Grymsdyke Farm is committed to fostering and maintaining strong relationships with universities through workshops and collaborative projects that encourage learning, experimentation, and the exchange of ideas. In this spirit, students from the Westminster University School of Architecture and Cities were invited to take part in a five-week project in collaboration with the Farm to create a folly in response to the studio theme of the year, Horizon. The brief called for a single, site-specific folly inspired by the concept of the horizon.
The horizon, both the earth’s natural horizon and the new horizons we perceive in relation to it, defines the field of our visual experience. It is a dynamic phenomenon that changes with our movement and perspective, evoking a mythical sense of limits, endlessness, and timelessness. As we move, elements of the world are revealed or concealed, creating a continuous and evolving experience in which architecture becomes an instrument attuned to these perceptions. Building on the Horizon connects human experience directly with the surrounding landscape.
Over the first three weeks, students worked collectively on research, concept development, design iterations, and testing. The process culminated in a long weekend at Grymsdyke Farm, where fabrication, construction, and shared living took place. This immersive experience strengthened both practical skills and the sense of community within the studio.
The folly uses salvaged and reused materials found on site, with students exploring innovative approaches to adaptation, recycling, and re-appropriation.
The pavilion is a south-facing semi-circular structure composed of five equal framed segments, with two tiers of seating arranged around a central fire pit. The lower tier creates an intimate gathering space, while the upper tier lifts visitors above the brick boundary wall to view the surrounding fields and the Chiltern landscape. The fire pit and paving form a patchwork of four brick types, terracotta roof tiles, and flint, all recovered on site. A light canvas canopy hovers above, glowing with the evening fire.
The installation is completed by a sculpted oak bench, crafted from a fallen tree that previously supported the 2023 Woven Willow Oak project. Visitors are warmly invited to explore Grymsdyke Farm or contact the team for details on upcoming workshops and projects.