/s
langley bench tops (for gabion seating)
lbn119 n/s
malford planters
mpl202 n/s
langley cube bench (450mm x 450 mm)
lbn121 n/s
langley cube bench (950mm x 950mm)
lbn121 n/s
