ABOUT THE EDIBLE BUS STOP STUDIO
#EdibleBusStop
The Edible Bus Stop® is a landscape and spatial design studio founded in London, 2012. We specialise in creating transformative landscape design for exterior and interior environments, in permanent or temporary settings. Our approach is driven by a belief in the importance of inviting biophilic places, where people from all walks or wheels of life can enjoy inclusive design standards and connect with their surroundings. We consider the materials we use carefully, with sustainability driving decisions surrounding our procurement and delivery. Our projects’ aims include engendering social cohesion, a sense of belonging, well-being, enhancing biodiversity and the awareness of it through our meaningful, yet playful design. This ethos also underlines our event installations and collaborations.
We are firm believers in the importance of the ‘third space‘ within communities. Free, accessible, inclusive neighbourhood places, for locals to congregate and mix, regardless of social standing. We produce designs that are landmarks, utilising and responding to an areas specific environment, identity and heritage. We balance this with the budget and client/community needs. We also particularly enjoy re-imagining and re-working ordinary off the shelf products in inventive ways.
Utilising a cross-disciplinary approach, our diverse projects aim to inspire a wide audience to engage in social and environmental issues. Our projects range from urban pocket parks, including the first to be delivered for the Mayor of London’s Pocket Park programme in 2013, to animating public realm spaces for property developers and management companies - in all cases, the aim is to encourage visitors to dwell and to create a design-led interface between the scheme and the surrounding communities. One of our most popular ongoing projects is the growing series of ‘Tiny Parks’ - tropical and succulent plant terrariums - for TfL in a selection of London Underground stations former ticket office windows which help bridge the gap between employees, passengers and to create a journey from the mundane to the delightful.
The ‘London Blossom Garden’ - A National Covid-19 Memorial site at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, was opened to the public in May 2021 and is currently shortlisted in two categories for the Landscape Institute Awards 2021. Along with curating the team, we co-designed the soft and hard landscaping elements, including bespoke benches utilising reclaimed materials.
We also create pop-up planted sculptural installations for festivals and arts organisations, such as the Southbank’s Centre’s summer festivals and Shangri-La Field at Glastonbury Festival. In September 2021 we were awarded a SILVER-GILT medal for our first experiential showcase at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We have regularly contributed to the Chelsea Fringe Festival and London Design Festival / Brixton Design Trail.
We present talks and appear on panel discussions on the importance of creating accessible biophilic green spaces in exterior and interior settings. Alongside this, we have appeared in numerous articles and exhibitions regarding the transformational power of creating urban green spaces, including having a concept design displayed at The Royal Academy of Art’s Richard Rogers ‘Inside Out’ exhibition.
HOW WE DO IT
Consultation to concept design (RIBA stages 0-2)
Our service starts with consultation, resulting in a concept design proposal.
We can conclude there, or continue through to develop and deliver the design.
Our consultation process starts with conversation. We ask and listen to clients, stakeholders and the community in order to respond with meaningful design that considers individual and collective needs and desires, resulting in a welcoming, inclusive and accessible response.
Our consultations include:
- Initial Consultation - a conversation with the client to discuss the potential project, such as location, size, initial ideas, uses, budget, timeline.
- Proposal - a brief will set out the scope and deliverables; the design team, further consultation services, fee and projected timeframe.
- Project Understanding and Research - conducting further consultation with wider stakeholders and community, to develop concept design.
- Site Inventory and Analysis - locating site and reviewing the terrain, evaluating uses, environmental factors and local area.
- Concept design - delivery of proposal with an understanding of spatial arrangement, aesthetic, program of delivery, functions, analysis of constraints and opportunities
Cross-disciplinary design coordination (RIBA stages 3-4)
We collaborate with leading design experts across landscape architecture, technology, visual and material arts (to name a few), to add form to function and create a narrative environment according to our creative vision.
We have built a collective of like-minded partners and co-producers who can contribute to our concept designs and coordinate throughout delivery of projects.
This part of our practice includes:
- Detailed design - engineering analysis, cost plan, project strategies, outline specification, project management plan and schedule.
- Technical design - plans, sections, schedules, construction details, quantities and a specification for collaborative design, coordination with other consultants for overlapping design elements (architecture, landscape, lighting, engineering, etc)
Delivery (RIBA stages 5-6)
If we see a project through to delivery, our project management capacity covers manufacturing and construction through to completion and handover, to meet timeframe and budget.
This part of our practice includes:
- Procurement & tendering - negotiating and securing contractors, procuring materials and site resources.
- Site logistics - coordinating contractors and installation, construction, planting
- Problem solving - mitigating & resolving issues as they arise.
- Evaluation - monitoring & reporting ongoing project progress & final project results.
- Handover - initiating ongoing maintenance, conclusion of contracts, aftercare plans.
- Meaningful storytelling - content capture, stakeholder and media engagement.
Work with us!
Get in touch to share your portfolio, discuss your idea or project, we’d love to hear from you. info@theediblebusstop.org
FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
MAK GILCHRIST FRSA
Mak originally hails from the fashion business. Her decades of experience as a fashion Model were guided by an ethical approach to the work she accepted. On the other side of the camera, she produced shoots for European editorial clients on location in London.
At the EBS, she is integral in bringing each of the schemes to life. She is the client lead, meeting with and evaluating their requirements, consulting on the hard & soft landscaping of the designs & co-producing the builds. She is responsible for the community engagement element of each scheme & works towards creating a sustainable legacy for each project. She is published & presents talks on the importance of active green spaces in the public realm.
Having travelled extensively, Mak became fascinated with the importance of encouraging positive social interaction & biodiverse active spaces in cities. She is a director of Incredible Edible Lambeth CIC & champions design-led, inclusive growing initiatives. From 2014-2015, she was a visiting member of the GLA’s London Food Board.
In 2016 Mak was nominated as a fellow of the RSA for her contribution towards improving society through her ideas & actions.
It’s unlikely Mak will ever be able to say: The arboriculturist is doubtful you can grow phenomenal plums in a terrarium.
MEET THE TEAM & COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
Selected clients and partners
