Rose Bowl, Leeds, UK
Rose Bowl, Leeds, UK
Sheppard Robson designed the “Rose Bowl”, a business school located directly opposite Leeds Civic Hall, as part of a development study for Leeds Metropolitan University. Classrooms, lecture theatres and offices occupy a total floor area of 12 000 m2. In the centre of this U-shaped building complex there is a shimmering green elliptical glass “bowl”, which, supported on slender Y-form columns, constitutes the open, transparent entrance zone.
The seemingly floating primary structure of this central element is made up of sturdy steel triangles. Attached to the outside of these is a secondary construction of aluminium sections, which are aligned with millimetre accuracy by means of brackets – custom-designed by seele. Adjustable in three dimensions, these brackets can easily compensate for fabrication tolerances of up to 40 mm. Mirrored laminated glass panes each with a peripheral aluminium frame on the inside are fitted into this façade framework. The frames are bonded directly to the metal coating on the glass – a load bearing joint that represents a genuine new departure in glass architecture.
